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EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL: A novel.
Lanie Coates’s life is spinning out of control. She’s piled everything she owns into a U-Haul and driven with her husband, Peter, and their three little boys from their cozy Texas home to a multiflight walkup in the Northeast. She’s left behind family, friends, and a comfortable life–all so her husband can realize his dream of becoming a professional musician. But somewhere in the eye of her personal hurricane, it hits Lanie that she once had dreams too. If only she could remember what they were.
These days, Lanie always seems to rank herself dead last–and when another mom accidentally criticizes her appearance, it’s the final straw. Fifteen years, three babies, and more pounds than she’s willing to count since the day she said “I do,” Lanie longs desperately to feel like her old self again. It’s time to rise up, fish her moxie out of the diaper pail, and find the woman she was before motherhood capsized her entire existence.
Lanie sets change in motion–joining a gym, signing up for photography classes, and finding a new best friend. But she also creates waves that come to threaten her whole life. In the end, Lanie must figure out once and for all how to find herself without losing everything else in the process.
Katherine Center’s Everyone Is Beautiful is a hugely entertaining, poignant, and charming new novel about what happens after happily ever after: how a woman learns to fall in love with her husband–and her entire life–all over again.
From the Hardcover edition.
These days, Lanie always seems to rank herself dead last–and when another mom accidentally criticizes her appearance, it’s the final straw. Fifteen years, three babies, and more pounds than she’s willing to count since the day she said “I do,” Lanie longs desperately to feel like her old self again. It’s time to rise up, fish her moxie out of the diaper pail, and find the woman she was before motherhood capsized her entire existence.
Lanie sets change in motion–joining a gym, signing up for photography classes, and finding a new best friend. But she also creates waves that come to threaten her whole life. In the end, Lanie must figure out once and for all how to find herself without losing everything else in the process.
Katherine Center’s Everyone Is Beautiful is a hugely entertaining, poignant, and charming new novel about what happens after happily ever after: how a woman learns to fall in love with her husband–and her entire life–all over again.
From the Hardcover edition.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
883 people are currently reading
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About the author
Katherine Center
22 books31.4k followershttps://katherinecenter.com/about/
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
https://www.instagram.com/katherinece...
BookPage calls Katherine Center “the reigning queen of comfort reads.” She’s the New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Bodyguard, Hello Stranger, Things You Save in a Fire, and her summer 2024 book, The Rom-Commers. Katherine writes laugh-and-cry books: bittersweet romantic comedies about how life knocks us down—and how we get back up. She’s been compared to both Jane Austen and Nora Ephron, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” The Netflix movie adaptation of her novel Happiness for Beginners—starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes—just hit the Global Top Ten in 81 countries, and the movie of her novel The Lost Husband was a surprise Netflix sensation in 2020, hitting number one and landing in their top 25 movies for the year. Her books have made countless Best-Of lists—at Audible, BookBub, and Book of the Month, as well as Goodreads' Best Books of the Year, and Amazon's yearly Top 100 books. Emily Henry calls The Bodyguard “my perfect 10 of a book,” and Jodi Picoult says of Things You Save in a Fire, “Just read it, and thank me later.” Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her husband, two almost-grown teenagers, and their fluffy-but-fierce dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,320 reviews
September 30, 2022
I am LOVING everything Katherine Center lately, especially on audio. These suit me on the audio format, as I can breeze right through. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this narrator as much as previous, and I didn’t feel this title was as good as her others.
This was a fun read, but I did feel there was a lack of chemistry between Lanie and Peter, a married couple that had three boys in quick succession. I did the same thing (had three kids in quick succession), and breast fed all my crazy kids, but I have to say, nursing is mentioned a LOT in this author’s books. It’s absolutely second nature to me, but sometimes I think woah, she’s talking about it again! I have an eye for details that lots of things stand out for me, oh… and moments where characters look at each other for minutes. Clearly this is too long! This happens often in many books.
I cringed when Lanie is asked by another amazing looking mother ‘when is the baby due’. She lied and went along with it! Argh.. she was simply a new Muma. This was at the beginning and it made me think of the way I don’t like FB for the comparison factor, and the ‘look how good I look today’ and the too good to be true factor. But this feeling passed and it was a quick, easy read.
