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Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World
"There is absolutely no greater writer than Shannan Martin to walk us through this moment."--Jen Hatmaker,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Awake
In life, there are moments that are terrible and moments that are sublime. Most of our lives fall somewhere in between--the ordinary hours crammed with small griefs and pops of joy. We move through the world with one fist full of possibility and the other clutching panic. It's easy to slip into the belief that the life we dream of is waiting somewhere past the daily grind. But this is our actual life; we only get to do it once. So much is out of our control--but not everything. What can we do today to offset the heaviness and remain upright and hopeful through it all?
With humor, humility, and a voice all her own, Shannan Martin introduces you to the heart-changing concept of the essential practice of holding both the good and the bad with honesty and hope. She shows you how to notice the ordinary, accessible delights hiding in plain sight--reminders that even in tough times, life can be beautiful and deeply good.
If you're overwhelmed, weary, or burned out, Counterweights is your invitation to receive the chaotic abundance of being alive, cultivating strength and joy along the way.
In life, there are moments that are terrible and moments that are sublime. Most of our lives fall somewhere in between--the ordinary hours crammed with small griefs and pops of joy. We move through the world with one fist full of possibility and the other clutching panic. It's easy to slip into the belief that the life we dream of is waiting somewhere past the daily grind. But this is our actual life; we only get to do it once. So much is out of our control--but not everything. What can we do today to offset the heaviness and remain upright and hopeful through it all?
With humor, humility, and a voice all her own, Shannan Martin introduces you to the heart-changing concept of the essential practice of holding both the good and the bad with honesty and hope. She shows you how to notice the ordinary, accessible delights hiding in plain sight--reminders that even in tough times, life can be beautiful and deeply good.
If you're overwhelmed, weary, or burned out, Counterweights is your invitation to receive the chaotic abundance of being alive, cultivating strength and joy along the way.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 24, 2026
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March 16, 2026Reviewed in the March 2026 edition of Quick Lit on Modern Mrs Darcy:
This was one of my most-anticipated spring titles: as hoped, it was the right book at the right time for me and I'm certain I won't be the only one. How can we possibly bear all the heaviness the world is throwing our way? Shannan's encouragement in these pages is to look for the counterweights. She quotes her father—a man handy with tools of all kinds—to explain: "From the time my siblings and I were small, he taught us that carrying something heavy becomes more efficient, more doable, if we carry something equally heavy in the other hand.” If the bad in the world is heavy in one hand, Shannan urges you to load up the other hand with goodness—those things that help bring some sense of steadiness to a wobbling world. Some of Shannan's favorite counterweights are thrifting, freshly washed sheets, anything pickled, and neighborly kindness, but this book includes countless invitations for readers to notice the good in their worlds. Shannan is no Pollyanna in these pages, she knows the hard is HARD and doesn't shy away from naming it as such. But is this still a world that sings sometimes? Indeed. I highlighted the heck out of this; I found it to be grounding and needed and I am highly likely to read it again soon in its entirety. (Shannan’s writing is rooted in her Christian faith but I believe her writing to be hospitable to a wide audience.)
This was one of my most-anticipated spring titles: as hoped, it was the right book at the right time for me and I'm certain I won't be the only one. How can we possibly bear all the heaviness the world is throwing our way? Shannan's encouragement in these pages is to look for the counterweights. She quotes her father—a man handy with tools of all kinds—to explain: "From the time my siblings and I were small, he taught us that carrying something heavy becomes more efficient, more doable, if we carry something equally heavy in the other hand.” If the bad in the world is heavy in one hand, Shannan urges you to load up the other hand with goodness—those things that help bring some sense of steadiness to a wobbling world. Some of Shannan's favorite counterweights are thrifting, freshly washed sheets, anything pickled, and neighborly kindness, but this book includes countless invitations for readers to notice the good in their worlds. Shannan is no Pollyanna in these pages, she knows the hard is HARD and doesn't shy away from naming it as such. But is this still a world that sings sometimes? Indeed. I highlighted the heck out of this; I found it to be grounding and needed and I am highly likely to read it again soon in its entirety. (Shannan’s writing is rooted in her Christian faith but I believe her writing to be hospitable to a wide audience.)
March 24, 2026
You know that part in the Barbie movie when the Barbies are dancing to upbeat music and, mid-choreography, Barbie says, “Do you ever think about death?” That’s me—and reading Counterweights made me think I should reconsider my approach.
