ADVANCE PRAISE

Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature

by Zibby Owens

“Owens’s infectious enthusiasm radiates with charm, as do her earnest reflections on motherhood.”
— Publishers Weekly

“Owens recounts falling in love again after divorce and offers encouragement and advice to mothers and women trying to get it all done. Her insights into dealing with grief are touching, and readers experiencing loss may find solace in her story.”
— Kirkus Reviews

“Zibby Owens’s BOOKENDS is a candid and charming memoir about the ups and downs of midlife through the lens of reading and books. Zibby, one of the most beloved book influencers in America, shares how books can help us through tough times. An inspiring and hopeful read.”
— Arianna Huffington, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global

“I knew Zibby was an ardent supporter of authors, but I didn’t realize she was such a fantastic writer herself. Insightful, helpful, authentic and unifying, the tone of this beautifully-written memorable memoir is just so Zibby. A great choice for every busy mom.”
— Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Four Winds

“Zibby Owens has always been a terrific interviewer of authors, but it wasn’t until I read her book that I realized how deep her passion for literature truly runs. Her story is a valentine to falling in love with the written word, and for a writer – and readers – that’s the sweetest kind of tale."
— Mitch Albom, New York Times bestselling author of The Stranger in the Lifeboat

“A tender, intelligent coming-of-age tale, by turns poignant and hilarious, BOOKENDS gripped me from the first sentence. This is the kind of book you hide in the bathroom to finish, ignoring the cries of your kids and the ringing phone. But it’s also a serious meditation on the dangerous constraints of contemporary motherhood and the nature of privilege. I dare you to read it and not fall in love with Zibby!”
— Joanna Rakoff, author of international bestselling memoir My Salinger Year

“Zibby Owens has such an infectious enthusiasm––for life, for love, for her friends and family, but above all else for books––her prose glows with it. Thus BOOKENDS acts on two levels: it is both a personal journey from mute child to gregarious author, who spends her days talking to and about writers, as well as a virtual bookshelf, the kind you sometimes find in a summer rental, groaning with well-loved spines.”
— Deborah Copaken, New York Times bestselling author of Ladyparts and Shutterbabe

"BOOKENDS is a testament to the healing power of literature, love, and above all, allegiance to one's true self. Zibby Owens guides us, like a comforting friend, through her journey of loss and reinvention, reminding us, in the end, of our endless capacity for love."
— Claire Bidwell Smith, author of The Rules of Inheritance

“Lucky for us, Zibby Owens — a relentless cheerleader for authors known and unknown — has paid homage to books and the role reading has played in her endlessly fascinating life by writing her own."
— Katie Couric, New York Times bestselling author of Going There and Founder of Katie Couric Media

“I just loved it – your humanity and humor around life’s messes is so comforting.”
— Ali Ehrlich, CAA, former books producer GMA

“Loved it!!!! Where have you been all my life?”
— Jenny Mollen, New York Times bestselling author of Live Fast Die Hot

“Moms don’t have time to write memoirs but Zibby Owens did it anyway! She is a force to be reckoned with. This compulsively readable and oftentimes jaw-dropping memoir will have you rooting for her all the way through her final acknowledgements.”
— Jenny Mollen, New York Times bestselling author of Live Fast Die Hot

“Crying! It’s perfect, Zibby!!!!! Proud of you, my friend.”
— Amy Scher, author of This is How I Save My Life

“I mean this sincerely. I could not put your book down. Loved every word. Every book reference spoke to me and I loved how you combined your favorite books into your life story. Literally blown away by this.”
— Marjorie Shuster, Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center

“It’s brilliant, strong, inspiring, hard, painful, beautiful - so much loss, so much love, hope. Just WOW.”
— Lisa Barr, USA Today bestselling author of Woman on Fire

“This was a ONE-SITTING WOW READ for me. It is the story of Zibby’s life, love, loss, pain, gain, and is filled with lessons and self-discovery in a world where books provided her the ultimate escape. Zibby doesn’t hold back, and I connected with her journey on many levels. I found myself rooting for her, especially in those moments when she was hardest on herself. Brilliant, inspiring, and at times, heartbreaking, Zibby’s story is beautifully written -- a must-read for young women trying to discover who they are and who they want to be, a must-read for middle-aged women who yearn to reinvent themselves, and a must-read for ALL who have spent a lifetime with a nose in a book.”
— Lisa Barr, USA Today bestselling author of Woman on Fire

“What I loved so much about your memoir is how you peeled away all the layers to reveal this extraordinary vulnerability and bravery. I thought I sort of knew you--this uber capable whip smart woman who wasn't afraid of anything, and who could do anything, and to read that you have anxiety and that you were shy was so remarkable. I was crying with relief that it wasn't just me. I always THOUGHT you were remarkable. But now I absolutely know you are.”
— Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of With or Without You

“I admire how you express yourself with such candor and vulnerability. You express what many of us feel or have experienced in such a relatable way. This is why YOU write. When you touch someone with your words/story, that is the gift you're leaving the world. You are of the kind that needs to connect, make a difference, help someone. With this memoir, you are.”
— Rochelle Weinstein, bestselling author of This is Not How it Ends

“I could not put it down. It is so honest and heartbreaking, ultimately so deeply inspiring… I read the last pages with tears, happy tears.”
— Lea Carpenter, author of Eleven Days and Red White Blue

“I read Bookends in practically one sitting, and just wanted to say BRAVO! It's beautiful and heartfelt.”
— Mackenzie Dawson, Books Editor, The New York Post

“Part literary love story, part family history, it’s a propulsive read that chronicles Owens’s complicated relationships – with food, with romance, with books, with vast wealth –all told with self-effacing warmth…heartfelt and touching.”
— Claire Gibson, Avenue Magazine