Live With the Things You Love: And You'll Live Happily Ever After

by Mary Randolph Carter

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Design

256 pages, Hardcover

Published March 4, 2025

Reviews

[Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 4 Couches

A picture book for adults. Amusing.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky rich people with quirky antique stuff. Fun.

[Genia · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh

[Gina House · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this coffee table book caught my eye and my interest. It was supposedly a book full of people's favorite treasures around the home. 'Live With the Things You Love' is heavy and chock full of glossy, gorgeous photos. When I first picked the book off the shelf, I thought it would be whimsical, fun and instructive. But, sadly, it's more like a home decor book.

I felt intimidated (rather than inspired) by the richly decorated and expensive homes included in this collection. From the title, I had hoped to glimpse unique treasures of people from all walks of life, but it was disappointingly more like a book for "showing off your fancy items" while living in huge homes that most people could not afford.

Although I still love the title, I felt somewhat depressed after reading the stories and flipping through the photos. Impressive in style and photography, but really not a book for me.

[She Who Shall Remain Nameless · Rating 3 out of 5]

I confess that I thought that I would like this book more simply based on agreeing with the title, “Live With the Things You Love…and you’ll live happily ever after.” Unfortunately, many of the collections featured were just thrown haphazardly together in a jumbled mess. Despite being a proud maximalist myself, I require my collections of books and paintings to be displayed in a very orderly manner. Additionally, I was appalled that one of the people featured ripped the gorgeous needlepoint upholstery off of an antique sofa because it was too colorful. If you didn’t like the needlepoint, why buy it and destroy it?!? Leave it for someone else who can appreciate the hours and hours of work put into it. Overall, I flipped through the pages of this book very quickly and found much of it to be quite forgettable.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifty-five dollars worth of pictures of other people's stuff.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about what people collect and love.

[Stephanie Dargusch Borders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a stunning book. It really glorifies the idea of having a bunch of stuff just because you love it. Which is the whole entire vibe of my house. I was so inspired.

[Abbey Holladay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite from her. Many of the homes were not my style but a fun read nonetheless.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful book, well written, just too much stuff.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a neat book.