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Really Very Crunchy: A Beginner's Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life without Adding Them to Your Personality
Read by the author and her husband, Jason Morrow.
Find your Inner Crunchy without becoming that person with this helpful guide from social media star Really Very Crunchy.
Are you tired of being bombarded by toxins at every turn? Do you want a more natural, "crunchy" approach to the world (with or without the beige aesthetic)? Well, grab your kombucha and join Emily Morrow on a journey to a more wholesome existence with Really Very A Beginner's Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life without Adding Them to Your Personality.
Emily Morrow, creator of the viral "Really Very Crunchy" social media accounts, guides you through the ins and outs of starting and maintaining a crunchy lifestyle. With her signature humor and a delightfully sincere approach, she will show you how crunchy is a spectrum and how every little choice you make is one small step away from crunch-ifying your own life. From the basics of crunchy to the more advanced choices (beets instead of blush, anyone?), you will quickly say goodbye to toxic chemicals and hello to a healthier, happier way of living.
Funny, accessible, and encouraging--never judgmental or fear-based--Emily will help
Learn how to make simple, mindful steps toward natural livingImplement healthy, life-giving activities into your family's routineNavigate the challenges of adopting the crunchy way of life with sensible, easy-to-implement ideasDevelop a new mindset when it comes to shopping for clothes, food, and cleaning productsDiscover natural remedies for just about everythingSo what are you waiting for? Embrace your inner crunchy (or silky, if that's where you're starting) and dip your toes into a healthier, more sustainable life. Who knows? You may find out you're Really Very Crunchy after all.
The quiz, recipes, and resources can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.
Find your Inner Crunchy without becoming that person with this helpful guide from social media star Really Very Crunchy.
Are you tired of being bombarded by toxins at every turn? Do you want a more natural, "crunchy" approach to the world (with or without the beige aesthetic)? Well, grab your kombucha and join Emily Morrow on a journey to a more wholesome existence with Really Very A Beginner's Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life without Adding Them to Your Personality.
Emily Morrow, creator of the viral "Really Very Crunchy" social media accounts, guides you through the ins and outs of starting and maintaining a crunchy lifestyle. With her signature humor and a delightfully sincere approach, she will show you how crunchy is a spectrum and how every little choice you make is one small step away from crunch-ifying your own life. From the basics of crunchy to the more advanced choices (beets instead of blush, anyone?), you will quickly say goodbye to toxic chemicals and hello to a healthier, happier way of living.
Funny, accessible, and encouraging--never judgmental or fear-based--Emily will help
Learn how to make simple, mindful steps toward natural livingImplement healthy, life-giving activities into your family's routineNavigate the challenges of adopting the crunchy way of life with sensible, easy-to-implement ideasDevelop a new mindset when it comes to shopping for clothes, food, and cleaning productsDiscover natural remedies for just about everythingSo what are you waiting for? Embrace your inner crunchy (or silky, if that's where you're starting) and dip your toes into a healthier, more sustainable life. Who knows? You may find out you're Really Very Crunchy after all.
The quiz, recipes, and resources can be found in the audiobook companion PDF download.
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2024
About the author
Emily Morrow
5 books119 followersEmily Morrow is the creator of Really Very Crunchy, a viral social media presence with more than two million followers. She and her husband, Jason, have traveled the world together, creating video content for the last fifteen years. Emily has a love of different cultures, people who think differently, and things that grow from the earth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 813 reviews
June 27, 2026
“What is a simple small change that I can do to make my life better”Emily Morrow, known on YouTube as ReallyVeryCrunchy, makes comedic videos and shorts with her husband, Jason, about navigating the world and parenthood in a time where everything feels contaminated with toxins, every parenting decision a trap, and a life-or-death battle on the regular.
In this book, she clarifies her stance on topics and provides suggestions for other parents who are curious about the crunchy style.
She talks openly about her childhood full of microwaved brownies, ice rink cake, and candy with all of the dyes soaked in - and why she's offering alternatives to her children. How she's seeking to educate but not control every aspect of her child's life.
"We are not meant to simply consume; we are meant to contribute. If you’re looking to make healthier choices for yourself and your family, look past “self-care” and focus on picking up nourishing habits that will fill your cup in a way that allows you to pour out freely to others."
Something that stood out to me was how she shared this aspect of her life without appearing judgmental or condescending. And let me tell you, as a new mom, that's a delicate tightrope to walk.
One thing that she emphasized again and again was that crunchiness was a spectrum. There's hundreds of decisions you must make for your family's health - some of which would be critical, some would be nice to have, and some you might just dismiss cause you can't worry about everything.
I liked how she shared how her past didn't live up to her ideals of today (i.e. being unable to afford cloth diapers for her first kid) and how even today she's not always "perfect" (to be fair, who can resist Culver's frozen custard?).
Overall, I enjoyed her take on crunchiness - especially how she would often cite her sources and her emphasis on doing your own research BUT ALSO trusting medical officials. (thank you!)
I do I wish it was longer cause so many things were introduced that I wanted a deep dive on!
March 5, 2024
If you’ve been on social media, you may have stumbled across a reel or two featuring a woman wearing linen dresses, going over-the-top in judgemental “crunchiness”. Emily’s comedic videos have garnered an audience of people from many different backgrounds who could relate to both sides of her parodies: the side of the person being “out crunched/judged”, as well as the side of the person living counter culturally and attempting to clean toxins out of their lives. Because so many people could relate to her videos, many discussions arose asking the question, “Is the real Emily the same as the screen Emily? Is she really that crunchy? Or is she actually a “silky” making fun of the crunchy world?” In a way I think this book is an attempt to answer that question, as well as providing, as the amusing subtitle says, “A beginner’s guide to removing toxins from your life without adding them to your personality.”
Emily’s writing is easy to follow, and I found myself snatching quiet moments to read “just one more chapter”. In fact, I finished the book within 48 hours of pulling it out of my mailbox. Emily isn’t afraid to laugh at herself, and I enjoyed several chuckles while reading. It’s obvious that she has done a lot of personal research for herself and her family, and there are plenty of resources for the reader to use as a launching pad for further exploration. She doesn’t claim to be an expert, and encourages everyone to study things and be informed for themselves. I appreciated her insight into the world of influencers, and how several times throughout the book she reiterated that influencers are often paid big bucks to recommend a product, so be wary and do your own research, even about the things she uses and recommends. I think this is what helps make Emily relatable; she may be an “influencer”, but she’s also a principled consumer. She’s not just out to make money; she’s out to live a healthier life and humorously share an exaggerated caricature of that journey on social media.
The book started out with a little backstory of the Morrows’ life. It was interesting to see how and why they took their first steps into a crunchy lifestyle. Then in section two Emily dove into specific topics. It was helpful how the “going crunchy” topics were organized into Maslow’s basic hierarchy of needs: Air, water, food, clothes, sleep and shelter. I think the idea was to pick something from the topic and make one small step towards a healthier alternative in your life. For instance, in the air chapter, one idea was to simply open your windows to let clean, fresh air inside your house. Easy enough. But some of the chapters felt a little overwhelming and doomsday to me. The food chapter was fair enough: if you can’t buy organic, pasture raised eggs, take it as a win that you’re buying regular eggs instead of canned biscuits for breakfast! But the information on all the toxins and plastics in our beds, clothes, floors, furniture, etc didn’t have quite as many easy wins, and I personally felt like there wasn’t as much grace in these chapters. Maybe there was, and I just didn’t see it as well because one of my acquaintances is an “Amy” (you’ll meet this character early on in the book) and will voluntarily inform you of the toxicity of the polyester shirt you chose to wear while it’s still on your back. So maybe I’m just easily triggered by those topics? (Side note, it was interesting and relieving to learn Emily is triggered by “know better, do better”. I guess we all have our triggers brought about by the “Amy’s” of the crunchy world.)
While this is supposed to be a beginner’s guide, these middle chapters are definitely filled with intermediate and even advanced steps in the direction of crunchiness (cloth toilet paper, anyone?), so I think there are ideas for even the more crunchy among us to glean or be inspired or reminded of (read: people far more crunchier than me. lol!)
Section 3 moves out of the physical items and into the relationships we have with others; specifically our friends and family who don’t see eye to eye with us. I like how Emily stresses many times that diversity is a good thing; that people are all at different points (notice I didn’t say “levels”) in the “crunchy spectrum”; and that it is best to believe that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have available to them. Yet at the same time I kinda felt an underlying tension between what Emily says and what she does when it comes to her kids. To be fair, navigating child raising is hard and it’s a tension I feel myself. I have three kids of my own, and I don’t particularly love it when they come home from somewhere on a sugar-and-food-coloring-induced high. But I’ve never called an ice cream parlor post visit to confirm that my parents did, indeed, ignore my preference to avoid food dyes while treating my kids to ice cream. That’s just a little over the top in my opinion. But I do understand that it’s a hard line to walk, balancing grace for where others are when it collides with how I’m trying to raise my children. How do you balance lifestyle preferences and goals for your children with community norms and expectations? What’s hard-and-fast/make-or-break stands to take and what do you let slide? I like how Emily stresses that you always choose community over your crunchy standards, yet I get the feeling she has a hard time doing this when it comes to her children.
Overall the third section was just a little disappointing to me. I was hoping for more of a practical guide about navigating relationships across the silky/scrunchy/crunchy spectrum without being “that person” (basically the over-the-top-Emily-caricature portrayed on YouTube). Instead it was more like, “this is what we do, and here’s why. But give each other grace and love when others decide differently.” While the grace-and-love speech is very much needed in the crunchy community, it just isn’t as easy to implement as tangible steps. Tho I suppose relationships are messy and there really can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to navigating them, so maybe she really is onto something with the grace and love. =)
All in all, an entertaining read that’s also inspiring. Emily has gathered an audience online who may not know much about toxins and where they’re all hiding, so this book might be a good introduction to the crunchy world for them. And for people who have been around in crunchy land for awhile, it’s nice to know the back story to the character we see online, and to know that, while Emily is truly “really very crunchy”, she’s at least a little closer to normal than her exaggerated YouTube personality might lead one to believe.
Emily’s writing is easy to follow, and I found myself snatching quiet moments to read “just one more chapter”. In fact, I finished the book within 48 hours of pulling it out of my mailbox. Emily isn’t afraid to laugh at herself, and I enjoyed several chuckles while reading. It’s obvious that she has done a lot of personal research for herself and her family, and there are plenty of resources for the reader to use as a launching pad for further exploration. She doesn’t claim to be an expert, and encourages everyone to study things and be informed for themselves. I appreciated her insight into the world of influencers, and how several times throughout the book she reiterated that influencers are often paid big bucks to recommend a product, so be wary and do your own research, even about the things she uses and recommends. I think this is what helps make Emily relatable; she may be an “influencer”, but she’s also a principled consumer. She’s not just out to make money; she’s out to live a healthier life and humorously share an exaggerated caricature of that journey on social media.
The book started out with a little backstory of the Morrows’ life. It was interesting to see how and why they took their first steps into a crunchy lifestyle. Then in section two Emily dove into specific topics. It was helpful how the “going crunchy” topics were organized into Maslow’s basic hierarchy of needs: Air, water, food, clothes, sleep and shelter. I think the idea was to pick something from the topic and make one small step towards a healthier alternative in your life. For instance, in the air chapter, one idea was to simply open your windows to let clean, fresh air inside your house. Easy enough. But some of the chapters felt a little overwhelming and doomsday to me. The food chapter was fair enough: if you can’t buy organic, pasture raised eggs, take it as a win that you’re buying regular eggs instead of canned biscuits for breakfast! But the information on all the toxins and plastics in our beds, clothes, floors, furniture, etc didn’t have quite as many easy wins, and I personally felt like there wasn’t as much grace in these chapters. Maybe there was, and I just didn’t see it as well because one of my acquaintances is an “Amy” (you’ll meet this character early on in the book) and will voluntarily inform you of the toxicity of the polyester shirt you chose to wear while it’s still on your back. So maybe I’m just easily triggered by those topics? (Side note, it was interesting and relieving to learn Emily is triggered by “know better, do better”. I guess we all have our triggers brought about by the “Amy’s” of the crunchy world.)
While this is supposed to be a beginner’s guide, these middle chapters are definitely filled with intermediate and even advanced steps in the direction of crunchiness (cloth toilet paper, anyone?), so I think there are ideas for even the more crunchy among us to glean or be inspired or reminded of (read: people far more crunchier than me. lol!)
Section 3 moves out of the physical items and into the relationships we have with others; specifically our friends and family who don’t see eye to eye with us. I like how Emily stresses many times that diversity is a good thing; that people are all at different points (notice I didn’t say “levels”) in the “crunchy spectrum”; and that it is best to believe that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have available to them. Yet at the same time I kinda felt an underlying tension between what Emily says and what she does when it comes to her kids. To be fair, navigating child raising is hard and it’s a tension I feel myself. I have three kids of my own, and I don’t particularly love it when they come home from somewhere on a sugar-and-food-coloring-induced high. But I’ve never called an ice cream parlor post visit to confirm that my parents did, indeed, ignore my preference to avoid food dyes while treating my kids to ice cream. That’s just a little over the top in my opinion. But I do understand that it’s a hard line to walk, balancing grace for where others are when it collides with how I’m trying to raise my children. How do you balance lifestyle preferences and goals for your children with community norms and expectations? What’s hard-and-fast/make-or-break stands to take and what do you let slide? I like how Emily stresses that you always choose community over your crunchy standards, yet I get the feeling she has a hard time doing this when it comes to her children.
