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My Inner Sky: On Embracing Day, Night, and All the Times in Between
From New York Times bestselling author Mari Andrew, a collection of essays and illustrations, divided into phases of the sky--twilight, golden hour, night, and dawn--that serves as a loyal companion for life's curveballs
A whole, beautiful life is only made possible by the wide spectrum of feelings that exist between joy and sorrow. In this insightful and warm book, writer and illustrator Mari Andrew explores all the emotions that make up a life, in the process offering insights about trauma and healing, the meaning of home and the challenges of loneliness, finding love in the most unexpected of places--from birds nesting on a sculpture to a ride on the subway--and a resounding case for why sometimes you have to put yourself in the path of magic.
My Inner Sky empowers us to transform everything that's happened to us into something meaningful, reassurance that even in our darkest times, there's light and beauty to be found.
A whole, beautiful life is only made possible by the wide spectrum of feelings that exist between joy and sorrow. In this insightful and warm book, writer and illustrator Mari Andrew explores all the emotions that make up a life, in the process offering insights about trauma and healing, the meaning of home and the challenges of loneliness, finding love in the most unexpected of places--from birds nesting on a sculpture to a ride on the subway--and a resounding case for why sometimes you have to put yourself in the path of magic.
My Inner Sky empowers us to transform everything that's happened to us into something meaningful, reassurance that even in our darkest times, there's light and beauty to be found.
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First published March 2, 2021
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About the author
Mari Andrew
7 books288 followersMari Andrew is a writer and illustrator based in New York City.
Mari Andrew's career started as a hobby in 2015 when she was recovering from a painful break-up and the death of her father. She started holding herself accountable to posting one doodle per day on Instagram. Her following eventually grew and she currently has over 750,000 followers.Andrew's first book, Am I There Yet?: The Loop-de-loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood, debuted March 27, 2018.
Mari Andrew's career started as a hobby in 2015 when she was recovering from a painful break-up and the death of her father. She started holding herself accountable to posting one doodle per day on Instagram. Her following eventually grew and she currently has over 750,000 followers.Andrew's first book, Am I There Yet?: The Loop-de-loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood, debuted March 27, 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
July 26, 2022
"If you don't engage in the world, it's pretty easy to be afraid of it."
There are some books which while reading them bring you so much calmness and peace that it's quite relaxing and puts you in some comfort sleep now and then while reading it.
Yes, this book is one of them.
I didn't realise this until this book happened. The sleeping in between reading books happen a lot of times before. But this is the book which made me feel this book let me live in the moment and made me relieve all kinds of stress and tension I must have been experiencing throughout this week.
This book is sort of a memoir which tells you to explore and experience things and places. The scenarios we are made to believe about people and places are so different from what they actually are!
This book is so simple yet has made a profound change.
My routine got so messed up since February this year that I was neglecting about my health, my career, my life in general. I got so busy doing nothing much but was so busy being busy.
But then again, I just couldn't give up on myself. As always, I was turning to books listening to what they have to say.
This one woke up my desire to connect to people and places; start all over again and live at the present moment.
Love this book.
I am getting a physical copy of this book soon.
There are some books which while reading them bring you so much calmness and peace that it's quite relaxing and puts you in some comfort sleep now and then while reading it.
Yes, this book is one of them.
I didn't realise this until this book happened. The sleeping in between reading books happen a lot of times before. But this is the book which made me feel this book let me live in the moment and made me relieve all kinds of stress and tension I must have been experiencing throughout this week.
This book is sort of a memoir which tells you to explore and experience things and places. The scenarios we are made to believe about people and places are so different from what they actually are!
This book is so simple yet has made a profound change.
My routine got so messed up since February this year that I was neglecting about my health, my career, my life in general. I got so busy doing nothing much but was so busy being busy.
But then again, I just couldn't give up on myself. As always, I was turning to books listening to what they have to say.
This one woke up my desire to connect to people and places; start all over again and live at the present moment.
Love this book.
I am getting a physical copy of this book soon.
March 28, 2021
Very sad to say how disappointed I am in this book. I was so excited about it that I bought two copies! I've been a long time fan of Mari Andrew and absolutely LOVED her first book but unfortunately, this is nothing like it. The biggest difference: her first book felt genuine and this does not.
This book is a collection of short life lessons. It includes some illustrations but is mostly text and feels like it was not edited down enough. So many of these chapters feel like they're trying to be deeper and wiser than they actually are and it feels very forced and almost cringey.
I was particularly irked by the way Andrew talks about navigating the world. She mentions her privilege briefly and vaguely, but not substantially enough to really acknowledge how much it impacts her perspectives. The way she sometimes talks about New York felt gross, too. In the chapter "Homesick", she talks a lot about her time in NYC and says somethings along the lines of "nobody really belongs in New York." Millions of people are born-and-raised New Yorkers but Andrew falls back on the same, tired trope that NYC is some magical place for yuppies and artists to frollick while native New Yorkers get figuratively and literally pushed out.
A lot of this book felt very thoughtless to me because it felt like Andrew suffers from severe main character syndrome and the people around her (but particularly the people in her travels or neighbors in NYC) are just background characters. To put it bluntly, this book felt like it was written for white women who want to go abroad or move to a new city to find themselves. I am so disappointed. I have always gotten the sense from Andrew's work that she is highly sensitive, but this book failed at capturing that.
I loved the idea of the 4 seasons of life but the way the chapters were organized didn't make any sense to me. I couldn't tell why certain chapters were in twilight vs night, etc. The running theme was lacking. Will sadly be giving away my copies and revisiting Am I There Yet? to remind myself of why I liked her work in the first place.
This book is a collection of short life lessons. It includes some illustrations but is mostly text and feels like it was not edited down enough. So many of these chapters feel like they're trying to be deeper and wiser than they actually are and it feels very forced and almost cringey.
I was particularly irked by the way Andrew talks about navigating the world. She mentions her privilege briefly and vaguely, but not substantially enough to really acknowledge how much it impacts her perspectives. The way she sometimes talks about New York felt gross, too. In the chapter "Homesick", she talks a lot about her time in NYC and says somethings along the lines of "nobody really belongs in New York." Millions of people are born-and-raised New Yorkers but Andrew falls back on the same, tired trope that NYC is some magical place for yuppies and artists to frollick while native New Yorkers get figuratively and literally pushed out.
A lot of this book felt very thoughtless to me because it felt like Andrew suffers from severe main character syndrome and the people around her (but particularly the people in her travels or neighbors in NYC) are just background characters. To put it bluntly, this book felt like it was written for white women who want to go abroad or move to a new city to find themselves. I am so disappointed. I have always gotten the sense from Andrew's work that she is highly sensitive, but this book failed at capturing that.
I loved the idea of the 4 seasons of life but the way the chapters were organized didn't make any sense to me. I couldn't tell why certain chapters were in twilight vs night, etc. The running theme was lacking. Will sadly be giving away my copies and revisiting Am I There Yet? to remind myself of why I liked her work in the first place.
March 13, 2021
Blogger's Note: Thank you to the publisher for providing a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
"My Inner Sky" is a self-help book in which author Mari Andrew recounts various times in her life and the lessons she's learned along her journey. The book is organized into categories like Dawn, Night and Twilight. She uses the metaphor of the sky to describe the different stages in life and artistically displays these transitional times through watercolor illustrations sprinkled throughout the book.
The book is beautifully crafted. From the bright colors of the cover, to the works of art within the pages, it is clear that this story was wonderfully designed. Mari Andrew accompanies this outstanding art with some wonderful concepts and beautifully put sentiments. She is no stranger to struggle and her story is one that causes heartache while reading. Her suffering was translated in a way that conveyed the cruel nature, pain and heaviness of that period in her life. As a reader, I hurt for her and felt myself pulling for her to recover and overcome those immeasurable obstacles.
However, throughout the book I also felt a huge disconnect between myself and the writer. At times her story came across as off putting. It felt like she was trying to hard to be introspective and spiritual. This perceived effort left me feeling apathetic and distant. Also, some of the anecdotes demonstrated a high level of privilege that was disconcerting. With all of that being said, I did find some wonderfully phrased nuggets of wisdom. Unfortunately, those portions of the book were like the sun poking out from behind a cloud rather than being consistently present.
As a reviewer, I felt torn by this book. At times I absolutely loved it and at other times I wanted to DNF it. I stuck with it because the author does mention her high level of privilege and I appreciated that she realized how fortunate she was and spoke on that topic. Her contemplative reflection was very bohemian in its presentation and the seasons of life will always be a topic that deserve respect and admiration.
"My Inner Sky" is a self-help book in which author Mari Andrew recounts various times in her life and the lessons she's learned along her journey. The book is organized into categories like Dawn, Night and Twilight. She uses the metaphor of the sky to describe the different stages in life and artistically displays these transitional times through watercolor illustrations sprinkled throughout the book.
The book is beautifully crafted. From the bright colors of the cover, to the works of art within the pages, it is clear that this story was wonderfully designed. Mari Andrew accompanies this outstanding art with some wonderful concepts and beautifully put sentiments. She is no stranger to struggle and her story is one that causes heartache while reading. Her suffering was translated in a way that conveyed the cruel nature, pain and heaviness of that period in her life. As a reader, I hurt for her and felt myself pulling for her to recover and overcome those immeasurable obstacles.
However, throughout the book I also felt a huge disconnect between myself and the writer. At times her story came across as off putting. It felt like she was trying to hard to be introspective and spiritual. This perceived effort left me feeling apathetic and distant. Also, some of the anecdotes demonstrated a high level of privilege that was disconcerting. With all of that being said, I did find some wonderfully phrased nuggets of wisdom. Unfortunately, those portions of the book were like the sun poking out from behind a cloud rather than being consistently present.
As a reviewer, I felt torn by this book. At times I absolutely loved it and at other times I wanted to DNF it. I stuck with it because the author does mention her high level of privilege and I appreciated that she realized how fortunate she was and spoke on that topic. Her contemplative reflection was very bohemian in its presentation and the seasons of life will always be a topic that deserve respect and admiration.
April 29, 2021
Hurt people hurt people. Healed people heal people.
A self-help book with a flowery yet eloquent writing style. Mari Andrew flawlessly blended her travel ventures and emotions with her personal stories. The thing I liked most about her is that she is a very observant person, as she captures every minute detail of her surroundings and her feelings in her writing. These little details make the bleak stories all colorful.
April 16, 2021
I have followed Mari's work for a long time, first her illustrations on Instagram, then her first book, then the evolution of even her Instagram art into more words, fewer images, and now this book. I wouldn't keep coming back if there weren't insightful, beautiful gems to be found. However, I did not love this book as a whole. I felt that the frame--the four times of day--was a lovely concept, but underdeveloped, and didn't always follow why certain anecdotes were organized into one segment of time v. another. I also felt that the writing varied in quality and focus. Some moments were rendered in detail that felt immersive, other moments were described in ways that felt forced. Some musings felt deep and insightful, some felt rambling and in need of further thought. I agree with some other reviews that there were definite moments where Mari's privilege is screamingly evident, some of which she acknowledged, and some of which she didn't. Overall, I enjoyed the read, but I think I prefer her work in micro bits where each idea is more deeply explored and where there's no attempt to impose an imperfect frame on a larger whole.
March 12, 2022
I’m giving this one star because every once in a while there is a line or two so deep and so moving my heart would catch in my throat while I ran to find a pen and some paper to jot it down.
Every other line, though, was a struggle for me, which is sad because I love her art and think this would have been an incredible read if she had just let it marinate more, grown up a little bit and circled back to it before publishing. It just felt “not quite” there yet.
First of all, it’s hard to relate to a lot of her problems, especially as she’s jaunting all over the world to escape them or work on them or just to live some wonderful artsy life few would even dare to dream of. Not saying she wasn’t in pain (both physically and emotionally) but it just smacked of privilege in the context of this book. She also was a huge bit man-obsessed and seemed like a crazy girlfriend. And I just never quite understood the situation with her dad. Which, for the record, sounds incredibly painful, I just felt she danced around it and wasn’t quite ready to write about it for publication.
All in all, the book is disjointed and doesn’t flow well. Her art is beautiful and I adore it and those one liners do light up the page. (And also, I think account for a lot of the glowing reviews of this one). I wanted badly to love it. But in the end, I just sort of liked parts of it. Which is sad.
Every other line, though, was a struggle for me, which is sad because I love her art and think this would have been an incredible read if she had just let it marinate more, grown up a little bit and circled back to it before publishing. It just felt “not quite” there yet.
