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You're In Good Company: The Gift of Friendship, Motherhood, and Showing Up – The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift for Christian Moms
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but how, exactly, do you create and sustain that village? You're in Good Company, by Ashlee Gadd and the writers of Coffee + Crumbs, is a heartfelt collection of stories celebrating the unique roles that food, friendship, and hospitality play within the context of motherhood.
Through captivating and honest essays, Ashlee and the Coffee + Crumbs team invite moms to rediscover—and even redefine—what hospitality can look like in a busy, lonely world. it looks less like glamorous dinner parties, and more like ordinary grace around the backyard fire pit.
You're in Good The Gift of Friendship, Motherhood, and Showing Up mixes personal stories, reflections, and helpful ideas, all based on the belief that hospitality doesn’t need to be perfect to matter. From folding laundry together on the living room floor to sobbing together at the top of a hike, these essays will prompt you to laugh, cry, and immediately pick up your phone to text a friend.
This book is for anyone who
Deeper connections, richer friendships, and a more engaged sense of community.Tangible examples of creating sacred, memorable moments in the midst of a busy life. Encouragement to approach hospitality through a lens of faith, love, and belonging.
You're in Good Company offers practical ways to deepen friendships, featuring recipes that go along with each essay. From a dish full of cultural tradition to the comfort of baking sourdough as a form of healing, these are stories about feeding people and being fed—not for the sake of performance, but for the sake of presence.
This book gently reminds you that hospitality is about showing up, consistently and imperfectly, with love and care. You're In Good Company is not a book you simply read; this is a book you live.
Through captivating and honest essays, Ashlee and the Coffee + Crumbs team invite moms to rediscover—and even redefine—what hospitality can look like in a busy, lonely world. it looks less like glamorous dinner parties, and more like ordinary grace around the backyard fire pit.
You're in Good The Gift of Friendship, Motherhood, and Showing Up mixes personal stories, reflections, and helpful ideas, all based on the belief that hospitality doesn’t need to be perfect to matter. From folding laundry together on the living room floor to sobbing together at the top of a hike, these essays will prompt you to laugh, cry, and immediately pick up your phone to text a friend.
This book is for anyone who
Deeper connections, richer friendships, and a more engaged sense of community.Tangible examples of creating sacred, memorable moments in the midst of a busy life. Encouragement to approach hospitality through a lens of faith, love, and belonging.
You're in Good Company offers practical ways to deepen friendships, featuring recipes that go along with each essay. From a dish full of cultural tradition to the comfort of baking sourdough as a form of healing, these are stories about feeding people and being fed—not for the sake of performance, but for the sake of presence.
This book gently reminds you that hospitality is about showing up, consistently and imperfectly, with love and care. You're In Good Company is not a book you simply read; this is a book you live.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published March 17, 2026
74 people are currently reading
2446 people want to read
About the author
Ashlee Gadd
7 books469 followersAshlee Gadd is a mother, writer, photographer, and the author of Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood. She has spent the last ten years helping mothers harness their creative talents into powerful storytelling at Coffee + Crumbs—a beautiful online space where motherhood and art intersect.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 18, 2026
You’re in good company is the perfect book for remembering why friendship is hard and friendship is worth it. The women at Coffee and Crumbs are so generous with their words and their hearts and this book feels like being at home with friends who are cheering you on. There are so many ways to mom, what a great encouragement that wherever and however you’re a mom—don’t go it alone, and if you’re going it alone find people to invite along.
If you’re picking this book up looking for Michelin starred cuisine you’ve misunderstood what this book is offering. This book is to remind all of us that being cared for and caring for others is the good part… and doesn’t have to be that complicated.
ARC from NetGalley
If you’re picking this book up looking for Michelin starred cuisine you’ve misunderstood what this book is offering. This book is to remind all of us that being cared for and caring for others is the good part… and doesn’t have to be that complicated.
ARC from NetGalley
February 21, 2026
A beautiful collection of stories that showcase the transformative power of female friendships. These heartwarming stories inspired me to make hospitality and connection a priority. The recipes shared in the book were an unexpected bonus. I have already added some of them to next week’s meal plan and I am excited to give them a try.
ARC from NetGalley
ARC from NetGalley
February 24, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley.
This is such a cozy read in the middle of winter. If you like the Coffee & Crumbs blog and podcast, you will love this book. I also like that each story includes a recipe — I have saved each one to make in the future!