Overall the third section was just a little disappointing to me. I was hoping for more of a practical guide about navigating relationships across the silky/scrunchy/crunchy spectrum without being “that person” (basically the over-the-top-Emily-caricature portrayed on YouTube). Instead it was more like, “this is what we do, and here’s why. But give each other grace and love when others decide differently.” While the grace-and-love speech is very much needed in the crunchy community, it just isn’t as easy to implement as tangible steps. Tho I suppose relationships are messy and there really can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to navigating them, so maybe she really is onto something with the grace and love. =)
All in all, an entertaining read that’s also inspiring. Emily has gathered an audience online who may not know much about toxins and where they’re all hiding, so this book might be a good introduction to the crunchy world for them. And for people who have been around in crunchy land for awhile, it’s nice to know the back story to the character we see online, and to know that, while Emily is truly “really very crunchy”, she’s at least a little closer to normal than her exaggerated YouTube personality might lead one to believe.
August 6, 2024
I follow Emily on social media, and I love her!! Her crunchy mom satire videos are hilarious and very entertaining. I saw she was coming out with this book, and I definitely had to check it out. I enjoyed this book not only for the great information but because it included some of Emily's backstory and you got to know a little bit more about her and her past. The information she presented was perfect, not too much and not too little, and easily digestible for anyone looking to live a more low-tox life. I've been living and striving for a low-tox lifestyle for a while and still picked up several things in this book. Highly recommend!
March 26, 2024
I began this book after hearing Emily interviewed by Ginny Yurich on the 1000 Hours Outside podcast. I've seen many of Emily's lightheartedly snarky videos on Instagram, but wasn't quite sure what to make of them (or her! Is this entirely satire? Is this mostly her own views + a little extra?), so I was delighted by how enlightening the interview turned out. I immediately went to Everand to see if her book (brand new and all) happened to be available to listen to, and voilà!
I've read many a follow-these-instructions-and-finally-be-healthy-happy-etc book, but this is not that kind. Those always left me more discouraged than before and feeling talked-down-to thrown into the bargain, but not so here. Emily is friendly, kind, and above all, compassionate. Her personal stories are so revealing of a normal person trying to do her best, and her gentle and genuine suggestions based on the research she has done are far less overwhelming than one would expect, not least of all because of the theme she repeats over and over, lest we feel discouraged, overwhelmed, or think mindful living may just simply not be for us: crunchy is a spectrum. And what a kindness that she continually reiterates that each individual and family must find for themselves what is best for their specific family, season, and situation! Honestly, the book is more of a generous and reasonable philosophy of crunchiness rather than a how-to.
Thank you, Emily, for your heartfelt and helpful information, but even more for your generous and compassionate heart.
I've read many a follow-these-instructions-and-finally-be-healthy-happy-etc book, but this is not that kind. Those always left me more discouraged than before and feeling talked-down-to thrown into the bargain, but not so here. Emily is friendly, kind, and above all, compassionate. Her personal stories are so revealing of a normal person trying to do her best, and her gentle and genuine suggestions based on the research she has done are far less overwhelming than one would expect, not least of all because of the theme she repeats over and over, lest we feel discouraged, overwhelmed, or think mindful living may just simply not be for us: crunchy is a spectrum. And what a kindness that she continually reiterates that each individual and family must find for themselves what is best for their specific family, season, and situation! Honestly, the book is more of a generous and reasonable philosophy of crunchiness rather than a how-to.
Thank you, Emily, for your heartfelt and helpful information, but even more for your generous and compassionate heart.
March 17, 2024
Emily is a delight and I definitely read this book in her voice. Her husbands thoughts at the end of each chapter were a sweet inclusion. I only gave it three stars because I read the whole book in about an hour, it felt like a blog post. It is a general beginners overview of crunchiness but I think most people who pick up this book are looking for a little more information. There were only two recipes in the whole book. I would’ve liked more practical tips if that makes sense.
February 4, 2025
Nonfiction, memoir-ish
Hmm. Not sure how to rate this. I mostly appreciated Emily's approach to being "crunchy," and I'll share a few quotes I particularly appreciated below.
However.... I was enjoying it all until I got to the formula page. She quoted a popular claim on social media about formula, one which isn't quite accurate, and didn't include any references to back up her claim. This bothered me for several reasons, mainly because I thought that throughout the rest of the book Emily did a great job of emphasizing that you choose what's best for your family and not stress about the rest. Suddenly though, it felt like she was trying to insert "information" that makes it even worse if a mother has to formula feed. I would wager that 99% of Emily's readers already know breastfeeding is amazing, and if they have to feed their infants formula, they don't need more reasons to feel like bad mothers (particularly when said information isn't fully accurate). It's a polarizing topic, and I think Emily would have been more true to the premise of her whole book if she would have left out the two sentences on formula ingredients.
I genuinely enjoyed the book, particularly since I went into it expecting to disagree with a lot. I appreciated the way she approached the medical side of things - use natural, but go to the doctor too. I appreciated that she didn't push her decisions onto her audience, but instead explained how she got to those decisions. She was funny and honest, and it made for an enjoyable read. I liked that she talked a lot about loneliness and its bad affects. I had to laugh: I don't consider myself crunchy, maybe a bit scrunchy though. But according to the little quizzes scattered throughout the book, I'm crunchy. Perhaps that's my Mennonite heritage shining through? 😂 And I'm actually considering making fire cider, so...good job Emily!
Quotes I liked:
"...don't allow the stress of trying to live a toxin-free life become more harmful than the toxins you are trying to avoid." (Chapter 5)
"And this is where I may be a little different from some of the crunchiest of crunchy moms: I believe that a lot of anxiety is much worse for you than the things you are anxious about." (Conclusion)
Hmm. Not sure how to rate this. I mostly appreciated Emily's approach to being "crunchy," and I'll share a few quotes I particularly appreciated below.
However.... I was enjoying it all until I got to the formula page. She quoted a popular claim on social media about formula, one which isn't quite accurate, and didn't include any references to back up her claim. This bothered me for several reasons, mainly because I thought that throughout the rest of the book Emily did a great job of emphasizing that you choose what's best for your family and not stress about the rest. Suddenly though, it felt like she was trying to insert "information" that makes it even worse if a mother has to formula feed. I would wager that 99% of Emily's readers already know breastfeeding is amazing, and if they have to feed their infants formula, they don't need more reasons to feel like bad mothers (particularly when said information isn't fully accurate). It's a polarizing topic, and I think Emily would have been more true to the premise of her whole book if she would have left out the two sentences on formula ingredients.
I genuinely enjoyed the book, particularly since I went into it expecting to disagree with a lot. I appreciated the way she approached the medical side of things - use natural, but go to the doctor too. I appreciated that she didn't push her decisions onto her audience, but instead explained how she got to those decisions. She was funny and honest, and it made for an enjoyable read. I liked that she talked a lot about loneliness and its bad affects. I had to laugh: I don't consider myself crunchy, maybe a bit scrunchy though. But according to the little quizzes scattered throughout the book, I'm crunchy. Perhaps that's my Mennonite heritage shining through? 😂 And I'm actually considering making fire cider, so...good job Emily!
Quotes I liked:
"...don't allow the stress of trying to live a toxin-free life become more harmful than the toxins you are trying to avoid." (Chapter 5)
"And this is where I may be a little different from some of the crunchiest of crunchy moms: I believe that a lot of anxiety is much worse for you than the things you are anxious about." (Conclusion)
May 29, 2024
4.5 stars.
You know when you buy a book from someone who got famous on Instagram and then you find you already know everything they have to say and their writing is a wee bit subpar? Emily smashed my fears, and I bought a copy of this book as soon as I returned my library borrow (ironically was reading the concerns about screentime from the ebook app on my phone but I digress). Really Very Crunchy is a sane, balanced overview to the broad spectrum of toxins and healthy swaps in our food, clothing, and environment. The author manages to give practical ideas while asking you to draw your own conclusions AND stay kind—and did I mention sane?
Morrow is clear that over dramatizing non-toxic living will ultimately make you a more toxic person if it ruins your relationships or mental health. I one hundred per cent agree. And granted, I am pretty conclusively "scrunchie" (confirmed by the quizzes each chapter) and hold not a candle to the author's nontoxic living. But I am inspired to slowly keep making little changes over the long term, and am reminded of great places to start simply. Not at the cost of becoming anxious or losing gratitude though. 😌
You know when you buy a book from someone who got famous on Instagram and then you find you already know everything they have to say and their writing is a wee bit subpar? Emily smashed my fears, and I bought a copy of this book as soon as I returned my library borrow (ironically was reading the concerns about screentime from the ebook app on my phone but I digress). Really Very Crunchy is a sane, balanced overview to the broad spectrum of toxins and healthy swaps in our food, clothing, and environment. The author manages to give practical ideas while asking you to draw your own conclusions AND stay kind—and did I mention sane?
Morrow is clear that over dramatizing non-toxic living will ultimately make you a more toxic person if it ruins your relationships or mental health. I one hundred per cent agree. And granted, I am pretty conclusively "scrunchie" (confirmed by the quizzes each chapter) and hold not a candle to the author's nontoxic living. But I am inspired to slowly keep making little changes over the long term, and am reminded of great places to start simply. Not at the cost of becoming anxious or losing gratitude though. 😌
March 28, 2024
I feel like Emily got persuaded into writing this book (she kind of says that’s the case) and it shows. I had no idea what I was getting into reading this book but I felt like it was very surface level and I really wanted more depth. The resources at the end were helpful but she gives topics/areas of your life on how you can remove toxins (like tap water) then encourages you to do all your research. But since this is a book… I was hoping there would be more research but I also understand that is hard and it’s not her speciality. Did I get a lot from this? I don’t think so. Will I try to remove fragrance from my life? I’ll attempt it. Did I enjoy her humor and think she’s funny like her Instagram? I did. I enjoyed the book but it’s 3 stars.
March 15, 2024
I'm not crunchy and not specifically want/or tend to be. However, I really love Emily Morrow's channel and her fun content. So, when she informed that she was going to make a book...of course I at least wanted to check it out! And it was a pretty fun one.
I have never activly tried to be crunchy or even consider myself one. But must admit, I was suprised how many of these called 'crunchy behaviour' I do. Like baking a lot of things from scratch then buying. However I blame that on me have gluten intolerance and gluten free bread isn't cheap. Many things taste better then they used too, but because they're expensive so it's smarter to bake 60-70% of the bread, buns, cakes etc.😅🙈 Plus...I love baking and want to become a baker, so it's just a good excuse for me ❤️ Anyway, some things how to keep house clean with natural products...Again...I think it's because my mom and grandma has been cleaners and I have followed sort of down the way as well by working as a cleaner for summer jobs. And I learned so many ways to clean without using too much strong cleaning prdoucts. I mean...cleaning an oven goes very well with just a bit of baking powder a 'fairy soup' or fix a milder clog in the sink by using baking powder and vinegar and hot water xD
What I also enjoyed how she talks about her family and how she is raising her children. I don't have any children yet, but it truley gave me some ideas how I could be. Like having the children walking barefoot a lot of the time. I actually did that quite a lot in the summers because I lived in the Finnish country-side. And I actually do it still from time to time when I at my parents house in the summer, I also love walking barefoot inside almost all the time hahaha xD So, think it's not a bad advice.
Other advice I find actually kind of cool was using real dry lavender as a way to keep a fresh smell in the house instead of some fake one. Plus, it's also good put a small bag of lavender in your closet to keep away Tineoidea (a sort of moth that loves destroying one's clothes, we learn and read about this method in elementary school).
Of course I don't agree with everything Emily says, and a lot of it is because we come from different countries with so different backgrounds. For example I'm not as anxious buying or having someone serve pre-made sweet thing with colors because like she said, the red dyed color (E129?) because it's illegal in Finland and other EU-countries. And I'm also not worried when it comes to tap water, speaking of that I was suprised that they but fluorine in American tap water....I also think she comes a bit too strong and too much as well with some of the things. I can understand that because anxiety can do that. However, in my own opinion life is too short for being anxious about every little small thing that comes in and out of our houses.
Anyway can I say one thing: Emily need to become audiobooks narrator! Her voice was perfect! Like perhaps for children or some middle-grade stories. Her voice was so great and engaging!
All in all, this was a quick and fun book that made me think a lot. I was suprised that I enjoyed it so much as I did. I'm not coming out from this with me thinking I'm going to use all of her idea etc. However, it was an fun time while it lasted. I wish her and her family the best and hope to see more of her content. I honestly might read a book specifically about cooking from her ^^
I have never activly tried to be crunchy or even consider myself one. But must admit, I was suprised how many of these called 'crunchy behaviour' I do. Like baking a lot of things from scratch then buying. However I blame that on me have gluten intolerance and gluten free bread isn't cheap. Many things taste better then they used too, but because they're expensive so it's smarter to bake 60-70% of the bread, buns, cakes etc.😅🙈 Plus...I love baking and want to become a baker, so it's just a good excuse for me ❤️ Anyway, some things how to keep house clean with natural products...Again...I think it's because my mom and grandma has been cleaners and I have followed sort of down the way as well by working as a cleaner for summer jobs. And I learned so many ways to clean without using too much strong cleaning prdoucts. I mean...cleaning an oven goes very well with just a bit of baking powder a 'fairy soup' or fix a milder clog in the sink by using baking powder and vinegar and hot water xD
What I also enjoyed how she talks about her family and how she is raising her children. I don't have any children yet, but it truley gave me some ideas how I could be. Like having the children walking barefoot a lot of the time. I actually did that quite a lot in the summers because I lived in the Finnish country-side. And I actually do it still from time to time when I at my parents house in the summer, I also love walking barefoot inside almost all the time hahaha xD So, think it's not a bad advice.
Other advice I find actually kind of cool was using real dry lavender as a way to keep a fresh smell in the house instead of some fake one. Plus, it's also good put a small bag of lavender in your closet to keep away Tineoidea (a sort of moth that loves destroying one's clothes, we learn and read about this method in elementary school).
Of course I don't agree with everything Emily says, and a lot of it is because we come from different countries with so different backgrounds. For example I'm not as anxious buying or having someone serve pre-made sweet thing with colors because like she said, the red dyed color (E129?) because it's illegal in Finland and other EU-countries. And I'm also not worried when it comes to tap water, speaking of that I was suprised that they but fluorine in American tap water....I also think she comes a bit too strong and too much as well with some of the things. I can understand that because anxiety can do that. However, in my own opinion life is too short for being anxious about every little small thing that comes in and out of our houses.
Anyway can I say one thing: Emily need to become audiobooks narrator! Her voice was perfect! Like perhaps for children or some middle-grade stories. Her voice was so great and engaging!
All in all, this was a quick and fun book that made me think a lot. I was suprised that I enjoyed it so much as I did. I'm not coming out from this with me thinking I'm going to use all of her idea etc. However, it was an fun time while it lasted. I wish her and her family the best and hope to see more of her content. I honestly might read a book specifically about cooking from her ^^
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2024
TW: classism, toxic friendships
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Find your Inner Crunchy without becoming that person with this helpful guide from social media star Really Very Crunchy. Are you tired of being bombarded by toxins at every turn? Do you want a more natural, "crunchy" approach to the world (with or without the beige aesthetic)? Well, grab your kombucha and join Emily Morrow on a journey to a more wholesome existence with Really Very A Beginner's Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life without Adding Them to Your Personality. Emily Morrow, creator of the viral "Really Very Crunchy" social media accounts, guides you through the ins and outs of starting and maintaining a crunchy lifestyle. With her signature humor and a delightfully sincere approach, she will show you how crunchy is a spectrum and how every little choice you make is one small step away from crunch-ifying your own life. From the basics of crunchy to the more advanced choices (beets instead of blush, anyone?), you will quickly say goodbye to toxic chemicals and hello to a healthier, happier way of living. Funny, accessible, and encouraging--never judgmental or fear-based--Emily will help So what are you waiting for? Embrace your inner crunchy (or silky, if that's where you're starting) and dip your toes into a healthier, more sustainable life. Who knows? You may find out you're Really Very Crunchy after all.
Release Date: March 12th, 2024
Genre: Self Help
Pages: 240
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Love when the writer of the book narrates it
2. Short book
3. Jason jumps into at the end of every chapter (though I didn't do the quiz)
What I Didn't Like:
1. Author comes off preachy
2. Suggestions are basic and nothing new
Final Thoughts:
So funny because I have seen her getting the questions in Youtube if she is a really crunch mom or just acting for the videos, so she answers that question in this book; "She is a real crunchy mom".
I definitely wouldn't say I am crunchy, but I like to say that I am aware.
One take away from this book is that it is based on classism. There is a chapter where she talks about water and fluoride even suggesting that you should get water delivery bottles. That seemed so above what a low income family could afford.
There were other things that I was confused by what she was saying. She mentions that her and Jason were so poor that they started looking for foods with less ingredients in them (keeping to 5 or under) and they saved money. Of all the times I've been at the store the foods that have less ingredients are the more expensive ones. I also thought it was weird that they were so short on funds from his lack of book sales that she didn't get a job to help out with the cost of things. I understand this worked for them but I don't understand starving so one person can not work. She mentions having a job later on as a nanny.
I guess in the end of the day this book didn't teach me anything more I didn't already know;
• Grow your own food
• Watch less tvs/phones
• Don't use major cleaners or candles
• Don't wear makeup
• Spend more time outside
It all came off a little more preachy than helping. I suppose though when writing a book of this kind it would be harder to stay not judgemental and more helpful.
I understand that she is leading her kids towards healthy options, but I know once those kids are loose they are eating everything.
Did she just say she bought a used wool sweater for her kids but when the kids outgrow it they add an extra inch to it... What about the arms? As a knitter I was curious how this worked. Does she unravel the arms to knit them more arm room? I'd love to see how she is doing this.
I do find it odd that a social media person that has to film or edit tells us to stay off of TVs and phones. Aren't they spending long amounts of time on the their computers?
At the end of the day the book was on the basic side. I thought the book would be more about her than more about how to be crunchy. I was just a little bored being talked at than telling me a fun story. There were some good moments in the book. Times when the author reminded us to be more about the moment then less about just trying to capture the moment behind a screen.
I left curious about how she felt about vac(s), birth control, and sunscreen.
IG | Blog
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
Find your Inner Crunchy without becoming that person with this helpful guide from social media star Really Very Crunchy. Are you tired of being bombarded by toxins at every turn? Do you want a more natural, "crunchy" approach to the world (with or without the beige aesthetic)? Well, grab your kombucha and join Emily Morrow on a journey to a more wholesome existence with Really Very A Beginner's Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life without Adding Them to Your Personality. Emily Morrow, creator of the viral "Really Very Crunchy" social media accounts, guides you through the ins and outs of starting and maintaining a crunchy lifestyle. With her signature humor and a delightfully sincere approach, she will show you how crunchy is a spectrum and how every little choice you make is one small step away from crunch-ifying your own life. From the basics of crunchy to the more advanced choices (beets instead of blush, anyone?), you will quickly say goodbye to toxic chemicals and hello to a healthier, happier way of living. Funny, accessible, and encouraging--never judgmental or fear-based--Emily will help So what are you waiting for? Embrace your inner crunchy (or silky, if that's where you're starting) and dip your toes into a healthier, more sustainable life. Who knows? You may find out you're Really Very Crunchy after all.
Release Date: March 12th, 2024
Genre: Self Help
Pages: 240
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Love when the writer of the book narrates it
2. Short book
3. Jason jumps into at the end of every chapter (though I didn't do the quiz)
What I Didn't Like:
1. Author comes off preachy
2. Suggestions are basic and nothing new
Final Thoughts:
So funny because I have seen her getting the questions in Youtube if she is a really crunch mom or just acting for the videos, so she answers that question in this book; "She is a real crunchy mom".
I definitely wouldn't say I am crunchy, but I like to say that I am aware.
One take away from this book is that it is based on classism. There is a chapter where she talks about water and fluoride even suggesting that you should get water delivery bottles. That seemed so above what a low income family could afford.
There were other things that I was confused by what she was saying. She mentions that her and Jason were so poor that they started looking for foods with less ingredients in them (keeping to 5 or under) and they saved money. Of all the times I've been at the store the foods that have less ingredients are the more expensive ones. I also thought it was weird that they were so short on funds from his lack of book sales that she didn't get a job to help out with the cost of things. I understand this worked for them but I don't understand starving so one person can not work. She mentions having a job later on as a nanny.
I guess in the end of the day this book didn't teach me anything more I didn't already know;
• Grow your own food
• Watch less tvs/phones
• Don't use major cleaners or candles
• Don't wear makeup
• Spend more time outside
It all came off a little more preachy than helping. I suppose though when writing a book of this kind it would be harder to stay not judgemental and more helpful.
I understand that she is leading her kids towards healthy options, but I know once those kids are loose they are eating everything.
Did she just say she bought a used wool sweater for her kids but when the kids outgrow it they add an extra inch to it... What about the arms? As a knitter I was curious how this worked. Does she unravel the arms to knit them more arm room? I'd love to see how she is doing this.
I do find it odd that a social media person that has to film or edit tells us to stay off of TVs and phones. Aren't they spending long amounts of time on the their computers?
At the end of the day the book was on the basic side. I thought the book would be more about her than more about how to be crunchy. I was just a little bored being talked at than telling me a fun story. There were some good moments in the book. Times when the author reminded us to be more about the moment then less about just trying to capture the moment behind a screen.
I left curious about how she felt about vac(s), birth control, and sunscreen.
IG | Blog
April 30, 2024
3.5⭐ - I **REALLY** wanted to love this, and at times, I really did!! It's very well written. Especially the opening chapters (Part I) on coming at your decisions and others' with a heart of humility instead of superiority - such good stuff!
And I definitely chuckled quite a bit along the way because, well, it's Emily and she's hilarious!
She also is clearly approaching life from a Christian worldview and discusses the dangers of pride and self-worship.
My biggest positive takeaways were:
➡️ Healthy, lifestyle changes need to be manageable and small, not sweeping - often starting with getting outside and getting good sleep!
➡️ Humility is needed, especially when discussing these choices with others: superiority can sneak in without you even hearing yourself.
➡️ You make the best decisions for YOUR family - don't compare with others or try to drag anyone else along with you.
➡️ Face-to-face conversations matter - online distorts and leads to miscommunications and harsh words we would never say in person.
➡️ Crunchy living doesn't HAVE to be expensive - but it is a hassle and takes intentionality.
That said, here's why the drop to three stars:
➡️ I do think she falls into one big HUGE assumption that crunchy people often make:
The assumption that people who don't follow the crunchy mantra are doing so out of ignorance or indifference — rather than different priorities, convictions, or understandings of science.
➡️ She often repeats the importance of not making other people feel small about their health choices (YAY,) but assumes that people who don't choose "natural" do so because they don't know any better.
➡️ She emphasizes not stressing about your health decisions, that anxiety is worse for you than toxins (YAY,) but then spends most of the book going over the dangers of everything from food to clothing to lifestyle choices and how to make harder choices that will be better for you and your children.
Basically, my main beef is this: She has the right prescription (don't be superior about your crunchy lifestyle or try to convert everyone to its cause - it's not worth your relationships,) but doesn't address the erroneous beliefs that often lead to that superiority...and spends most of the book trying to covert you to crunchy living 😏😅
I especially wish her chapters on attending events, grandparents, and friendships landed more in the camp of "one piece of cake with food dye will not harm your kid, so just roll with it."
But hey.
•
•
•
Overall: I think I would love being friends with Emily, and talking to her face to face would be amazing! But I probably won't be recommending her book much... Sorry, Em. Let's still be friends.
And I definitely chuckled quite a bit along the way because, well, it's Emily and she's hilarious!
She also is clearly approaching life from a Christian worldview and discusses the dangers of pride and self-worship.
My biggest positive takeaways were:
➡️ Healthy, lifestyle changes need to be manageable and small, not sweeping - often starting with getting outside and getting good sleep!
➡️ Humility is needed, especially when discussing these choices with others: superiority can sneak in without you even hearing yourself.
➡️ You make the best decisions for YOUR family - don't compare with others or try to drag anyone else along with you.
➡️ Face-to-face conversations matter - online distorts and leads to miscommunications and harsh words we would never say in person.
➡️ Crunchy living doesn't HAVE to be expensive - but it is a hassle and takes intentionality.
That said, here's why the drop to three stars:
➡️ I do think she falls into one big HUGE assumption that crunchy people often make:
The assumption that people who don't follow the crunchy mantra are doing so out of ignorance or indifference — rather than different priorities, convictions, or understandings of science.
➡️ She often repeats the importance of not making other people feel small about their health choices (YAY,) but assumes that people who don't choose "natural" do so because they don't know any better.
➡️ She emphasizes not stressing about your health decisions, that anxiety is worse for you than toxins (YAY,) but then spends most of the book going over the dangers of everything from food to clothing to lifestyle choices and how to make harder choices that will be better for you and your children.
Basically, my main beef is this: She has the right prescription (don't be superior about your crunchy lifestyle or try to convert everyone to its cause - it's not worth your relationships,) but doesn't address the erroneous beliefs that often lead to that superiority...and spends most of the book trying to covert you to crunchy living 😏😅
I especially wish her chapters on attending events, grandparents, and friendships landed more in the camp of "one piece of cake with food dye will not harm your kid, so just roll with it."
But hey.
•
•
•
Overall: I think I would love being friends with Emily, and talking to her face to face would be amazing! But I probably won't be recommending her book much... Sorry, Em. Let's still be friends.
January 3, 2025
Enjoyable, quick read. Pretty simple. I didn’t learn a whole lot, but I think it’s a great introduction to the crunchy world, and I like her recommendations at the end.
December 31, 2024
TLDR: Can anyone recommend “crunchy” books that aren’t religious, individualist, or aimed at moms?
I came to this book after reading the NYT article “How the Right Claimed Crunchy.” I had seen some of Emily’s content before and she had seemed like someone with a relatively balanced, humble perspective on being crunchy. I still think that, but I’m concerned that this book plays just as well for an extremist crowd as it does for someone totally new to crunch.
Emily does provide citations for some of the things she mentions in this book, but not everything is cited as well as I would have liked. True to her sense of humor, these things often get played off as jokes. “Most people don’t think about EMFs from baby monitors” okay true but does she really worry about EMFs? Does she recommend crunchy people worry about EMFs? There were multiple situations like this where I had to wonder: Is there no link to a reputable source because no reputable source exists?
My biggest problem with the book, and a lot of crunchiness overall, is that it’s undergirded by a simultaneous desire for (public or private) health AND a radical freedom from public health efforts. Emily tells us it’s “frightening to think of all the ingredients that are allowed to make their way into products” and yet she also is against fluoride in tap water because it “takes away some freedom of choice because fluoride is added to water as a form of mass ‘medication’ to treat the general public’s teeth.” (It’s worth noting that Emily and her family can afford to filter their water so it’s a non-issue.) This is the kind of thinking that leads people to be anti-vaxxers: the individualist sentiment of “I’m not sure I want to risk it” undercuts public health decisions that have to be made as a whole society (decisions which we often feel the effects of as a whole society, too). How can we expect the government to ban Red 40 if we’re not sure we believe in their ability to add fluoride to our water?
I’ll be real with you. I want to be crunchy. I want to be a hippie. I want to cut out “fragrance” and Red 40 and microplastics and PFAs. But I’m not a mom. This isn’t a choice I want to make for my individual family, it’s a change I want for my community. And I’m not religious. I can’t pray to God to keep me calm about these battles, I have to call my elected representatives. Emily tries hard to present crunchiness as something that’s available “on a spectrum” for every demographic, even if it’s a difficult individual choice. She doesn’t want people getting into ideological disagreements. And I understand that—we’ve all fought a lot. I applaud her for publishing a book that can unify across the political spectrum. But we have to keep true to the political roots of the crunchy movement to keep the dream possible for the greatest number of people. Environmentalism! Public health! Diversity! Progressivism! I think the author believes in these things but I wish I could read more books that explicitly connect with these topics.
EDIT: I couldn’t stop thinking about how many typos this book had, and then I looked into the publisher and… yeah this isn’t “pipeline adjacent” I fear this is a water slide into right-wing extremism
I came to this book after reading the NYT article “How the Right Claimed Crunchy.” I had seen some of Emily’s content before and she had seemed like someone with a relatively balanced, humble perspective on being crunchy. I still think that, but I’m concerned that this book plays just as well for an extremist crowd as it does for someone totally new to crunch.
Emily does provide citations for some of the things she mentions in this book, but not everything is cited as well as I would have liked. True to her sense of humor, these things often get played off as jokes. “Most people don’t think about EMFs from baby monitors” okay true but does she really worry about EMFs? Does she recommend crunchy people worry about EMFs? There were multiple situations like this where I had to wonder: Is there no link to a reputable source because no reputable source exists?
My biggest problem with the book, and a lot of crunchiness overall, is that it’s undergirded by a simultaneous desire for (public or private) health AND a radical freedom from public health efforts. Emily tells us it’s “frightening to think of all the ingredients that are allowed to make their way into products” and yet she also is against fluoride in tap water because it “takes away some freedom of choice because fluoride is added to water as a form of mass ‘medication’ to treat the general public’s teeth.” (It’s worth noting that Emily and her family can afford to filter their water so it’s a non-issue.) This is the kind of thinking that leads people to be anti-vaxxers: the individualist sentiment of “I’m not sure I want to risk it” undercuts public health decisions that have to be made as a whole society (decisions which we often feel the effects of as a whole society, too). How can we expect the government to ban Red 40 if we’re not sure we believe in their ability to add fluoride to our water?
I’ll be real with you. I want to be crunchy. I want to be a hippie. I want to cut out “fragrance” and Red 40 and microplastics and PFAs. But I’m not a mom. This isn’t a choice I want to make for my individual family, it’s a change I want for my community. And I’m not religious. I can’t pray to God to keep me calm about these battles, I have to call my elected representatives. Emily tries hard to present crunchiness as something that’s available “on a spectrum” for every demographic, even if it’s a difficult individual choice. She doesn’t want people getting into ideological disagreements. And I understand that—we’ve all fought a lot. I applaud her for publishing a book that can unify across the political spectrum. But we have to keep true to the political roots of the crunchy movement to keep the dream possible for the greatest number of people. Environmentalism! Public health! Diversity! Progressivism! I think the author believes in these things but I wish I could read more books that explicitly connect with these topics.
EDIT: I couldn’t stop thinking about how many typos this book had, and then I looked into the publisher and… yeah this isn’t “pipeline adjacent” I fear this is a water slide into right-wing extremism
April 22, 2024
DNF with just a chapter or two to go. I just don't buy all the claims about how toxic everything is, and the book is not particularly well-written or edited.
The "be crunchy if you want, but don't be a jerk" message is conveyed much better via Jason and Emily's funny videos.
The "be crunchy if you want, but don't be a jerk" message is conveyed much better via Jason and Emily's funny videos.
January 19, 2025
I found Emily through her Instagram page, and this book was every bit as funny, insightful, and authentic as she & Jason appear to be!
Depending where you are on your journey of crunchy-ness, most of the info here isn’t new, although it is presented in a helpful, refresher kind of way. But if you are new, this is definitely a good resource to start with! There’s no bashing or negativity about how good or bad of a job you’re doing based on your choices. Instead, crunchy is a spectrum, Emily says.
I didn’t consciously label myself as crunchy but turns out that’s what I am. (Or scrunchy should I say.) Most of my choices were born out of necessity due to a laundry list of health issues and a body that reacts negatively to chemicals & synthetics.
Doing your own research and simply doing your best is what counts!
Depending where you are on your journey of crunchy-ness, most of the info here isn’t new, although it is presented in a helpful, refresher kind of way. But if you are new, this is definitely a good resource to start with! There’s no bashing or negativity about how good or bad of a job you’re doing based on your choices. Instead, crunchy is a spectrum, Emily says.
I didn’t consciously label myself as crunchy but turns out that’s what I am. (Or scrunchy should I say.) Most of my choices were born out of necessity due to a laundry list of health issues and a body that reacts negatively to chemicals & synthetics.
Doing your own research and simply doing your best is what counts!
August 4, 2024
I struggled to get through this book. I appreciate the idea behind it…but I also hear her frenzy and anxiety and her desire to control outcomes. It was exhausting to listen to her brain. The humor is there, yes, but also only because the frenzy is there. The peace isn’t ideal to me.
As a Christian, that just doesn’t sit right with me. I’ve been super insanely crunchy in the past…it’s not a faith building focus. There’s nothing wrong with it, but our culture is far too consumed with it. It is distracting from God’s divine purpose and sovereignty, in my observation, in many ways and his using all things together for our good.
As a Christian, that just doesn’t sit right with me. I’ve been super insanely crunchy in the past…it’s not a faith building focus. There’s nothing wrong with it, but our culture is far too consumed with it. It is distracting from God’s divine purpose and sovereignty, in my observation, in many ways and his using all things together for our good.
April 6, 2024
Bubble gum. I was horribly misled by reviews. ohhhhhh fragrances are bad! the horrors of chamomile toilet paper! really? Morrow claims to have been living below the poverty level and yet speaks to arcane luxury products? what world are you living in, exactly.
Use common sense. One does not need an ‘IG influencer’ to figure basics out.
And, if I hear ‘crunchy’ one more time I will vomit. This may be helpful for a mom who wants to protect her kids from … life. Get real.
Use common sense. One does not need an ‘IG influencer’ to figure basics out.
And, if I hear ‘crunchy’ one more time I will vomit. This may be helpful for a mom who wants to protect her kids from … life. Get real.
October 4, 2024
I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author and enjoyed her read through.
Her husband adds his thoughts at the end of each chapter and I found those to be funny and entertaining.
I’d say this was definitely quirky! It was also entertaining, informative, and fun.
I will say the first half flowed nicely and the second half seemed forced.
Overall, no judgement or shaming here. Easy, cheap or free tips to live a healthier life and insight into the “really, very crunchy” lifestyle.
Her husband adds his thoughts at the end of each chapter and I found those to be funny and entertaining.
I’d say this was definitely quirky! It was also entertaining, informative, and fun.
I will say the first half flowed nicely and the second half seemed forced.
Overall, no judgement or shaming here. Easy, cheap or free tips to live a healthier life and insight into the “really, very crunchy” lifestyle.
July 5, 2026
What an exhausting way to live. I feel like this book is 50% “whatever is right for your family” and 50% “everything is harmful for you and you need to change your lifestyle” so the entire book felt contradictory. Talk about whiplash!
On one hand she’s talking about how the crunchy lifestyle offers better health but her next breath is full of frenzied fear. The undercurrent of anxiety in every chapter makes this lifestyle seem so unappealing.
Her sense of humor and writing style is fun, but it feels like it is a deflection tactic for her readers from her deeper desires for control and crippling worry about toxins.
On one hand she’s talking about how the crunchy lifestyle offers better health but her next breath is full of frenzied fear. The undercurrent of anxiety in every chapter makes this lifestyle seem so unappealing.
Her sense of humor and writing style is fun, but it feels like it is a deflection tactic for her readers from her deeper desires for control and crippling worry about toxins.
April 5, 2024
In 2022, Jason and Emily committed to posting a reel every single day. I found them in January 2022, so you could say I’m an ‘OG’ 😆I loved the way she reiterated ‘do what’s best and what makes sense for your family’ it’s how I approach the crunchy life and how I handle the information that I consume. It’s a very broad book but there’s a lot of interesting information.
Read
August 26, 2025My mom follows her on Instagram.
I am the semi-reluctant victim of a crunchy mom lol. Only semi 'cause at this point my eyes have been opened to the horrors of toxic chemicals that are in almost everything. But I'm still holding on to some "toxic" things I refuse to stop using (like Blistex chapstick for example. I refuse to use tallow chapstick).
I'm looking forward to reading this.
I am the semi-reluctant victim of a crunchy mom lol. Only semi 'cause at this point my eyes have been opened to the horrors of toxic chemicals that are in almost everything. But I'm still holding on to some "toxic" things I refuse to stop using (like Blistex chapstick for example. I refuse to use tallow chapstick).
I'm looking forward to reading this.
January 30, 2025
So this wasn’t really a book I can’t take credit for seeking out or aspiring to read, since every month or so I try to have my wife suggest a book to read that maybe wouldn’t be in my normal repertoire. This book by Emily morrow (who is just learned about from this book) is exactly the reason why I enjoy doing this and find this such a fun activity. I got to learn what the “crunchy” lifestyle actually meant and entailed but in a completely judge free space with the acceptance that not only are we all human with financial and emotional restrictions but also that we can grow, educate and positively move ourselves and our families in what we see as a better or more sustainable life in whatever stages and steps are needed. 4.25/5
March 14, 2024
I really appreciated the spirit of this book. Her emphasis on the fact that there is no one right way to do everything and to give each other grace is such a needed message in today’s world. I also appreciated what she had to say about stress being worse for you than all of her toxins was so good.
July 30, 2024
I am legit so sad to finish this book 😭 it was a shot in the arm for this silky (I thought I was scrunchy 🫠🤪🤣) mom and is an encouragement to me that I can make better, safer choices for my family without being a jerk. It’s also never too late to start changing! Love love love this book!!!!
September 24, 2024
I knew of Emily from her reels, but I loved getting more of a glimpse into her life/who she is in this book. Even after many years of being “crunchy” I still gleaned new info from this one and just enjoyed the overall relatable banter.
March 15, 2024
I have shared many of the author's feelings and I absolutely laughed my head off as I read it. The author and I are kindred spirits. :-)
April 30, 2024
Shocked I finished this. Way too preachy for me.
June 3, 2024
This book was better than I expected. I love this author's social media content, for it's satirical humor and for the little tidbits I learn about crunchier living, but I expected a whole book of the same to be a little too much. It was much more gracious and less judgmental than I expected. Before, I liked Emily Morrow for her clever and entertaining reels, but now I think I also like her as a person. I don't think I will ever reach her level on the crunchy spectrum, because I won't do anything too inconvenient (think taking special food along to events for my family to eat, or switching to all natural fiber bedding and clothing) but I can make some better choices at home. Is bamboo toilet paper a lot more expensive than the chemical laden stuff we are currently using, I wonder?
Because Emily is a speaker at a Christian event near me this fall, I was curious whether the Morrows are followers of Christ, but that was not included here, and there was no mention of God in her acknowledgements. She did say something about how we have begun practicing self worship in the name of self care and she said we are uniquely individually crafted inside our mother's wombs. One of her stress management techniques was to pray "Holy God, I surrender this worry to you." She talks about joy and gratitude as well without mentioning the Source of joy or to where our gratitude should be directed. So she may be a Christian, but, based on this book alone, there aren't really any signs that Emily has a personal relationship with Jesus.
A quote from Emily Morrow- "Don't allow an attitude of negativity, toxicity, or superiority become more toxic than the toxins you are trying to remove from your life."
Because Emily is a speaker at a Christian event near me this fall, I was curious whether the Morrows are followers of Christ, but that was not included here, and there was no mention of God in her acknowledgements. She did say something about how we have begun practicing self worship in the name of self care and she said we are uniquely individually crafted inside our mother's wombs. One of her stress management techniques was to pray "Holy God, I surrender this worry to you." She talks about joy and gratitude as well without mentioning the Source of joy or to where our gratitude should be directed. So she may be a Christian, but, based on this book alone, there aren't really any signs that Emily has a personal relationship with Jesus.
A quote from Emily Morrow- "Don't allow an attitude of negativity, toxicity, or superiority become more toxic than the toxins you are trying to remove from your life."
March 21, 2024
I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this book. I love Emily’s instagram reels, I’m pretty sure I’ve followed her since the very beginning. When I saw the audiobook on Spotify I decided to give it a go. I’m SO glad I did! I was hooked within the first 5 mins! 20% through I was already recommending it to everyone who would listen to me.
I’m a self proclaimed “scrunchy” mom and this book was exactly what I needed. Never at any point do you feel like Emily is pushing you into anything. She just encourages you to look into areas of your life that could be more natural and offer ideas to help you get started.
I loved her personal stories and of course Jason says. This book was so wholesome. You really feel like you’re just having a conversation about life with another homeschool mom at the park.
I need to now buy a physical copy to have on hand for referencing.
I’m a self proclaimed “scrunchy” mom and this book was exactly what I needed. Never at any point do you feel like Emily is pushing you into anything. She just encourages you to look into areas of your life that could be more natural and offer ideas to help you get started.
I loved her personal stories and of course Jason says. This book was so wholesome. You really feel like you’re just having a conversation about life with another homeschool mom at the park.
I need to now buy a physical copy to have on hand for referencing.
March 4, 2025
Simultaneously compassionate, blunt, hilarious, and gracious, Really Very Crunchy is an accessible book of tips for truly holistic living. Emily’s thoughts on living with courage, thought, and peace in an anxious, loud world were a breath of fresh air. Crunchiness is not necessarily next to godliness if your heart is not in the right place—a reminder from Emily I appreciated. But the crunchy journey sure can be a healthy and beautiful one in so many ways. Really enjoyed this winsome book!
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