Audiobook8 hours
Everything You Ever Wanted: A Memoir
Written by Jillian Lauren
Narrated by Jillian Lauren
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
In her younger years, Jillian Lauren was a college dropout, a drug addict, and an international concubine in the Prince of Brunei's harem, an experience she immortalized in her bestselling memoir, Some Girls. In her thirties, Jillian's most radical act is learning the steadying power of love when she and her rock star husband adopt an Ethiopian child with special needs. After Jillian loses a close friend to drugs, she herself is saved by her fierce, bold love for her son as she fights to make him-and herself-feel safe and at home in the world.
Exploring complex ideas of identity and reinvention, Everything You Ever Wanted is a must-listen for everyone, especially every mother, who has ever hoped for a second act in life.
Exploring complex ideas of identity and reinvention, Everything You Ever Wanted is a must-listen for everyone, especially every mother, who has ever hoped for a second act in life.
More audiobooks from Jillian Lauren
Behold the Monster: Confronting America's Most Prolific Serial Killer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Some Girls: My Life in a Harem Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
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Reviews for Everything You Ever Wanted
Rating: 4.616666706666666 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
30 ratings11 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was quite a moving memoir about the author's international adoption process. It made it more interesting her husband is in a well-known band and that I was interested in her life after reading her first memoir, Some Girls. I enjoyed reading this book and I hope she continues to write.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A year ago I probably would have read Jillian's memoir and only taken away how much it must suck to be her, but after working for Head Start and having families dealing with very similar struggles, it really struck home. I have found myself and other teachers using some of the techniques Jillian talks about when trying to calm a brilliant child with SPD who's on a rampage, but I also learned new things to try, too. In fact, I actually got a copy to give to a parent of a child who reminded me exactly of T (behavioural wise) in the hope that it not only gives her some suggestions but also some hope.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I had never heard of this author nor this book but loved reading her journey of adoption and creating a family in a non-traditional way. She also shared concerns of what raising children is like that I think are far beyond those of adoption but close to every parent trying to find what's best for their child. I hope that she and her family continue to grow together in such a positive fashion and I look forward to reading her first book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Jillian Lauren has written a beautiful, deeply personal, and inspiring account of her journey into motherhood. While motherhood has brought joy, she candidly shares the sorrow, fears, and hurt that has come with it, as well as the changes with other family dynamics (her husband, her parents). Highly recommended.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This is an engaging memoir--I was drawn in by Lauren's frankness and ability to share on all kinds of levels. This book focuses on her journey to begin a family, from fertility treatments through adoption, and her experience raising her young son. All mothers (all parents probably) can relate to some of the frustrations she shares, I think--exploring child raising methods in books, trying things out in real life, running up against challenges you never expected and wondering how you will carry on. Overlaying those elements are the stories of her relationship with her husband during somewhat trying times; and her relationship with her parents, which changes dramatically as a result of publication of her first book. The story drew me through the book very quickly, but there were some sentences I wanted to linger over, because she'd captured an idea perfectly and expressed it beautifully.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I was familiar with Jillian Lauren's work via her first memoir (a delicious read!) Some Girls. After reading that book you know that Lauren isn't your run of the mill gal...which is what makes Everything You Ever Wanted that much more interesting! The focus of this book is her and her husband's wish for a family, and the many searching ways they tried to make that come true...finally through adoption.if you're an adoptive mom (like I am) this book will have special resonance with you, and I won't lie I definitely shed some tears reading this one. All adopted kids have some trauma, and Lauren shares how she and her husband navigate their new son's PTSD and sensory processing disorder. This is a great and heartfelt read for everyone. And if you are an adoptive parent, I implore you to add this to your "must read" list.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Author, Jillian Lauren, wants a child in her marriage so bad. Despite every measure, she does not get pregnant. She and her supportive husband decide to adopt a toddler from Africa. One who is not yet "toddling." What she discovers is that even with all the love in the world, mothering is exhaustive and can take you to your outer limits. And especially with a special needs child, as her little boy, "T", turns out to be. With consistency, love, patience, impatience, and a dedicated husband, they are able to get "T" through his PTSD of his early childhood, pre-adoption. This is very well, written, engaging the author with the reader. Her feelings are real and you can feel them through her words. As a grandmother of four, and as the mother of a speech therapist who works with special needs children, I found aspects of this with which I could relate...the students to whom my daughter refers....a friend's child as she was growing up....and so on.I would like to see a screenplay of this as well as a sequel as "T" grows up!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I read the author's first memoir, Some Girls, several years ago and thought it was a fascinating story, so when I learned she published another book, I knew I had to read it. This story in Everything You Ever Wanted is definitely less extraordinary than the one in Some Girls but that doesn't stop this book from being just as fascinating of a read. The great thing about this author is her ability to expose her flaws, mistakes, embarrassing moments as well as she conveys her triumphs. As a parent, I related well to the frustrations of parenting that she articulates, but this is a book I would think even non-parents would like. This was one of those books I devoured from start to finish, I couldn't put it down. I am looking forward to future books from this writer!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It is safe to say I devoured Everything You Ever Wanted. In the midst of reading four other books I made time for Everything every single day. But, here's the thing - her writing is so clear, so honest, so raw that I didn't want to rush it. I wanted to savor every page, every sentence, every word (much like I did when I reviewed her earlier work, Pretty).Lauren wrote Everything You Ever Wanted for her adopted son, Tariku; how she came to be his forever mom, his real mom. But, here's the beautiful thing about this book - if you know anything about Jillian Lauren you know she has had a colorful past. She is a self proclaimed former addict and slut. With her tattoos and rocker attitude she doesn't look like the perfect candidate to adopt a child, much less one with special needs. But Everything You Ever Wanted doesn't sugarcoat any of her experiences, past or present. It wasn't enough to say, "hey - I have a rough history but here's how I got beyond it." No, she let her past struggles give her strength to deal with new ones. This is a great read for anyone who thinks they "blew it" earlier in life and can't start over. Even the end of Everything You Ever Wanted has shafts of sunlit hope. Despite her sex & drugs former lifestyle, Lauren and her husband want to adopt for a second time to give Tariku a sibling. By now all the agencies know her story. SPOILER ALERT: she doesn't tell you if they are successful, but that doesn't mean they aren't trying.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This memoir is a touching exploration of the process of becoming and the transformative power of radical love and acceptance. Lauren makes a compelling case for moving beyond expectations and/of normalcy. Her writing style only rarely veers off-course, and her gripping narrative will leave the reader with lasting affection for its motley band of characters.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Jillian Lauren is a "reformed" wild child (reformed in that she is no longer a drug addict or in a harem) but she's never stopped being adventurous or passionate, In this heartfelt and honest memoir, her second, she brings us into her confidence as she becomes a wife and mother.Lauren marries the bassist from the band Weezer and they set out to start a family. After fertility treatments and "only in Los Angeles" treatments (think Maori healers and crystals) the couple make a decision to adopt a little boy named Tariku from Ethiopia. Lauren recounts the struggles and triumphs after they bring Tariku to his forever home. Tariku has a Sensory Processing Disorder and it takes a lot of love, patience, and searching to help him and Lauren navigate their new life.This was a fast read and I will definitely pick up copies of her other books.