This is such a cozy read in the middle of winter. If you like the Coffee & Crumbs blog and podcast, you will love this book. I also like that each story includes a recipe — I have saved each one to make in the future!
February 18, 2026
A stunning compilation of hospitality and the many forms that can take on. The stories were all so different while also having so much in common: inclusion, love and togetherness. Well done.
February 22, 2026
I couldn’t stop reading the essays. I know many will linger. But most importantly, I’m inspired to consider hospitality in my own life - tiny things and meaningful things and big things - and how to create space for someone else. I can’t wait to buy copies as gifts - I want so many others to read these stories, too.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Faith. Food. Friendship. If one of those three things intrigue you, this book is made for you. Hospitality isn't just something our grandmothers or that one Southern belle on Instagram has. Hospitality is Biblical, life-giving, and deeply transformative. The stories in this book show the power of that kind of love - the love that shows up, the love that doesn't judge, the love that continues to allow others into the all the mess that life has to offer. The recipes are simple but, more importantly, are connected to the stories so you feel much more meaning in the baking, cooking and mixing. Each woman speaks of relatable things, hard things, beautiful things. Do yourself a favor - buy this book. Keep it on your kitchen table, your nightstand, somewhere in reach. Gift it to a friend, suggest it to your church as a study; live this book. Because in living out this book, you will start to reclaim the good stuff of life: putting skin on your love.
February 26, 2026
This book is truly a gift. It’s a beautiful collection of stories and recipes that encourage friendship and hospitality.
I am so thankful for the hearts of the Coffee and Crumbs team and how they wove their stories to together to leave us with lasting impressions and open hearts. While this certainly isn’t just a cookbook, there are so many recipes to choose from that personify their stories and the heart of the book - simple, loving, food.
I didn’t want this book to end and cannot wait to live it out. Thank you for the most peaceful benediction that brought me to tears…
“May your life be one of good company, where you are safe, known, encouraged, and loved.”
I am so thankful for the hearts of the Coffee and Crumbs team and how they wove their stories to together to leave us with lasting impressions and open hearts. While this certainly isn’t just a cookbook, there are so many recipes to choose from that personify their stories and the heart of the book - simple, loving, food.
I didn’t want this book to end and cannot wait to live it out. Thank you for the most peaceful benediction that brought me to tears…
“May your life be one of good company, where you are safe, known, encouraged, and loved.”
February 26, 2026
I loved each and every one of these stories! I’m a mom, a woman in corporate America and someone who cares deeply about authentic friendships. However, making friends, maintaining friends and finding time for friendship and hospitality are often a struggle for me! The stories in this book made me feel not alone. They also offered much needed perspective, practical ideas and some fun recipes. While the stories are written by fellow moms, the heart of the book is about friendship, belonging and hospitality. So even if you’re not a mom, I highly recommend the book!
March 2, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The title of the book says it all. Reading each essay is like having a heart-to-heart with a dear friend while digging into the dish that inspired their story. This collection is a beautiful reminder that moments of vulnerability and bravery can lead to deep connection, and that the food we share with others is made more delicious by the meaning infused within it.
The title of the book says it all. Reading each essay is like having a heart-to-heart with a dear friend while digging into the dish that inspired their story. This collection is a beautiful reminder that moments of vulnerability and bravery can lead to deep connection, and that the food we share with others is made more delicious by the meaning infused within it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a collection of real-life examples of how to both be a friend AND accept the gift of friendship. I connected with Soo many stories and it was therapeutic to be able to work my way through pages of real life examples of hurt and pain and love and joy. The recipes are simple- in the BEST sense of the word, since I am not a chef I was happy to understand how to make these dishes without extra googling. As we grow & change & get old & no longer have vast pools of people to choose friends from, it's important to be reminded how to show up for others, and this book did just that!
March 5, 2026
A beautiful collection of essays that you can read straight through or skip around and find the story that meets you where you are.
March 7, 2026
Beautiful! Classic Coffee & Crumbs writing, which I love. Full of meaningful and inspiring stories of hospitality, community, connection & the power of female friendships. I don’t think it was overly focused on motherhood, so I’d expect non-mothers to also enjoy it for the most part too. Definitely feels like an encouragement towards thoughtful community that we need more of in the isolated culture we live in these days.
The audio version is great, with Ashlee reading it herself, and I can’t wait to get the physical copy in my hands to admire once it’s released!
NetGalley ARC
The audio version is great, with Ashlee reading it herself, and I can’t wait to get the physical copy in my hands to admire once it’s released!
NetGalley ARC
March 9, 2026
This soulful collection of essays on hospitality, friendship, and food was inspiring, convicting, and the kick in the pants I needed to pursue my in-person friendships more intentionally. It gives permission for both simple and out-of-the-box hospitality and really redefines what hospitality even is, especially during the stages of motherhood. If I could give this book 6 stars, I would!
March 10, 2026
I received this advanced copy to read through Netgalley.
Wow. This is one of those books that one displays proudly on a shelf to honor its beauty. It was the perfect combination of heartfelt essays, delicious-yet-simple recipes, and beautiful photography. This book managed to maintain a lighthearted, easy-to-read approach while still diving into the deep, meaningful, and sometimes difficult aspects of hospitality. I’m glad that I preordered it as I am sure it is one I will pull off of the shelf again and again.
Wow. This is one of those books that one displays proudly on a shelf to honor its beauty. It was the perfect combination of heartfelt essays, delicious-yet-simple recipes, and beautiful photography. This book managed to maintain a lighthearted, easy-to-read approach while still diving into the deep, meaningful, and sometimes difficult aspects of hospitality. I’m glad that I preordered it as I am sure it is one I will pull off of the shelf again and again.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC
You’re in Good Company is a collection of stories, reflections, and recipes. At its core it's about showing up for others when life feels overwhelming. I read cookbooks for the recipes (obviously!), but also for the stories around food, and the stories are the strongest part of this book.
I'm definitely not the intended audience. I'm not a Christian, not a mother, not a housewife, and (sorry to all the people who added recipes!) I’m a good cook. I usually avoid Christian books because they tend to veer into preachy territory, but this one was a pleasant surprise. The faith elements are gentle and are woven into the storytelling rather than aggressively pushed. It was really well done.
Now… the recipes. You know that stereotype about white people not seasoning their food? It’s alive and thriving here. The recipes are basic. Aggressively basic. Many have only two ingredients; I really don't think a two-ingredient recipe deserves a place in a food-focused book?
Exhibit A: the chicken tikka masala. Remove a few tiny pinches of spice that altogether add up to a tsp or two (in a recipe that serves 6), and you’ve got chicken paprikash. The instructions suggest marinating the chicken in yogurt, making the sauce, and then dumping the raw chicken-yogurt mixture straight into the pan. Tikka chicken is supposed to be cooked before being added to the sauce, so I’m genuinely unclear what culinary crime we’re trying to commit here 🤷🏼♀️ Maybe the thought process was to cut down on washing up? But in that case, you could: fry the chicken, return it to the marinating bowl, make the sauce in the same pan, toss in the cooked chicken at the end (or grill the chicken while the sauce cooks, seriously, just anything to get a bit of flavour)
Oh, and the chilli recipe that consists of beef mince, tomatoes, beans, Campbell's spaghetti, and a dash of seasoning. Then you dump it all in a slow cooker. No browning. No salt. No pepper... No flavour.
Has anyone involved ever heard of the Maillard reaction? Even in passing??
If you cook with confidence or like bold flavours, you’ll probably be skimming these pages (or just skip it entirely).
This may also be an issue specific to the Kindle edition, but the formatting is all over the place, which made the reading experience more distracting than it needed to be.
However, there's a lovely sense of warmth and companionship here, and it's very charming. I checked out the Coffee and Crumbs site and read its essays after I finished the book, and honestly, they're good, just like the essays here. I really think this would be wonderful if it ditched the recipes altogether and focused on stories of life, motherhood, and faith, because that's where it actually shines.
You’re in Good Company is a collection of stories, reflections, and recipes. At its core it's about showing up for others when life feels overwhelming. I read cookbooks for the recipes (obviously!), but also for the stories around food, and the stories are the strongest part of this book.
I'm definitely not the intended audience. I'm not a Christian, not a mother, not a housewife, and (sorry to all the people who added recipes!) I’m a good cook. I usually avoid Christian books because they tend to veer into preachy territory, but this one was a pleasant surprise. The faith elements are gentle and are woven into the storytelling rather than aggressively pushed. It was really well done.
Now… the recipes. You know that stereotype about white people not seasoning their food? It’s alive and thriving here. The recipes are basic. Aggressively basic. Many have only two ingredients; I really don't think a two-ingredient recipe deserves a place in a food-focused book?
Exhibit A: the chicken tikka masala. Remove a few tiny pinches of spice that altogether add up to a tsp or two (in a recipe that serves 6), and you’ve got chicken paprikash. The instructions suggest marinating the chicken in yogurt, making the sauce, and then dumping the raw chicken-yogurt mixture straight into the pan. Tikka chicken is supposed to be cooked before being added to the sauce, so I’m genuinely unclear what culinary crime we’re trying to commit here 🤷🏼♀️ Maybe the thought process was to cut down on washing up? But in that case, you could: fry the chicken, return it to the marinating bowl, make the sauce in the same pan, toss in the cooked chicken at the end (or grill the chicken while the sauce cooks, seriously, just anything to get a bit of flavour)
Oh, and the chilli recipe that consists of beef mince, tomatoes, beans, Campbell's spaghetti, and a dash of seasoning. Then you dump it all in a slow cooker. No browning. No salt. No pepper... No flavour.
Has anyone involved ever heard of the Maillard reaction? Even in passing??
If you cook with confidence or like bold flavours, you’ll probably be skimming these pages (or just skip it entirely).
This may also be an issue specific to the Kindle edition, but the formatting is all over the place, which made the reading experience more distracting than it needed to be.
However, there's a lovely sense of warmth and companionship here, and it's very charming. I checked out the Coffee and Crumbs site and read its essays after I finished the book, and honestly, they're good, just like the essays here. I really think this would be wonderful if it ditched the recipes altogether and focused on stories of life, motherhood, and faith, because that's where it actually shines.
March 19, 2026
I had the privilege of being on the launch team for this book, and I highly recommend it. I loved hearing from the variety of women in this book as they explored all the nuances of friendship and hospitality. There is something here for any woman to relate to, and I love having recipes included at the end of every chapter. I read a digital copy of the book but definitely recommend the print version because of the aesthetics. The audio experience is also lovely though. Ashlee Gadd’s voice is calm and soothing. All in all, if you’re a woman who wants to be a better friend, this is a worthwhile addition to your bookshelf.
March 15, 2026
This book has changed my approach to hospitality, helping me to stop overthinking it and start doing it! Full of relatable stories and easy recipes, this is a book I’ll reach for whenever I need a little reminder about what really matters when it comes to hospitality (hint: it’s not a perfect house)!
March 12, 2026
This book is such a gift. Filled with essays and easy recipes, it is a testament to the importance of friendship and gathering together, even in the smallest of ways. It will leave you feeling inspired and hungry, for food and for connection. My goal is live out this book, because life is better together. Also, the arugula salad is life-changing!
March 18, 2026
So grateful to have gotten early access to this beautiful book and can’t wait to have it in my hands! Coffee + Crumbs has been one of my favorite podcasts and substacks for a long time. I find my own thoughts as a wife and mother put into words so much clearer and poetically than I could ever get them down. The stories are beautiful and inspiring, making me want to embrace casual hospitality and build a community around myself and my family.
And the recipes!!! I’ve only tried a handful so far but they are going to become quick regulars. All the recipes are very approachable for real life moms feeding real life families. I cannot wait to try more and feed the people around me.
And the recipes!!! I’ve only tried a handful so far but they are going to become quick regulars. All the recipes are very approachable for real life moms feeding real life families. I cannot wait to try more and feed the people around me.
March 16, 2026
Written in the gorgeous, encouraging style that readers can always expect from Coffee and Crumbs, You’re In Good Company is a love letter to friendships and an encouragement to show relatable hospitality. I was enveloped in each of the contributor’s stories as I read, and found myself underlining passages and nodding along (sometimes through good tears!) in every essay. Each essay also features a related recipe at the end, a fun feature and a practical nudge to the reader to live out the principles celebrated in the book. You’re In Good Company is a refreshing read that reminded me of the importance of opening up my home and loving those in my life well. It’s helped me be a better friend without preaching, and any book that does that is one I will come back to over and over. Thank you for this beautiful work, Coffee and Crumbs!
March 16, 2026
A book on community, faith, friendship and motherhood. With recipes, vulnerability, real life struggle and how friendship makes us less lonely. I have gotten to meet with the team of writers multiple times over the course of reading and their heart for this is so pure and good! I have implemented many ideas and recipes from this book in my real life friendships. Read the book + live it out! So good.
March 16, 2026
I’ve always wanted to be someone who reads a chapter of a beautiful book with her coffee before starting her day. And every time I try, with every book, I just end up on my phone.
Except with this book. All I want to do is read this book. I’m loving lingering with each essay. I find such peace starting my day with coffee and these beautiful words. The writing is stellar, the photos are gorgeous, and I highly recommend.
Except with this book. All I want to do is read this book. I’m loving lingering with each essay. I find such peace starting my day with coffee and these beautiful words. The writing is stellar, the photos are gorgeous, and I highly recommend.
March 20, 2026
What an encouragement to be hospitable to others regardless of the state of my house! I loved the essays about friendship- especially that each one had its own unique story. The recipes are an added bonus and I’m excited to try a few out once I receive my copy in the mail.
March 17, 2026
What a gift! A beautiful collection of stories from gifted authors, mothers, friends and creators. Timely encouragement in friendship and hospitality. I will continue to revisit the wisdom and recipes shared here.
Ashlee Gadd narrates the audiobook expertly - such a joy to listen to!
Ashlee Gadd narrates the audiobook expertly - such a joy to listen to!
March 17, 2026
Thank you for this book! I loved the real stories of hospitality and its blessing and challenges. I could see myself in so many of these stories and was thinking of my own and recipes I would contribute. I have tried a few of the recipes already.
March 17, 2026
I devoured the Chicken Soup for the Soul books at an age that was younger than probably appropriate—we’re talking ten years old here—so it make sense that I was drawn to Coffee + Crumbs as a new mom when it launched over a decade ago. The stories and elegant, minimalist design have kept me company as I move through the stages of motherhood. (The women of Coffee + Crumbs also played a fundamental role in my writing journey, but I’ll try not to go on too many tangents here).
YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY, their latest project, combines personal essays about cultivating connection with simple recipes to bring to your next gathering. While each writer has her own voice, the stories are cohesive, leaving the reader with a sense of warmth and empathy as each chapter wraps up. The stories don’t shy away from challenging topics like addiction, divorce, and loss, but hope is a constant thread throughout.
This is a book I’ll dip into again and again, both to try the recipes and search for a little comfort food for the soul as well. YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY would also make a lovely hostess gift, so you should probably go ahead and pick up two copies!
YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY, their latest project, combines personal essays about cultivating connection with simple recipes to bring to your next gathering. While each writer has her own voice, the stories are cohesive, leaving the reader with a sense of warmth and empathy as each chapter wraps up. The stories don’t shy away from challenging topics like addiction, divorce, and loss, but hope is a constant thread throughout.
This is a book I’ll dip into again and again, both to try the recipes and search for a little comfort food for the soul as well. YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY would also make a lovely hostess gift, so you should probably go ahead and pick up two copies!
March 18, 2026
This is a book that goes beyond a simple collection of stories but reveals the heart of what it means to be us again. In a the world that preaches self, driven to gain and powered by AI, the stories in this book bend the axis towards life again in the form of connection and friendship, authenticity and humility. The qualities we all possess are gently brought to the surface as each author shares a story, recipe and experience we can relate to. We are reminded this is what it’s all about- low-key hangs, store bought food drops offs, hosting without perfection, inviting without inhibition. The book is an anecdote to having it all together in friendship or hospitality. No, we are just here to be human.
March 17, 2026
This book was exactly what my heart needed when it comes to thinking about friendship, community, and hospitality in a fresh, simple and heartfelt way. I loved every single essay- how they made me feel like I’m not alone when it comes to friendship as an adult, or inspiring me to remember how much it matters to go first in relationships. I can’t recommend anything from this group of writers enough, AND will absolutely vouch for the simple, delicious recipes included as well! If you’re looking for a book on friendship and showing up in community just as you are, this is definitely one you need to read.
March 20, 2026
What a gift to be part of this book. Pair this with Shauna Niequist’s Bread & Wine and Justin Whitmel Earley’s Made for People.
March 19, 2026
This book is such a beautiful example of friendship and how much we all need each other. I’m sure everyone can relate to the feeling of being alone and desperately needing a friend. This book is the inspiration we all need to reach out and be the friend we wish we had. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews