An enjoyable read, well written and entertaining. Hadn't read this author before but would consider reading again.

I still can't quite work out what I think of this. Yes, It's taken me a while to read it, but I did go back and start again at one point so I don't think you can really count that. There are some essays that I found really powerful, but as a whole I wasn't sure it quite worked. I found that I was left a little frustrated at the end by a lack of conclusion. But perhaps that is what the author wanted. I also didn't really like the author - or at least the way she portrayed herself - so maybe that played a part in it all. Still there are some really good high points in this - not just the Crane Wife essay that people may have encountered before.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

This memoir was a powerful exploration of love and the stories we tell ourselves about it. It was SO relatable, I loved how the author was entirely vulnerable made space for her readers to relate to her. Thank you for the ARC!

Okay, to start with – is it mean to say I don’t know why I should be interested in the story? I’m a non-blurb reader – I’m a dive in kind of reader. I think the author assumes the reader is interested – there isn’t really a big bang to the start at all, it’s a little bit boring. On the flip side, the short essays make it easy to feel like you have achieved something and not give up. Maybe that was the magic. The linchpin essay, the Crane Wife was brilliant. And after that, there were a few brilliant essays. I didn’t like her sweeping statements about love at the start, but her final view that she settled on is definitely something I can get behind. At the start I didn’t, I guess, relate to much of what CJ was telling me. There are swathes of the essays about American pop culture that kind of makes me shrug, but then the real half, I liked. The odd little stories of places she ended up in. The houses she lived in. I think maybe my lack of interest in general was in the essays about her relationships, and the ones about CJ herself and her inner life without attachment is what I preferred. Finding your place, however old, detangling the things you think about, understanding yourself. Those things I liked. Those things were worth reading, I don’t think they changed my view on anything but they definitely showed me that other people’s internal lives are in a way similar to mine; and the things that I want and like are worth cherishing.

I loved The Crane Wife essay when I read it in The Paris Review, so I was keen to read more from CJ Hauser. Highly enjoyable, Hauser's voice is a breath of fresh air, especially in a genre where authors often mistakes naval-gazing and forced hilarity for profundity. Hauser avoids all these genre pitfalls and weaves together the personal, pop culture, and contemplations about relationships of all kinds in a book of essays that funny (without forcing it) and warm and contemplative. (Plus how was I going to resist a book where the author is convinced her niece is the second coming of Shirley Jackson?!)

This was a beautifully written book.
A little hard to get into but once I had I could t put it down.
Thank you to the author and netgalley for this arc

This was such an unusual and thought provoking book. Powerful, intimate, at times funnny and, above all else, extremely wise, I loved the light touch, the clever insight into relationships and getting what you want out of life. Should be a set text for all people.

Like everyone I have read the crane wife essay and loved it so was keen to read more of CJ Hausers work. I thought many of the stories were funny, descriptive, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Some made me cry and touched me deeply. Would recommend.

I wasn’t familiar with Ms Hauser and hadn’t previously read the title essay in this collection. As a way to write a memoir, this is interesting as it’s not a chronological list of things that happened. Instead it’s a collection of vignettes of a life and of a family history. I really liked it. I liked the randomness and the "unfinished" nature of some of the stories.

My particular favourite is the one about "the second Mrs deWinter" but I also liked the story of John Belushi’s grave and how it showed family stories may have roots in a truth but over time become somewhat embroidered.

Ms Hauser can definitely write and this is a lovely collection of narratives giving an insight into her mind. I enjoyed her company and will look out for other works.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

'Warning: you will WhatsApp multiple quotes to your friends from your sun-lounger' was what the reviewer from The Independent said about ‘The Crane Wife.’
Did I text my friends multiple quotes from this? No. Did I text them some? Yes. And for me that sums up the reading experience - most of the essays were enjoyable enough, but there were a few gems, namely the essay about Rebecca and those on the topic of motherhood, although I must confess that this is a topic close to my heart at the moment.
Overall, I found this an enjoyable essay collection and i romped through it. I would consider buying it for friends, but for me it was just a good read, not an outstanding one, hence four stars rather than five.

Crane wife had more style than substance for me. The viral essay was the main reason I picked this one up, which is likely the same for a lot of readers. Unfortunately that piece remained the strongest of the authors work. There was some notable tangents within the essays that offered some unexpected interest without deviating the readers attention too much but the true meat of the essay felt unoriginal in terms of what I have read before.

I am not exaggerating when I say that the titular essay changed my life. Challenging, emotional, the sort of essays that really make you think. This book is a treasure and I am so thrilled to have had the chance to read it. Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for this wonderful opportunity.

Absolutely loved the book, it was such a nice read when I finally got to it. The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 was because it took me some time to really get into it, but other than that it was a spectacular book that I think loads of readers will love.

I had a strange experience with this book because as I was reading, I wasn't entirely sure whether I liked it or not. It was the kind of book that I thought I wanted to have read, without having to go through the process of sitting down and reading it. It didn't grip me as most memoirs I've read before had—which I think is due to the short essay structure—but I made note of so many beautiful snippets of prose and dialogue. The Crane Wife contains some wonderful explorations on love and relationships, some of which I keep thinking about long after reading the essay. I will likely buy a hardcopy of this book so I can reread it and review again.

A collection of essays from an acclaimed author to make you stop and think .. they reflect the authors views on love, friendship, family and in general ,life

This is a beautifully written eye-opening novel. I think you have to read it to genuinely understand why this book is written the way it is. It is a very personal narrative about the writer's life/ opinion on a multitude of topics. I think every reader will relate to different stories within this book and take away different opinions after reading this book. I like the fact the book doesn't feel 'tied up and is random, and in certain ways disconnected but still feels natural. After I read this I knew the author and just want wanted to hear more. I recommend everyone reads this regardless of your stage in life
#netgalley #TheCraneWife

This is an absolutely stunning memoir and my favourite thing I’ve read this year so far. I loved the titular essay when it went viral a couple of years ago and the rest of the collection is just as good, covering a broad range of topics but with a general focus learning to be a person you’re happy being, both alone and in a relationship. It’s the type of writing that convinced me I would be best friends with the writer and I’m already missing her voice. Highly recommended and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I could not get into this book. It jumps from one thing to another, none of it I found interesting so I could not continue.

I did not want this book to end, but at the same time, I wanted the book to be more true to its title. The essays were amazing but to call it a memoir seems a bit of a stretch. I wanted a memoir. I loved the essays.

Thanks to NetGalley UK for an e-galley of this book.