Stop playing it safe and start creating a life that’s truly your own.
Marty McDonald’s pivotal career moment was nothing if not she stopped the CEO of a candy company in a hallway, pitched her idea for a special gummy bear flavor, and was soon promoting the Black Girl Magic gummy bear at Sugarfina stores around the country.
Now Marty, the founder of Boss Women Media and founder of the Black Girl Magic Summit, pens a guide to help women go after their most audacious goals in both work and everyday life, and guides them as they work to make them reality. With unflinching honesty, McDonald recounts her personal stories of triumph and failure, offering an intimate look into the audacious decisions that propelled her from uncertainty to success. From navigating the unknown to breaking through barriers that seemed insurmountable, McDonald reveals the mindset, strategies, and bold actions required to turn fear into fuel and transform dreams into reality. She helps Set aside fear and write a different narrative Grow comfortable taking risks Understand the investments you must make in yourself first See how no is just the beginning of the conversation Determine what is holding them back from pursuing their biggest dreams Learn how to find their flex and other ways to make a difference beyond themselves Audaciously go after their dreams Whether you’re looking to level up in your career, create a life of meaning, or embrace the wild unknown of new possibilities, Audacious provides the blueprint to help women find their authentic selves, reach for their wildest dreams, and craft the life they want and deserve.
“Sometimes the boldest move is simply saying yes to the life you actually want.”
I accidentally slipped my November book club pick into my lineup a little early, but honestly, it turned out to be perfect timing. Audacious reads like a no-nonsense pep talk for anyone gearing up for a new season of goals. It blends tough love with practical advice, all designed to nudge you out of autopilot and into that magical place where intention meets momentum.
A few standout takeaways: The reminder that saying no is a form of self-respect — and that hearing no isn’t failure, but an opening that creates space for something better to come. And my favorite, was a gentle nudge to nurture my friendships through tiny, thoughtful touchpoints that can be woven into daily life instead of waiting for the perfect moment.
This book left me feeling more grounded and more gutsy as I sketch out my 2026 roadmap.
Such an empowering and inspiring listen! Marty’s voice shines through and it honestly felt like getting a personal coaching session filled with truth, encouragement, and action steps. This book is part manifesto, part motivational guide, and completely what I needed to refocus and dream bigger. I’ll definitely be picking up a physical copy to annotate!
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Worthy Books for the advance listener’s copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is an inspirational guide for anyone who wants to start their own business or just find more happiness and fulfillment in life. It is also a memoir of how the author got to her current place in life. If you are interested in the author personally you should give her book a read. The author does have a nice ending page where she advocates for raising young readers and has a website you can join. JoinRaisingReaders.com
I love this audacity approach - it basically suggests that everything you don’t go after is footed in fear and if you can define this fear, you can work to diminish it.
Audacity is basically a new term - a concept - to talk about the power of mind, your personal energy and law of attraction. It’s just a more hands on approach to the same principles that might make it easier to grasp it for so many people who have found the former ways too vague or too general.
The way the author describes “audacity” is so beautiful and poetic, though. Like it’s something that gives us the magical wings to fly when we overcome the fear of not believing.