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Live Like You Give a Damn: 25 Bold Moves to Get Honest, Face the Hard Stuff, and Show Up for Yourself
From the bestselling author of How to Stop Feeling Like Sh*t comes 25 transformational truths to face the hard stuff and own your greatness.
Do you ever feel your life could be more? There are so many reasons we might hide ourselves, hold back, or accept patterns we’re caught in. If you find you’re ready for change and are looking for ways to level up in your life, Andrea Owen offers wisdom drawn from her own lived experience, with a savvy outlook and the authentic voice she’s known and loved for.
Embrace the true grit and determination that live inside you and be proud of how you show up, every damn day. To “live like you give a damn” is to consciously stand in the power that is your one great life, to understand that your existence is not a dress rehearsal but the real show. Andrea offers straight-shooting advice on common beliefs and behaviors that may be tripping you up and keeping you stuck. From taking responsibility for your one beautiful life to finding your motivation, saying what you mean, learning to parent yourself, treating your trauma with respect, and more, 25 behaviors are described, with specific advice to help you implement and practice a new way of living.
It’s every person’s birthright to live a fulfilling life—one with joy, healthy relationships, and resilience. While life throws curveballs that may leave you feeling ready to settle for the status quo, the truth is that every day is our last chance to show up. Every day is a fresh start. Every day is an opportunity to live like you give a damn.
Do you ever feel your life could be more? There are so many reasons we might hide ourselves, hold back, or accept patterns we’re caught in. If you find you’re ready for change and are looking for ways to level up in your life, Andrea Owen offers wisdom drawn from her own lived experience, with a savvy outlook and the authentic voice she’s known and loved for.
Embrace the true grit and determination that live inside you and be proud of how you show up, every damn day. To “live like you give a damn” is to consciously stand in the power that is your one great life, to understand that your existence is not a dress rehearsal but the real show. Andrea offers straight-shooting advice on common beliefs and behaviors that may be tripping you up and keeping you stuck. From taking responsibility for your one beautiful life to finding your motivation, saying what you mean, learning to parent yourself, treating your trauma with respect, and more, 25 behaviors are described, with specific advice to help you implement and practice a new way of living.
It’s every person’s birthright to live a fulfilling life—one with joy, healthy relationships, and resilience. While life throws curveballs that may leave you feeling ready to settle for the status quo, the truth is that every day is our last chance to show up. Every day is a fresh start. Every day is an opportunity to live like you give a damn.
224 pages, Paperback
Published December 9, 2025
10 people are currently reading
2224 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 9, 2026
I requested a digital ARC of "Live Like You Give a Damn" because it’s published by Sounds True, a company whose books and programs I’ve admired for years, and because the title itself felt like a needed nudge after getting through 2025. Who doesn’t need a genuine pick-me-up now and then?
I’ll admit up front that I have mixed feelings about profanity in book titles. There’s a time and place for it, but I’m increasingly tired of seeing it splashed across covers, and I often won’t even pick those books up unless the content truly warrants it. In this case, the subtitle and the fact that the book was written by a woman intrigued me enough to give it a chance. Once I started browsing the author’s other work, it became clear that profanity is very much part of her brand. That’s not my preference, but because this is a Sounds True publication, I had high hopes—and for the most part, the book delivered what I was looking for.
The structure is one of the book’s strengths. It’s organized into 25 short chapters, each presenting a lesson in a clear, accessible way. I especially appreciated the three-part approach in each chapter: identifying the problem, explaining what happens if it goes unaddressed, and offering concrete ways to move forward. I also liked the author’s encouragement to skip around rather than read straight through—this makes the book easy to use as a reference or as a “dip in when needed” resource.
The tone will resonate more strongly with some readers than others. The conversational style (including repeated use of endearments like “babe”) and the overall voice gave me strong Mel Robbins–style vibes. While there’s helpful and practical information here, the book feels most naturally suited to millennial and maybe younger Gen X women, particularly those under 45. I can easily imagine this being very impactful for someone in their 20s or 30s who is building confidence, setting boundaries, and learning how to stay focused and goal-oriented. For me, at this stage of life, some of the messaging felt familiar rather than transformative—but that doesn’t diminish its potential value for the right reader.
Despite my personal quibbles with the language choices and coaching culture in general, there is solid encouragement and clarity in this book. It’s approachable, actionable, and clearly written with the intention of helping readers feel more empowered and intentional about their lives. As always, your mileage may vary.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sounds True, and the author for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll admit up front that I have mixed feelings about profanity in book titles. There’s a time and place for it, but I’m increasingly tired of seeing it splashed across covers, and I often won’t even pick those books up unless the content truly warrants it. In this case, the subtitle and the fact that the book was written by a woman intrigued me enough to give it a chance. Once I started browsing the author’s other work, it became clear that profanity is very much part of her brand. That’s not my preference, but because this is a Sounds True publication, I had high hopes—and for the most part, the book delivered what I was looking for.