Shannan has the background to be a card-carrying, all-caps Evangelical Christian Republican, but she has allowed her life among her neighbors to stretch her table longer and wider, making room for a community that extends beyond church or politics.
She regularly draws our attention to the hard things happening around us, but she also balances the work of paying attention with the beauty, humor, and good food found in everyday life—her counterweights. When the headlines threaten the peace and safety of our neighbors, Shannan reminds us of the importance of carrying that weight: “We cannot counterweight what we avoid or minimize.” By naming what is heavy, we open ourselves to hope. The result of this “one foot in the grave and one foot in the garden” (I wrote this line down IMMEDIATELY) philosophy is a collection of essays—each chapter pairing something difficult with something that restores.
Shannan names griefs drawn from the headlines, her own faith story, and her work at a local soup kitchen, and then follows each one with a litany of things that bring her joy: thrift store finds, lemon curd, and the way the Right Reverend Taylor Swift can guide you through a church breakup.
This book is for the doom-scroller, the cynic, and the news-weary reader who needs a reminder that the peonies are pushing up through the dirt RIGHT NOW. It’s also for the sky-watcher, the beauty-collector, and the friend group that mixes dire news with funny memes in their text thread.
Shannan has the background to be a card-carrying, all-caps Evangelical Christian Republican, but she has allowed her life among her neighbors to stretch her table longer and wider, making room for a community that extends beyond church or politics.
She regularly draws our attention to the hard things happening around us, but she also balances the work of paying attention with the beauty, humor, and good food found in everyday life—her counterweights. When the headlines threaten the peace and safety of our neighbors, Shannan reminds us of the importance of carrying that weight: “We cannot counterweight what we avoid or minimize.” By naming what is heavy, we open ourselves to hope. The result of this “one foot in the grave and one foot in the garden” (I wrote this line down IMMEDIATELY) philosophy is a collection of essays—each chapter pairing something difficult with something that restores.
Shannan names griefs drawn from the headlines, her own faith story, and her work at a local soup kitchen, and then follows each one with a litany of things that bring her joy: thrift store finds, lemon curd, and the way the Right Reverend Taylor Swift can guide you through a church breakup.
This book is for the doom-scroller, the cynic, and the news-weary reader who needs a reminder that the peonies are pushing up through the dirt RIGHT NOW. It’s also for the sky-watcher, the beauty-collector, and the friend group that mixes dire news with funny memes in their text thread.
March 27, 2026
I’ll read anything Shannan Martin writes, but I’ve been anticipating this one. She is so thoughtful in teaching us how to hold the hard and the hopeful at the same time.
March 25, 2026
Shannan Martin does it again with another book that hits right where I need it most. She says this book is her “ode to ordinary abundance, a scrapbook of rest and resistance, and an invitation to consider your own. Heavy and light. Meaty and sweet. Just like life.” (p. 17, Counterweights)
Yes, that’s exactly it. We need to create moments in our reality where the resources we have at our disposal help us move forward when everything feels out of balance. I love the metaphor of carrying something of equal weight in one hand when carrying something heavy in the other. The author has always been about acknowledging the messy stuff. So this is not a book about starting a gratitude journal, although not bad if you love that. Shannan never gives pat answers to hard problems. Nope. She shows how she found counterweights in the messy stuff, loss, dissonance, and pain.
She really had me at Taylor Swift songs. If you know, you know. I love how she gives permission for both orthodox and unorthodox ways we find those counterweights.
Shannan blends together personal story with practical examples of looking for God and good in ordinary places. As with her other books, this doesn’t disappoint. It feels a bit like looking inside her commonplace book (a style of journaling) and finding myself there in the pages. Amid the stories, her lists of favorites, scraps of poems and songs, notes, and letters, there are lines that read as if she wrote them just for my spiritual healing. And for that, this book will be a tremendous counterweight for today’s burdens and a model to inspire a regular practice of examining my own weights and counterweights.
This book is for anyone who feels like the stuff happening around you is just too heavy right now.
Yes, that’s exactly it. We need to create moments in our reality where the resources we have at our disposal help us move forward when everything feels out of balance. I love the metaphor of carrying something of equal weight in one hand when carrying something heavy in the other. The author has always been about acknowledging the messy stuff. So this is not a book about starting a gratitude journal, although not bad if you love that. Shannan never gives pat answers to hard problems. Nope. She shows how she found counterweights in the messy stuff, loss, dissonance, and pain.
She really had me at Taylor Swift songs. If you know, you know. I love how she gives permission for both orthodox and unorthodox ways we find those counterweights.
Shannan blends together personal story with practical examples of looking for God and good in ordinary places. As with her other books, this doesn’t disappoint. It feels a bit like looking inside her commonplace book (a style of journaling) and finding myself there in the pages. Amid the stories, her lists of favorites, scraps of poems and songs, notes, and letters, there are lines that read as if she wrote them just for my spiritual healing. And for that, this book will be a tremendous counterweight for today’s burdens and a model to inspire a regular practice of examining my own weights and counterweights.
This book is for anyone who feels like the stuff happening around you is just too heavy right now.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Counterweights, A Essential Practice for holding Hope in a Heavy World, was the balm and guide I needed for this confusing distressing time in our world.
I have long followed author, Shannan Martin on social media, but this is the first book of hers I’ve read.
Shannan has been encouraging followers to find the ‘counterweights’ in their everyday lives to balance the worry and despair of life. This book expands and illustrates what this can look like as a daily practice.
Don’t mistake this for a self help book full of toxic positivity. Shannan shows us the importance of holding space for both joy and despair, making way for a renewed sense of hope.
Shannan’s faith journey resonated with me, and perhaps will for many. She talks candidly about her church break-up and the disappointment, anger, and sadness that followed. Shannan gave words to so many of my own thoughts and feelings about my faith and ‘the church.’
Shannan and I also share a love of tea, thrifting, and work that feeds our community. In these shared experiences we have shared counterweights. The ritual and comfort of brewing the perfect cup, the exhilaration of the perfect thrift find, and the bonds that bloom from serving and sharing a meal.
One aspect of the structure I especially loved, were Shannan’s eclectic lists before each chapter. Some include: Things I Planted in My Garden This Year; Things I’ve Changed My Mind About; Things That Improve With Time; Top Ten Best Thrift Store Finds; and Gifts From Our Neighbors. These lists inspire me to compile my own and observe counterweights as a daily practice.
I highlighted so many quotes, both from Shannan and other voices she chose to highlight. One of my favorites: Don’t rush to escape the dissonance. You can bear witness to pain without being consumed by it. Lament is sacred. Grief is an honoring. - Cole Arthur Riley
And from Shannan: What if the point of it all is to create and re-create belonging, until everyone has some?
Carrying the weight of all the injustice, poverty and violence that plagues our world is overwhelming. To counter that, Shannan encourages us to look closer. What difference can we make in our community? What joy can we bring to a neighbor? How can we improve life on our street?
Because as Shannan reminds us: Counterweights are everywhere. But it’s up to us to slow down and see them.
Thanks to NetGalley, Baker Publishing and the author for a complimentary e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
I have long followed author, Shannan Martin on social media, but this is the first book of hers I’ve read.
Shannan has been encouraging followers to find the ‘counterweights’ in their everyday lives to balance the worry and despair of life. This book expands and illustrates what this can look like as a daily practice.
Don’t mistake this for a self help book full of toxic positivity. Shannan shows us the importance of holding space for both joy and despair, making way for a renewed sense of hope.
Shannan’s faith journey resonated with me, and perhaps will for many. She talks candidly about her church break-up and the disappointment, anger, and sadness that followed. Shannan gave words to so many of my own thoughts and feelings about my faith and ‘the church.’
Shannan and I also share a love of tea, thrifting, and work that feeds our community. In these shared experiences we have shared counterweights. The ritual and comfort of brewing the perfect cup, the exhilaration of the perfect thrift find, and the bonds that bloom from serving and sharing a meal.
One aspect of the structure I especially loved, were Shannan’s eclectic lists before each chapter. Some include: Things I Planted in My Garden This Year; Things I’ve Changed My Mind About; Things That Improve With Time; Top Ten Best Thrift Store Finds; and Gifts From Our Neighbors. These lists inspire me to compile my own and observe counterweights as a daily practice.
I highlighted so many quotes, both from Shannan and other voices she chose to highlight. One of my favorites: Don’t rush to escape the dissonance. You can bear witness to pain without being consumed by it. Lament is sacred. Grief is an honoring. - Cole Arthur Riley
And from Shannan: What if the point of it all is to create and re-create belonging, until everyone has some?
Carrying the weight of all the injustice, poverty and violence that plagues our world is overwhelming. To counter that, Shannan encourages us to look closer. What difference can we make in our community? What joy can we bring to a neighbor? How can we improve life on our street?
Because as Shannan reminds us: Counterweights are everywhere. But it’s up to us to slow down and see them.
Thanks to NetGalley, Baker Publishing and the author for a complimentary e-galley in exchange for my honest review.
March 25, 2026
If you wonder how to show up authentically in a world where the headlines are a horror show every morning without drowning in despair, this book is for you.
Life feels like whiplash most days. I grieve over reports of children killed in a school shooting, but I still have to make dinner for my family, and I still laugh at my cat's silly antics. But I know that I am not alone in carrying some guilt. Is it right for me to enjoy simple pleasures when so many are suffering? Martin looks at the realities around us with eyes wide open. She does not attempt to present ugly facts through rose colored glasses. What she does is throw us a lifeline. She reminds us that finding joy is not only acceptable, but it is our sacred duty.
Living in a world that feels impossibly cruel and heavy right now, "Counterweights" feels like an antidote. Martin offers hope and a call to action at the same time. We are not helpless souls left solely to the mercy of forces outside our control. With prose as beautiful and comforting as spreading soft butter on a toasted baguette, she reminds us that joy is all around us and that community will ultimately be what heals us. She gives us a guide that is both as easy as noticing flowers thriving in a dying autumn garden and as challenging as asking us to consider what it is like to walk in the shoes of someone on the edges of polite society. And the stories she tells make me want to do more of both!
Part storytelling, part poetry, part practical lists to spark the imagination, "Counterweights" will leave you feeling uplifted in all the best ways.
Life feels like whiplash most days. I grieve over reports of children killed in a school shooting, but I still have to make dinner for my family, and I still laugh at my cat's silly antics. But I know that I am not alone in carrying some guilt. Is it right for me to enjoy simple pleasures when so many are suffering? Martin looks at the realities around us with eyes wide open. She does not attempt to present ugly facts through rose colored glasses. What she does is throw us a lifeline. She reminds us that finding joy is not only acceptable, but it is our sacred duty.
Living in a world that feels impossibly cruel and heavy right now, "Counterweights" feels like an antidote. Martin offers hope and a call to action at the same time. We are not helpless souls left solely to the mercy of forces outside our control. With prose as beautiful and comforting as spreading soft butter on a toasted baguette, she reminds us that joy is all around us and that community will ultimately be what heals us. She gives us a guide that is both as easy as noticing flowers thriving in a dying autumn garden and as challenging as asking us to consider what it is like to walk in the shoes of someone on the edges of polite society. And the stories she tells make me want to do more of both!
Part storytelling, part poetry, part practical lists to spark the imagination, "Counterweights" will leave you feeling uplifted in all the best ways.
March 24, 2026
I didn't realize how much I needed this book until I found myself saying "Yes!" out loud several times whIle I was reading it! Counterweights is in turn realistic and reassuring, honest and hopeful, compelling and compassionate, personal and practical. Shannan Martin acknowledges the heaviness of the weights we carry in today's world without sugarcoating reality. She shares with us a lesson she learned from her father years ago: when you carry a heavy burden in one hand, balance it with an equal weight in the other hand, and the load becomes easier to bear (my paraphrase). Shannan reminds us to pay attention to joys both large and small, to find the moments and events in our daily lives that counteract the heavy burdens of the world. She fully recognizes how hard it is to find the counterweights when the load feels unbearable, but through sharing a series of deeply personal experiences and life lessons, she shows us the ways that she has found them -- and we can, too.
In a world that feels increasingly dark, scary and oh so heavy, Shannan Martin's book is a beacon of hope, written with warmth, wit and an understanding of our human frailties. She helps us find our balance as we shake and teeter from the weight, and I am grateful for the grounding.
In a world that feels increasingly dark, scary and oh so heavy, Shannan Martin's book is a beacon of hope, written with warmth, wit and an understanding of our human frailties. She helps us find our balance as we shake and teeter from the weight, and I am grateful for the grounding.
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February 3, 2026✨Through heartfelt essays and intimate reflections, this book draws our attention to the quiet details we so often miss, the ones that quietly shape a meaningful life. The call is for each of us to seek out moments of joy as a counterbalance to the immense chaos of the world and the shared grief we’re all carrying.
✨The writing feels reflective, grounded, and genuinely authentic. Again and again, I found myself nodding along to her references about evangelical Christianity, Taylor Swift, Moira Rose and so much more. When I turned the last page, I felt recognized in a quiet and meaningful way.
✨Though categorized as Christian personal growth, I feel this book will resonate with anyone who feels grieved and outraged by the way American Christianity has been twisted by extremes that betray the heart of the gospel. In other words, you don’t have to be a Christian to benefit from this book.
✨Note that I don’t rate memoirs or non-fiction centered on personal stories, but I will tell you that I felt this book very deeply and would recommend it to anyone feeling a need to balance light with the darkness of our times.
✨The writing feels reflective, grounded, and genuinely authentic. Again and again, I found myself nodding along to her references about evangelical Christianity, Taylor Swift, Moira Rose and so much more. When I turned the last page, I felt recognized in a quiet and meaningful way.
✨Though categorized as Christian personal growth, I feel this book will resonate with anyone who feels grieved and outraged by the way American Christianity has been twisted by extremes that betray the heart of the gospel. In other words, you don’t have to be a Christian to benefit from this book.
✨Note that I don’t rate memoirs or non-fiction centered on personal stories, but I will tell you that I felt this book very deeply and would recommend it to anyone feeling a need to balance light with the darkness of our times.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shannan Martin has done it again. In a time where despair feels like it runs rampant, Shannan reminds us to see the goodness all around.
With essays and personal stories (that will absolutely warm your heart and want you to go outside to meet your neighbors), Shannan begs us to notice. To notice the small, seemingly insignificant moments and things that give life it's gravity. These things bring us joy and peace, and remind us to keep going. Keep fighting for justice. Keep seeing the people around you. Keep noticing God's goodness in the people who cross your path.
This book is beautifully written and a much needed balm for the chaos that is all around us. This book is like a warm hug, reminding us it's worth it. This life. These people. It's all worth it.
Highly recommend this book to everyone, and while you're at it, pick up her other books that are just as wonderful.
Out March 24th, 2026.
Thank you to Shannan, NetGalley, and the publisher for the free ARC in return for an honest review.
With essays and personal stories (that will absolutely warm your heart and want you to go outside to meet your neighbors), Shannan begs us to notice. To notice the small, seemingly insignificant moments and things that give life it's gravity. These things bring us joy and peace, and remind us to keep going. Keep fighting for justice. Keep seeing the people around you. Keep noticing God's goodness in the people who cross your path.
This book is beautifully written and a much needed balm for the chaos that is all around us. This book is like a warm hug, reminding us it's worth it. This life. These people. It's all worth it.
Highly recommend this book to everyone, and while you're at it, pick up her other books that are just as wonderful.
Out March 24th, 2026.
Thank you to Shannan, NetGalley, and the publisher for the free ARC in return for an honest review.
Read
February 16, 2026I have never read any of Shannan Martin's books, but I used to read her old blog Flower Patch Farmgirl from time to time, and I had heard good things about this one. Essentially, the idea is that when we are experiencing difficult things, that we also have the opportunity to pay attention to the joyful and hopeful things that hopefully balance them out. This book is about the practice of finding counterweights. They can be as serious and deep as nature and friendship and as ephemeral as Taylor Swift songs (I say that as someone who likes Taylor Swift). It is about not giving the bleakness the last word.
Shannan appears to live a genuinely thoughtful life where she and her family prioritize community and looking out for others. I admire that work very much. I thought her "counterweight" idea worked better in some chapters than others, and I wondered a few times if I was missing on some context that might help me feel more invested in a particular story. I'm not totally sure who I would recommend this to, but I think her fans will enjoy it very much.
Shannan appears to live a genuinely thoughtful life where she and her family prioritize community and looking out for others. I admire that work very much. I thought her "counterweight" idea worked better in some chapters than others, and I wondered a few times if I was missing on some context that might help me feel more invested in a particular story. I'm not totally sure who I would recommend this to, but I think her fans will enjoy it very much.
March 12, 2026
I’ve been anxiously awaiting the chance to read this book, and it did not disappoint.
Shannan tells the origin story of counterweights, from her childhood on a farm with her father telling her how balancing the weight you’re carrying on both sides lessens the burden. I need all the visuals and she is gifted in providing them.
Hence, this book is equal parts dealing with the hard stuff and finding the joy. Because trouble will always find us and we need to be seekers of the lighter side.
We are never going to have one without the other.
I have pages of notes since I read an ARC from NetGalley. But this life manual deserves another read in hard copy and a listen on audio.
Shannan implores: We shouldn’t have to die to experience the kingdom of God. AND
Joy is only an act of resistance if we use it as fuel for justice.
This isn’t a fluffy, escape from reality, book. It’s a practice in how to receive and use our abundance.
The vitriol and beauty of today will look different for all of us, but the need for counterweights is universal!
Shannan tells the origin story of counterweights, from her childhood on a farm with her father telling her how balancing the weight you’re carrying on both sides lessens the burden. I need all the visuals and she is gifted in providing them.
Hence, this book is equal parts dealing with the hard stuff and finding the joy. Because trouble will always find us and we need to be seekers of the lighter side.
We are never going to have one without the other.
I have pages of notes since I read an ARC from NetGalley. But this life manual deserves another read in hard copy and a listen on audio.
Shannan implores: We shouldn’t have to die to experience the kingdom of God. AND
Joy is only an act of resistance if we use it as fuel for justice.
This isn’t a fluffy, escape from reality, book. It’s a practice in how to receive and use our abundance.
The vitriol and beauty of today will look different for all of us, but the need for counterweights is universal!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World
Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World
I enjoyed this book!
Martin is a really compelling and warm writer. The book is really calm and conversational. I found the material approachable and was not too convoluted.
I thought it was good for a self-help book, but actually would have enjoyed even more focus on theology / Christianity / scripture, but I did find it a fair enough balance.
A lot of the book was personal accounts on things like acceptance, where you are to be focusing on the present and to stop chasing the things that are perfectly unrealistic.
I would say, this book is ideal for people who are stretched thin, and caught between despair and gratitude. Anyone who is wishing to live fully with this current non-stop string of uncertainty.
Check it out!
3.8/5
Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World
I enjoyed this book!
Martin is a really compelling and warm writer. The book is really calm and conversational. I found the material approachable and was not too convoluted.
I thought it was good for a self-help book, but actually would have enjoyed even more focus on theology / Christianity / scripture, but I did find it a fair enough balance.
A lot of the book was personal accounts on things like acceptance, where you are to be focusing on the present and to stop chasing the things that are perfectly unrealistic.
I would say, this book is ideal for people who are stretched thin, and caught between despair and gratitude. Anyone who is wishing to live fully with this current non-stop string of uncertainty.
Check it out!
3.8/5
March 24, 2026
In a world that seems quite heavy, I am so thankful to be reminded that there is a way to balance the weight of war, poverty, hatred, political division, illness, and more by noticing the little things that are good, that bring joy, that remind us of the goodness of others. Shannan Martin’s newest book, Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World is a collection of essays that explore the concept of holding the tension in our lives. Shannan’s writing is rich and thought provoking. I found myself reading slowly, taking time to pause and reflect on her insight. She reminds us to slow down and see those things that are counterweights, so that we can continue to pursue contentment. And yet, she also encourages us to continue to see the world as it is, knowing that there is much we can do to have an influence. I highly recommend this book to those who see the world and feel the pain and yet yearn to find some hope, peace, and joy.
March 24, 2026
What this book is not: a call to "count your blessings", an instruction to "look for the silver lining", an exhortation by a Christian author to pull up your bootstraps and remember that "God never gives you more than you can handle".
What this book is: a clear eyed view of the world and all that is holds. The messiness, the tragedy, the suffering, the stupidity, the injustice. And also the beauty, the goodness, the kindness and the wonder.
As someone who has found the past 10 years of American life particularly hard and the state of the church today particularly disheartening, Shannan has been a voice that consistently speaks truth to what is going on in the world and also brings hope. Counterweights both put words to feelings I have had but didn't know how to name and challenged me to see things in a new way. And it did all that while providing a much-needed balm to my soul.
What this book is: a clear eyed view of the world and all that is holds. The messiness, the tragedy, the suffering, the stupidity, the injustice. And also the beauty, the goodness, the kindness and the wonder.
As someone who has found the past 10 years of American life particularly hard and the state of the church today particularly disheartening, Shannan has been a voice that consistently speaks truth to what is going on in the world and also brings hope. Counterweights both put words to feelings I have had but didn't know how to name and challenged me to see things in a new way. And it did all that while providing a much-needed balm to my soul.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am writing this review in late January 2026, and I truly wish there were a way to move up this book's publication date for others to enjoy sooner. With the country in such crisis, I find myself constantly searching for counterweights and this book is exactly that.
I am so grateful to have received an early copy via NetGalley; I know it will be deeply impactful for other readers. Shannan's writing is thoughtful, contemplative, and refreshingly real. The sections on sea glass, empty nesting, and the simple act of going to the cinema met me exactly where I am. This book felt like a true gift and a necessary balance to the world around us. I highly recommend it.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
I am so grateful to have received an early copy via NetGalley; I know it will be deeply impactful for other readers. Shannan's writing is thoughtful, contemplative, and refreshingly real. The sections on sea glass, empty nesting, and the simple act of going to the cinema met me exactly where I am. This book felt like a true gift and a necessary balance to the world around us. I highly recommend it.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
March 24, 2026
Counterweights: An Essential Practice for Holding Hope in a Heavy World by Shannan Martin is a welcome companion in these tumultuous times. Shannan gently invites us into holding both the good and the terrible of life with honesty and with hope. She encourages her readers to pay attention to the beauty and whimsy that is part of our everyday lives as a counterweight to the suffering and injustice we witness (or endure) on the daily. Her lyrical writing describes a variety of unconventional practices for holding hope; my personal favorites involve Taylor Swift and the important role of mugs in reclaiming joy amidst lament. If you find yourself overwhelmed with the heaviness of the world, this book will help let some light back in so you can keep going.
March 24, 2026
I had the wonderful opportunity to read the ARC of Counterweights. Counterweights is exactly the book we need in such a tumultuous time. Each essay focuses on acknowledging the challenges around us, while also reminding us to find the true and hope centered things- like being intentional and vulnerable within our communities. I laughed and cried at times, and felt seen.
Shannan thoughtfully weaves poetry, scripture and personal stories together, making each essay even more relatable. Thankful for the reminder to decide how I can receive life’s abundance in such a time.
Many thanks to @shannanwrites, @revellfiction and @netgalley for the opportunity to read/review this book prior to its publication date.
Shannan thoughtfully weaves poetry, scripture and personal stories together, making each essay even more relatable. Thankful for the reminder to decide how I can receive life’s abundance in such a time.
Many thanks to @shannanwrites, @revellfiction and @netgalley for the opportunity to read/review this book prior to its publication date.
March 25, 2026
I eagerly pre-ordered this book and it did not disappoint! Shannan has a way with words that feels like she is putting on paper the exact things that you feel but are unable to communicate.
This is not necessarily a "warm fuzzy" kind of book. It provides a realistic view of how hard life is but when we look for beauty, even in the small and ordinary, our weights and burden we are carrying may shift to be a little bit less overwhelming. It is a reminder that beauty is within the pain and that and joy suffering can exist at the same time.
This passage spoke to me: "The flowers die. The garden fades. We can't bypass decay; it feeds the coming harvest. Grief and beauty are time signatures for being human. Now we know the soundtrack for survival is always within our reach."
This is not necessarily a "warm fuzzy" kind of book. It provides a realistic view of how hard life is but when we look for beauty, even in the small and ordinary, our weights and burden we are carrying may shift to be a little bit less overwhelming. It is a reminder that beauty is within the pain and that and joy suffering can exist at the same time.
This passage spoke to me: "The flowers die. The garden fades. We can't bypass decay; it feeds the coming harvest. Grief and beauty are time signatures for being human. Now we know the soundtrack for survival is always within our reach."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In Shannan Martin's latest work, Counterweights, she explores how to handle the messiness of the world today. In her open candor, she provides examples from her own life how she and others have benefited from 'counterweights'. When the heaviness of life gets you down, what do you balance it with, those are counterweights. She gives practical examples of how this might look in the readers life. The author reads the audiobook which lends to the authenticity of the reading experience.
I received this advanced audio copy on NetGalley.
I look forward to receiving the pre-order hard copy in the mail soon.
I received this advanced audio copy on NetGalley.
I look forward to receiving the pre-order hard copy in the mail soon.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have been following Shannan Martin on Instagram for a few years and have found so much comfort and solidarity in her words. So I when she announced Counterweights, I wasted little time preordering. Through writing that is equally funny and touching, Shannan shows us how to keep one foot in the “garden” while the other stands in the “grave.” Shannan is the genuine article, with a sincere love for neighbor. You can see this in her deeply personal stories of connection, which remind us that community is what we need and it’s what will get us through. (This review is based on an e-book advanced reader copy).
March 24, 2026
I was so lucky to get to read Counterweights early and it's likely the slowest I have ever read a book as I tried to SAVOR every chapter! I was especially moved by the rich, grounding metaphor Shannan weaves from her dad’s advice of how balancing a heavy load makes it possible to keep moving forward. Like all her writing, it felt both deeply practical and profoundly tender. She also offers powerful reminders that everyone has something to teach us, and that those society often meets with sympathy are far more deserving of our deep admiration for the strength and grace with which they move through a world not built for their success. Brava Shannan!
March 25, 2026
Shannan Martin is an must-read author for me, so I was thrilled to receive this ARC from NetGalley. As always, she did not disappoint. Counterweights felt like a balm for my soul in these turbulent times. In this book, Shannan invites us to explore how seeking out and practicing “counterweights” can help balance life’s heaviness, allowing us to navigate the mess with greater joy and hope.
Some favorite quotes:
No one should have to die to experience the Kingdom of God.
Jesus: God on the ground.
Thank you to the publisher, RBmedia and author, Shannan Martin, for the opportunity to read an advance copy through NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Some favorite quotes:
No one should have to die to experience the Kingdom of God.
Jesus: God on the ground.
Thank you to the publisher, RBmedia and author, Shannan Martin, for the opportunity to read an advance copy through NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own.
March 24, 2026
Shannan Martin has helped me tremendously during these uncertain times. She has taught me that on the worst news days I can still look for and find counterweights. “There is so much we cannot control. But there are other things we can control. Woven into the fabric of our days are counterweights that help level the load of this mad too-muchness”. This book acts as a balm for my soul. To put it another way it is like eating a warm bowl of my favorite soup (her Substack is called The Soup)on a dreary cold winter day - a little (or big) something to help me feel better.
March 25, 2026
“What we need to keep going is often already here, small and accessible, waiting to be loved.” Counterweights.Shannan Martin
Shannan’s writing is deeply honest, encouraging and always meaningful. Her words are an invitation to community, pointing us to justice for the marginalized and finding hope and joy through a practice she calls counterweights.. a way of bringing beauty along the heaviness of this world.
I am thankful for Shannan’s words and her wisdom. I am certain that when you read Counterweights, you will be thankful too.
Shannan’s writing is deeply honest, encouraging and always meaningful. Her words are an invitation to community, pointing us to justice for the marginalized and finding hope and joy through a practice she calls counterweights.. a way of bringing beauty along the heaviness of this world.
I am thankful for Shannan’s words and her wisdom. I am certain that when you read Counterweights, you will be thankful too.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Audiobook provided by Netgalley.
So thankful to be given the opportunity to listen to Shannan Martin narrate her book, Counterweights.
The Peony cover is so lovely & peonies are spoken of poignantly near the end of the book
I too will be “looking for blooms” and “remembering God.”
This is a wonderful book to listen to Shannan describe holding the tension well in our complex lives and world while reaching for hope.
So thankful to be given the opportunity to listen to Shannan Martin narrate her book, Counterweights.
The Peony cover is so lovely & peonies are spoken of poignantly near the end of the book
I too will be “looking for blooms” and “remembering God.”
This is a wonderful book to listen to Shannan describe holding the tension well in our complex lives and world while reaching for hope.
March 19, 2026
Counterweights is a pleasure to read and a challenge to live with awareness and hope in a world that frequently feels like it could best be described as a garbage fire of chaos and injustice and sadness. Shannon Martin shares her story and practice of noticing what is light and good in a world that is heavy. This collection of essays is a great balance of her own story and reflections on the broader now.
Read via NetGalley ARC
Read via NetGalley ARC
March 24, 2026
Shannan Martin’s Counterweights offers an accessible way forward in these unwieldy and upside down days. She preaches about hope being on tap from right within our very own lives, that the very act of quenching our thirst with steady drips of fun and joy is how we remain upright, centered, and oriented for justice. There’s a better “weigh” to do all this (gestures broadly), and Martin has gifted us a world of practical application (and her stunning words) when we need it most.
March 24, 2026
Counterweights has entered the book world at exactly the right time. While the world feels heavy and unbearable some days, this book is a reminder to also look for the counterweights to see the joy and beauty of life alongside the weariness of the world. Reading this book has not only been a helpful reframe during this particular moment in the world, but it was also healing for some old wounds I have carried.
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February 1, 2026In her signature lyrical style, Shannan shares an honest look at her life lately. I especially loved her book Falling Free, and Counterweights has a similar voice. The book's theme kind of got lost along the way, but I'd read just about anything Shannan writes. Her essays felt like being transported to the early days of blogging with all of the wit, charm, and grace I remember.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Each time I read something Shannan writes I find myself wishing we were friends. She has such a unique way of expressing the angst and injustice of the world, and the joy and beauty that provide the counterweights. I find myself challenged to be a better neighbor, better community member, and better follow of Jesus because of her words.
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