I recently picked up The Magnolia Story off the shelf of our local target. Due to my love of Fixer Upper and my lack of knowledge on what I want to do with my life, Mrs. Nester thought it would be the perfect book for me.

Being an AP literature student, it is nice to take a break from some of the more intense stuff we read. This book was perfect for that, it is such an easy read yet it is packed full of information dealing with relationships, faith, and the real world. Written as a walk down memory lane, it goes all the way from Chip and Joanna’s first date, to shooting the pilot of Fixer Upper.

Something that really stood out to me while reading it was how they discussed faith, but didn’t force it on the audience. They offer some really neat perspectives on it. She always mentions that when something begins to go down hill, she will ask for God’s assistance, but it is always in a subtle manner. They not only speak about His influence in their lives, but others’, too. Once they told about a time they were ready to open up Joanna’s dream shop, but they just did not have the money for it at the time. The lady who owned the building they wanted called them and said, “I’ve been praying about it, and I do not know why, but I feel very strongly that God is saying I need to sell this building to you for $45,000.”

They tell us how they met, how they struggled, and how they built a business from the ground up. For all of this, they tell the reader in their own words through the really neat feature of back and forth narration by Chip and Joanna.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the multiple times Chip buys something, like his boat house, or the shotgun house, that makes Joanna so mad. Once she gets over it, they always find a way to transform it into something beautiful. They tell about the very first house they flipped, how it was nasty and small, but they made it work with the resources they had.

 If you are anything like me and you have no idea what you want in life, get sick of books way too easily, and you are doubtful that any other human being could possibly put up with you forever, this book is perfect.

This book brought comfort back into my life. It is an inside look on two people that happened to find each other, happened to find a business that they both loved, and happened to create a beautiful home and family in the making.

I recommend this book for anyone about to graduate (high school or college), stay-at-home moms that want to spruce up their home, couples who need guidance, and everyone else in-between. Chip and Joanna Gaines prove that life is not going to follow a specific plan. There is always going to be obstacles, and their book is full of tips and tricks on how to get past these problems, as well. They also show how in the midst of chaos, you can still keep your family strong.

Their voices comes through on every page as they tell the story of their now successful lives. This book may not be literary merit, but it is a wholesome story written by great people.

This intriguing, easy read, made me realize it is okay to not have a plan because life most likely won’t follow it anyway.

 “If I had planned my life, it never would have ended up like this. So maybe it’s kind of fun not to plan. Maybe it’s more fun just to see where life takes you. After all, we’re living proof that sometimes even the messiest stuff and the biggest mistakes can take you someplace wonderful…and now we’re living a dream. We found our way to this place we love through all sorts of twists and turns and bumps and forks in the road. But we’re here.” -Joanna Gaines