First of all, it’s hard to relate to a lot of her problems, especially as she’s jaunting all over the world to escape them or work on them or just to live some wonderful artsy life few would even dare to dream of. Not saying she wasn’t in pain (both physically and emotionally) but it just smacked of privilege in the context of this book. She also was a huge bit man-obsessed and seemed like a crazy girlfriend. And I just never quite understood the situation with her dad. Which, for the record, sounds incredibly painful, I just felt she danced around it and wasn’t quite ready to write about it for publication.
All in all, the book is disjointed and doesn’t flow well. Her art is beautiful and I adore it and those one liners do light up the page. (And also, I think account for a lot of the glowing reviews of this one). I wanted badly to love it. But in the end, I just sort of liked parts of it. Which is sad.
June 1, 2021
This is a book that wasn't ready to be a book yet. Lovely moments and insights not yet fully realized or fully lived by the author. That's not to say that the author hasn't integrated the experiences shared here--but a longer brew time was necessary for the full relationships in each essay of experience, observation, reflection to take on a deeper coherence. The organizing structure seemed to be a forced metaphor to the progression of ideas and personal reflection/growth outlined here.
Mari is an excellent writer, a deep feeler, a loving observer. I hope she has a long and vibrant career ahead of her. This book didn't do her skills justice.
Mari is an excellent writer, a deep feeler, a loving observer. I hope she has a long and vibrant career ahead of her. This book didn't do her skills justice.
November 13, 2023
“To live life to the fullest means to feel life to the fullest: full pain, full boredom, full unfairness, full magnificence, full mourning, full lazy days, full joy, full disappointment, full creativity.” 💫
February 18, 2021
I will never get bored of beautiful reminders of the sacredness in the dark, and the magic in between—all human and lumpy and heart-achingly stunning. Thanks to Mari for the reminder.
March 23, 2021
I discovered Mari Andrew and her work in January 2020, at a time when I was going through a lot of pain, anxiety, trauma, and difficulty. I was in a really dark place and although the start of the year was giving me hope for new beginnings, every day was still a struggle. I didn't feel like myself at all and I felt so alone in my suffering regardless of the amazing people in my life. As if all my personal problems weren't enough, the world also decided to crumble as natural and man-made disasters occurred more frequently than ever, poverty and hunger intensified, and a virus, which would later on cause a pandemic, came into the picture. So when I saw Mari's "notes from the first few days of 2020" instagram post (someone I was following on instagram shared it in her story), I cried. It validated my emotions. It put into beautiful writing my exact thoughts and feelings at that exact moment. The words were so relatable I felt like I wrote them, like they were mine (though of course I could only wish to be as articulate as her). That night, I ended up writing my first journal entry for 2020. To this day, I can still remember every word.
I instantly became a huge fan of Mari. I stalked her instagram and marveled at her incredible talent. I read and reflected on every single one of her posts, some at home, some on my commute to/from work, others at a coffee shop (where I was supposed to be focusing on my work deliverables). I even made a "Mari Andrew" collection under my saved posts on instagram so that I could read my favorite ones over and over again. Her work spoke to me on a personal level and I couldn't believe a person I hadn't met, someone who didn't even have an idea of my existence, could make me feel that seen. More than her brilliant mind, I admired her empathy and honesty.
I don't read much of the same genre/ type of book as My Inner Sky because I find most of them preachy, self-righteous, and repetitive. Either I hate and disagree with what the author is trying to say or I roll my eyes because I already know the things they're trying to "teach" or "make me see". But Mari is different. Her stories are fresh, detailed, colorful, and enlightening. Her writing is extremely gorgeous, not to mention the wonderful illustrations and penmanship. Her insights and "lessons" are not forced, not condescending at all. Her work is filled with both aha! moments and much needed reaffirmations. I don't know how it's possible to write words that are so distinctive and relatable at the same time. I was so excited when she first announced that a new book would come out.
In just a short amount of time, Mari's words have already accompanied me in various moments and phases of my life. When I tried to think about the golden hour, twilight, night, and dawn (these are the four chapters in the book) that I've had in the past year, I realized that Mari's words played a part in each of them. I'm glad to say that I'm no longer in the dark place I was when I first read her work. Currently, I feel like I'm either in the twilight or dawn phase, maybe both. So much has changed especially since I started my healing journey in mid-2020. But the impact of her work continues to be a part of me and my life. Just recently, I noticed that I had been thinking, writing, and saying "the universe is on my side" a lot. A Christmas letter I sent to a friend via email even contained the statement "when I think about you and our friendship, I am reminded that the universe is on my side" which made her cry. I was aware that I got the phrase from something I read but I only remembered it was from one of Mari's posts when I read My Inner Sky and it appeared. It warmed my heart so much and put the biggest smile on my face.
I have always loved words. My top love language is words of affirmation. I am obsessed with reading. I pay so much attention to the dialogues and monologues when watching a film (and even read the screenplays right after watching if the script is that good). It's usually the lyrics that draw me to a song. I journal a lot. I enjoy listening and having conversations with people. It even used to be one of my dreams to become a writer. Words are so powerful they have the ability to comfort and heal. They can make you feel every emotion possible, even ones we don't have names for or don't know exist. They can open your mind and heart. They can bring you to action. And as cliche as it sounds, they can change your life. My Inner Sky is a proof of that. Mari Andrew is a proof of that.
As we go through difficult times in our lives, especially this pandemic, isolation, and collective trauma, we often find tiny reminders that we are not alone and we will make it through. Mari and her words will always be one of mine.
Thank you, Mari, for your amazing gift.
I instantly became a huge fan of Mari. I stalked her instagram and marveled at her incredible talent. I read and reflected on every single one of her posts, some at home, some on my commute to/from work, others at a coffee shop (where I was supposed to be focusing on my work deliverables). I even made a "Mari Andrew" collection under my saved posts on instagram so that I could read my favorite ones over and over again. Her work spoke to me on a personal level and I couldn't believe a person I hadn't met, someone who didn't even have an idea of my existence, could make me feel that seen. More than her brilliant mind, I admired her empathy and honesty.
I don't read much of the same genre/ type of book as My Inner Sky because I find most of them preachy, self-righteous, and repetitive. Either I hate and disagree with what the author is trying to say or I roll my eyes because I already know the things they're trying to "teach" or "make me see". But Mari is different. Her stories are fresh, detailed, colorful, and enlightening. Her writing is extremely gorgeous, not to mention the wonderful illustrations and penmanship. Her insights and "lessons" are not forced, not condescending at all. Her work is filled with both aha! moments and much needed reaffirmations. I don't know how it's possible to write words that are so distinctive and relatable at the same time. I was so excited when she first announced that a new book would come out.
In just a short amount of time, Mari's words have already accompanied me in various moments and phases of my life. When I tried to think about the golden hour, twilight, night, and dawn (these are the four chapters in the book) that I've had in the past year, I realized that Mari's words played a part in each of them. I'm glad to say that I'm no longer in the dark place I was when I first read her work. Currently, I feel like I'm either in the twilight or dawn phase, maybe both. So much has changed especially since I started my healing journey in mid-2020. But the impact of her work continues to be a part of me and my life. Just recently, I noticed that I had been thinking, writing, and saying "the universe is on my side" a lot. A Christmas letter I sent to a friend via email even contained the statement "when I think about you and our friendship, I am reminded that the universe is on my side" which made her cry. I was aware that I got the phrase from something I read but I only remembered it was from one of Mari's posts when I read My Inner Sky and it appeared. It warmed my heart so much and put the biggest smile on my face.
I have always loved words. My top love language is words of affirmation. I am obsessed with reading. I pay so much attention to the dialogues and monologues when watching a film (and even read the screenplays right after watching if the script is that good). It's usually the lyrics that draw me to a song. I journal a lot. I enjoy listening and having conversations with people. It even used to be one of my dreams to become a writer. Words are so powerful they have the ability to comfort and heal. They can make you feel every emotion possible, even ones we don't have names for or don't know exist. They can open your mind and heart. They can bring you to action. And as cliche as it sounds, they can change your life. My Inner Sky is a proof of that. Mari Andrew is a proof of that.
As we go through difficult times in our lives, especially this pandemic, isolation, and collective trauma, we often find tiny reminders that we are not alone and we will make it through. Mari and her words will always be one of mine.