The structure is one of the book’s strengths. It’s organized into 25 short chapters, each presenting a lesson in a clear, accessible way. I especially appreciated the three-part approach in each chapter: identifying the problem, explaining what happens if it goes unaddressed, and offering concrete ways to move forward. I also liked the author’s encouragement to skip around rather than read straight through—this makes the book easy to use as a reference or as a “dip in when needed” resource.
The tone will resonate more strongly with some readers than others. The conversational style (including repeated use of endearments like “babe”) and the overall voice gave me strong Mel Robbins–style vibes. While there’s helpful and practical information here, the book feels most naturally suited to millennial and maybe younger Gen X women, particularly those under 45. I can easily imagine this being very impactful for someone in their 20s or 30s who is building confidence, setting boundaries, and learning how to stay focused and goal-oriented. For me, at this stage of life, some of the messaging felt familiar rather than transformative—but that doesn’t diminish its potential value for the right reader.
Despite my personal quibbles with the language choices and coaching culture in general, there is solid encouragement and clarity in this book. It’s approachable, actionable, and clearly written with the intention of helping readers feel more empowered and intentional about their lives. As always, your mileage may vary.
Thank you to NetGalley, Sounds True, and the author for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2026
“Your healing is about you — not about absolving others of their wrongdoings.”
We came to Live Like You Give a Damn after years of reading and listening to books in this space, and we were surprised by how quickly Andrea Owen’s voice felt like a steady, grounded presence. This is a book we would hand to someone after they’ve stabilized from severe medical or psychological challenges—once they’re on firmer ground and ready for a coaching voice rather than crisis‑level guidance. In that stage, this book becomes a kind of waystation: a place to gather clarity, direction, and emotional momentum.
We tend to read these books with a careful, critical eye, and it’s rare for us to come away without reservations. This one held up beautifully. Listening to her narration, we found ourselves thinking: we would absolutely hire her as our life coach. Her tone is direct without being harsh, encouraging without being saccharine, and practical without drifting into oversimplification.
This isn’t a book we’d give to someone in acute distress. When someone is facing severe medical or psychological issues, they need focused, practical help. This book speaks more to the stage that comes after that—when the person has already begun turning things around and is ready to build on that progress. For readers in that position, the material here will feel affirming, clarifying, and familiar in the best way.
We also think this book would be valuable for younger people—not because it’s simplistic, but because it offers the kind of emotional literacy and grounded encouragement we wish we’d encountered earlier in life. It’s accessible without talking down to the reader, and it covers a wide range of topics with a steady hand.
“The books, the quotes, and the affirmations won’t save you. Only you can do that. And the moment you decide to stop pretending is the moment you truly start living.”
*Thanks to Microsoft Copilot for helping us craft this review.*
We came to Live Like You Give a Damn after years of reading and listening to books in this space, and we were surprised by how quickly Andrea Owen’s voice felt like a steady, grounded presence. This is a book we would hand to someone after they’ve stabilized from severe medical or psychological challenges—once they’re on firmer ground and ready for a coaching voice rather than crisis‑level guidance. In that stage, this book becomes a kind of waystation: a place to gather clarity, direction, and emotional momentum.
We tend to read these books with a careful, critical eye, and it’s rare for us to come away without reservations. This one held up beautifully. Listening to her narration, we found ourselves thinking: we would absolutely hire her as our life coach. Her tone is direct without being harsh, encouraging without being saccharine, and practical without drifting into oversimplification.
This isn’t a book we’d give to someone in acute distress. When someone is facing severe medical or psychological issues, they need focused, practical help. This book speaks more to the stage that comes after that—when the person has already begun turning things around and is ready to build on that progress. For readers in that position, the material here will feel affirming, clarifying, and familiar in the best way.
We also think this book would be valuable for younger people—not because it’s simplistic, but because it offers the kind of emotional literacy and grounded encouragement we wish we’d encountered earlier in life. It’s accessible without talking down to the reader, and it covers a wide range of topics with a steady hand.
“The books, the quotes, and the affirmations won’t save you. Only you can do that. And the moment you decide to stop pretending is the moment you truly start living.”
*Thanks to Microsoft Copilot for helping us craft this review.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2025
Not only did the title speak to me, but the tagline “25 Bold Moves to Get Honest, Face the Hard Stuff, and Show Up for Yourself” really caught my attention. Showing up for ourselves…easier said than done right? Andrea wrote this book like she was conversing with a friend. It’s easy to read, and not clinical filled as so many self-help books are these days. Her 25 moves are easy to achieve, and the best part? If you only need to heed to 10 of them, you’ll still be better off. Chapter 7 “You Will Disappoint People, and Chapter 15 “Treat Your Trauma with Respect” were the two that I really took notes on. Reiterating the importance of setting boundaries with those we are closest to, and holding space for trauma are things that I am working on thought my journey. It’s good to see so many suggestions that are not only easy to follow, but put’s OUR needs front and center.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sounds True Publishing | St. Martin's Essentials for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sounds True Publishing | St. Martin's Essentials for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.
August 29, 2025
Great advice and thank you for this advanced reader copy! Counselors grab this one!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews