A book review of Keys to Your 20s: The Ultimate Homebuyer Playbook for Young Adults by Jamal Henry (Start Smart. Buy Smart – Step by Step Guide for Your First Home)

Stars: *****

Self-Published (2025)
Financial Advice
155 pages

Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: “Keys to Your 20s: The Ultimate Homebuyer Playbook for Young Adults” is the real-talk manual every young adults needs. Written by Jamal Henry, who went from counting pennies to holding the keys to his own house at just 23, this book hands you the exact steps that schools never teach. Tired of hearing that home-ownership is only for the rich or those in their thirties? Jamal’s story and action plans prove it’s not just possible–it’s powerful and life-changing.

Inside, you’ll find:
– Mindset shifts to break the cycle of renting
– Budgeting and money hacks that don’t suck the fun out of life
– Side hustle ideas to stack real cash (and keep it)
– Honest credit-building advice (no fluff, no scams)
– Step-by-step guides for making your first offer and closing the deal

You’ll also get real strategies for dealing with family and social pressure, using loans and programs like NACA, and managing your new home after move-in. Jamal’s unique blend of easy-to-follow instructions, personal examples, and motivational mantras keeps you moving forward–even when the process gets tough.

Every chapter ends with actionable advice, exercises, and reflection questions, so you’re always building practical skills not just reading theories. Whether you’re a college student, working your first job, or already saved a little, this playbook will walk you through every stage, from setting your first savings goal to holding your keys. Ready to rewrite your story and build your wealth early? Grab this playbook, take action, and prove that age is just a number when it comes to owning your future.

Keys to Your 20s

This book is very interesting and would have been very helpful when I was a teen or young adult. I’m reading this as a 40-something with the intention to share it with my teen/young adult children afterwards.

I like that the advice isn’t just what you’d expect (save your money.) The author Jamal has figured out how to be a homeowner in his 20s. Now I owned my house in my 20s too but that was because I received a large amount of money from an accident lawsuit. I used the last of it as a down payment on a house. I wish I had used that money more wisely though. This book would have been helpful with that even if it had been around then.

He includes actionable steps, not just advice that you can’t actually follow.

Don’t make the mistake of discounting this book because it is self published. It should absolutely be picked up by a big publisher to help it get to more people. In the meantime I recommend it as required reading for ages 13+. It says 20s but really the earlier you get the concepts the earlier you can start so that you CAN have a house of your own in your 20s. If you or your child is already in their 20s though it’s still worth the read. You will learn a lot about money management.

Buy Keys to Your 20s from Amazon.com

This is a book review of the So You Want To Be A… series by Linda Soules

Stars: *****

Self-Published
Children’s Nonfiction
38 pages

These adorable books are not like ones made for younger children that have very few (and obvious) words. These books are more like children’s nonfiction in a picture book. There is lots of information that an aspiring doctor, veterinarian, astronomer, chef, police officer so many more would need to know.

There are so many titles and they included lesser talked about professions such as chocolatier, voice actor, waterslide tester, ice cream flavor inventor, candy scientist, CEO, beekeeper, hot sauce creator, food stylist and SO many more.

These books are designed for ages 10-14, probably because they are text heavy. Something to note is the illustrations are AI. Now I know that is a big NO for some people but I like them and it doesn’t detract from the story, in fact it adds to it. As the author says, she’s a writer, not an illustrator.

At the end of the book is a glossary and websites/books to check out, organizations to know of and things to do to further learning. I especially like the What You Can Do To Prepare Now section which gives real ideas for the aspiring (fill in the blank profession) to do to start learning about the topic.

Check them out at amazon.com

A book review of Unread: A Memoir of Learning (and Loving) to Read on TikTok by Oliver James

Stars: *****

Union Square & Co (2026)
242 pages
Memoir

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: As a result of childhood learning disabilities and educational neglect, Oliver James graduated from high school and became one of approximately 45 million functionally illiterate Americans. However, at age 32, with big dreams and few tools to actualize them, he dedicated himself to learning the key skill that had evaded him his entire life: reading.

Oliver has become a TikTok/BookTok sensation for the way he’s candidly documented his decision to learn to read as an adult, and his struggles and triumphs along the way. Here, he tells the full story behind his journey for the first time through the 21 key books that shaped and informed his experience. His story reveals the ways in which reading can teach each of us how to be better, more empathetic people.

In just 365 days, Oliver went from barely being able to read a restaurant menu to closing in on his goal of finishing 100 books in a year. Unread is a moving reminder to all of us that words and stories have power, and that, no matter our past, it’s never too late to grow.

Unread

I grabbed this from the library because it sounded interesting. It’s the story of a boy (and then man) who wasn’t able to read and hid it because he was embarrassed.

Oliver James teaches us that when someone is illiterate it’s not just about not being able to read a book but means they can’t read street signs, fill out forms or even navigate the streets. There is so much that requires reading that as a regular reader, I hadn’t thought of.

Reading this book opens your eyes so much to the plight of the illiterate. Also I always thought being illiterate was very rare but apparently it’s not. We really need to do something about this. I homeschool but I understand this doesn’t work for everyone. We need to improve the school systems and find ways to find those who are unable to read and get them the right supports.

The book isn’t just about learning to read but also the community you can find on social media. On TikTok people rally around Oliver. They cheer him on, they suggest books and they discuss the books he reads. There are lots of trolls on social media but if you can ignore them, there are also lots of good people on there.

Buy Unread on Amazon.com

A book review of Directed by James Burrows: Five Decades of Stories from the Legendary Director of Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, Will & Grace, and more by James Burrows

Stars: ****

Ballantine Books (2022)
Memoir>TV
352 pages

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: Legendary sitcom director James Burrows has spent five decades making America laugh. Here readers will find never-revealed stories behind the casting of the dozens of great sitcoms he directed, as well as details as to how these memorable shows were created, how they got on the air, and how the cast and crew continued to develop and grow. Burrows also examines his own challenges, career victories, and defeats, and provides advice for aspiring directors, writers, and actors. All this from the man who helped launch the careers of Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Aniston, Debra Messing, and Melissa McCarthy, to name a few. 

Burrows talks fondly about the inspiration he found during his childhood and young adult years, including his father, legendary playwright and Broadway director Abe Burrows. From there he goes on to explain his rigorous work ethic, forged in his early years in theater, where he did everything from stage managing to building sets to, finally, directing. Transitioning to television, Burrows locked into a coveted job with The Mary Tyler Moore Show, where he first observed and then started to apply his craft. Directing most of the episodes of Taxi came next, where he worked closely with writers/producers Glen and Les Charles. The three formed a remarkable creative partnership that helped Burrows achieve his much sought-after goal of ownership and agency over a project, which came with the creating and directing of the seminal and beloved hit Cheers. Burrows has directed more than seventy-five pilots that have gone to series and over a thousand episodes, more than any other director in history.

Directed by James Burrows is a heart-and-soul master class in sitcom, revealing what it truly takes to get a laugh.

Directed by James Burrows

As someone who grew up with most of these shows, I was interested in read this book. I like behind the scenes of TV shows and movie type books. It took me a long time to get through this book, not because it wasn’t interesting though. It’s large and isn’t a quick read. If you speed read you won’t be able to take from it what was intended.

James Burrows, as a director, is often overlooked when talking about TV shows. We focus on the actors for the most part. When you think of Friends or Frasier, you think of the actors not the director. However without the director the show wouldn’t come together.

It was very interesting reading about the start of the shows, like before the pilot. There is information on how they pitched the show to networks, how they picked cast including in some cases who almost got picked or the show names that almost got used.

The book is written like a memoir but includes dialogue from the shows in certain parts. Also the middle of the book has photos of James Burrows, sometimes alone, sometimes with other directors/producers and sometimes with cast.

It was very interesting.

Buy Directed by James Burrows at Amazon.com

A book review of Without Your Father by Jessica Lynne Henkle

Stars: *****

Unsolicited Press 2026
Memoir
136 pages

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: Five days after the sudden death of Jessica Lynne Henkle’s father, the phrase “when your father dies” seeped into her shock-sore brain, and for the next year, it kept pouring out of her. Half-blind with questions, she catalogued that year, in all its unmerciful unknowns, and ended up with a series of snapshots. Time passes, and yet, it doesn’t. Each day is distinct, and yet, it is exactly the same. Without Your Father is concrete, abstract, gentle, blunt, lighthearted, and deeply sad all at once. But then, so is grief. Written in the second person and with searing honesty, the book consists of 112 vignettes that depict the oddities and absurdities of navigating sudden loss, along with the utter devastation of it: the daily, sometimes hourly trudging forward in a life that has become unrecognizable now that one person is no longer in it. Some of the vignettes tell a story; others are more like prose poems.

The book can be read in one sitting, savored over several days, or dropped into at random for a dose of reflection, comfort, or validation. More than anything, that’s what Jessica yearned for during her time of terrible grief: the sense that what she was feeling was not alien, even if it was alien to her. Without Your Father seeks to mimic the grieving process itself and allows readers to enter its pages and move through their own losses, in their own ways. It is, at its core, an offering-from one grieving soul to another.

Without Your Father

This book is more than a memoir of a lost father. It’s written in an unusual way that is captivating and kept me reading even though it’s such a sad topic.

Each page in the book only contains one paragraph, some longer than others. They are numbered 1-112 and are further separated into sections. Each reads like an entry into a journal almost but not in a dear diary style. More like a memory mixed with raw emotions and showing the process of grief from recent death to a year past. The book calls them vignettes.

They are written in the second person as if it was your father that died. This I find, makes it hard to read if you haven’t lost your father because it makes a stark reminder that the day will come. However I plan to keep the book to reread after that fateful day. It’s that poignant and I think it will be comforting.

Buy Without Your Father on Amazon.ca

A book review of Becoming Homeschoolers: Give Your Kids a Great Education, a Strong Family, and a Life They’ll Thank You For Later by Monica Swanson

Stars: ****

Zondervan Books 2024
Education>Homeschooling
210 pagess

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: If you’ve ever wondered whether you have what it takes to homeschool your children, look no further. Parenting author, podcaster, and homeschool mom Monica Swanson is here to tell you: you can do it. In fact, it can be the most fun, family-unifying, character-building, life-equipping experience you and your children will ever have.

Becoming Homeschoolers tackles your legitimate doubts and fears about homeschooling, as well as the questions you want answered before you commit–questions like where to start and how to choose a curriculum, build social skills, teach what you’re not good at, and prepare for college. With humor and encouragement, Monica weaves her own story of homeschooling her four boys with step-by-step, practical advice. It’s time to trade fear for empowerment and insecurity for confidence as you live out your own story of becoming homeschoolers.

Becoming Homeschoolers

I picked up this book when ordering books online. I wasn’t specifically looking for it but I love reading homeschool books. This was a good book if you are a Christian interested in homeschooling or if you recently started homeschooling and feel a bit lost.

I don’t fit either of those categories as I’ve been homeschooling for more than 4 years but I enjoyed the book anyhow. The book is organized into three sections: Deciding to Homeschool, Preschool to College and Everything Else You Need to Know.

The Deciding to Homeschool section includes 20 Good Reasons to Homeschool Your Kids, 10 Things Homeschoolers Get to Avoid, 11 Reasons Families Don’t Try Homeschooling (or Don’t Stick With It) and 3 Simple Steps to Become Homeschoolers.

In Preschool to college, each chapter is devoted to an age group and specific advice is given in each chapter that pertain to that age/grade. This is especially helpful to find targeted advice or to avoid age groups you don’t have. Although I’d recommend reading the age groups your children haven’t gotten to yet and only skip the younger ones if all your kids are older and you aren’t having more.

Section three includes electives/extracurriculars, sports, variations on homeschooling, day in the life and the final nudge. Finally there are resources listed which you can find by going to a page on the author’s website.

Buy Becoming Homeschoolers at Amazon.com

A book review of The Mother Next Door: Medicine, Deception and Munchausen by Proxy by Andrea Dunlop and Mike Weber

Stars: *****

St. Martin’s Press (2025)
Child Abuse
272 pages

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: No bond is more sacred than that between a mother and child. And no one is more sympathetic than a mother whose child faces a life-threatening illness. But what if the mother is the cause of the illness? What if the sympathy is the point?

Munchausen by proxy (MBP) has fascinated and horrified both professionals and the general public since this disturbing form of child abuse was first identified. But even as the public has been captivated by these tales of abuse and deception, there remains widespread misinformation and confusion about MBP. Are these mothers unfeeling psychopaths, or sick women who need help? And more important, how can we protect the children whose lives are at stake?

The Mother Next Door offers a groundbreaking look at MBP from an unlikely duo: a Seattle novelist whose own family was torn apart by it, and the Texas detective who has worked on more medical child abuse cases than anyone in the nation. Readers ride along on three high-stakes MPB investigations; through riveting reporting and shocking stories from the family members, friends, and doctors caught in the blast zone of these unthinkable acts, a twisted portrait of motherhood and deceit is revealed.

With help from some of the top MBP experts in the world, Dunlop and Weber uncover the complex maze of psychological, systemic, and cultural issues that compound MBP and offer solutions for how we might find our way out.

The Mother Next Door

Munchausen By Proxy is a horrible form of medical child abuse that isn’t as well known about as it should be. It’s crazy how these parents get away with such shocking stories. It’s not just slowly poisoning or pretending their children are sick although they absolutely do that. They even manage to convince doctors to do unnecessary surgeries on their young children, even brain surgery! It’s crazy.

The book is written by Andrea Dunlop whose family has been broken apart by MBP allegations on her own sister. It’s also cowritten by Mike Weber who worked as a cop to help get to the bottom of the allegations and work to keep children safe.

While the topic is horrible, the book is written well. They know their topic and they do research when they don’t. They share it all and I read the whole book in 2 days. I would have read it in 1 if I could have stayed awake all night.

I think it’s important for others to read this, especially those in health care so they can be aware of warning signs.

Buy The Mother Next Door at amazon.com

A book review of Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry M. Prizant, PhD with Tom Fields-Meyer

Stars: *****

Simon & Schuster (2015)
Psychology
256 pages

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: Autism therapy typically focuses on ridding individuals of “autistic” symptoms such as difficulties interacting socially, communication problems, sensory challenges, and repetitive behavior patterns. Now, this updated and expanded edition of Dr. Barry M. Prizant’s Uniquely Human tackles new language such as shifting from “person-first language” to “identity-first language,” diversity of identity in the autism sphere, and the future of autistic advocacy by amplifying the voices of autistic and neurodivergent individuals.

“A must-read for anyone touched by autism…Dr. Prizant’s Uniquely Human is a crucial step in promoting better understanding and a more humane approach” (Associated Press). Instead of classifying “autistic” behaviors as signs of pathology, Dr. Prizant sees them as part of a range of strategies to cope with a world that feels chaotic and overwhelming. Rather than curb these behaviors, it’s better to enhance abilities, build on strengths, and offer supports that will lead to more desirable behavior and a better quality of life.

Uniquely Human

This was my second read through of this book. I read it years ago when we thought my son might have autism but now that he has a diagnosis I wanted to read it again. I’m glad I did.

This book gives you a different look on Autism, as a way a brain works, not something to fix. I want to support my son, not fix him, as he is not broken.

