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Shandi Pierce #0.5
My Own Miraculous
Shandi Pierce got pregnant when she was only seventeen years old. She fell for her son—deeply, instantly, completely—but as she sat at the table feeding him, her own mother was sliding eggs and bacon on her plate, feeding her.
Now, four years later, Shandi is still more parented than parent. She lives with her mom, her dad pays her bills, and her best friend Walcott acts as her white knight. But Natty is no ordinary kid, and when his savant behavior catches the attention of an obsessive stranger, only Shandi sees the true menace.
To protect her son, Shandi must grow up, fast, and find an answer to the question—How does a girl remake herself into a mother?
Now, four years later, Shandi is still more parented than parent. She lives with her mom, her dad pays her bills, and her best friend Walcott acts as her white knight. But Natty is no ordinary kid, and when his savant behavior catches the attention of an obsessive stranger, only Shandi sees the true menace.
To protect her son, Shandi must grow up, fast, and find an answer to the question—How does a girl remake herself into a mother?
128 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 17, 2013
91 people are currently reading
4163 people want to read
About the author
Joshilyn Jackson
31 books6,731 followersJackson's latest, MISSING SISTER, pubs MARCH, 3, 2026. Pre-order now!
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson writes both page-turning domestic suspense and Southern book club novels that revolve around timely women’s issues, raising questions about justice, motherhood, career, class, and the thorny mechanics of redemption. Her critically acclaimed work has been translated into more than a dozen languages, and Jackson is also an award-winning audiobook narrator. She lives in a gently haunted 150-year-old Victorian Rowhouse in upstate New York with her family.
A recent expat from the American South, she lives in a mildly haunted Victorian row house in upstate New York.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson writes both page-turning domestic suspense and Southern book club novels that revolve around timely women’s issues, raising questions about justice, motherhood, career, class, and the thorny mechanics of redemption. Her critically acclaimed work has been translated into more than a dozen languages, and Jackson is also an award-winning audiobook narrator. She lives in a gently haunted 150-year-old Victorian Rowhouse in upstate New York with her family.
A recent expat from the American South, she lives in a mildly haunted Victorian row house in upstate New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
July 22, 2016
This ebook original short story is a prequel to SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY. One of the main characters from the novel narrates, and the action takes place about 2 months before SELS begins. It's about how we become mothers, But not in the obvious, biological way. *grin* It's about the transformative nature of parenthood.
I wrote almost 40K words of SELS before I realized I was telling the wrong story. I cut them all and stuffed them in a file called Pretty Cuts. This is not unusual; I have a very fat Pretty Cuts file for each of my novels.
MY OWN MIRACULOUS grew out of one of those pre-writing scenes. Literally grew out of -- that scene was soil. Only 2 sentences and one seriously revamped character made it out of that pre-writing into this story.
MY OWN MIRACULOUS is available as an ebook and in an audio version, which I narrated. I hope you enjoy it!
I wrote almost 40K words of SELS before I realized I was telling the wrong story. I cut them all and stuffed them in a file called Pretty Cuts. This is not unusual; I have a very fat Pretty Cuts file for each of my novels.
MY OWN MIRACULOUS grew out of one of those pre-writing scenes. Literally grew out of -- that scene was soil. Only 2 sentences and one seriously revamped character made it out of that pre-writing into this story.
MY OWN MIRACULOUS is available as an ebook and in an audio version, which I narrated. I hope you enjoy it!
September 19, 2019
I found this prequel entertaining and recommend those that would like to read the main novel, start with this one first. I love these characters (especially Walcott!!!) and enjoyed the writing!
July 13, 2016
There was another kind of brave that mothers had to be. This kind was much harder. This kind let you look at your kid and really see them. Not what you wanted them to be. Not all your hopes. Not a chance to fix everything that you'd done wrong and get everything you'd screwed up done in the right order. Just as a person.
3.5 stars. Damn, I read this after Someone Else's Love Story instead of before, and I actually think that would have made a difference. I got a much better understanding (and liking) of Shandi in this prequel. A very short read, but a beautiful look at parenting.
November 10, 2016
For me this author is always a sure bet. I knew I was going to enjoy reading this novella.
I have no idea what to expect of Someone Else's Love Story but have seen some mixed ratings. However I was given good advice to read this prequel first to get a better understanding of Shandi, the main character.
This story is how Shandi became a mother. No not the day she gave birth to her son, but rather the day she started feeling like a mother. The story is told in this author's signature funny and at times poignant writing style and it was a perfect little interlude to help me get over my reading slump.
