Joanna Gaines

Chip Gaines

Mark Dagostino

Magnolia Story

The Magnolia Story

I enjoyed learning the history of their upbringing and relationship. There were inspirational moments throughout but sometimes the narrative became repetitive. 

Sarah Wilson

Monicap

Great audiobook! Chip and Joanna reading their own story is just absolutely perfect.

It was great to hear their story, how they met (super meet-cute) and how their faith in God has driven their lives and marriage. It was really interesting to learn about all the business ventures they tried before settling on this realtor/contractor/designer business. 

Highly recommend, especially if you watch HGTV.

Courtney

This is the cutest read!

This is one of the most charming and darling stories that I’ve read! I have got to get out to the Magnolia Silos sometime!

Ashley Wendt

Are you ready to see your Fixer Upper??

Yes. Yes, I am.

I normally have a really hard time reading non-fiction, so I tend to avoid biographies. BUT, I love Fixer Upper. I love Chip & Joanna. I found myself so engrossed in this book. Both Chip and Joanna contribute to the narrative of this book. If you've watched the show, then it's easy to hear their voices and interactions as you read, making it really quick to read. 

I adored hearing how normal they are and the events that lead up to their hit show. Often times, I would put down the book and retell some of their tales to my husband as we were laying in bed at night. I cried a few times, several of those times were just because I was happy for them, for their successes, for their realizations. Several times, Joanna just made me feel so empowered. There were so many great little life reminders weaved throughout. I just can't say enough about how much I loved reading this book. It's definitely one of my favorite reads, ever.

Dom Rupp

Chip and Joanna’s story is riddled with so many good parts it’s hard to choose what I liked best about this book. Not a typical read for me but their life and how they got to where actually is inspiring. This is chalked full of witty thoughts and feelings that they share about the journey — about their business adventures almost nearly failing again and again and their family. 

I think the most incredible thing about their relationship though is how they deal with challenges all in the same way, with authenticity and integrity.

Tracie McMurray

Bianca

Best biography I have ever read! I love Chip and Jo!

Mary Horton

I love Chip and Joanna. I can't help it. Even though I've only seen a couple episodes of their show Fixer Upper, I still feel like I know the two personally. They're some of the most realistic, honest, down-to-earth people. Their love for their home, family, work, and Jesus is evident in everything they do--a rare and beautiful find in the world of reality TV.

Overall? This book was a lot of fun! Chip cracks me up and makes me wonder how Joanna doesn't go insane. XD It was great learning about some of their adventures--from sleeping in a trailer in the pouring rain next to a cemetery to buying the farm they always dreamed of owning. There were so many great things to glean from this book, as well. I was especially touched by Joanna's journey in overcoming perfectionism and realizing that not everything has to be perfect. This is something I've been personally struggling with, so it really hit home with me.

Anyway, a great read to break up all the fiction I've been devouring lately. I didn't love it, but it was still good. ^_^

4 stars!

Celeste Richardson

I have a slight addiction to HGTV. It’s not a constant addiction; it merely flares up from time to time. However, there is one HGTV show that I always watch as soon as an episode airs, and that show is Fixer Upper. I love Chip and Jo’s relationship, and the family dynamic they have with their four kids. I love seeing little snippets of their life on their farm and how Jo handles Chip’s endearing but exasperating dorkiness. I love how involved they are in their community, and how supportive they are of artisans in their area and how they do their best to promote them. I love their lifestyle, laid-back and kind of old-fashioned and unapologetically Christian but in a way that loves instead of judges. And, obviously, I love their designs, how they take a run-down house that others would bulldoze without a second thought and make it a home that is perfect for their clients. 

When I saw that Chip and Jo had written a book, I honestly just picked it up because I love them and want to support them. I’m not a big nonfiction reader, so I wasn’t sure that I’d ever actually read it. But I needed something bright and positive and inspirational, and this tiny book was exactly what I was looking for. Here is a couple who has faced hardships and muscled their way through with prayer and unflagging optimism. From a really rocky start after returning from their honeymoon to becoming HGTV’s darlings, they’ve worked incredibly hard for everything they have. (They’ve never even owned a television!) What I loved most about this book was seeing the evolution of their relationship with each other, and how it’s the foundation upon which they built every aspect of their business. Even in the pages of the book, each of them was present on every page, with Chip and Jo each having their own font. It was adorable.

The Magnolia Story was so inspirational to me. It focused so much on family and helping each other follow their dreams. If something is your passion, share it with those you love most and start working to attain it. That’s not to say that there won’t be highs and lows. There will be seasons of feast and seasons of famine, seasons of celebration and seasons of mourning, in every life. Because that is life! I know personally, I appreciate the highs in life so much more for my time spent in the trenches. But sometimes that fixation on hills and valleys can lead up to putting off our dreams until the perfect moment. Forget someday; dive in now. You never know where God will take you. 

You can find this review on my personal blog, Celestial Musings, and you can find more of my reviews on Booknest.

Sheila Goicea

Sometimes you look at a piece of furniture or an old clock or a piece of artwork---whatever it might be---and you're just drawn to it. You think, Why do I love that piece? Well, chances are it's because it reminds you of something---something from history, something from childhood, maybe even something you lost, This can be true whether the piece is extremely unique and one-of-a-kind or just plain classic.
  

This is my first attempt at a review for a memoir. Honestly, I'm not certain how to even rate or critique a book of this genre because its about a person's life and their thoughts on it. I have no investment into it other than reading about their story so...I guess it's either I like it, or I don't.

Needless to say, I liked this book. Here's why:

#1 It made me laugh. I am a huge fan of the Fixer Upper show on HGTV, because of its quality and entertainment value. Chip never fails to bring the laughs, and the same goes with this book. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions, which to me is never a bad reaction. (Unless if it's laughing in disdain, but that doesn't apply here.) 

#2 It was inspirational. If you are checking out this review on my blog, you will notice the amount of quote-worthy remarks (and then some) I took from the read. So much of it is applicable to any person, and overall promotes a great outlook on life. 

#3 It's casual, yet appropriate approach in voice and style. Not very often do I prefer informality to formality, but in this case, it fits the Gaines. I could tell that these words came from them directly, and weren't "gussied-up" by someone else. 

My only issue with the book was that it tended to be a bit disorganized, and therefore, repetitive. But I don't think it took too much away from the story.

Overall, it was an entertaining, light, and enjoyable read. 

4 stars.

See this full review on my blog along with others at: She's Going Book Crazy

Yoomi

My whole family loves Fixer Upper. My 5 and 7 year old think Chip is hilarious. And my daughter was even more intrigued to find out that Jo is half Korean like her. I love watching Chip and Jo transform a house that I think is hopeless into something beautiful.

While I’m not religious, I admire their faith. I think it has gotten them through some rough times. I’ve met people like them. They exude love and generosity. That comes through in the book. Chip is impulsive and there are a few moments when I couldn’t believe the things he did but he is also fiercely supportive of Jo. His willingness to help anyone who needed it is admirable. I don’t see God where they do. But I do see two people who put a whole lot of good out into the world. It came back two fold and I think they deserve all the good fortune that has come their way.

This was a fun read. I liked hearing about where they came from, how they came together, and what keeps them going. I just wish they could fix up a house for us!

Abby Hoggatt

Inspiring, simple, and a clear story from beginning to end with a nice message. I liked it a lot!

Magnolia Story

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