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The House That Joy Built: The Pleasure and Power of Giving Ourselves Permission to Create
An uplifting, powerful and inspiring book about breaking through fear and finding joy through creativity, from bestselling author, Holly Ringland.The House that Joy Built is about how to give ourselves permission to be creative. It explores two big the fear that can block our creativity, and the permission we can meet that fear with - to not just create, but to revel in the life-changing wonder and joy of doing so. It offers a jump-start for the nervous heart of anyone whose desire to create is overruled by fear.It is a book for those people who yearn to write, as well as people who find their creativity gardeners, carpenters, sculptors, jewellery-makers, florists, songwriters, dancers, cooks, painters... anyone who wants to make something but doesn't because they're afraid. Afraid of feeling vulnerable, of criticism and judgement from others, of not being good enough, of not having enough, of having 'bad' ideas, of being too much.It is for everyone who has ever felt stuck creatively, for those who don't know how to begin, for those who feel they have so much welling up inside and are just trying to find a way into themselves. This book is an openhearted clarion call to experience the joy and freedom of creating.
282 pages, Hardcover
Published October 4, 2023
204 people are currently reading
1395 people want to read
About the author
Holly Ringland
7 books1,255 followersHOLLY RINGLAND grew up in her mother's tropical garden on the east coast of Australia. When she was nine years old, her love of landscapes, cultures and stories was deepened by a two-year journey her family took in North America, living in a camper van and travelling from one national park to another.
In her early twenties, Holly worked for four years in a remote Indigenous community in Australia’s western desert. Moving to England in 2009, Holly obtained her MA in Creative Writing from the University of Manchester in 2011.
After wanting to be a writer since she was three years old, Holly’s debut novel The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart was published in 2018 when she was 37 years old, and has since become an international bestseller. Publication rights have sold in 30 territories. In May 2019, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart won The Australian Book Industry Award General Fiction Book of the Year.
In February 2020, Holly signed a new two-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers Australia. Her second novel, The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding, will be published in October 2022.
Throughout 2020, Holly travelled Australia to film Back To Nature, a new, visually stunning 8-episode factual lifestyle series she co-hosts with Aaron Pedersen. Back To Nature premiered on ABC TV + ABC iView in August, 2021. All episodes are now streaming on ABC iView.
In May 2021, Amazon Prime Video announced their commission of a television series adaption of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, to stream globally. The seven-part series, a tale of female resilience, friendship, and the power to overcome tragedy, will star Sigourney Weaver, produced by Made Up Stories, Amazon Studios and Endeavor Content. Production is underway with filming currently taking place in Australia.
Prior to the pandemic, Holly divided her time between Australia and the UK, where she had Australian native flowers growing in both places. In 2020, Holly bought a 1968 Olympic Riviera caravan, named ‘Frenchie’, her Plan B writing office based on Yugambeh land, southeast Queensland. In which Holly currently spends most days writing Esther Wilding’s story.
In her early twenties, Holly worked for four years in a remote Indigenous community in Australia’s western desert. Moving to England in 2009, Holly obtained her MA in Creative Writing from the University of Manchester in 2011.
After wanting to be a writer since she was three years old, Holly’s debut novel The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart was published in 2018 when she was 37 years old, and has since become an international bestseller. Publication rights have sold in 30 territories. In May 2019, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart won The Australian Book Industry Award General Fiction Book of the Year.
In February 2020, Holly signed a new two-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers Australia. Her second novel, The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding, will be published in October 2022.
Throughout 2020, Holly travelled Australia to film Back To Nature, a new, visually stunning 8-episode factual lifestyle series she co-hosts with Aaron Pedersen. Back To Nature premiered on ABC TV + ABC iView in August, 2021. All episodes are now streaming on ABC iView.
In May 2021, Amazon Prime Video announced their commission of a television series adaption of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, to stream globally. The seven-part series, a tale of female resilience, friendship, and the power to overcome tragedy, will star Sigourney Weaver, produced by Made Up Stories, Amazon Studios and Endeavor Content. Production is underway with filming currently taking place in Australia.
