Anchored: Finding Hope in the Unexpected

I have been following Kayla Aimee and her hilarious daughter on her blog for about two years. When my inbox gets too full and I start unsubscribing from blogs I never once considered unfollowing Kayla. Her writing is so full of wit and grace! I feel like it is a breath of fresh air every time one of her posts makes its way into my email! Because of that I was soo excited to read her first novel!! Honestly I would have read any book she wrote regardless of what the topic was because I felt like she was an amazing writer. I had no idea how amazing until I read this book. I had never read the back articles about her daughter's birth. Mostly because it's the type of story that would cause any mother's stomach to churn. But this was Kayla's story and she tells it with the perfect blend of raw honestly and southern humor. No fluff here. Just a mother's honest admission of how she felt during a trying time in her life and the hope that eventually came through God's grace. I love how she didn't try to sugar coat it but is completely honest with the feelings she had at the same time blending in just the right amount of humor to guide you through this tear jerking read. (Spoiler Alert: There is a happy ending!) Such a beautiful story and well told! Write more books, Kayla!

I've "known" Kayla online since before she was pregnant. We chatted on forums together and I began following her when her story of infertility, miscarriage, and and a hyperemetic pregnancy mirrored my own. I remember the day we were informed that she was in the hospital and the baby was coming and I don't think I've missed anything she's written since then. I say that to say that I expected that I would know this story, and that it would be a recap of her blog. I almost didn't buy the book because I thought it would just be a reprint of what I've already read. It's not. It's still signature Kayla, with a mastery of story telling that will lead you from hysterical stitches to tears and back again so quickly, you'll find yourself unsure of what just happened. But there is a depth and vulnerability in this book that is more intimate, personal, and carefully woven. She never challenges the reader to change her own mind about something she may believe or have experienced. However, the way in which she presents the things that changed, shaped, or challenged her is so real, and normal, that your guard is down and you can unthreateningly examine the conclusions and experiences your own life has made in response to pain and sorrow. Kayla is not preachy, and a lot of times I thought I was just reading a nice story, and then "bam!" something so poignant it caught my breath in my chest would jump right off the page at me. I have many doggeared pages to read again at another time. I read the book in less than one day because it was so easy to read with her. Even though I already knew how the story "ends" (up to this point), I could not stop reading. Kayla's book is not just for NICU Mommies. If you or someone you love has ever faced despair, or if you simply want to read witness to how one woman walking in grace learned to face her despair, this book is for you. Read it, savor it, be encouraged by it, be challenged by it, and join me in appreciating Kayla's wise stewardship of the story that has been given to her.

I've been reading Kayla Aimee's blog for years-- I love her writing style, her hilarious stories, and how deep she gets. She's not afraid to put herself out there, to tell you how she feels, to get deep... but she combines it with hilarious stories about her daughter that... so you can be laughing one moment, sobbing the next, and then laughing again before you're done with the blog post. When I heard KA was writing a book about her experience with her premature daughter, I preordered it right away. I'll admit, I was a little worried that her writing style wouldn't be as amazing, translating from an informal blog post to a "formal" book-- but it was just as wonderful. I was laughing one minute, crying the next, and then right back to laughing so hard I WAS crying. It was amazing. I wish I had more words to describe it than that. Reading KA's journey through her faith-- that it was rocked, but she was still faithful-- was incredibly inspiring. If she can continue to be this faithful in the midst of terrible experiences, I can grow my own faith-- I have every blessing and reason to rejoice in the Lord! I highly recommend Anchored: Finding Hope in the Unexpected-- if you love KA's blog (or even if you don't read her blog... you'll want to read it by the end of the book!) you'll want to pick this up. Again, I wish I had more words to describe it, but the only one I can come up with is "amazing." You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll feel inspired to grow in your faith... you'll want to go hug your husband and your children extra tight and thank the Lord that you have them in your life.

The book is good in nature and very descriptive about life with a premature baby. I think there was a lot of things she could of left out, as it turns out to be too wordy. You seem to loose interest in her opinions other than the facts. So glad I finally got to the end.

Libro molto bello. Racconta un'esperienza intensissima con grazia ed umorismo. Molto toccante, con un messaggio di coraggio per tutti quelli che vivono questa esperienza ed anche per quelli che non conoscono questo mondo.

An amazing story of a mother's love and human resilience. Kayla Aimee writes with such ease and passion, she pulls the reader in from the very beginning and you are then along for the ride; crying with her, laughing with her and hoping and praying that everything works out ok. A great writer and an inspiring story that every parent hopes to never experience.

There was so much in this book that I could relate to, being the mother of a 26 weeker born early this year. I appreciated the honesty of the author, and that she captured the trauma of the experience well. The style is unique and engaging.

The author does an incredible job drawing the reader into her story. One minute I was crying with her, the next minute I was laughing. Beautifully written. I highly recommend the book.

Good but wished there was more gospel encouragement. She is very funny and I liked the first half but then bored at the end.