Thank you, Mari, for your amazing gift.
August 6, 2021
Very fun at first, starts with some cute observations about people in New York, descriptions of her travels, life as an artist and the search for herself.
Initially this is captivating and she comes across as likable and sensitive - but over the course of the book, she appears more and more self centered, spoiled and very privileged.
I thought I might be alone with this view but when I looked up reviews on Amazon (after I already bought the book), I realized that others described her as full of herself and obsessed with men.
I’m not sure I would go as far but the way she describes herself as different and never belonging anywhere sounds a bit conceited to me, too.
The search of the perfect man is downright funny - and I quote:” I joke with performative self awareness that I don’t want to date myself but in secret I think it would be so much easier just to be with someone exactly like me. … But at age thirty-one I’ve grown in enormous ways already and don’t feel like I need to learn, perhaps, a totally different sense of humor. I’m great with mine. I think my political views are perfect and my taste is impeccable. I don’t want to convince someone why we should paint the bathroom marigold…I don’t want to be tied to someone who doesn’t share my observations… “etc etc.
She travels to Bordeaux - it’s not in the south of France as she writes, more in the south west) in the middle of winter; and because she likes to dress up for travel, she brings with her “the frilly long dresses and ruffle tops and satin hair ribbons I couldn’t quite find the occasion for in New York “,
and then she is surprised that people speak English to her and recognize her as the American she is. France is a modern country, not the medieval place she might envision after watching “Beauty and the Beast”.
I’m not finished with this yet, but having read it this far, I am not sure I can find the rest as endearing as she clearly wants it to be.
Initially this is captivating and she comes across as likable and sensitive - but over the course of the book, she appears more and more self centered, spoiled and very privileged.
I thought I might be alone with this view but when I looked up reviews on Amazon (after I already bought the book), I realized that others described her as full of herself and obsessed with men.
I’m not sure I would go as far but the way she describes herself as different and never belonging anywhere sounds a bit conceited to me, too.
The search of the perfect man is downright funny - and I quote:” I joke with performative self awareness that I don’t want to date myself but in secret I think it would be so much easier just to be with someone exactly like me. … But at age thirty-one I’ve grown in enormous ways already and don’t feel like I need to learn, perhaps, a totally different sense of humor. I’m great with mine. I think my political views are perfect and my taste is impeccable. I don’t want to convince someone why we should paint the bathroom marigold…I don’t want to be tied to someone who doesn’t share my observations… “etc etc.
She travels to Bordeaux - it’s not in the south of France as she writes, more in the south west) in the middle of winter; and because she likes to dress up for travel, she brings with her “the frilly long dresses and ruffle tops and satin hair ribbons I couldn’t quite find the occasion for in New York “,
and then she is surprised that people speak English to her and recognize her as the American she is. France is a modern country, not the medieval place she might envision after watching “Beauty and the Beast”.
I’m not finished with this yet, but having read it this far, I am not sure I can find the rest as endearing as she clearly wants it to be.
March 13, 2021
A gem—this is how I’ve always referred to Mari and her first book which I chanced upon reading last year. Since then, I’ve been a fan. So when she announced her second book, I pre-ordered it in a heartbeat. When it finally came out, I couldn’t stop reading it!
I relate so much to Mari in so many ways! It’s like you’re me but also you’re like my soul-sister and my bestest friend! Thank you for this book and for capturing all the emotions I could never put into words!
I loved the book overall. The reason I’m only giving it a four is because there were moments in the book that felt dragging to me and I started to question whether Mari is going to talk about all the men in her life. And then I’d get bored a little and will put down the book. That’s only it. I’ not a professional ‘reviewer’ so I only based my rating on how the book made me feel—nothing about the technicals that the professionals would point out!
Mari, don’t stop creating. Don’t stop writing. You’re always going to have someone who patiently (or not) wait for all your new work. That’s me!
I relate so much to Mari in so many ways! It’s like you’re me but also you’re like my soul-sister and my bestest friend! Thank you for this book and for capturing all the emotions I could never put into words!
I loved the book overall. The reason I’m only giving it a four is because there were moments in the book that felt dragging to me and I started to question whether Mari is going to talk about all the men in her life. And then I’d get bored a little and will put down the book. That’s only it. I’ not a professional ‘reviewer’ so I only based my rating on how the book made me feel—nothing about the technicals that the professionals would point out!
Mari, don’t stop creating. Don’t stop writing. You’re always going to have someone who patiently (or not) wait for all your new work. That’s me!
May 30, 2021
I really wanted to like this book. Some chapters were dazzling, dealing with unexpected illness and the inner journey of recovery, Persephone's duality as goddess of spring and darkness, and choosing openness instead of self-protection even after a robbery. I couldn't relate to the serial dating and romantic build-up of a "perfect" person, or the specialness of New York, or super-sensitive people finding home in each other - these all felt too navel-gazing to me, but it might just not be the right book for me.
June 4, 2021
I just found this book utterly unbearable. The author comes off as so whiny and privileged, and I quickly grew tired of reading about all the different countries she’s cried in. She also writers as if the world revolves around her, and everyone else in her travels and life are just cutesy insignificant supporting characters who are OBVIOUSLY so focused on her. Just seems like it’s written from a place of lots of unacknowledged privilege and superiority complex
April 9, 2021
I loved this book! Mari Andrew has such a way with her words and her art- every word felt like flowed from the page and her watercolors were so vibrant, warm, and beautiful. This book overall was so comforting to read, which was something I desperately needed. It was really interesting to read her reflections on the different lessons she learned both at home and abroad (recognizing the privilege and opportunities she’s had to travel that a lot of others don’t have), as well as her thoughts on falling in love, both in her relationships with other people and with herself. If haven’t seen her Instagram (@bymariandrew), I would recommend giving her a follow and reading her books! Great read 💕
April 13, 2025
deeeeeeeeeeeelightful!!
July 16, 2021
4.5 stars
March 28, 2021
A very honest collection of essays. I felt like I really felt the pulse of Mari Andrew’s humanity. This book was also such a beautiful read during my nostalgia for New York City. However, I sometimes did find it hard to relate since her lifestyle, perspectives, values and privilege are different from mine.
April 14, 2021
I sadly wasn’t as big of a fan of her second book as I was her first. I really loved her illustrations in the first book and expected to see more here. Her stories were absolutely beautiful though, and really made me think about my own life. We have two completely different lives - I’m nearly 30, hardly traveled, been in the same relationship for over 7 years, and have 2 children. But her troubles with her dad and boyfriends really resonated with me. Thank you, Mari, for putting your heart and soul on these pages.
January 19, 2022
I wish there was a 3.5 option for this book. It took me 2 months to get through, but it’s a book that you can come back to after weeks or not reading it. I appreciated her struggles and ways of sharing the messages she wanted readers to take away. I felt it was disconnected at times, maybe in part to the time it took to read. It is one I will keep and read again, as it had messages that I could see being applicable at different parts of my life that tie me to the book more.
June 3, 2021
If I could give this 6 ⭐️ I would. This book is delightful. I’m filled with warm fuzzy feelings, happiness, inspiration and all the other positive vibes. Thank you, Mari, for sharing your world!
August 11, 2021
I bought this book the week it was released. I was so excited to read it, as a follower of Mari Andrew's delightful art posts on Instagram. But then life got in the way. I put down the book, a regretful judgment error that I have now rectified by finishing the book after too many months. In Mari's young life, she has already known more than a fair share of grief and loss, illness and despair. Yet she chooses to "show up with hope" (mentioning one of my favorite quotes by Anne LaMott).
I read a book some years back that drove home the points, "life is beautiful; life is hard". These two truths can and do co-exist. This is reinforced in Mari's thoughtful book. Mari's travels have deepened her compassion and understanding, so evident in her beautiful art. I loved this quote in the book: "I can't believe how much can be happening in the world at once: a season of death and a season of abundance separated by a thin line in the middle of the earth. ....How much else can my life hold besides what I'm experiencing right this second?"
It's a terrific question to ask ourselves daily, to practice gratitude and openness. It reminds me of a quote from another New Yorker, renowned photographer Jay Maisel:
"Before you can see, you have to look. And before you can look, you have to want to look.
Your life will be infinitely richer if you see the things around you. These things are small but they're joyous."
Thanks to Mari Andrew for her reminder that "to live life to the fullest means to feel life to the fullest: full pain, full boredom, full unfairness, full magnificence, full mourning, full lazy days, full joy, full disappointment, full creativity."
I read a book some years back that drove home the points, "life is beautiful; life is hard". These two truths can and do co-exist. This is reinforced in Mari's thoughtful book. Mari's travels have deepened her compassion and understanding, so evident in her beautiful art. I loved this quote in the book: "I can't believe how much can be happening in the world at once: a season of death and a season of abundance separated by a thin line in the middle of the earth. ....How much else can my life hold besides what I'm experiencing right this second?"
It's a terrific question to ask ourselves daily, to practice gratitude and openness. It reminds me of a quote from another New Yorker, renowned photographer Jay Maisel:
"Before you can see, you have to look. And before you can look, you have to want to look.
Your life will be infinitely richer if you see the things around you. These things are small but they're joyous."
Thanks to Mari Andrew for her reminder that "to live life to the fullest means to feel life to the fullest: full pain, full boredom, full unfairness, full magnificence, full mourning, full lazy days, full joy, full disappointment, full creativity."
March 4, 2024
I love the way Mari Andrew sees the world. Especially how she describes little ordinary moments of beauty and wonder, delightful and unexpected interactions with strangers. Some of these essays felt a bit repetitive but I agree so much with about being grateful for the complexity and range of human emotion and connection. This book felt more vulnerable and deeper than her first one but was still filled with joyful stories and illustrations.
July 23, 2024
I wish I could tell Mari Andrew how she’s changed my perspective on the world to be a more compassionate and creative person. The way she views the world changed me to forever look for the positive and ask myself, “what if I don’t know the whole situation? what if that person is walking slow because they have nerve damage? or maybe that person is being mean to me because their dog just died.” Her art and view of life is charming and hopeful. I hope she writes and illustrates many more books so they can carry me through the seasons of life.
April 14, 2021
Mari had my NYC lovin’ heart with her Golden Hour introduction.
“Imagine a June evening at 7pm when the city is washed in a glow that makes everything and everyone seem magical. This is a time for noticing, appreciating, for easily believing, and exclaiming, ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!’ This temporary hit of gratitude and grace can get us through the colder days.”
After 13+ months living through a pandemic/WFH in confusion, fear, and anxiety, Mari’s book reminded me of the forgotten seasons I’ve experienced. I can’t wait to once again hop on the train. To blow a kiss at the fading sun between the buildings. To look up in wonder at making it through such a wild time and to be found in such a precise moment in time. Revisiting the past while greeting the new. Beautiful book!
“Imagine a June evening at 7pm when the city is washed in a glow that makes everything and everyone seem magical. This is a time for noticing, appreciating, for easily believing, and exclaiming, ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!’ This temporary hit of gratitude and grace can get us through the colder days.”
After 13+ months living through a pandemic/WFH in confusion, fear, and anxiety, Mari’s book reminded me of the forgotten seasons I’ve experienced. I can’t wait to once again hop on the train. To blow a kiss at the fading sun between the buildings. To look up in wonder at making it through such a wild time and to be found in such a precise moment in time. Revisiting the past while greeting the new. Beautiful book!
April 16, 2021
Simply lovely. A joyful and kind look at the world through a beautiful human’s eyes, I love Mari’s writing always but this book was a refreshing oasis to read in the midst of a long hard season of waiting.
10/10 recommend.
10/10 recommend.
April 6, 2022
Loved it so much. Made me homesick for a feeling, not a place.
June 18, 2023
This was lovely. Visually, textually, emotionally, and spiritually. I love how clearly she delights in the world and urges us to. And I am even more intent on moving to NYC now ✨🧚🏻♀️
March 31, 2021
I LOVED this book. It may be one of the best books I've read in some time. It comforted me and calmed me while making me think about my life and myself in more complex ways. God, this book is just wonderful. In some ways I feel like the thoughts from this book have become a part of my DNA now and I can't get rid of them. I kinda wish I could read it again for the first time.
June 8, 2021
“Because of all the self-help books I’ve amazed, I didn’t know thar you could heal with the love of another person. I thought you were supposed to do it all alone.”
This book makes me want to run away to New York and start a new life. I adore Mari Andrew.
This book makes me want to run away to New York and start a new life. I adore Mari Andrew.
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