As I said, I had a little bit of confusion with Lanie and Peter, I was left wondering where they meant to last the distance, as there was a side male character that showed interest in Lanie; I felt this fell a little flat.
I liked Lainie’s friendships, her can do attitude and I was most impressed at her commitment at the gym – an hour a night five nights a week on the treadmill. A little cliché that she realised in the end certain things were not important in the long run, but this suited the feel-good factor. Indeed, everyone is beautiful.
A cast of funny ensemble characters, this author will always deliver laughs.
Recommended for a lighthearted romp.
This was a fun read, but I did feel there was a lack of chemistry between Lanie and Peter, a married couple that had three boys in quick succession. I did the same thing (had three kids in quick succession), and breast fed all my crazy kids, but I have to say, nursing is mentioned a LOT in this author’s books. It’s absolutely second nature to me, but sometimes I think woah, she’s talking about it again! I have an eye for details that lots of things stand out for me, oh… and moments where characters look at each other for minutes. Clearly this is too long! This happens often in many books.
I cringed when Lanie is asked by another amazing looking mother ‘when is the baby due’. She lied and went along with it! Argh.. she was simply a new Muma. This was at the beginning and it made me think of the way I don’t like FB for the comparison factor, and the ‘look how good I look today’ and the too good to be true factor. But this feeling passed and it was a quick, easy read.
As I said, I had a little bit of confusion with Lanie and Peter, I was left wondering where they meant to last the distance, as there was a side male character that showed interest in Lanie; I felt this fell a little flat.
I liked Lainie’s friendships, her can do attitude and I was most impressed at her commitment at the gym – an hour a night five nights a week on the treadmill. A little cliché that she realised in the end certain things were not important in the long run, but this suited the feel-good factor. Indeed, everyone is beautiful.
A cast of funny ensemble characters, this author will always deliver laughs.
Recommended for a lighthearted romp.
March 18, 2021
"Everyone is Beautiful" by Katherine Center is a fun read about a young family in the swirl of change!
Lanie Coates has her hands full with three boys all under the age of five, two still in diapers and one of the three is a serial playground "biter"! Navigating a cramped apartment with three boys all day is challenging, so Lanie's at a park right now hoping to bond with other mommy's, make friends, hold adult conversation...YES!
Things start off great until one of the other mommy's mistakenly thinks Lanie is expecting and asks when her baby is due. Then, Toby, the serial playground "biter" strikes! Chaos abounds and if this isn't enough commotion, Lanie see's Amanda, one of her cheerleader high school classmates from Houston, TX waving to her. Where the heck did Amanda come from? And, where did the 'old' Lanie go?
Life as Lanie knew it in Houston, TX with a comfortable home, her parents close by and lots of friends within the neighborhood are now miles and miles away. Currently she's in Cambridge, MA where her husband Peter, a composer and pianist is back in school beginning his graduate studies to become a professional musician.
After having three babies so close together, Lanie's feeling more than a little exhausted, fat-frumpy and lonely! She begins to take steps to change all this when she signs up for a gym membership she can't afford, takes a photography class to satisfy her artsy side and begins to bond with Amanda, the cheerleader from Houston who appeared out of nowhere!
This book is a fairly realistic yet humorous depiction of the trials of young parenthood. The day-to-day challenges that occur include all the messes that happen out of nowhere and improbable situations this mother of three seems to get into, then out of with easy logic and abundant love!
This is not my favorite Katherine Center book but it did hit a sweet spot with the fond memories from my 'deep-in-the-middle-of-mommy-days' from long ago! It has great characters, some quite quirky which I love because that adds additional flavor to any book. It made me giggle and smile while I listened and it caused me to say "ewe" a couple of times, too!
The narrator, Kirsten Porter did a fine job as Lanie. Her voicing of the other characters was okay, too. I highly recommend this book for its humor, heartwarming topics and focus of family.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars for the "Mommy Memories" it stirred in me!
Lanie Coates has her hands full with three boys all under the age of five, two still in diapers and one of the three is a serial playground "biter"! Navigating a cramped apartment with three boys all day is challenging, so Lanie's at a park right now hoping to bond with other mommy's, make friends, hold adult conversation...YES!