The book is separated into two sections: Understanding Autism and Living with Autism. Understanding Autism helps you see Autism in a different light than it used to be thought of (and still is today in some circles.) Living With Autism helps support the individual with Autism. The book is full of actual strategies to help with social skills or other areas where they struggle.

Buy Uniquely Autism from Amazon.com

A book review of Behind the Maltese Cross by Garrie Madison Stoutimore

Stars: ****

Mountain Aura Publishing (2025)
Memoir/True Stories
242 pages

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: Behind the Maltese Cross is a compelling blend of memoir and investigative storytelling that takes readers into the heart of the firefighting world. The sister of two career firefighters, Garrie Madison Stoutimore weaves personal growth with the raw, often untold stories of firefighters on the front lines, balancing moments of humor, heartbreak, and triumph, offering readers an authentic look at the realities of fire service life.

This isn’t just another book about fire engines and burning buildings. It’s a tribute to the silent heroes who run headlong into danger while others run away. From unforgettable calls that haunt a firefighter’s memory to traditions laced with honor and courage, these are deeply human stories about ordinary people who do extraordinary work- men and women who charge into chaos- not for glory, but for the sake of the people they serve. Their stories capture not only the excitement and danger of the job but also the quiet moments that follow- moments filled with reflection, grief, laughter, and resilience.

Some stories will make you laugh. Others may bring a tear. All will stay with you. Whether you’ve ridden the engine or simply wondered about those who do, Behind the Maltese Cross will take you behind the badge and into the fire

Behind the Maltese Cross

This book is written/edited by the sister of two firefighters and she interviews and shares stories from many different firefighters, fire chiefs and even the Fire Marshall.

The book was a little slow at first but shortly after got into the meat of the book which is the interviews. I like that instead of an interview format the interviews are shared as if she is just talking to you about the interview she did and sharing their stories in a digestible way. Interview format is hard to read and follow sometimes.

The book isn’t very big and it didn’t take too long to read it but some of the stories are heavy with emotion, both happy and sad.

You don’t have to be a firefighter or an aspiring firefighter to enjoy this book. In fact I think it makes a bigger impact on those who are NOT in the firefighter profession because if you aren’t in it, you don’t know what it’s really like. This is an eye opener into life as a firefighter.

Buy Behind the Maltese Cross at Amazon.com

This is a book review of The Guinea Pig Diaries: My Life as an Experiment by A.J. Jacobs

Stars: ****

Simon & Schuster (2009)
Humour/Essays
235 pages

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: One man. Ten extraordinary quests.

Bestselling author and human guinea pig A.J. Jacobs puts his life to the test and reports on the surprising and entertaining results. He goes undercover as a woman, lives by George Washington’s moral code, and impersonates a movie star. He practices “radical honesty,” brushes his teeth with the world’s most rational toothpaste, and outsources every part of his life to India—including reading bedtime stories to his kids.

And in a new adventure, Jacobs undergoes scientific testing to determine how he can put his wife through these and other life-altering experiments—one of which involves public nudity.

Filled with humor and wisdom, My Life as an Experiment will immerse you in eye-opening situations and change the way you think about the big issues of our time—from love and work to national politics and breakfast cereal.

The Guinea Pig Diaries

I am well familiar with A.J. Jacobs having read two of his other book: The Know-it-All and The Year of Living Biblically. I also have another of his books I haven’t read yet. I love his books and this one is no different.

In this one he shares the essays he wrote for Entertainment Weekly where he used himself as an experiment to see what would happen with various things for example going undercover as a woman and impersonating a movie star. He goes all in with his experiments often annoying his very patient wife and taking things to the (funny) extreme.

Whereas his other two books were all about one experiment, this book covers 9 experiments. I loved the one where he outsourced his life to India. Hilarious. Although the book is old (considering 2009 was 17 years ago) and doesn’t include life with our faces stuck in our smart phones, the lessons he learned while experimenting with his life were not just funny, they were interesting and important.

Buy The Guinea Pig Diaries from Amazon.com