Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot

by Zibby Owens

Featured in People magazine

“Zibby Owens writes like a woman with her life cracked wide open—and the courage to look straight inside. Between Books is funny, tender, unflinching, and so deeply human." —Jen Hatmaker, author of Awake

From the national bestselling author comes a heartfelt, humorous look at a book lover’s life in relaunch.

Bestselling author and award-winning podcaster Zibby Owens’s life today is very different than it was ten years ago. She went from being an Upper East Side stay-at-home-mom of four to becoming a “book-fluencer” adored by authors and readers, a bookstore owner, publisher, TV personality, event host, and community builder. In her decade of reinvention, like so many women, she gained and lost weight, gained and lost friends. Her lifelong passion for writing and reading helped her through it, as did the many conversations she had with authors on her podcast.

In Between Books, Zibby opens up about the chances she took and mistakes she made, sharing stories of friendship, parenting, divorce, loss, and love.

Genres: Memoir, Jewish, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 22, 2026

About the author

ZIBBY OWENS (www.zibbyowens.com -- sign up) is the bestselling author and editor of six books including Blank, Bookends: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature, Princess Charming, and the On Being Jewish Now anthology, which has spent 29 weeks on the USA Today bestseller list and inspired a companion essay platform and a stage adaptation.

Her seventh title, Between Books: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances, and Found the Plot, comes out September 22.

Owens has contributed to Vogue, Oprah Daily, Good Morning America, and the Washington Post, and writes a weekly bestselling Substack. She hosts the award-winning podcast Totally Booked with Zibby with more than 2,300 author episodes, and the weekly TV show Totally Booked with Zibby on JBS (Jewish Broadcasting Service).

A frequent speaker, moderator and broadcast guest, Owens is known for highlighting the book industry’s most anticipated new releases and emerging authors. In 2021 she founded Zibby Media with the launch of Zibby Publishing and unique year-round hosted retreats and events for book lovers. In 2023, she opened Zibby’s Bookshop, the independent bookstore in Santa Monica, CA.

A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Business School, Owens, a mother of four, lives in New York and L.A. with her husband.

Reviews

[Jordan White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zibby Owens is an author, publisher, bookstore owner and podcast host. I forget how I first heard (read?) about BETWEEN CHAPTERS, but the synopsis immediately sounded like something I’d love. I love reading about book people.

The book opens with Owens falling in love with her tennis coach and then going through a divorce, which is an incredibly messy life event. But the author’s upbeat narration makes it sound almost like an “oops, lol!” situation, without much reflection or context about how or why it happened. For me, this set the tone for a memoir that stays glossy and surface-level rather than digging deeper into who Owens is as a person and why she’s made certain decisions.

There are also offhanded mentions of growing up incredibly privileged: her father is a CEO, she grew up on the Upper East Side, flew first class and shopped at Bergdorf Goodman as a teenager. (Her father is a billionaire and an adviser and donor to President Trump, btw.) Later, she’s able to open a bookstore in California and rebuild her home after devastating wildfires. There’s nothing inherently wrong with writing about a privileged life, but I wanted more acknowledgment or examination of how that privilege shaped her experiences. (An LATimes article said she had access to “unlimited funds.”)

Owens seems like a kind, thoughtful person, but this collection of essays just didn’t work for me. Each one felt like something you’d skim in a personal newsletter: short, mostly light and simplistic, with an observation or a “here’s a thing that happened to me” takeaway. (The emotional chapter about losing her stepfather is a notable exception.) Maybe readers who already know and follow Owens will connect with this book and her more than I did.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Zibby Publishing for an advanced audiobook copy of #BetweenChapters. Publication date Sept. 22, 2026.

[Lauren S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

in her latest work, between chapters: how i started over, took some chances, and found the plot, zibby's essays allow us a glance into her own heart and mind as she works through the latest decade (or so) of her life. she is grieving, laughing out loud, remembering, wishing, celebrating, and just living, and you can't help but feel the emotions conveyed through the pages. i find zibby's voice soothing and enjoyed listening to this book on audio. memoirs read by the author are always my preferred selection.

on paper, zibby owens and i don't have very much in common. however, i found my heart clenching when she read about her stepfather's death and i giggled out loud when she told us about watching "the video" with her children in bed...and then warning her ex-husband about the potential questions they might ask him. writing connects us through recognition and documentation of the universal human experience and i very much enjoyed reading about zibby's life stories featured in this work. in the acknowledgements, zibby notes that she writes "to soften the falls, to soothe the soul, and to sort it all out". i couldn't have said it better myself!

thank you to zibby publishing audiobooks for providing this book for review consideration via netgalley. all opinions are my own.

[Stacy Igel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried, and I found myself thinking about my own chapters along the way.

Between the Chapters is vulnerable, honest, funny, and deeply human. Zibby shares not only the highs, but the lows, the pivots, the messy moments, and everything in between.

As someone who knows how vulnerable it can feel to put your own story on the page, I felt especially proud of Zibby for going there. For sharing the moments that shaped her, not just the polished ones.

There were moments that made me smile, moments that made me emotional, and so many that made me stop and reflect on my own journey. That is what I loved most about this book. It reminds us that our lives are made up of all of it. The wins, the heartbreaks, the people we meet, the people we lose, the chances we take, and all those moments in between the chapters.

A beautiful, vulnerable, and inspiring read. So proud of you, Zibby. ❤️

Thank you to Zibby Publishing for an advanced copy of Between Chapters. Publication date: September 22, 2026.