Things start off great until one of the other mommy's mistakenly thinks Lanie is expecting and asks when her baby is due. Then, Toby, the serial playground "biter" strikes! Chaos abounds and if this isn't enough commotion, Lanie see's Amanda, one of her cheerleader high school classmates from Houston, TX waving to her. Where the heck did Amanda come from? And, where did the 'old' Lanie go?
Life as Lanie knew it in Houston, TX with a comfortable home, her parents close by and lots of friends within the neighborhood are now miles and miles away. Currently she's in Cambridge, MA where her husband Peter, a composer and pianist is back in school beginning his graduate studies to become a professional musician.
After having three babies so close together, Lanie's feeling more than a little exhausted, fat-frumpy and lonely! She begins to take steps to change all this when she signs up for a gym membership she can't afford, takes a photography class to satisfy her artsy side and begins to bond with Amanda, the cheerleader from Houston who appeared out of nowhere!
This book is a fairly realistic yet humorous depiction of the trials of young parenthood. The day-to-day challenges that occur include all the messes that happen out of nowhere and improbable situations this mother of three seems to get into, then out of with easy logic and abundant love!
This is not my favorite Katherine Center book but it did hit a sweet spot with the fond memories from my 'deep-in-the-middle-of-mommy-days' from long ago! It has great characters, some quite quirky which I love because that adds additional flavor to any book. It made me giggle and smile while I listened and it caused me to say "ewe" a couple of times, too!
The narrator, Kirsten Porter did a fine job as Lanie. Her voicing of the other characters was okay, too. I highly recommend this book for its humor, heartwarming topics and focus of family.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars for the "Mommy Memories" it stirred in me!
May 20, 2009
I was thrilled with this sweet book about the not so glamorous sides of motherhood, wifehood. Every young mom will benefit from its honest look at what life is really like. I loved that it didn't go where it could have predictably gone. I love that at the end the main character didn't attain a size 2 to solve all her troubles. I loved that it emphasized that a mother/wife needs personal fulfillment to adequately fulfill her family. I loved the relationship between the husband and wife. A sweet, easy and entertaining read. Last night at book club we were asked "did this book change your life?" and everyone agreed that even though it was light, it changed the way we thought about things, even if it was simply by validating what we go through every day.
August 23, 2024
I love this author. So, when this was donated to my Little Free Library Shed, I was excited to have the opportunity to read and discover this older novel of hers.
What I love about this author is her way of creating believable characters with relatable life challenges. In this story we have a young mother, Lanie who is supportive of her husband, Peter who is building his career as a gifted pianist and composer. They have the typical everyday problems of young marrieds…finding themselves, navigating marriage, are overwhelmed with parenting 3 young boys, while she is attempting to find her own interests.
But will Lanie be able to find herself without losing her family or friends?
There is a feel-good feeling to the story with lots of humor, and a sense of realness that makes readers want to root for the characters to succeed, especially when experiencing the flashbacks of the beginning of their life together.
What I love about this author is her way of creating believable characters with relatable life challenges. In this story we have a young mother, Lanie who is supportive of her husband, Peter who is building his career as a gifted pianist and composer. They have the typical everyday problems of young marrieds…finding themselves, navigating marriage, are overwhelmed with parenting 3 young boys, while she is attempting to find her own interests.
But will Lanie be able to find herself without losing her family or friends?
There is a feel-good feeling to the story with lots of humor, and a sense of realness that makes readers want to root for the characters to succeed, especially when experiencing the flashbacks of the beginning of their life together.
May 28, 2024
I don’t think I’m the target audience for this one, but it was an easy read with a good overall theme/message. I didn’t love how sensitive topics were covered/made light of at times though — pretty disappointing. :/
January 8, 2023
Katherine Center can do no wrong. Every single book I’ve read of hers speaks to my soul in a way no other books have.
After reading all of her newer work, I decided this year I’m going to read her entire backlist starting with Everyone is Beautiful.
I’ve read a few marriage in crisis themed books lately, and while this is not quite that, it is a very honest look at courtship and marriage, and what can happen to a marriage in the midst of child rearing. It is also about losing and then finding yourself again. And it’s about what it means to become an adult and move away from the comforts of your childhood home and your parents.
