December 8, 2025 5*****. Hannah Boyland on Goodreads
I’ll be honest, I think this is the first “self help” style book I’ve actually read all the way through.
It was so refreshing reading a book like this that was actually realistic and felt manageable. Susie acknowledged at the start how not every ‘pearl’ will be relevant for everyone, and I think that’s so important and something not many authors of this style do. As well as this, this book gives advice that feels relatively easy to implement, but that will have a positive impact. One of my biggest struggles with self help books can be how unrealistic the standards set are, but Susie acknowledges throughout how you can’t change everything overnight, and how those little changes can make a big impact!
My current plan is to now very slowly re read this, each “pearl” ends with “action/consideration” and these felt to me whilst reading like they would be brilliant journal entries, so I’m planning to pick out all of the relevant to me pearls so that I can work through them!
December 7, 2025 5***** Kelly Hollingworth on Goodreads
I read this book in its entirety and I recommend doing this before then dipping in and out of the 50 pearls as required. It champions women who are juggling with every day life whether people, emotions, work or themselves – navigating and encouraging us to be seen and feel seen. It is essentially a self help book but in reality it is so much more. I laughed in places and was quite tearful in others, relating to many of the themes. I felt inspired to read the Actionable advice and act on the Action/Considerations. I particularly liked the pearls on the difference between self-care and self-love, understanding good selfishness and choosing quality over quantity. It branches out to work, relationships with others but most importantly the relationship we have with ourselves. I loved it and am off to follow my own North Star.
December 8, 2025 5***** Ira Hakim on Goodreads
….aaaaand it’s an easy five stars from me! I really relished this witty book by Susie Hall. It is the sort of guide that you can drop into if you need a metaphorical hand on your shoulder.
As someone who is still (touch wood) in the younger years of my life, I found this comforting and relatable – and feel it could be of support to many people at different stages of their lives. This is saying something as I do find many self help or guidance books to often be a little patronising (if not downright condescending) and the Sassy Godmother manages to avoid that – and instead makes us giggle!
I found this a compassionate and digestible read that had clear advice but didn’t overload or overwhelm. Thank you!