[Esther]

I devoured this book and expect to dip back in occasionally or whenever necessary. It's that kind of book: warm, friendly, conversational, insightful—like a good friend always willing to just hang out to keep you company. Not surprisingly, I found myself literally nodding in agreement at some of Zibby's observations and life experiences. That she is so open and honest is a testament to her deep desire to connect with people everywhere. It's a book that will soften loneliness, inspire confidence, make you cry and a few pages later have you laughing out loud. I've also started listening to Zibby's amazing podcast, "Totally Booked." It's a way to continue the conversation. The questions she asks her guests elicit responses that, like her, are insightful, informative, and real. When you buy this book put another in your cart for a friend. After all, aren't we all between chapters in one way or another?

[Bonnie Goldberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zibby Owens is an autobuy for me and receiving a collection of her essays is one of the best book gifts possible. At this point, many of us feel like we "know" Zibby - because she is a prolific sharer, but also because she has created an extraordinary presence in the Jewish advocacy space and in the book space. Zibby (in my mind, she is a friend, hence we should be on first name basis!) offers concrete advice to mid-life women about doing "goal adjacent" things when our goals feel hard to attain. She articulates the myriad ways that reading is a balm to the anxious and stressed soul. Most importantly, she reminds us why she "is not lowering [her] voice" during this time of unimaginable antisemitism and why I should not either. Thank you Zibby!

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zibby doesn’t know it, but she has been what Gretchen Rubin calls my spiritual master or my spiritual guide for the bookish work I do. After reading her first memoir BOOKENDS and getting so much inspiration from her daily podcast and work, I not only started one, but two podcasts that lean into the bookish work I love so much. Just like her last book, I’m gaining bookish inspiration, but I’m also feeling seen as a parent and woman in the world, too. These essays are honest and raw, funny and poignant, both light and deep. It’s the ultimate reading experience that will make you feel like you’ve found a friend on the page.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Zibby Owens' new book, Between Chapters, and feel like it’s her best yet! I fought like crazy to get sole custody during my divorce 26 years ago, so I really felt for her when she was parted from her kids when they went to their dad’s place. The arrangement of the essays is brilliant and tells the story of her transformation from just before she turned 40 to just before she turns 50. (Hint: the 50s are great!) I recently heard Zibby read from one of the later chapters in the book, so when I got to that chapter I could almost hear her reading it again. Her new book comes out in a month and can be pre-ordered wherever you like to buy books!

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zibby Owens is deeply imbedded in the book world and a huge cheerleader for books. She is an author, publisher, bookstore owner, and book podcaster, and does so much to get books into the hands of readers. I loved her memoir "Bookends: a Memoir of Love, Loss, and Literature," and enjoyed reading this collection of essays about divorce, new love, the pain of her children splitting their time between households, the Palisades fire and books. She has also published multiple essay anthologies, which I excitedly pulled off my bookcase to return to.

[Cari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book of essays for Booklist. I didn't realize Zibby Owens was so formidable in the publishing world--I knew she had a publishing arm but didn't realize she had a podcast or owned her own bookstore. I don't know how she has time to do everything she does. While a bit repetitive, with many recurring themes, this is a really fun book. I died laughing during the essay where she has to explain the facts of life to her kids. Like, actual tears in my eyes. It's worth a read just for that one!

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick listen that wasn’t always easy, but I found it very genuine and inspiring. The reminder that life doesn’t end when a marriage ends really stayed with me.

Ending a marriage can change so much, and I liked the idea of seeing it as the beginning of a different life rather than simply an ending. It may not be easier, but it can still bring happiness, freedom and experiences you never expected.

That gave me a lot to think about, without making the whole thing sound simple or pretending that moving forward is easy.

[Heather Metz · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short essays by Zibby Owen’s are perfect for anyone who has, or is thinking about making changes in midlife.
Zibby changed so much about herself in her forties. She got divorced, remarried, moved,opened a bookstore, started a bookish podcast and became a publisher.
Even for those of us who haven’t made huge changes, her essays are relatable about everyday life, including parenting and aging parents.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book already being a fan of her previous books, but Zibby's sharp, insightful writing really won me over. It could be because I also watched "The Middle" as a family activity and still quote from it, or it could be that her description of the Palisades fire was eerily similar to my own with the Eaton fire. Either way, she made me feel less alone as a mom and a post-October 7th Jew, and I lover her for that.

[Allyn Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book of essays by Zibby Owens, about the messiness of life as a working mom of 4 who doesn’t have it all figured out and doesn’t want to settle as she navigates a divorce, losses, and life in general. Very easy read.

Thanks to Two Rivers and NetGalley for the ARC.

Releases September 2026.

[Kara Kavensky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sitting with a close friend after years apart, and all the fun feels are there as if no time has passed--this is what it's like to read BETWEEN CHAPTERS. Grab a latte and curl up with this collection of essays, and have the tissues ready for tears of laughter! Brava, Zibby! Love this collection; it's your best yet! -- Kara Kavensky, author TELL ME ABOUT JOY

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast read. I’ve been curious about Zibby Owens ever since I started listening to her podcast and enjoying her monthly book selections. This book filled in the gaps nicely although I wanted its focus to be more about books and reading.

[Renée Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This heartfelt, witty collection of essays made me laugh and cry in the same sentence. Zibby Owens bravely explores motherhood, marriage, divorce, weight loss, depression, and career, leaving the reader hopeful and uplifted. Packed with pearls of wisdom, I recommend this for readers far and wide.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean... five stars, of course!

[Reading with Gracie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting Zibby at her petit retreat. Her book is an authentic reflection of her kindness, intelligence, and good intentions.

[Jaclyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I am a huge fan of Zibby so of course I had to read her book. She is so genuine, authentic, and honest. Incredibly relatable. Highly recommend!!