Prior to the pandemic, Holly divided her time between Australia and the UK, where she had Australian native flowers growing in both places. In 2020, Holly bought a 1968 Olympic Riviera caravan, named ‘Frenchie’, her Plan B writing office based on Yugambeh land, southeast Queensland. In which Holly currently spends most days writing Esther Wilding’s story.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
November 23, 2023
I read a lot of these kinds of book, but this one wasn’t hitting right for me. I found it too repetitive and twee. The author sounds like she has been through a lot to get where she is now, but the details were sparse and I found it difficult to engage with because she spoke around difficult topics instead of through them. Every piece of advice given was something I have read elsewhere and I didn’t understand why random photos were included and why there were whole pages dedicated to not very inspiring quotes. It seemed like filler to me. I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy this, but it just wasn’t for me.
June 24, 2024
Do you ever feel like a book was written just for you? It's rare, but it's a magical feeling. To read a stranger's words that resonate so profoundly within your being is extraordinary, and The House That Joy Built was that kind of miracle book for me.
Holly Ringland has proven herself a talented and remarkable storyteller through her two enchanting fictional masterpieces. Now, she has solidified her status as a powerful and influential speaker through this book.
As an aspiring writer and storyteller, I treasured Holly's every word and found immense inspiration and comfort within these pages. I can often feel isolated and misunderstood amid a creative slump, but with this book in hand, I felt understood, seen and reminded of the importance and necessity of what it is to create. Thank you, Holly; I adore your wonderful mind and would, quite frankly, read anything that comes from it—even your grocery lists.
Holly Ringland has proven herself a talented and remarkable storyteller through her two enchanting fictional masterpieces. Now, she has solidified her status as a powerful and influential speaker through this book.
As an aspiring writer and storyteller, I treasured Holly's every word and found immense inspiration and comfort within these pages. I can often feel isolated and misunderstood amid a creative slump, but with this book in hand, I felt understood, seen and reminded of the importance and necessity of what it is to create. Thank you, Holly; I adore your wonderful mind and would, quite frankly, read anything that comes from it—even your grocery lists.
November 11, 2023
Holly Ringland’s first foray into non-fiction is a delightful read aimed at the creatives. Part writing memoir – that is, focusing on the parts of her life to do with writing, not everything else; and part self-help, The House That Joy Built is all about overcoming fear and doubt and giving yourself permission to create, no matter what your creative outlet might be.
As a creative person, I resonated with a lot of what was in this book. The inner critic – tick. The outer critic – tick, definitely had one of those holding me back for a long time. Self-doubt – always. Holly’s words within this book offer inspiration and a sense of not feeling as though you’re the only one to feel these things about creative endeavours.
I listened to this rather than read and I’m certain I enjoyed it all the more for that. It’s a tad repetitive – sometimes for emphasis, others just because Holly had a few particular phrases that she liked to use over and over again (example: inner country). This aside, the book overall is very inspiring and quite lovely to listen to, narrated by Holly herself, so it has that intimate conversation vibe about it.
Highly recommended to all the creatives out there.
As a creative person, I resonated with a lot of what was in this book. The inner critic – tick. The outer critic – tick, definitely had one of those holding me back for a long time. Self-doubt – always. Holly’s words within this book offer inspiration and a sense of not feeling as though you’re the only one to feel these things about creative endeavours.
I listened to this rather than read and I’m certain I enjoyed it all the more for that. It’s a tad repetitive – sometimes for emphasis, others just because Holly had a few particular phrases that she liked to use over and over again (example: inner country). This aside, the book overall is very inspiring and quite lovely to listen to, narrated by Holly herself, so it has that intimate conversation vibe about it.
Highly recommended to all the creatives out there.
October 20, 2023
A book that seemed more about mental health than creativity which for me was disappointing. To be fair it did say this in the blurb but I somehow missed it and was waiting for more about the actual creative process rather than how to combat fear. Luckily I love Holly’s descriptions of nature and there were enough little nuggets of inspiration to keep me going. Particularly enjoyed the encouragement to daydream and follow the crumbs that feed the heart and mind.
November 26, 2023
3.5*
Holly Ringland, author of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding has penned her first nonfiction book, The House That Joy Built. Here Holly details a very personal recount of both the power and pleasure that comes from giving ourselves permission to create.
This is a personal account in some respects, as Holly details her own steps through trauma, grief and even the seemingly simple self doubts surrounding daily living. She balances this with detailed ways of our innate need to create in whatever form that may take for each person. Holly speaks of the inner country of creativity and returning to the things you often loved to do as a child.
At times raw but also inspiring, Holly encourages readers to take back control of one’s creativity and carve both the time and space for it in this busy world. It is essential to a truly fulfilling life.
Truth: at any age, at any time we can decide anew to return to the home of creativity inside ourselves.
Truth: it can be frightening to return.
Truth: the choice to create because we love to do it is ours.
Truth: it’s always fearful. Always joyful.
Welcome.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
Holly Ringland, author of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding has penned her first nonfiction book, The House That Joy Built. Here Holly details a very personal recount of both the power and pleasure that comes from giving ourselves permission to create.
This is a personal account in some respects, as Holly details her own steps through trauma, grief and even the seemingly simple self doubts surrounding daily living. She balances this with detailed ways of our innate need to create in whatever form that may take for each person. Holly speaks of the inner country of creativity and returning to the things you often loved to do as a child.
At times raw but also inspiring, Holly encourages readers to take back control of one’s creativity and carve both the time and space for it in this busy world. It is essential to a truly fulfilling life.
Truth: at any age, at any time we can decide anew to return to the home of creativity inside ourselves.
Truth: it can be frightening to return.
Truth: the choice to create because we love to do it is ours.
Truth: it’s always fearful. Always joyful.
Welcome.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
December 27, 2023
Was hoping for more, its a beautiful book but not a lot of substance
Read
January 13, 2024I have some mixed feelings about this book.
It's physically very beautiful and the title is gorgeous - I was really expecting it to be right up my alley.
It was a lot more memoir-heavy than I was expecting and dare I say it... a bit self-absorbed. It was a bit like reading someone's introspective journalling and then every now and then she remembers she has an audience and tries to relate it to them in some way.
There are definitely some nuggets of wisdom in there and I had plenty of underlined passages and page tabs - the kind of self-help that doesn't say anything *new* and yet sometimes you just need to hear what you already know you need to hear, and I think a book like this can definitely serve this purpose.
Unfortunately I hit a passage that not only didn't resonate but got my back up so hard I had to stop and write a three page rant about it to get it out of my system. After that, I just couldn't quite look at the book the same way.
It was at the point where she was talking about how to deal with outer critics - i.e. not the inner naysayer but the actual people who will critique your work or even your intention to do the work. In this passage I felt things took on a strangely snarky, wounded child kind of tone, as she dismisses the opinions of any external critics as worthless because they are "on the sidelines" and you, the majestic creative, are "in the arena".
To me, the idea that you can divide people into those "on the sidelines" of creativity versus those "with skin in the game" (her words) takes on a weird gatekeepy, elitist kind of vibe that I found really jarring, considering the whole point of the book is that everyone can be creative and can give themselves permission to create, that it's not something reserved for the certain few but available to all. And yet, in the next breath, she's casting the world into the bitter observers versus the morally superior doers. That just doesn't gel for me at all.
As someone who has built a platform on reviewing other people's books, who has put a lot of time, effort and dare I say it, creativity into this pursuit, it immediately made me feel like I was cast into the "sidelines" category, one of those sad souls who in fact *isn't* a member of the special creative people's club. Which I really felt flew in the face of what seemed to be the entire purpose of the book, and made all the "you deserve to create" platitudes that came thereafter fall flat for me.
I know it probably sounds silly and I really have tried to get over this, but this one issue really affected my entire impression of the book and I can't shake it. (And she doubles down on the idea of the people who don't have "skin in the game" in a subsequent chapter, so it's not just the one passage. I think everyone who is alive has skin in the game, I think we're all in the arena of life doing our damndest. I don't think life has "sidelines".)
Also, and I really do think it needs to be said - this book felt steeped in white lady privilege to me. And I do say that as a privileged white lady. It was a little bit Eat Pray Love in that respect. And I'm never one to argue against the validity of anyone feelings and experience. Even privileged white ladies can have a traumatic history and a personal inner journey that isn't always easy - I should know. But despite feeling a bit self-conscious in it's politics at times, it nonetheless fell a bit tone deaf to me at times - imagine being able to just go and spend years overseas getting a creative writing degree? imagine having parents to fall back on during the tough times? imagine being able to buy a caravan and put it in your parents backyard, just for writing? Even having a very privileged life myself, I literally can't imagine being able to do any of those things, and it distracted me from any encouragement I was meant to feel from this book.
If you aren't as irked by such things as I am, then you might find it an encouraging book. It's not a practical book and it doesn't say anything new, but if you enjoy the author's writing style and are already "in the arena" enough to feel like you're allowed in her club, then you might come away encouraged.
It's physically very beautiful and the title is gorgeous - I was really expecting it to be right up my alley.
It was a lot more memoir-heavy than I was expecting and dare I say it... a bit self-absorbed. It was a bit like reading someone's introspective journalling and then every now and then she remembers she has an audience and tries to relate it to them in some way.
There are definitely some nuggets of wisdom in there and I had plenty of underlined passages and page tabs - the kind of self-help that doesn't say anything *new* and yet sometimes you just need to hear what you already know you need to hear, and I think a book like this can definitely serve this purpose.
Unfortunately I hit a passage that not only didn't resonate but got my back up so hard I had to stop and write a three page rant about it to get it out of my system. After that, I just couldn't quite look at the book the same way.
It was at the point where she was talking about how to deal with outer critics - i.e. not the inner naysayer but the actual people who will critique your work or even your intention to do the work. In this passage I felt things took on a strangely snarky, wounded child kind of tone, as she dismisses the opinions of any external critics as worthless because they are "on the sidelines" and you, the majestic creative, are "in the arena".
To me, the idea that you can divide people into those "on the sidelines" of creativity versus those "with skin in the game" (her words) takes on a weird gatekeepy, elitist kind of vibe that I found really jarring, considering the whole point of the book is that everyone can be creative and can give themselves permission to create, that it's not something reserved for the certain few but available to all. And yet, in the next breath, she's casting the world into the bitter observers versus the morally superior doers. That just doesn't gel for me at all.
As someone who has built a platform on reviewing other people's books, who has put a lot of time, effort and dare I say it, creativity into this pursuit, it immediately made me feel like I was cast into the "sidelines" category, one of those sad souls who in fact *isn't* a member of the special creative people's club. Which I really felt flew in the face of what seemed to be the entire purpose of the book, and made all the "you deserve to create" platitudes that came thereafter fall flat for me.
I know it probably sounds silly and I really have tried to get over this, but this one issue really affected my entire impression of the book and I can't shake it. (And she doubles down on the idea of the people who don't have "skin in the game" in a subsequent chapter, so it's not just the one passage. I think everyone who is alive has skin in the game, I think we're all in the arena of life doing our damndest. I don't think life has "sidelines".)
Also, and I really do think it needs to be said - this book felt steeped in white lady privilege to me. And I do say that as a privileged white lady. It was a little bit Eat Pray Love in that respect. And I'm never one to argue against the validity of anyone feelings and experience. Even privileged white ladies can have a traumatic history and a personal inner journey that isn't always easy - I should know. But despite feeling a bit self-conscious in it's politics at times, it nonetheless fell a bit tone deaf to me at times - imagine being able to just go and spend years overseas getting a creative writing degree? imagine having parents to fall back on during the tough times? imagine being able to buy a caravan and put it in your parents backyard, just for writing? Even having a very privileged life myself, I literally can't imagine being able to do any of those things, and it distracted me from any encouragement I was meant to feel from this book.
If you aren't as irked by such things as I am, then you might find it an encouraging book. It's not a practical book and it doesn't say anything new, but if you enjoy the author's writing style and are already "in the arena" enough to feel like you're allowed in her club, then you might come away encouraged.
November 10, 2023
Fabulous, and at times made me ache (the writer and photographer in me). I found it entirely uplifting, inspiring and acted on the reawakenings of my hand-to-pen self.
Mind to art, openess to creation...A great read for any one, artist or not.
I am still (and will forever) reJOYce at my reconnecting.
"Whose house? My house"
Mind to art, openess to creation...A great read for any one, artist or not.
I am still (and will forever) reJOYce at my reconnecting.
"Whose house? My house"
May 24, 2024
A guide to finding and driving your creativity. Some great ideas in here, with lots of great research, insight and inspiration. A little too repetitive at times, but there are some nice gems here.
February 20, 2025
3.5 / The House That Joy Built was an easy to read self help/inspirational/memoir. I did take a long time to read it, as it felt a bit hit and miss for me.
