I Believe in Everything: A Memoir of Illness, Motherhood, and Magic

by Jen Dary

At thirty-five, Jen Dary's life flipped upside down when a routine MRI uncovered a lemon-size brain tumor. A stressed Silicon Valley coach and mother of two, she closed her business, weaned her youngest, and braced for brain surgery-all while calling forth the dead, chasing psychics, and digging for old Bibles in the attic.

What followed was a wild journey of healing, humor, and unexpected magic. As spiritual forces stirred in the hospital and beyond, Jen found herself confronting everything she thought she knew about life, faith, and fate.

From the chaos of brain surgery to the challenges of parenting, from building a coaching business to leaning into a newfound spiritual safety net, this is a story of resilience and revelation. I Believe in Everything is a sincere, smart, laugh-out-loud memoir about the mysteries that shape us, the love that sustains us, and the courage it takes to believe in the impossible.

260 pages, Paperback

Published January 8, 2026

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen’s story is at times heartbreaking and sobering, but it all is infused with her humor and joy. I know I will returning to this book again and again.

[Elizabeth Sabol (Dipert) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen Dary’s voice is impossible to ignore. She brings humor, honesty, and a fearless curiosity to her storytelling that immediately draws you in. Her ability to talk about big, life-altering moments with both depth and levity is what makes this memoir feel so compelling. She doesn’t shy away from the strange, the scary, or the uncomfortable—and that openness is what makes you want to keep turning the pages.

If you’re looking for a memoir driven by a strong, authentic voice and a story that promises both heart and insight, this is a book you’ll want to read.

[Pamela M. Overman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my fastest reads in years; Jen writes with such clarity and presence that I woke up one morning after going to sleep reading _I Believe in Everything_ briefly uncertain of if I was scheduled for brain surgery myself. Beautiful, sweet, and true.

Thank you for sharing this part of your story with us, Jen!

[Whitney Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

It made me feel less alone.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure how I stumbled upon Jen’s work (I am pretty sure someone gave me her name after I gave a tech talk around empathy in leadership, something like “Hey, you’d like this leadership coach who also believes humans should be humans!”), but I’ve been a subscriber to her newsletter throughout several years and couple of work emails. I admit I follow quite a few of these leadership thought partners, and I don’t always read their newsletters closely. I’m nothing if not supportive of badass women, and while I knew Jen had a brain tumor removed previously, I preordered this memoir mostly blind. I picked it up this evening and then sat engrossed for the new few hours, reading speedily (while crying from page 44 on).

I’m not sure how to describe this book. The subtitle describes illness, motherhood, and magic, and I’d agree, but I also felt resilience, grief, anger, gratitude, and belief. Jen clearly believes in a higher power (“The Bigness”, she calls it), and feels closer to God/The Bigness post-craniotomy. But from someone who is not a believer (raises hand), I viewed her story less around faith, since it’s so personal, and instead through the lens of community: she was so supported by family, friends, random tech companies, colleagues, and former students. Her story was that community, of hope, of helpers, and of abundant love.

If you’re looking for a well-written, captivating story of a resilient mother who faces unexpected health challenges with positivity, determination, and gratitude, pick this up. If you need a book that straddles hope and wonder with a heavy dose of reality, pick this up. And if you want to cry your eyes out in honor of Levi, a man you only know through beautiful words the several pages he’s mentioned in this book, pick this up. May we all live in honor of those we loved who did not get to live a life as long as we have.

[Courtney LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Believe in Everything will make you believe -- in yourself, in the universe, in friendship, in family, in science, in medicine, and maybe, in some higher power. Jen Dary takes the reader on a journey of the scariest time in her life: a lemon-sized tumor in her brain and the surgery to remove it, and then her recovery. I was enthralled in this story and could not stop reading. The writing is compelling and engaging and Dary tells her story with the perfect balance of hope and humor, truth and terror, whimsy and wisdom. You're right there with her as she navigates the brain tumor, the surgery, the recovery, the entire magical story. Highly recommended.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! Since the pandemic I've had trouble reading one chapter of a book at a sitting. Jen Dary's shimmering, engaging, heart-and-soul-touching memoir kept me reading until the first night I was halfway through and within two days I was finished and happy/sad it had ended--I wanted to read more!
The author brought her experience to life in vivid scenes with a voice that feels like a dear friend. You'll be changed after reading this book - inspiration abounds!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, honest, and compelling. IBIE is a polished and accessible story about one young mother’s experience navigating the brain tumor journey. Jen’s personal transformation—her signature curiosity and openness to possibilities—will prompt readers to wonder what enlightenment they can take away from the challenges they face. I am honored to witness this story.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Believe in Everything is a riveting and unflinchingly raw memoir. This page-turning account evokes deep empathy and hope, offering inspiration and encouragement as the author courageously shares her profoundly personal journey through a brain tumor and her faith. The memoir is beautifully and impeccably written.

[Emily Schumacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen’s book retells her story— an incredible (and still unfolding) journey. This story is stitched together by themes of resilience and inner strength, also explores greater themes of God & spirituality. Jen’s writing is approachable and relatable. This book is beautiful, and inspiring. It’s magic✨

[Indra · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapters, I Believe in Everything captures the long, disorienting wait for answers inside a biased medical system with startling clarity. As someone who’s lived that diagnostic limbo, I felt deeply seen. Jen Dary’s writing is vivid, resonant, and quietly poetic. She gives language to an experience that’s so often dismissed or misunderstood.

[Katel LeDu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most moving, inspiring, and entertaining memoir I've read in a very long time. Jen Dary effortlessly weaves together vivid recollections from her life's story with insights and observations that can only be earned through deep reflection.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen writes with authenticity and clarity about a very difficult life experience. You feel all her emotions alongside her as you read - devastation, confusion, loss, hope, humor, love and humility. Yet somehow it’s never too much. You will get sucked in and want to read it all in one sitting!

[Aubrey Lear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Believe in Everything is a raw, unfiltered glimpse into what it means to be alive, to survive, and come out on the other side of change. This book is for moms, those going through illness, those navigating change, and everyone else. You'll laugh and cry, and you won't want to put it down.

[Sheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jen’s story takes us quickly to the moment where her life changed, and she speaks as would a friend about being middle-aged, a mom to young kids, and how life throws you curveballs. It’s a zippy read where not a page goes by without making you laugh, or cry, or both. Loved it.