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Roam With Me: Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
AMAZON BESTSELLER in 4 CATEGORIES!
Bonni Chalkin’s collection of soulful, magical, and often delightfully quirky personal stories reveals a life journeyed with heart and mind wide open. As a curious traveler to simple and exotic places, including the inner self, she sees the transformations we all experience in daily life as akin to waking up one day and fluently speaking a language we’ve always yearned to speak. Chalkin’s inspiring stories invite us to become open to new realities and trust our intuition as our personal navigation system. She shows us how her choice of learning from her life events and encounters and tapping into the power of thought allowed her to change the course of her life. Drawn from experiences before and after she became an intuitive energy healer, these stories inspire readers to approach life with a mindset that unlocks the limitless possibilities the universe holds for them. These vignettes also illustrate the transformative power of kindness and gratitude and the value of cultivating empathy, extending compassion to strangers, and embracing those different from ourselves. For Bonni Chalkin, life’s core message is Finding joy and sharing it with others can change the world, one person at a time.
Bonni Chalkin’s collection of soulful, magical, and often delightfully quirky personal stories reveals a life journeyed with heart and mind wide open. As a curious traveler to simple and exotic places, including the inner self, she sees the transformations we all experience in daily life as akin to waking up one day and fluently speaking a language we’ve always yearned to speak. Chalkin’s inspiring stories invite us to become open to new realities and trust our intuition as our personal navigation system. She shows us how her choice of learning from her life events and encounters and tapping into the power of thought allowed her to change the course of her life. Drawn from experiences before and after she became an intuitive energy healer, these stories inspire readers to approach life with a mindset that unlocks the limitless possibilities the universe holds for them. These vignettes also illustrate the transformative power of kindness and gratitude and the value of cultivating empathy, extending compassion to strangers, and embracing those different from ourselves. For Bonni Chalkin, life’s core message is Finding joy and sharing it with others can change the world, one person at a time.
- GenresMemoir
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2024
19 people are currently reading
1594 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 27, 2025
Book Review: Roam with Me: Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary by Bonni Chalkin
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Bonni Chalkin’s Roam with Me is a soulful collection of personal narratives that blend memoir, spiritual reflection, and travelogue into a cohesive meditation on finding magic in everyday life. As an intuitive energy healer and lifelong explorer—both of physical landscapes and inner realms—Chalkin crafts stories that are equal parts whimsical and profound, inviting readers to reframe their perspectives through gratitude, empathy, and curiosity .
Emotional Resonance & Thematic Depth
What makes Roam with Me stand out is its authenticity. Chalkin’s voice is warm and conversational, as if she’s sharing anecdotes over coffee with a trusted friend. Her tales of serendipitous encounters (from strangers on trains to spiritual awakenings) resonate deeply because they reject grandiosity in favor of humble, relatable moments. One particularly moving thread explores how small acts of kindness—like offering Reiki to a grieving stranger—can ripple outward in unexpected ways .
The book’s strength lies in its balance of lightness and depth. Chapters oscillate between playful observations (e.g., finding cosmic significance in a misplaced suitcase) and heavier reflections on loss and transformation. This duality mirrors Chalkin’s core message: that joy and sorrow coexist, and both can be portals to growth .
Constructive Criticism
While the vignette-style structure makes for digestible reading, some stories feel truncated, leaving readers craving deeper exploration. A chapter on Chalkin’s transition into energy healing, for instance, hints at profound personal shifts but glosses over the emotional labor involved. Additionally, the book’s spiritual tone—though inclusive—may alienate readers who prefer concrete takeaways over metaphysical musings. A few more practical exercises (beyond general invitations to trust intuition) could broaden its appeal.
Summary Takeaways:
- A literary hug for the soul—Chalkin turns mundane moments into portals of wonder.
- For fans of Eat Pray Love and The Alchemist, but with a Reiki master’s wisdom.
- Proof that adventure isn’t about miles traveled—it’s about the heart’s capacity to expand.
- A manifesto for mindful living, packed with quirky charm and cosmic synchronicities.
Final Assessment
Roam with Me is a radiant celebration of human connection and the hidden beauty in ordinary days. Its 4.5-star rating reflects Chalkin’s gift for storytelling and her ability to distill life’s complexities into accessible, uplifting prose. Though occasionally uneven in depth, the book’s warmth and wisdom make it a perfect companion for seekers of meaning—whether they’re armchair travelers or seasoned spiritual practitioners.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for providing a complimentary copy. Chalkin’s work is a reminder that wonder is always within reach.
Recommended For:
-Readers who enjoy memoir-meets-spirituality hybrids (e.g., Elizabeth Gilbert, Pema Chödrön).
-Those seeking inspiration to reframe daily life with more mindfulness and joy.
-Energy healers and intuitive practitioners looking for relatable narratives about their craft .
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Bonni Chalkin’s Roam with Me is a soulful collection of personal narratives that blend memoir, spiritual reflection, and travelogue into a cohesive meditation on finding magic in everyday life. As an intuitive energy healer and lifelong explorer—both of physical landscapes and inner realms—Chalkin crafts stories that are equal parts whimsical and profound, inviting readers to reframe their perspectives through gratitude, empathy, and curiosity .