I have no idea what to expect of Someone Else's Love Story but have seen some mixed ratings. However I was given good advice to read this prequel first to get a better understanding of Shandi, the main character.
This story is how Shandi became a mother. No not the day she gave birth to her son, but rather the day she started feeling like a mother. The story is told in this author's signature funny and at times poignant writing style and it was a perfect little interlude to help me get over my reading slump.
November 6, 2013
Let it be known that Joshilyn Jackson is MY own miraculous. Everything she writes is a perfect mixture of Southern, funny, heartbreaking and real. This is a short story prequel...an appetizer if you will...to get us ready for her new release "Someone Else's Love Story" which is coming out soon. Yes I check daily if the audio is available at my library. I shall not EVER read her books in print. JJ narrates her own audios and they are magical. So. She is wonderful and that is all.
November 16, 2019
Almost DNF but it was very short so I stuck it out. Just kind of silly and not the kind of book I usually choose. Narrated by the author
December 12, 2014
An interesting story by an author who is fast becoming a favourite read for me. My Own Miraculous introduces us to Shandi,her best friend Walcott and her three year old son Nate, a boy who has no father, literally. If a writer can convince me to believe one of her characters has had an immaculate conception then she is doing something right.
In this short story, a young teenage girl begins to follow Nathan and his mom around and the story takes on overtones of another immaculate conception with fierce mother love at the core of the story.
May 3, 2020
HAAAAAA Joshilyn, Joshilyn, Joshilyn! You are the best and create all that I love so much. Clearly my favorite author and I know I must be your favorite reader! Where does all this stuff come from?
I love little Shandi Pierce, the mommy without being a mother, a daughter without growing up, and all the rest of the village that it takes to raise a mommy to motherhood and a child to kidhood? It is sweet, but a very short prelude to things that come in the SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY.
Jackson always makes me smile!
4 stars
Happy Reading!
I love little Shandi Pierce, the mommy without being a mother, a daughter without growing up, and all the rest of the village that it takes to raise a mommy to motherhood and a child to kidhood? It is sweet, but a very short prelude to things that come in the SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY.
Jackson always makes me smile!
4 stars
Happy Reading!
July 11, 2019
This short story is a prequel to Joshilyn Jackson's novel Someone Else's Love Story. I was hoping it would be a sequel, since I had just read the book, but when I saw the designation "0.5," I knew it wasn't.
This story basically concerns Shandi Pierce's discovery that her son Nathan probably has a genius-level IQ. It also shows what can happen if children like that aren't raised in the proper environment, or have parents who refuse to see what is going on right in front of their eyes. I was surprised that although one character is described as so thin as to appear corpse-like, the word "anorexia" was never mentioned. I believe it should have been.
This story basically concerns Shandi Pierce's discovery that her son Nathan probably has a genius-level IQ. It also shows what can happen if children like that aren't raised in the proper environment, or have parents who refuse to see what is going on right in front of their eyes. I was surprised that although one character is described as so thin as to appear corpse-like, the word "anorexia" was never mentioned. I believe it should have been.
April 5, 2023
A short prequal to Someone Else's Love Story.
Narrated by the author, I just love her accent! Well worth the listen.
Narrated by the author, I just love her accent! Well worth the listen.
January 13, 2017
It's really hard to comment on this book without posting spoilers. It was much better than I thought it would be when I first started listening. From the beginning, I thought it was going to be a fairly boring "mommy story." But it takes a very different turn.
February 11, 2014
My only regret is I did not read this e-book novella until after I completed Someone Else Love Story. I highly recommend reading this first; however, each can be a standalone. This book made me smile for many reasons.
It was so nice to be taken back to Lumpkin County (Dahlonega, GA), as felt myself being transported there with each word on the tablet. Having lived in Buckhead (Atlanta) for years, a dear friend of mine lived in Lumpkin County (about an hour north of Atlanta off Georgia 400) and his house was on Lake Lanier, so visited often.
I loved the quaint old historic town in Dahlonega, GA and frequently visited (The Smith House, Paul Thomas Chocolates, The Corkscrew Café, Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery Restaurant, The Crimson Moon Café, The Smith House, Connie's Ice Cream Parlor, Lily Creek Lodge, Hiker Hostel, Mountain Laurel Creek Inn and Spa and what used to be Renee’s Restaurant. There were many memories there and also having a home in Big Canoe, GA and Dahlonega was nearby for wine tastings and plenty of good mountain hiking and waterfalls.
This was a beautifully written short story about becoming a mother and what it means, setting the stage for the poignant “Someone Else’s Love Story”. There is an excerpt from SELS included, as well.
I highly recommend both and am now working my way back through Joshilyn Jackson’s previous older books. She has just made it to my favorite author list and looking forward to diving into all books. She has charm, wit, tenacious and passion, reflected throughout each of her books!
Nice to find another highly talented Georgia author-full of imagination, a fantastic storyteller, and definitely knows the Deep South.
It was so nice to be taken back to Lumpkin County (Dahlonega, GA), as felt myself being transported there with each word on the tablet. Having lived in Buckhead (Atlanta) for years, a dear friend of mine lived in Lumpkin County (about an hour north of Atlanta off Georgia 400) and his house was on Lake Lanier, so visited often.
I loved the quaint old historic town in Dahlonega, GA and frequently visited (The Smith House, Paul Thomas Chocolates, The Corkscrew Café, Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery Restaurant, The Crimson Moon Café, The Smith House, Connie's Ice Cream Parlor, Lily Creek Lodge, Hiker Hostel, Mountain Laurel Creek Inn and Spa and what used to be Renee’s Restaurant. There were many memories there and also having a home in Big Canoe, GA and Dahlonega was nearby for wine tastings and plenty of good mountain hiking and waterfalls.
This was a beautifully written short story about becoming a mother and what it means, setting the stage for the poignant “Someone Else’s Love Story”. There is an excerpt from SELS included, as well.
I highly recommend both and am now working my way back through Joshilyn Jackson’s previous older books. She has just made it to my favorite author list and looking forward to diving into all books. She has charm, wit, tenacious and passion, reflected throughout each of her books!
Nice to find another highly talented Georgia author-full of imagination, a fantastic storyteller, and definitely knows the Deep South.
November 25, 2013
I loved this book! I am never disappointed by Joshilyn! She is a master story teller. I am a huge fan and I really want to be her friend :)
March 27, 2017
My Own Miraculous is a prequel to Joshilyn Jackson’s Someone Else’s Love Story. If you read SELS, MOM will make all kinds of sense. If not, I’m afraid it might lack a certain oomph.
MOM is the story Shandi, who gave birth to her son, Natty, as an 18-year-old virgin. Three years later, she has yet to become a mother, still being mothered by “Mimsey,” her mother. This charming short story unwraps how she finally became a real momma.
The prequel effect could lead to more questions than answers (such as in the aforementioned virgin birth scenario). The solution? Read both! Jackson is one of the few authors to write Southern dialogue and characters that actually seem real. [Have you noticed that most authors seem never to have met a real Southern person and write on what they know from Gone with the Wind? But I digress. ] Shandi’s relationship with her mother is uncomfortable, which is the point. After three years, Shandi still hasn’t stepped into her role and it’s long overdue. An intense and mentally fragile girl helps the process along, resulting in a funny and touching story.
MOM is the story Shandi, who gave birth to her son, Natty, as an 18-year-old virgin. Three years later, she has yet to become a mother, still being mothered by “Mimsey,” her mother. This charming short story unwraps how she finally became a real momma.
The prequel effect could lead to more questions than answers (such as in the aforementioned virgin birth scenario). The solution? Read both! Jackson is one of the few authors to write Southern dialogue and characters that actually seem real. [Have you noticed that most authors seem never to have met a real Southern person and write on what they know from Gone with the Wind? But I digress. ] Shandi’s relationship with her mother is uncomfortable, which is the point. After three years, Shandi still hasn’t stepped into her role and it’s long overdue. An intense and mentally fragile girl helps the process along, resulting in a funny and touching story.
August 22, 2020
I love Joshilyn Jackson’s writing, just love it. This is a prequel short story to a novel I read quite a few years ago. I don’t remember many specifics about Someone Else’s Love Story but it didn’t take anything away from enjoying this story.
October 31, 2013
Short story big on character & heart. When Ms. Jackson leads you on, you beg for more...and then she delivers. My Own Miraclous is a pre-quel to Someone Else's Love Story...which a teaser of is included in My Own Miraclous. I have to admit two things: 1. I've enjoyed all Ms. Jackson's books, so much so, I've kept tabs on this author to keep abreast of anything new in the pipeline, 2. When I learned of these two books, I was a little suspect based on the titles. I thought, oh no she's selling out & trying to pitch us some middle-of-the-road "better than butter" romance clunker. Well I'm happy to report that there are no clunkers here. Heart, soul, unusually lovable characters? Oh yeah, you betcha! Knotty/naughty twists & turns...it wouldn't be Jackson if this element was missing. Am I kicking myself for reading the sneak peak of Someone Else's Love Story? Damn straight I am.....since now I'm frothing for the rest of the story.
July 27, 2014
I've never read Joshilyn Jackson, but I've had her on my list for ages. I checked out Someone Else's Love Story from the library, and this is free on Kindle... so why not?
My Own Miraculous was a great introduction to Shandi's relationship with her son (Natty), with her best friend (Walcott), and with her mother. Natty is a very gifted 3-year-old that has taught himself to read and can solve a rubik's cube in a couple of minutes. In this story, Shandi learns the importance of letting him be whoever he is, even if that means extremely different, and helping him along the way.
Even after such a short story, I can already tell that I absolutely love Joshilyn Jackson's writing style. It's full of emotion and description. I caught myself laughing and smiling along with the characters, as well as getting mad and teary eyed at times. Jackson really knows how to make you feel.
Now, on to the Someone Else's Love Story!
My Own Miraculous was a great introduction to Shandi's relationship with her son (Natty), with her best friend (Walcott), and with her mother. Natty is a very gifted 3-year-old that has taught himself to read and can solve a rubik's cube in a couple of minutes. In this story, Shandi learns the importance of letting him be whoever he is, even if that means extremely different, and helping him along the way.
Even after such a short story, I can already tell that I absolutely love Joshilyn Jackson's writing style. It's full of emotion and description. I caught myself laughing and smiling along with the characters, as well as getting mad and teary eyed at times. Jackson really knows how to make you feel.
Now, on to the Someone Else's Love Story!
January 9, 2022
read for the theme - an author with a last name that starts with "J"
I was really enjoying this book until it very suddenly came to an end. I was ready to continue the story and find out about the virgin birth(s) and what was going to happen to Natty. I didn't realize this was a short story (about 125 pages). I was getting into it and wanting to see how it was all going to unfold over the next 200 pages. I feel like the real story was just beginning. I would have given it 4 stars but I took one away for the abrupt ending. I would also recommend it but be prepared to be left wanting so much more.
I was really enjoying this book until it very suddenly came to an end. I was ready to continue the story and find out about the virgin birth(s) and what was going to happen to Natty. I didn't realize this was a short story (about 125 pages). I was getting into it and wanting to see how it was all going to unfold over the next 200 pages. I feel like the real story was just beginning. I would have given it 4 stars but I took one away for the abrupt ending. I would also recommend it but be prepared to be left wanting so much more.
December 29, 2015
Oh gracious goodness does Joshilyn always make me cry or what??? Loved this short prequel to Someone Else's Love Story. Her characters are always so real and with such depth. They remind me of my days in Mississippi and my own stories. I cannot at all wait for The Opposite of Everyone. Someone needs to preorder it for me now. I'd be a happy girl.
January 2, 2015
It was short, and I listened to the audio version with many interruptions and stops and starts. However, it was a touching, sweet story and having read Someone Else's Love Story, it served as a great introduction the characters!!
May 15, 2015
I love her writing. The female characters are always fierce, independent and funny.
September 16, 2017
my relentless pursuit to make @joshilyn_jackson my new BFF continues (for those keeping track, this is review #🖐🏼. it's not stalker-ish yet, right?) 😂
bit of a prequel to 'Someone Else's Love Story' + ferocious mother-love + short & sweet
•
"At barely three he had a huge vocabulary and such oddly accurate diction that sometimes I felt I was in the company of a miniature tax attorney with chubby legs."
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"There was another kind of brave that mothers had to be. This kind was much harder. This kind let you look at your kid and really see them. Not what you wanted them to be. Not all your hopes. Not a chance to fix everything that you'd done wrong, and get everything you'd screwed up done in the right order. Just as a person. Just as the most beloved little person in the world"
•
instagram book reviews @brettlikesbooks
bit of a prequel to 'Someone Else's Love Story' + ferocious mother-love + short & sweet
•
"At barely three he had a huge vocabulary and such oddly accurate diction that sometimes I felt I was in the company of a miniature tax attorney with chubby legs."
•
"There was another kind of brave that mothers had to be. This kind was much harder. This kind let you look at your kid and really see them. Not what you wanted them to be. Not all your hopes. Not a chance to fix everything that you'd done wrong, and get everything you'd screwed up done in the right order. Just as a person. Just as the most beloved little person in the world"
•
instagram book reviews @brettlikesbooks
February 2, 2019
Maybe this story just isn’t for me, but I didn’t really understand it. I wasn’t overly invested in any of the characters, I didn’t really find the writing to be profound or intriguing, and the storyline seemed sort of silly. I thought about not even finishing it, but since it was less than 100 pages I figured I’d give it a chance, hoping it would have a good ending. Ultimately, I just didn’t get much out of reading it. I can detect the message and symbolism about motherhood that was intended, but I honestly just didn’t consider it to be well executed. Shandi was just sort of vapid and annoying, and a lot of the aspects of the book just seemed like a stretch. Much of it seemed overdramatized for no good reason.
June 12, 2022
I listened to this short prequel to “Someone Else’s Love Story” before starting that one. I love when the author narrates their own books and I loved how she narrated the other 3 longer novels of hers that I’ve listened to so far, but this one she seemed to often use a baby-ish voice for the main character in her late teens and early 20’s and it was annoying at times. However the short novel itself was very good and had that suspense and creepy moments. I loved the message of moms fully opening their eyes to the child that they have and make sure they have what they need and not be willfully blind to any potential issues or challenges that their child may have, because it doesn’t fit the picture the moms create in their heads.
March 14, 2019
I drank this story down in heaving gulps. And yet, it felt unresolved. Which is no surprise as it's a prequel to the author's book Someone Else's Love Story. But in this slip of a book, a young woman with a son she claims is the product of parthenogenesis, discovers that her son isn't the only one of his kind and deals with a stalker. The stalker, a teenage girl with what the boy's mother believes is schizophrenia, claims the boy is the one she's been waiting for to fulfill their mutual destiny.
It was weird and gripping, but not quite gripping enough for me to immediately want to read the novel which follows it.
It was weird and gripping, but not quite gripping enough for me to immediately want to read the novel which follows it.
March 10, 2019
This is a prequel to Someone Else's Love story. I don't think that I have ever read a prequel before. I really loved Someone Else's Love Story and Shandi and Walcott, so I loved getting to see more of them. This book was focused around Shandi's son Natty, who Shandi realizes isn't a "normal kid." Shandi sort of discovers her place a mother in this book, and it was really fun to see. If you are a Joshilyn Jackson fan, definitely check this one out. It is a short read, maybe about two hours, but it had a lot of depth!
January 30, 2020
What would happen is Jesus were to be born in this day and age? He’d be the genius son of a single teenage mother, coparenting with her best friend, of course!
This story was not at all what I was expecting as it looked straight down the barrel of mental illness. Putting old stories in current day is always a little jarring, but this one really caught me off guard! When the story ended, I was sitting there wishing I got to know what happened in the end. The recreation of the story was done well and really wasn’t as odd as I thought it would have to be.
This story was not at all what I was expecting as it looked straight down the barrel of mental illness. Putting old stories in current day is always a little jarring, but this one really caught me off guard! When the story ended, I was sitting there wishing I got to know what happened in the end. The recreation of the story was done well and really wasn’t as odd as I thought it would have to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2020
3.25 Stars. This was a short story as a prequel to another Jackson book, "Someone Else's Love Story". This story focuses on the day Shandie found out she was pregnant with her son, the day she became a "mother", and a snippet of their life for the first three years in their small town with Shandie's mother, Shandie, her son, and her best friend Wolcott. It gives a sneak peek as to the "specialness" of Natty and the fact that he may be a genius.
I am looking forward to reading the next story. I love Jackson's books on audio. She is a great narrator.
I am looking forward to reading the next story. I love Jackson's books on audio. She is a great narrator.
March 23, 2022
My daughter gave me my first Joshilyn Jackson book, which I believe is her first book, Gods in Alabama, and now I read her books as soon as I learn she has written a new one. I love her writing. Her books may never be assigned to research for literary analysis essays (unless the broad topic is modern Southern lit), but they are all fun and well-written.
This is a prequel to Someone Else's Love Story, so read or listen to this one first. If you like audiobooks, you'll love both of these--Joshilyn reads both, and she does a wonderful job. Enjoy!
This is a prequel to Someone Else's Love Story, so read or listen to this one first. If you like audiobooks, you'll love both of these--Joshilyn reads both, and she does a wonderful job. Enjoy!
July 28, 2023
The pre-quel to "Someone Else's Love Story" is touching, funny, and so darn TRUE a reflection of motherhood that I wanted to wrap Shandi and Natty in my comforter and cook them dinner, then rock them both to sleep and tuck them in safe and sound. Joshilyn Jackson KNOWS the "Mommy gene" and how it can look in good and bad times, in sickness and in health, and "til death do us part" when it is necessary to be the "Mama Bear" a cub needs. Mimmy, Aimee, Darla - even Mrs. Jackson will do whatever they can to protect their OWN miraculous from the boogieman, regardless of where that comes from.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews