Reviewed by Jon Michael Miller for Readers' Favorite

OMG! It’s Harvey Korman’s Son! by Chris Korman with Ron Brewer and forewords by Carol Burnett and Peter Marshall (the title representing the constant refrain ringing in Chris’s head) is an eminently readable and fascinating memoir of Chris Korman’s childhood and young adulthood in the show business arena of a bygone generation. It reveals the advantages and disadvantages of being an acting legend’s offspring and of the ups and downs of stage and screen. There is virtually no star left unnamed in this autobiography, for as Chris Korman tells it, his father rubbed shoulders with every performer from Carol Burnett and Tim Conway to Whoopi Goldberg and Vin Scully. Chris experienced the heyday of television, film, and even Broadway, firsthand.

Chris Korman confesses that he and his co-writer Ron Brewer are merely “milking” all these celebrity names and anecdotes to introduce the reader to a much more important story. Chris was born with a learning disability (LD), a hyaline membrane condition that can lead to methemoglobinemia disease. The main theme of the book highlights Chris’s trials and victories as he negotiated his way through the advantages and disadvantages of growing up in an often chaotic though loving world. Chris and Ron feature his education through a series of programs helping such kids to “compensate, endure, persevere and succeed.” We witness Chris’s first public speaking presentation with his dad at his school’s celebrity golf tournament. We also delight in his several acting gigs, his minimum wage jobs, and. his marriage and fatherhood. We are saddened at the death of his father, as well as wish him well in his current business venture. Through the enduring love and nurturing of his parents and often their famous friends, we see that with the proper education and empathy, kids like Chris have a real chance of a happy and productive life. OMG! It’s Harvey Korman’s Son! is not only a picture of celebrity but a moving portrait of hope.

Reviewed by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite

Funny Face is a compelling, hilarious, and profoundly educative narrative that reveals different stages of Peggi Davis' active life: the excitement and eagerness of youth, the challenges and thrills of being a stepmother while juggling a colorful career with creating happy memories with friends, and the mellowness of retirement and having to deal with the invisibility that comes with aging. In Funny Face, nationally recognized fashion art and creative director Peggi Davis shares the beautiful and not so beautiful moments in her life, including meeting a real-life cowboy in Texas, sharing a memorable and delicious meal with friends at Dallas' Steak and Ale, laughing uncontrollably at inappropriate times, and losing her mother. Through Peggi's story, we see the importance of getting off social media and leaving a mundane, work-centric reality for a life that involves making beautiful connections and exploring all the wonderful experiences life has to offer.

Before reading Funny Face, I wouldn't have imagined being bothered by the state of mentally remaining the same person you were when younger but looking different and less attractive when older. Thus, one of the reasons I love reading sincere, soul-baring memoirs, like Funny Face, is that they help me prepare for some circumstances that I would have, otherwise, been unprepared for. Peggi Davis' book also tells others who are already at the stage she is that they are not alone. The book's combination of wise quotes, interesting psychological terminologies, and profound conclusions add depth and meaning to the entertaining events it contains. Peggi's artistic use of words and her exciting, diverse experiences make her book an addictive read—which I see becoming one of my favorite memoirs in all of 2022!

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

I should have eaten mine. It did cross my mind at times, not seriously, of course. But when things were going majorly awry, it did make me ponder the possibility and the irritating question, “Will this ever end?” Believe it or not, there are ways to cope, ways to find some humor, some sanity in these often insane moments. But face it, life isn’t easy and neither is being a parent. “This life thing is hard. Parenting is hard. But you can do it.” We all can. All we need to do is garner support from other like-minded, similarly stressed parents and realize that we’re not alone. And, although we would never do it (I hope), it’s not unnatural to consider eating our young. Remember, it’s all about survival and that old adage, “survival of the fittest.”

Dallas Louis’s self-help book, Why Some Animals Eat Their Young: A Survivor’s Guide to Motherhood, is a compassionate and rather humorous look at motherhood from one woman’s perspective. Marrying the man of her dreams and having three babies in just over two years may seem to some like a “Brady Bunch” scenario like no other (emphasis on the ‘no other’). Told in her own voice, this first-person narrative is a romping memoir that will lead the reader through those mine-inflicted challenges of motherhood. Sharing her story and some well-earned advice, the author provides readers with an opportunity to reassess their own predicaments that involve the often unruly and definitely unpredictable scenarios brought on by the inquisitive young minds of children. Being a mother is undoubtedly one of the most difficult (if not the most difficult) occupations on this planet, but this book paints another view, one that will have readers feeling refreshed and ready to once again face those little --- whatever you want to call them. And, no, I wouldn’t suggest eating one’s young – for one thing, they might taste a little like something they just ate. A great, light-hearted read.

Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

Readers may be daunted by what to expect if they dare to read The Ins and Outs of My Vagina. I must say that author Karin Freeland has real guts to share so much of her intimate life. Without a doubt, more reserved female readers may be positively scandalized by what Freeland airs about her voyage with her vagina in this work of memoir and creative non-fiction. Others will envy her courage and applaud her honesty. Her style is friendly and conversational: you’ll feel like the two of you are close friends having a “girly” conversation over several glasses of wine.

I confess, I didn’t select this book to learn more about a very private part of my anatomy; there are plenty of medical books to consult if I need that information. No. I decided to read The Ins and Outs of My Vagina from sheer curiosity about how and what Karin Freeland would write in a “penetrating memoir” (pun obviously intended) with such a clever and provocative double-entendre title. Was she going to shock or amuse me? I just had to read this memoir! Let me start by saying Freeland’s memoir is unique, not just because of its subject but also because if women were game enough to be as open as Freeland is, we might all be less hung up on the paradox of those blessed curses called vaginas; those incongruous sources of so much pleasure, pain, and confusion.

As Freeland traveled back into her childhood and first real awareness of her vagina, I found myself laughing. Once she entered puberty, I recognized myself in all her questions, fears, and misgivings about her anatomy. And when it came to her desire and eventual struggle to experience that “big O,” I heard the voices of so many of my women friends who have confessed to faking it instead of making it. Guess what, ladies? You are far from alone in getting your vagina to co-operate during sex!

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

Just Say "#$%#&! No!": A Book Dedicated to the Well Intended Overextended by Heather and Karen Tobin is a delightful and funny book that discusses the art of saying no. The book is a wonderful tribute to the love between the two sisters. One author speaks about how after being divorced at forty, her life changed and she found herself taking up every project and demand that came her way. Her sister started sending her poems, trying to make her understand so she could see the bigger picture. The book is a collection of those poems, wonderfully illustrated, and gives a unique and fresh look at the concept of saying "No."

Saying no is important for everyone to preserve their peace of mind and health, and Just Say "#$%#&! No!" tackles the subject light-heartedly and in a humorous way, along with conveying the message subtly. This book is for readers who feel guilty when they say no, and do not value their time because they are doing chores for others. The poems are real and relatable to many readers and will definitely bring a smile to the faces of everyone reading this book. For all those readers who find saying no difficult, Heather and Karen Tobin's book will make them realize the importance of self-care, and help set new boundaries for them. What a hilarious way to make readers understand the importance of saying NO! without making it too philosophical and complicated.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

Becoming a parent is one of the most joyful events we experience but it is also a very tough one. We all want to be the perfect parent and face so many decisions daily. You want your children to grow up to be confident and self-aware but we also want them to be respectful and self-disciplined. Clean Your Plate! by Liz Bayardelle covers the many topics of contention and confusion. How do you persuade your child to complete their homework? Should we offer a child money with no strings attached? How can we motivate a child to reach their highest potential? Should we expect a child to be respectful to their elders? How can we teach a child not to give up when things get tough? How can we nurture a positive mindset in a child? How can we persuade our children to eat healthily? The guide is written for parents by parents and will unravel the many pieces of advice we often give to our children which may be doing more harm than good.

What separated this book from many other parenting guides is the relaxed and humourous way it offers advice. You can definitely tell this guide was written by parents and you feel like you are sharing a coffee with an experienced parent/psychologist. I have learned so much about the differences between what we say and what the child actually hears. This was extremely mind-blowing to think how much harm we may be causing to our child's self-belief and confidence. The cheat sheets at the end of each chapter were brilliant as they educate the parent so effectively on the art of persuasion and compromise. I thought the chapter on the two types of motivation was really helpful. The techniques in this guide will definitely help any child cultivate a healthy and positive mindset about any given situation. I loved the chapter on respect too; the phrase, 'affection is voluntary', was really powerful. I did find myself laughing at some sections, especially some of the references to children. For example spawn of the devil, tiny terrorists, and jerks made the entire guide more enjoyable to read and I didn't feel as if I was being preached at. There are so many helpful tips throughout and my particular favorites were the 7 Principles at the end of the guide, especially the Scaffolding principle and the explanation of neuroplasticity which explains how a child can form more beneficial habits. I highly recommend Clean Your Plate! by Liz Bayardelle to anyone who is facing a parenting roadblock.

Reviewed by Tom Gauthier for Readers' Favorite

Altared: A Tale of Renovating a Medieval Church in Tuscany is a charming ride-along with Kyle Tackwell Ball as she pursues her desire to own property in Italy. Her lighthearted narrative makes any of us who have ever tackled a “fixer-upper” project kneel down in thanks that we stopped far short of an abandoned church in Tuscany. She takes us through the unfathomable bureaucratic maze, swerving here and there to throw language challenges, then sliding to a halt at social events with new friends to wrap her in customs warm and charming – and incomprehensible to her. We follow along as she grows, learns, stumbles, and repeats it with a tenacity to prevail that we can only applaud. Ball’s attention to detail both in the project and in telling us about it is brilliant. Her descriptions of the landscape, architecture, history – and the people – are gripping.

Charming, cute, sometimes poignant, Altared delivers a delightful journey through a seemingly impossible mission of making a 12th century abandoned church into a 21st century Tuscany hideaway. Kyle moves us along with a stream of consciousness that at once describes then decries her discoveries, jumping from subject to subject in a way that should confuse us but instead charms us with her perspicacious headlong dive into a culture and a dream. Kyle keeps us chuckling at her constant comparisons of events to songs, movies, books, and other seemingly encyclopedic snippets of her boundless repertoire. Kyle regales us with descriptions of local characters interacting in vignettes and cultural motifs initially incomprehensible to an American. She keeps us learning the Italian language with her and joining in her laughing interpretations. Altared is a laudable first work by Kyle Tackwell Ball. Her writing is engaging, light, and entertaining, and while I would never wish another project like Le Convertoie on her, it would be a pure pleasure to read another tale from this new author. Without reservation, I recommend reading Altared: A Tale of Renovating a Medieval Church in Tuscany.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

Life experiences, challenges, and celebrations build lasting memories. These can be both positive and negative but it is your reaction to these events that is the most important. Throughout this collection of personal stories, we learn the power of holding a positive mindset through difficult times and using the lessons learned in a beneficial, not harmful way. In Sooo... How Was Your Day? by Brenda Hammon, discover how Brenda was able to gain a clear perspective on seemingly negative situations such as medical problems, a relationship breakdown, and conquering her biggest fears to emerge stronger and wiser. Follow her brave adventures, her comical mishaps, and heartbreaking hurdles and how these events allowed her true strength of character to emerge.

Sooo... How Was Your Day? by Brenda Hammon is such a well-written account of true-life experiences. Brenda has the most amazing storytelling ability and the entire book reminded me of friends and family sharing their experiences over the dinner table. There is such a diverse range of subjects covered which evoke many different emotions, from sadness to laughter. Every story includes a powerful life lesson that can be related to our own lives. Brenda inspires us to face our fears, challenges, and obstacles head-on with a positive mindset that a solution is available. She embraces everything with such an adventurous and courageous attitude, even skydiving when she suffers from vertigo. I absolutely adored her relationship with her husband Bud, their personalities complement each other perfectly. Her bravery was perfectly highlighted when she broke her ankle and announced that denial was her friend. I also thought the illustrations at the beginning of each story were excellent, especially the hysterical picture of Brenda in, ' What the hell was I thinking?' Brenda is definitely the type of person everyone needs as a friend to inspire you to become the best version of yourself.

Reviewed by Michelle du Plooy for Readers' Favorite

Lisa Smith Molinari just got added to my list of favorite authors. Her writing technique is real, humble, and honest and has that touch of humor that everyone needs. In The Meat and Potatoes of Life, Lisa writes from experience and so you can feel it comes from the heart. Her story is a true-life account of day-to-day life, told as if she were writing a diary every day, just with a touch of humor to lighten even the worst encounters. She tells her story of how she got married to a Navy officer with a big heart but absolutely no sense of being a handyman around the house. Once married, they had three very different children together. She documents her day-to-day encounters, good and bad; how she decided to streamline her life by quitting her full-time job as a litigation attorney to stay home and become a full-time organized mom – or so she thought.

The Meat and Potatoes of Life is for everyone trying to figure out juggling life with a busy and unpredictable family, and a 110-pound dog named Dinghy. Whilst Lisa writes from her perspective, her book guides and teaches along the way, letting you know that life is not a schedule cast in stone, and rules must be bent and broken in order to get back on track and have a well-balanced family. A life tale later, and more than two and a half decades of marriage, parenting, and military life, they are happier than ever. I really love Lisa's style of writing. Her story is well told and uplifting for anyone starting out life as a family or anyone caught in the hubbub of life as it happens and feels that they can't get out of disorganized chaos. A must-read if you need some humor mixed in with your everyday challenges of running a very busy household. I can highly recommend this book.

Reviewed by Michael Gardner for Readers' Favorite

Weasel and Rag: Wasting Time With Watercolor by Richard Schwindt takes us on a hilarious A to Z romp through the world of watercolor painting from the point of view of an anguished practitioner. We’re treated to a dissection of every topic from artists to colors, art school, equipment, psychology, and even the relationship of watercolor painting to BDSM. Schwindt makes a convincing argument for the last item on that list too. The danger with the A to Z style of book, non-fiction or otherwise, is it can feel disjointed. Not in this case at all. Schwindt creates an excellent, cohesive narrative flow by referencing previous sections of the book and through the use of running gags. They’re good gags too. I never expected I’d be belly laughing at ‘plein air’, purple (ugh), dental hygienists, and cadmium yellow.

I’m putting Weasel and Rag on my ‘books I didn’t expect I’d ever want to read, but am very glad I did’ shelf. Richard Schwindt’s voice and style are accessible and engaging. It feels like he’s sitting in the same room, regaling you with his anecdotes and advice over a can of watery beer. His humor is irreverent and charming in equal parts. I was hooting out loud once I’d got into the rhythm and flow of the book. Laughs aside, Weasel and Rag also provides good information and practical advice. This is a book for anyone who has ever been pained by their creative hobby but can’t stop themselves from doing it anyway.