Sometimes repetitive and jumping over timelines gave me a rambling feeling, but overall I understand what Holly was wanting to do was share her joy that built her house.
She mentions her struggles with an abusive situation in her life so be warned. Self inspiration is all through her other 2 books so it might be partly why I felt it was slightly repetitive.
My takeaway was that she wants us to give ourselves permission to do the thing that will bring us joy in spite of our fears. I do think I will pay more attention to the things that bring me joy and motivate me and not save things for a rainy day.
I liked it, but you might love it.
3.5 ⭐️ Kindle Edition
Sometimes repetitive and jumping over timelines gave me a rambling feeling, but overall I understand what Holly was wanting to do was share her joy that built her house.
She mentions her struggles with an abusive situation in her life so be warned. Self inspiration is all through her other 2 books so it might be partly why I felt it was slightly repetitive.
My takeaway was that she wants us to give ourselves permission to do the thing that will bring us joy in spite of our fears. I do think I will pay more attention to the things that bring me joy and motivate me and not save things for a rainy day.
I liked it, but you might love it.
3.5 ⭐️ Kindle Edition
February 18, 2024
There is a lot about this book that I loved. It was heartfelt and it was joyful and it treated creativity as a type of magic that anyone can access. Lots to love: creativity as play, yes please; advice on creating a space for yourself, oh my god yes; an obvious love for creating and a fostering of hopefulness and joy, I am 1000% there. The book is part memoir of how Holly Ringland came to understand her own writing practice and move through trauma and grief towards joy. Much of the ‘advice’ she gives is common sense, but common sense advice can sometimes be difficult to understand intuitively until it is put into words by a skilled writer. My biggest issue with the book and the thing that made me consider two stars is that I feel that often the best words in this book are those by other writers. At times it feels a little as if Holly Ringland has found and compiled an excellent set of quotes, which she has simply set into a bedding of her vehemently agreeing with what others writers have said.
However, 3/5 is a recommendation and there is a lot of useful and life-affirming advice in here on how to move through creative challenges and harness intentionality in taking control of, understanding, and pursuing creative joy and fulfilment.
However, 3/5 is a recommendation and there is a lot of useful and life-affirming advice in here on how to move through creative challenges and harness intentionality in taking control of, understanding, and pursuing creative joy and fulfilment.
April 3, 2024
This book jumped off a shelf at me while I was backpacking through Tasmania, when I had no room in my bag, and it just hit me so hard in the feels right away as I flicked through its pages in the store. I had to buy it! Every chapter, every page I read, I felt so empowered and enthused to write, to create, to free myself, to grab a pen, a pencil, a laptop, a paintbrush, anything! To create!
I am so grateful to Holly for writing this book and am filled with so much joy when I think of all of the souls like mine that it will reach out and touch across time and space.
This is book magic at its finest!
And what a beautiful drop in the ocean of literature that will spread ripples of magic into the world.
Magic ✨️💕📖🥰🙏
I am so grateful to Holly for writing this book and am filled with so much joy when I think of all of the souls like mine that it will reach out and touch across time and space.
This is book magic at its finest!
And what a beautiful drop in the ocean of literature that will spread ripples of magic into the world.
Magic ✨️💕📖🥰🙏
October 12, 2023
I found this book boring without any substance or any point. I feel like she just talked in circles about nothing…
October 26, 2023
Do the things that give you joy, I agree with Holly, whether it is something creative or not. Life is too short, you might as well enjoy yourself!
November 14, 2025
This book was very difficult to find in Canada, and after calling around to all my favourite booksellers and finding them unable to order it for me, I ended up ordering it from Australia. As a huge fan of Holly Ringland’s fiction and a writer who has been having….issues, I felt I needed to get my hands on a copy.
It was worth the six weeks it took for the book to voyage across the globe into my hands.
I’ve ironically been working as a production editor and writing consultant, hand-holding other authors as they work through their own issues to ready their drafts for publication. Despite having a particular gift for helping others through their blocks and fears, I’ve been entirely stuck in my own work and it’s built up to the point of nearly driving me mad.
I’ve had plenty of therapy and plenty of conversations with friends and other creatives to try and untangle the knots I’ve tied myself in, and nothing has cracked me open the way this book has. What. A. Relief. For the first time since I endured a significant trauma that has walled me off from my writing, my photography and my filmmaking, I feel I have some tools to begin reconnecting my creativity with joy.
If you are struggling to connect with yourself creatively in any art form, especially if your creativity has been hindered by trauma, give yourself the gift of this book.
It was worth the six weeks it took for the book to voyage across the globe into my hands.
I’ve ironically been working as a production editor and writing consultant, hand-holding other authors as they work through their own issues to ready their drafts for publication. Despite having a particular gift for helping others through their blocks and fears, I’ve been entirely stuck in my own work and it’s built up to the point of nearly driving me mad.
I’ve had plenty of therapy and plenty of conversations with friends and other creatives to try and untangle the knots I’ve tied myself in, and nothing has cracked me open the way this book has. What. A. Relief. For the first time since I endured a significant trauma that has walled me off from my writing, my photography and my filmmaking, I feel I have some tools to begin reconnecting my creativity with joy.
If you are struggling to connect with yourself creatively in any art form, especially if your creativity has been hindered by trauma, give yourself the gift of this book.
April 26, 2024
I got the eAudio from the library. Great to hear Holly's voice reading her book. I saw Holly at an author talk once and her happiness is contagious. That vibe comes through in her voice. Her first two books are brilliant. This book style isn't what I normally enjoy reading but she made it great. It definitely is a wonderful creative guide she's backed up with many authors and artist's quotes as well as her own wonderful ones. She sprinkles in her own interesting life into it and heart into it. You can always feel Holly's heart in her work.
October 21, 2023
This book had come at the exact perfect time for me.
Not to be mistaken for a self-help book. Nor is it to be considered an authority on creativity or creative discipline.
This book contains the raw and honest memoirs of an established and talented writer. There is no arrogance, no snobbery, and no underlying 'know-it-all' attitudes. Just a desire of the authors to share her process and progress, warts and all. A genuine account of the authors inner thoughts, for anyone who has ever been plagued with self-doubt and/or feelings/beliefs that may have been suppressing their creativity.
I only ventured a few pages in before I realised that I needed to break out the post-its and settle in for what I knew was about to be a comforting and encouraging boost to help me stop procrastinating and get on with my own writing project.
I have so much more I would like to say about how this book may affect my own writing work, where my head was, (and is) at. How I came to read this book. How I know it has been immensely helpful.
I'm just grateful that I have read this only days before I'm about to attend an author event with Holly at my local library. So many questions! Or maybe I'll just gush quietly... 🥰
Not to be mistaken for a self-help book. Nor is it to be considered an authority on creativity or creative discipline.
This book contains the raw and honest memoirs of an established and talented writer. There is no arrogance, no snobbery, and no underlying 'know-it-all' attitudes. Just a desire of the authors to share her process and progress, warts and all. A genuine account of the authors inner thoughts, for anyone who has ever been plagued with self-doubt and/or feelings/beliefs that may have been suppressing their creativity.
I only ventured a few pages in before I realised that I needed to break out the post-its and settle in for what I knew was about to be a comforting and encouraging boost to help me stop procrastinating and get on with my own writing project.
I have so much more I would like to say about how this book may affect my own writing work, where my head was, (and is) at. How I came to read this book. How I know it has been immensely helpful.
I'm just grateful that I have read this only days before I'm about to attend an author event with Holly at my local library. So many questions! Or maybe I'll just gush quietly... 🥰
February 12, 2024
Very personal and thoughtful book that resonated with me as a creative soul trying to navigate in a world that too often values busyness and productivity over embracing our own unique creativity and time for meaningful stillness in nature.
The Epilogue was a brilliant summary of the books observations, insights and lessons and something to re-read or listen to again and again when creatively challenged.
The Epilogue was a brilliant summary of the books observations, insights and lessons and something to re-read or listen to again and again when creatively challenged.
August 31, 2024
This review is just to help me remember key points about the book. If you find it helpful or relatable that's cool too.
︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
"You have what you need to start creating exactly as you are today."
I've been trying to engage with more non-fiction and this one was really fun!
I will definitely be seeking out her other works to see what her writing style is like.
︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
"You have what you need to start creating exactly as you are today."
4 Stars ⭐️
I've been trying to engage with more non-fiction and this one was really fun!
I will definitely be seeking out her other works to see what her writing style is like.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2024
It took me longer than I initially expected to finish this book but that’s testament to the effect it had on me as my free time became more dedicated to my creative projects. I feel this book found me when I needed it most.
February 14, 2024
I listened to this as an audio but it is one I will buy to read again and again. Going to buy it as a present too. It was a motivational delight from start to finish.
October 26, 2023
If you have been following my account for a while, you will know I absolutely adore Holly Ringland! Her 2 bestselling fiction books, The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart & The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding, hold a special place in my heart and after meeting her in May, I was blown away by what a beautiful and generous person she is in real life. When I became aware she was releasing a nonfiction book about creativity, I couldn’t wait to get to my hands on to it even though I wasn’t fully sure how it was going to be structured.
The House That Joy Built has absolutely blown me away and has connected to me in such a deep way that I’m not sure any other book has. With the first few chapters, I felt seen and heard by Holly reaching through the pages. This is a book about giving ourselves permission to be creative, the balance of joy/fear inherent in the creative process and why this is so important. As Holly says “…this isn’t a how-to-book. Neither is it a workbook full of exercises. It’s not a step-by-step guide to creative writing...”
I inhaled this book in a day and even though I don’t think it’s going to be for everyone, I think if it is for you, you will identify with it immediately. Through Holly’s personal stories and antidote’s, she can powerfully inspire others to follow their creative paths including me. There are so many passages in this book I have highlighted and will revisit frequently.
To sum this book up in 3 words, I would say honest, inspiring, and uplifting. I want to offer a huge thank you to Holly for putting all your experiences, thoughts, and knowledge into this book – it has literally changed my life and I do not say that lightly. As a book lover, I’ve always known books have transformative powers, but this book showcased it to me in the most powerful and beautiful way.
The House That Joy Built has absolutely blown me away and has connected to me in such a deep way that I’m not sure any other book has. With the first few chapters, I felt seen and heard by Holly reaching through the pages. This is a book about giving ourselves permission to be creative, the balance of joy/fear inherent in the creative process and why this is so important. As Holly says “…this isn’t a how-to-book. Neither is it a workbook full of exercises. It’s not a step-by-step guide to creative writing...”
I inhaled this book in a day and even though I don’t think it’s going to be for everyone, I think if it is for you, you will identify with it immediately. Through Holly’s personal stories and antidote’s, she can powerfully inspire others to follow their creative paths including me. There are so many passages in this book I have highlighted and will revisit frequently.
To sum this book up in 3 words, I would say honest, inspiring, and uplifting. I want to offer a huge thank you to Holly for putting all your experiences, thoughts, and knowledge into this book – it has literally changed my life and I do not say that lightly. As a book lover, I’ve always known books have transformative powers, but this book showcased it to me in the most powerful and beautiful way.
December 19, 2023
I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed hearing it read by the author. Whilst the book isn't revolutionary, it was a nice reminder we are too hard on ourselves and become the blockade to our own joy by overthinking and automatically assuming "what if we fail?". However we forget that because we don't try we don't know of any other outcome. What if we do fail? But what if we have fun in the process? I constantly hold myself back with fear of failure and being judged by others especially those I know. What if they think I'm not good? If they think my creative projects are strange? But what about MY joy in the creative process? This book was a good reminder that it's my life and I need to live in the world I built on my own happiness.
November 1, 2023
Holly Ringland, author of The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding, talks about the joy of creating for creating's sake. This is about personal journey with creativity, trauma, grief and the need to create. It is also about giving ourselves permission to create - not because it makes us money but because it brings us joy and personal fulfilment.
Obviously Ringland's creativity is centred around writing but in this book she explores creativity as a concept: What drives us to be creative, and what stops us. Whether your source of creativity is painting, gardening, cooking, craft or writing Ringland's insights into procrastination, fear, inner critics, imposter syndrome, or just finding time will have you rethinking your relationship to creativity and the need we humans have to play with various art forms to find meaning and peace in ourselves.
Obviously Ringland's creativity is centred around writing but in this book she explores creativity as a concept: What drives us to be creative, and what stops us. Whether your source of creativity is painting, gardening, cooking, craft or writing Ringland's insights into procrastination, fear, inner critics, imposter syndrome, or just finding time will have you rethinking your relationship to creativity and the need we humans have to play with various art forms to find meaning and peace in ourselves.
April 26, 2024
This is one of the best books I have read. So comforting, a balm for the soul. It feels like a conversation with your best friend. We are so blessed that books like this exist in this life.
October 31, 2023
I enjoyed this book, any book on creativity is always interesting to read.
February 7, 2025
Rarely do I take the time to write a review but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It pulled together so many threads for me around life and what creativity means to the human experience.
September 2, 2025
The House that Joy Built by Holly Ringland
The beautiful cover alone is enough to entice the reader to this book, although for me it was having already read and loved Hollys first novel The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. This non fiction book is also a fabulous read with honesty and encouragement from the first page. Early in the book it is clear that there is really no reason at all why the reader can not start creating, with Holly describing her own experiences with severe anxiety and how she over came her fears to write.
The book contains lots of hints and strategies to encourage the reader to be creative. I found it lovely and very supportive. I liked it because it explains lots of things, for example on page 63 there is a great example of how we tend to (under stress) fight, flight, freeze and then fawn. So many readers will relate to this, I did! Another great analogy on page 97 is when Holly describes a piece of art that is adored and treasured by fans. She reminds us that the artist would have also gone through some type of angst or self doubt as the work was created. Us adoring fans tend to forget this! I marked the book with many sticky notes, and I’m not going to share them all!
The beautiful cover alone is enough to entice the reader to this book, although for me it was having already read and loved Hollys first novel The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart. This non fiction book is also a fabulous read with honesty and encouragement from the first page. Early in the book it is clear that there is really no reason at all why the reader can not start creating, with Holly describing her own experiences with severe anxiety and how she over came her fears to write.
The book contains lots of hints and strategies to encourage the reader to be creative. I found it lovely and very supportive. I liked it because it explains lots of things, for example on page 63 there is a great example of how we tend to (under stress) fight, flight, freeze and then fawn. So many readers will relate to this, I did! Another great analogy on page 97 is when Holly describes a piece of art that is adored and treasured by fans. She reminds us that the artist would have also gone through some type of angst or self doubt as the work was created. Us adoring fans tend to forget this! I marked the book with many sticky notes, and I’m not going to share them all!
May 21, 2024
I feel a little bad giving this rating but truthfully I had to will myself to finish the book. I felt click baited into purchasing it by the blurb on the back: “… The House That Joy Built is about the transformative power of finding joy through creativity, and offers a jump-start for anyone whose desire to create is flattened by fear”. As someone who has been recently trying to embrace my creative side, this book felt like it had landed in my life at the perfect time, No where did it indicate that this book would actually be an insufferable woman’s memoirs. In the book, we learn about the authors struggles with violence, grief, her 6 year old bully, how she came up with the title of the book… complete with PICTURES of the author throughout her life, which I found totally unnecessary and unexpected. It is incredibly difficult to engage with a story when you don’t care about the author. When the author was discussing the actual content of the book, and not her life, I did find some of her words to be powerful. However, I could not get past the unexpected journey of a woman’s life that I did not plan to embark on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2024
If you’re a fan of Holly’s writing, this book is a must-read for you! Written in a semi-memoir, semi-self-help style, this book offers 100% encouragement to unleash our inner creativity.
To be honest, I hadn’t read any of Holly’s books before reading this, so I might not have received the intended full impact. But just from what I read here, I could get a sense of her writing style already, and I liked it. I definitely have her books on my TBR!
My favourite chapter was on the topic of creativity block. While I’m not a writer, I still do suffer from it as well. I write technical documents and draw technical diagrams, and for those I require to be in the right state of mind. Holly’s tips act as a reminder that I have this anchor to go back to whenever I feel stuck and in need of a propeller to go forward.
(Thanks to HarperCollins Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
To be honest, I hadn’t read any of Holly’s books before reading this, so I might not have received the intended full impact. But just from what I read here, I could get a sense of her writing style already, and I liked it. I definitely have her books on my TBR!
My favourite chapter was on the topic of creativity block. While I’m not a writer, I still do suffer from it as well. I write technical documents and draw technical diagrams, and for those I require to be in the right state of mind. Holly’s tips act as a reminder that I have this anchor to go back to whenever I feel stuck and in need of a propeller to go forward.
(Thanks to HarperCollins Australia for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review)
See my bookstagram review.
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