Emotional Resonance & Thematic Depth
What makes Roam with Me stand out is its authenticity. Chalkin’s voice is warm and conversational, as if she’s sharing anecdotes over coffee with a trusted friend. Her tales of serendipitous encounters (from strangers on trains to spiritual awakenings) resonate deeply because they reject grandiosity in favor of humble, relatable moments. One particularly moving thread explores how small acts of kindness—like offering Reiki to a grieving stranger—can ripple outward in unexpected ways .
The book’s strength lies in its balance of lightness and depth. Chapters oscillate between playful observations (e.g., finding cosmic significance in a misplaced suitcase) and heavier reflections on loss and transformation. This duality mirrors Chalkin’s core message: that joy and sorrow coexist, and both can be portals to growth .
Constructive Criticism
While the vignette-style structure makes for digestible reading, some stories feel truncated, leaving readers craving deeper exploration. A chapter on Chalkin’s transition into energy healing, for instance, hints at profound personal shifts but glosses over the emotional labor involved. Additionally, the book’s spiritual tone—though inclusive—may alienate readers who prefer concrete takeaways over metaphysical musings. A few more practical exercises (beyond general invitations to trust intuition) could broaden its appeal.
Summary Takeaways:
- A literary hug for the soul—Chalkin turns mundane moments into portals of wonder.
- For fans of Eat Pray Love and The Alchemist, but with a Reiki master’s wisdom.
- Proof that adventure isn’t about miles traveled—it’s about the heart’s capacity to expand.
- A manifesto for mindful living, packed with quirky charm and cosmic synchronicities.
Final Assessment
Roam with Me is a radiant celebration of human connection and the hidden beauty in ordinary days. Its 4.5-star rating reflects Chalkin’s gift for storytelling and her ability to distill life’s complexities into accessible, uplifting prose. Though occasionally uneven in depth, the book’s warmth and wisdom make it a perfect companion for seekers of meaning—whether they’re armchair travelers or seasoned spiritual practitioners.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for providing a complimentary copy. Chalkin’s work is a reminder that wonder is always within reach.
Recommended For:
-Readers who enjoy memoir-meets-spirituality hybrids (e.g., Elizabeth Gilbert, Pema Chödrön).
-Those seeking inspiration to reframe daily life with more mindfulness and joy.
-Energy healers and intuitive practitioners looking for relatable narratives about their craft .
July 26, 2025
This is pretty soothing and a low stakes memoir. I mean only that I did not experience any emotional trauma while reading this.
August 27, 2024
Joy and Hope For All!
I have known Bonni since our college days, so it was a real treat to know many of the special people who are woven in the fabric of her life and this book. Bonni has chosen a unique path, never being defined at all, by any of the privileges afforded her. She leads with kindness. Bonni seeks to find the best in ALL people, even the ones most people, myself included, whose eyes we would avert. Her free and joyous spirit also helps others to find what they need most…That, really is a gift! I am honored to be her friend and I am so proud of her for taking the time and effort to share her journey with us. Love you Bonz. Keeping doing what you do best. Good for you and good for the rest of us!!!🩷🌟👏
I have known Bonni since our college days, so it was a real treat to know many of the special people who are woven in the fabric of her life and this book. Bonni has chosen a unique path, never being defined at all, by any of the privileges afforded her. She leads with kindness. Bonni seeks to find the best in ALL people, even the ones most people, myself included, whose eyes we would avert. Her free and joyous spirit also helps others to find what they need most…That, really is a gift! I am honored to be her friend and I am so proud of her for taking the time and effort to share her journey with us. Love you Bonz. Keeping doing what you do best. Good for you and good for the rest of us!!!🩷🌟👏
October 20, 2024
I won a free Kindle e-book from Goodreads and boy am I glad!!!!
I adored learning about the author. She is the most kindness person ever and I see that she is always trying to the best in everyone no matter what. I love that she lives to the beat of her own and never allows anyone to tell her how to live her life. It seems with her gratuitous and blissful demeanor she is able to help others to look deep into themselves to see what they really need in life. She has a wonderful way of telling appealing, stirring and uplifting stories. I found myself connecting to much of the author's revelations.
I recommend this read without any hesitation!!!
I adored learning about the author. She is the most kindness person ever and I see that she is always trying to the best in everyone no matter what. I love that she lives to the beat of her own and never allows anyone to tell her how to live her life. It seems with her gratuitous and blissful demeanor she is able to help others to look deep into themselves to see what they really need in life. She has a wonderful way of telling appealing, stirring and uplifting stories. I found myself connecting to much of the author's revelations.
I recommend this read without any hesitation!!!
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October 23, 2025DNF at 30%. i couldn’t get into it. i enjoyed the premise. just couldn’t get around the writing
December 19, 2025
Wonderful book with life lessons told through Bonni’s personal experiences.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews