So God Made a Grandma: Caring, Faithful, Creative, Devoted, Wise, Generous, Resilient--Just like You

by Leslie Means

328 pages, Hardcover

Published March 4, 2025

Reviews

[Rachel Schuehle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of stories, well-written and thought provoking.

[Angel Caulfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I preordered this book and received an audio version as well. This book is just beautiful. It’s essays from several women telling beautiful , candid real life stories of life and love from the women in their lives they called grandma. Whether you’re a mom, grandma, nanny, Grammy, Oma, Mimi, Gaga - get this book! You’ll recognize your family in the many heart felt and inspiring stories of women who loved their families, cherished their grandchildren and left so many cherished memories. You’ll see yourself and your mom as the most loving part of the family through the eyes of these women as they detail beautifully the many personalities of the unselfish and unconditional loving women they honored and called grandma. Enjoy!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might be biased, since I have an essay in this book. 😂 If you love short stories, this is a great read.

[Amy Juett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treasure of heartfelt stories about grandmas! I love the perspective of so many contributors all being tied together with the author’s own words throughout. There were moments of laughter, moments of tears, and so many emotions in between. The hardcover book is absolutely beautiful, but I also highly recommend the audio book. It is read by the author, and she does a great job capturing the overall feeling of each piece.

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So God Made a Grandma is a collection of essays written from the memories of grateful daughters and granddaughters and from the experiences of older women in the trenches of the grandmothering life. As a member of this wholehearted band of love-givers, tradition-keepers, heart-holders, and memory-makers, every single story resonated, and it was a gift to read the evidence that “good” grandmothers come in every possible description.

I was reminded that grandmothering is a gift of second chances. It’s the opportunity to redeem imperfect relationships and make the best of what life has sent our way. It requires all-in creativity balanced by hands-off respect for boundaries.

You don’t have to be a grandmother to appreciate the inherent wisdom of women who give grace, think about legacy, and celebrate the hard and sorrowful alongside the rich and fruitful. With Mother’s Day approaching on the calendar, this seems like a perfect gift for the woman you want to honor, bless, or mentor in the generous ways of the grandmothering life.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could use one word to describe this incredible collection of grandmother stories (one of which I'm very honored to say is my own), it would be affirming. This book affirms that grandmas leave an eternal imprint on the hearts of their grandchildren in the way of affection, adoration, appetites, accolades, and adventures. If you have a grandma, know a grandma, or are a grandma, this book is definitely for you! You'll laugh, smile, cry, and nod your head while reading these eighty-something essays, and if you're lucky enough to still have a loving grandmother in your life, you'll want to call her immediately. So God Made A Grandma would make an excellent birthday, Mother's Day, Easter, or just because gift!

[Michele Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember the heartwarming 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' books? So God Made a Grandma reads the same: short stories filled with heart, emotion, honesty, and grandma magic. The collection of stories includes people from all walks of life sharing their experiences – heartwarming, heartbreaking, and real.

This book would make an amazing gift for yourself, and others. (I bought extra copies for upcoming holidays, myself.)

[Hadassah Treu · Rating 5 out of 5]

So God Made a Grandma is such a beautiful and inspiring book! It is a compilation of stories, told from different perspectives, highlighting the grandmas in our lives. It is like a beautiful bouquet celebrating the women who shape us, love us, and hold a special place in our hearts. I am honored to have my story there too, devoted to my grandma and generational faith.

[Sydnei Kaplan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an early copy of this book, more gorgeous on the inside than it is on the outside! So God Made a Grandma is filled with short stories about the grandmas in our lives, and some are from grandmas themselves. Each story takes your heart and soul on an emotion-filled trip as we discover the many ways grandmas impact our own experiences, our families and our lives. Highly recommend!

[Mary Grace Johnson, Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

So God Made a Woman is a beautiful book of stories by women who either have become grandmas or are remembering their own grandmas. Each is a unique perspective, remembrance, or highlight of that special grandma and either memories of that special woman or tales of what it is like to become a grandma. It is a special book with something for everyone!

[Marissa Khoshgoftar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unexpectedly moving for any reader. I wasn't sure how this book could impact me ... Until I read the first story. That's all it took and then I was texting my mom pictures of the kids because the book reminded me just how special a grandma is in the lives of her grandkids. Highly recommend.

[Sue Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read! I love how it values the legacy of those women who have gone before and shaped us.
Every story holds so much hard fought wisdom and honours the love, strength and resilience of grandmothers.

[Christine Derengowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful tribute to Grandmas!
I loved reading these heartfelt stories about Grandmas from the women who were shaped by their love, strength, and wisdom. This book will make a perfect Mother’s Day gift to anyone who has felt the special love of a Grandma.

[Sylvia Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has kept me reading one story after another. I cannot put it down. It is sweet, funny, deep, inspiring, and so beautiful. Thank you, Leslie Means, for another wonderful book!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got an advanced copy and it is so good. What a gift this book is to the world. Get it today!!! Comes out March 1st but you can preorder it! You won’t be disappointed!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! So many unique perspectives that will make you laugh, cry, remember, grieve, heal, and dream. Each piece really captures you and draws you in. Definitely a must-read!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice collection of stories divided into themes that honor grandmas.

[Madison Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Missing my Granny after this read.

[Elizabeth Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshingly candid collection of stories that are always thoughtful and often touching. A variety of perspectives are offered that should appeal to a wide variety of readers. Would make an excellent gift come Mother's Day!

[Lynn DeVries · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book speaks to every Grandma's heart. The stories are so real, and I feel like I am connecting to new friends.

[Sue Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful book that honours the legacy of the women who have shaped us. Every story shows the significance of Grandmas and how their resilient love echoes through the generations. A must read.

[Lisa Leshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then a book comes along and leaves a stunning imprint on the hearts, souls of its readers.
This is THAT book.
Grandmothers come in many different forms.
But they all have one extraordinary gift in common;
They touch our lives in such magical, memorable ways that
we carry their legacies for a lifetime.
Within the pages of this beautiful masterpiece are the stories
of these exceptional women and the people they loved.

[Courtney Mount · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the preorder book, and oh my! It is a beautiful hardback book featuring lovely stories of grandmas that have shaped who we are as women. It retells memories of grandmas already passed on and of current grandmas as they invest in the next generation. This book holds something for every reader, from the nostalgic to the inspirational, from the difficult to the heartwarming. Everyone needs "So God Made A Grandma"