The Stories We Tell

Every Piece of Your Story Matters

By: Joanna Gaines

Narrated by: Joanna Gaines

READ BY THE AUTHOR

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Imagine if all the worn-out, untrue, painful chapters of our lives started to quiet, and the beautiful, unique pieces of who we are were to rise. Imagine if the stories we tell brought us back to our true selves, back to one another. Imagine if they spoke of how we loved and lost and tried our best. How we saw it all, even the parts that hurt.

Joanna Gaines' new book, The Stories We Tell, invites us on an authentic and deeply vulnerable journey into her story—and helps shine a light on the beauty of our own—guiding us to release the weights that hold us back so we may live and share our story in truth.

We've all dropped anchor in places that suited us for a time: a city, a perspective, a lie we mistook as truth. This book is an invitation to a kind of life where you know how to hold what you believe—about yourself and the quiet worlds behind the people you pass—with gracious and open hands. To see your story as greater than any past or future thing, but for all the beauty and joy and hope it holds today.

It’s an invitation to take stock of the chapters you’ve lived—the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly—glean what’s gold, and carry only that forward. Let it slow your feet and steady your life-in-motion so you can see where you stand today from a new point of view. No longer through weary or uncertain eyes, but a lens brimming with hope.

—————

"The only way to break free was to rewrite my story. Because something would happen every time my pen stopped: It was like my soul was coming back to my body. Like the deepest parts of me that got knocked around and drowned out by all the crap I let the world convince me about who I was came back to the surface. And what was left was only what was real and true. I was, finally, standing in the fullness of my story. I felt hopeful. I felt full. Our story may crack us open, but it also pieces us back together.

We all have a story to tell. This happens to be mine—every chapter a window into who I am, the journey I’m on, and the season I’m in right now. Because this is my story, maybe you won’t always relate, or maybe it will feel like you’re looking in a mirror. Whatever we have in common and whatever differences lie between us, I only hope my story can help shine a light on the beauty of yours. That my own soul work will stir something of your own. And that by the time you get to the end of my story, you’re also holding the beautiful beginnings of your own.

A story only you can tell. And I hope that you will."
-Joanna

©2022 Joanna Gaines (P)2022 Harper Select

Love this book!!!

Anyone will enjoy this book. I really felt like listening to this book made me feel like I was sitting across from Joanna while she told me her story.

Thank you Joanna

She really gave some concrete ways to. Look at your life with new eyes, this was refreshing!

SO SO good. for the soul.

I read this book at a time when I needed it most. Inspiring, satisfying, whole. page 213, there is a paragraph that speaks LOUD to me. I have written it out myself and will forever reference it. It's SO good. I finished the book in a day. God Bless Jo!

Love Joanna Gaines

I have loved all things Joanna Gaines since the first episode of Fixer Upper, and this audible book read by Joanna herself makes me appreciate her even more! Thank you, Joanna, for writing and then reading this book.

Loved it!

Joanna is a favorite! This book was wonderfully written! I highly recommend it! I love the attention it gives to our ability to write whatever story we want with our days and moments here on earth.

A beautiful reminder to look within

I loved listening to this book. I was expecting to hear about Joanna’s story- and you do, but on top of that you are reminded to shine a light on your own story.

Refreshing with clarity

Great book for us Moms trying to find ourselves! Thank you Joanna Gaines!
I hope I can have a fun everyday!

Not what I expected

This wasn’t what I expected from the author. I appreciate what she was trying to do. Some of what she said was truly inspirational and nudged me to examine myself more deeply. I’ve never written about my inner life, much less an entire book, so I know that takes courage. I applaud her for that. However, parts of this book felt repetitive and fluffy. It could have been edited differently to be shorter and still gotten her message across.

Good quick read

I like how it wasn’t a self help book exactly but offered a lot of room for reflection and good for thought

She is still learning, we are all learning

I really liked listening to her voice and I enjoyed her story. She had my attention as soon as the first paragraph. Well done.