Laugh out loud funny, even while dealing with heavier topics, this story was a pleasure to read. Yet another book I would easily recommend to anyone looking for quick read with a whole lot of heart.
After reading all of her newer work, I decided this year I’m going to read her entire backlist starting with Everyone is Beautiful.
I’ve read a few marriage in crisis themed books lately, and while this is not quite that, it is a very honest look at courtship and marriage, and what can happen to a marriage in the midst of child rearing. It is also about losing and then finding yourself again. And it’s about what it means to become an adult and move away from the comforts of your childhood home and your parents.
Laugh out loud funny, even while dealing with heavier topics, this story was a pleasure to read. Yet another book I would easily recommend to anyone looking for quick read with a whole lot of heart.
December 27, 2019
3 Stars.
What do you do when the person you once were is lost to you? When your days consist of taking care of three young boys and looking after a husband who is living his dream, while you are not?
Ask Lanie. After moving to Cambridge, MA from Houston, her life consists of diapers and bath time, parks and Tonka trucks and listening to her husband play piano for hours on end. The day she walks by a gym offering specials, she makes a decision. It’s time to do something for herself. And so it begins, First, the gym, and then photography classes, but what of her marriage? What happens when she’s no longer around when her husband expects her to be?
“Everyone is Beautiful” by Katherine Center is a novel that explores the complexities of finding oneself while keeping everything else together. It is lovely and sweet, made me laugh a bit and was full of poignant moments.
Thank you to my local library for loaning me the audiobook.
Published on Goodreads on 12.27.19.
What do you do when the person you once were is lost to you? When your days consist of taking care of three young boys and looking after a husband who is living his dream, while you are not?
Ask Lanie. After moving to Cambridge, MA from Houston, her life consists of diapers and bath time, parks and Tonka trucks and listening to her husband play piano for hours on end. The day she walks by a gym offering specials, she makes a decision. It’s time to do something for herself. And so it begins, First, the gym, and then photography classes, but what of her marriage? What happens when she’s no longer around when her husband expects her to be?
“Everyone is Beautiful” by Katherine Center is a novel that explores the complexities of finding oneself while keeping everything else together. It is lovely and sweet, made me laugh a bit and was full of poignant moments.
Thank you to my local library for loaning me the audiobook.
Published on Goodreads on 12.27.19.
June 7, 2018
3.5 Stars: “Everyone is beautiful” is my second novel I’ve read by Katherine Center. Center is an author that you can depend upon to find empathy with her characters. Her main character is authentic and voices those little insecurities you live with and think no one else has.
The narrator, Lanie Coates is a thirty-something mom with three exuberant boys (oh no!), two of them in diapers. Her husband Peter is a musician trying to make it in the professional world. Lanie was an artist, but needed to give it up once she had children. Peter moves the family from Lanie’s home state of Texas to Cambridge MA, plucking Lanie out from her mother’s help to being alone with no friends.
The story is about Lanie finding herself overweight and frumpy, friendless, isolated, and directionless in an unfamiliar place. She spends her days with toddlers, barely getting an adult conversation during the day. She begins to question what happened to her? Where did her younger self go, and what is she turning into? Every woman I know admits to those queries. How did I become the woman in the grocery store with egg in her hair and juice stains on her shirt, always wearing sweats and looking disheveled? Why do I feel guilty needing time for myself?
This is a humorous story of Lanie finding her purpose. It’s a story of the difficult choice of reinvention. It’s a satisfying read with likable characters. I highly recommend it for a fun beach read and an uplifting story.
The narrator, Lanie Coates is a thirty-something mom with three exuberant boys (oh no!), two of them in diapers. Her husband Peter is a musician trying to make it in the professional world. Lanie was an artist, but needed to give it up once she had children. Peter moves the family from Lanie’s home state of Texas to Cambridge MA, plucking Lanie out from her mother’s help to being alone with no friends.
The story is about Lanie finding herself overweight and frumpy, friendless, isolated, and directionless in an unfamiliar place. She spends her days with toddlers, barely getting an adult conversation during the day. She begins to question what happened to her? Where did her younger self go, and what is she turning into? Every woman I know admits to those queries. How did I become the woman in the grocery store with egg in her hair and juice stains on her shirt, always wearing sweats and looking disheveled? Why do I feel guilty needing time for myself?
This is a humorous story of Lanie finding her purpose. It’s a story of the difficult choice of reinvention. It’s a satisfying read with likable characters. I highly recommend it for a fun beach read and an uplifting story.
March 20, 2023
Katherine Center’s writing lands on a spot in my heart that needs encouragement.
Her characters are messy and relatable and I love them.
This story is about a married woman. I’m not married. A mom of 3. I’m not a mom. This married mom of 3 moves across the country, which I’ve never done.
Yet, I felt her fear and drive and weariness and laughter as if I was her.
Katherine Center is added to my favourite authors list.
-Some f-bombs
-Some talk of marital sex
Her characters are messy and relatable and I love them.
This story is about a married woman. I’m not married. A mom of 3. I’m not a mom. This married mom of 3 moves across the country, which I’ve never done.
Yet, I felt her fear and drive and weariness and laughter as if I was her.
Katherine Center is added to my favourite authors list.
-Some f-bombs
-Some talk of marital sex
May 17, 2021
I listened to the audio because I loved Happiness for Beginners and The Lost Husband by the same author. I didn’t like this one as much as the others, though. It wasn’t a bad book. On the contrary, it was entertaining, a quick read, brought back memories of being a new mom, and had a good message. My small complaint was that it sounded like the narrator in the audioboook was reading diary entries. Maybe the book was better. Recommended to new moms. You will be able to relate a great deal! I will happily continue to read her books. 3.5★s!
March 7, 2021
One of Center's early books. I enjoyed it but I have to say my all-time favourite is Happiness for Beginners! That was totally awesome!!!
May 13, 2024
3 Stars for Everyone is Beautiful (audiobook) by Katherine Center read by Barry Bostwick.
I just had a hard time getting into two self absorbed people that didn’t really care for each other until they were apart. For me, the real problem with this book is that I’m comparing to the other wonderful books that the author has written, some of which are among my favorite books.
I just had a hard time getting into two self absorbed people that didn’t really care for each other until they were apart. For me, the real problem with this book is that I’m comparing to the other wonderful books that the author has written, some of which are among my favorite books.
May 22, 2014
Eh, I had higher hopes for this one because of the premise. Is there any mom out there who hasn't, at one time or another, felt frumpy, overwhelmed, and lonely? I pretty much feel that way at least a few times a day. And while I'm not in the same situation as Lanie, I definitely empathize with her on several points.
And yet, the overall story fell flat on its face. The writing was okay, but every so often Center would stick in a "but little did I know, THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN!" paragraph, and those make me very, very cranky.
I guess for a novel that worked on the premise that Lanie was about to improve a whole lot, I never actually saw any improvement. Not even in her new, gym-going body. Also, her husband was a selfish tool. Also, none of the characters really made any sense. The more I think about this book the more I start to hate it.
I want my $8 back.
And yet, the overall story fell flat on its face. The writing was okay, but every so often Center would stick in a "but little did I know, THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN!" paragraph, and those make me very, very cranky.
I guess for a novel that worked on the premise that Lanie was about to improve a whole lot, I never actually saw any improvement. Not even in her new, gym-going body. Also, her husband was a selfish tool. Also, none of the characters really made any sense. The more I think about this book the more I start to hate it.
I want my $8 back.
January 31, 2025
Katherine Center is one of my favorite authors. This was one of her older books but it still had the wonderful message that I expect in a Katherine Center novel. In this story, Lanie has three small boys and is dealing with a move across country. She has lost the support of her mother and she is trying to find herself after being a full time stay at home mother who is unhappy with herself. There was so much to relate to in this book as I once had two small boys and am always unhappy with how I look. This book looks at marriage as well and I think anyone who has been married and had kids could connect with how these characters felt. This book was a quick read and completely relatable. A great read!
April 24, 2019
3.75 Stars
September 1, 2020
I went in blind because it really doesn't matter to me what Katherine Center chooses to write about, there's a pretty good chance I'm going to love it. To my pleasant surprise, this is a marriage strife book, one of my favorite tropes, and Center nails the slow building angst to perfection. It's thought provoking and motivating, and I absolutely recommend.
January 2, 2023
This was a sweet, quick read.
December 10, 2021
3.5 stars
July 12, 2021
help i’ve fallen down a rabbit hole of mom drama books and i can’t get up !!!
this one was very slow and overall so normal that it felt uninteresting and boring, and i don’t know why i finished it, but i wouldn’t recommend it
this one was very slow and overall so normal that it felt uninteresting and boring, and i don’t know why i finished it, but i wouldn’t recommend it
April 17, 2009
The story of Lanie Coates, a married mother of three, who just relocated with her family to a new town across the country, so her husband could follow his dream.
Based on the story itself I would give this book 3.5/4 stars - but the way the story was relatable to my own life right now it got bumped up to 5 stars.
The way Lanie deals with motherhood, marriage, friends, and carving time out for herself is so real - and close to home - I was thinking at times this could seriously be a close parallel to a memoir of my own life :) I was so taken with the idea of motherhood through this story - and how so many other mothers are in the exact same boat - whose kids do the exact same things that drive them crazy - that I was refreshed in my own role as mom.
I would recommend this book to anyone - but especially to mothers - and to mothers of boys there are things in this book that will make you laugh out loud with relevance to your own life.
Based on the story itself I would give this book 3.5/4 stars - but the way the story was relatable to my own life right now it got bumped up to 5 stars.
The way Lanie deals with motherhood, marriage, friends, and carving time out for herself is so real - and close to home - I was thinking at times this could seriously be a close parallel to a memoir of my own life :) I was so taken with the idea of motherhood through this story - and how so many other mothers are in the exact same boat - whose kids do the exact same things that drive them crazy - that I was refreshed in my own role as mom.
I would recommend this book to anyone - but especially to mothers - and to mothers of boys there are things in this book that will make you laugh out loud with relevance to your own life.
March 10, 2023
This was an adorable read, as per usual by Katherine Center.
"Everyone is Beautiful" is a pretty straightforward novel about Lanie who is trying to rediscover herself after being swept up in the whirlwind of a cross country move mixed with motherhood x3. It lacked the substance and development of her later books, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
Like all of KC's books, I appreciated the writing. It was witty, relatable, funny, and human. The introspection that Lanie's voice provides mixed with some laugh-out-loud dialogue help propel this book for a breezy 233 pages. I had a good time reading this book every time you picked it up, and honestly for me, that's what reading is all about!
"Everyone is Beautiful" is a pretty straightforward novel about Lanie who is trying to rediscover herself after being swept up in the whirlwind of a cross country move mixed with motherhood x3. It lacked the substance and development of her later books, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
Like all of KC's books, I appreciated the writing. It was witty, relatable, funny, and human. The introspection that Lanie's voice provides mixed with some laugh-out-loud dialogue help propel this book for a breezy 233 pages. I had a good time reading this book every time you picked it up, and honestly for me, that's what reading is all about!
August 8, 2018
I LOVED, LOVED this book! It spoke to my heart. Lanie has lost herself while being a mother and wife. The book follows her through her journey to find herself again. The characters along the way are quirky and the relationships she forms are very plausible, other moms on the playground, etc. The author made me feel like I was along for the ride as Lanie puts the focus on herself and what makes her happy. A great read for anyone that has looked and the mirror and wondered who they were in the midst of life.
June 30, 2021
I related to so much of this book. Brought back the days of losing yourself in your little ones….and then discovering yourself again. Definitely made me sad for those days of my little people. Not that I’d want to go back really for more than a day or two…only with my current knowledge and bottle of Zoloft.
September 18, 2021
I love Katherine Center’s books! So easy to read and such good stories. I’m a huge fan.
June 26, 2021
4-4.5 Stars!
I've now read every Katherine Center book and while Everyone is Beautiful was probably my least favorite, it was still a great read. With true KC wit and poignancy, this author focused on a marriage in trouble. Not because of anything traumatic or unethical, but due to the normal ebbs and flows that we find ourselves in when married with young children. When we forget to make time and then take our spouse for granted. I understood this and could relate well to Lanie. I really enjoyed the story arc, the authentic view into this marriage, and the fabulously romantic ending.
July 1, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't fabulous literature. It was just a very nice story. The characters were likable and very real. They struggle with the same things we struggle with. I loved the messages that I found in this book. I loved that this book portrayed marriage well. I love that Center shows that marriage is (or can be) beautiful, even when it is a whole lot of hard work; that marriage is worth working at; that intimacy is much more valuable than excitement and adventure. And, of course, that everyone is beautiful.
June 9, 2021
I gave it a 4.5. Rounding it up due to the eye opening insight into being a parent of three boys. For me, it felt as if the last two chapters could have been condensed into one. Really enjoyed it overall! Katherine Center is still my favorite Writer.
April 12, 2023
I raced through this book- wanting to listen every chance I had. It’s not that it was so action packed, but just so relatable in many ways. I think that every woman can relate to one or more of that characters in this book. Without giving anything away- the premise is beautiful. I would highly recommend this book, especially to women. We all can feel a little frumpy, grumpy, and dumpy- but life really is beautiful. 🎧
January 8, 2023
This is a hard one. Let me start by saying, I truly love Katherine Center's books. Hands down, one of my top 5 authors, so it pains me to give this a 2 star review. For me though, two stars is being generous. I really did not enjoy this book. My first KC book was Happiness for Beginners, so that is a big bar to set. One of my top 10 books. I’ve read everything she’s done since then, and started going back to some of her previous books. If you didn’t tell me KC wrote this book, I wouldn’t have guessed it. Her writing style 15+ years ago vs today is totally different. I noticed a similar theme in the Lost Husband of “buck up and get over it.” That is not my style, nor is that always how life is. Her newer books have much gentler life lessons and more relatable characters. I was drawn to this particular book because like the protagonist, I am also a photographer and mother of 3, and with that background, I found it to be ridiculously implausible. First of, no one takes half a photography class and is good enough to have their work displayed/sold in local businesses. Secondly, the division of labor between the husband and wife is appalling. The mother does EVERYTHING in this story, in a truly ridiculous way. Lanie is the mother of 3 very little boys, including a baby. Not only is her husband Peter unlikeable, but completely self-obsessed and oblivious. He’s a composer and is “very into his music”, to the point of having his family live in borderline poverty so he can follow his passions. He never helps out with the children or household tasks; the main character may have been a single mom for all intents and purposes! Despite all this, Lanie is obsessively in love with Peter. The “arc” of the book is her “learning to put herself first”, but again, in a completely unrealistic way. She takes care of ALL the kids ALL day long, and then after making them dinner and putting them to bed at 9 or 10pm she goes to her photography class and then goes to the gym and doesn’t roll into bed until midnight or 1 AM. Lady, no! I had to look up and see if KC even had any kids because I can’t imagine a parent ever thinking this is realistic, not to mention sustainable! And with a small baby who wouldn’t yet be sleeping through the night? I kept waiting for the main character to say “Hey Peter, these are your kids and your house too, come help out because I haven’t showered in 3 days!” Alas, this never happened, and I feel like I’m back in the 1920’s... If this is your first Katherine Center book, please take this with a grain of salt and don’t be discouraged, I promise you, her newer stuff is full of strong sassy women who never would have taken this crap lol! It’s full of hope and promise and some really fun characters. I couldn’t believe this had 4.4 stars on Amazon, given the storyline and how unlikable the characters are, but to each their own. So maybe, you will enjoy this book, but if you’re on the fence, definitely don’t start here. There are WAY better KC books to light up your life with!
May 19, 2021
4.5 stars.
In Everyone Is Beautiful, Katherine Center highlights the struggles of a mom who basically devotes her life to her husband and 3 kids while giving up her own passion and career. As a mom myself, this story is incredibly relatable. I loved how Lanie woke up one day and set a list of goals for herself and she worked relentlessly to meet them but also embracing her mom bod. The last paragraph of the book really spoke to me and I just adore everything Katherine Center writes!
In Everyone Is Beautiful, Katherine Center highlights the struggles of a mom who basically devotes her life to her husband and 3 kids while giving up her own passion and career. As a mom myself, this story is incredibly relatable. I loved how Lanie woke up one day and set a list of goals for herself and she worked relentlessly to meet them but also embracing her mom bod. The last paragraph of the book really spoke to me and I just adore everything Katherine Center writes!
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