From popular country music sensation and reality TV star Jessie James Decker (and wife of former NFL player Eric Decker) comes this gorgeously illustrated and highly inspiring lifestyle book fans have been clamoring for—featuring delectable family recipes, amazing fashion tips, and practical dating secrets.
Whether she is belting out one of her number one hit country songs, cheering on her NFL-star husband in the stands, working on her fashion label, Kittenish, or making dinner for her hubby and three children, Jessie James Decker is constantly on the move. For years she has been performing and singing for fans, while also bringing people into her life through her hit E! show, Eric & Jessie, and Instagram, where she posts about family, food, and whatever else happens to be on her mind. Now, in Just Jessie, she invites you into her home, her marriage, and her kitchen like never before, sharing the stories that have mattered the most and the secrets of how she balances everything with a smile—and often a forkful of comfort food to go along.
From following her childhood music dreams, to her struggles with bullying, to finding her soul mate, Jessie doesn’t hold anything back in this exclusive peek into her life, going behind the scenes of the best and the hardest moments and providing the lessons to help you survive yours as well. With the honesty and humor that have made her one of the most supportive voices out there, she offers warm, practical advice about dating, decor, fashion, beauty, parenting, fitness, keeping romance alive—and so much more. In addition, Just Jessie features fifteen of her favorite go-to recipes, going step by step through her most Instagrammable and delicious dishes.
Whether at home or on the red carpet, Jessie always finds a way to make it work—and does so with style and charm. Gorgeously illustrated with never-before-seen childhood photos and original photography, Just Jessie is the essential guide to living life the way it works for Jessie, inspiring your dreams as you learn how Jessie made hers a reality.
Jessie James Decker is an American country pop singer-songwriter and reality television personality. Decker has also collaborated with swimsuit design, a clothing line and a lipstick/liner duo. She is married to former NFL wide receiver Eric Decker. They have three children.
I had originally rated this much higher. The story is simple and sweet and filled with beautiful pictures. Then I read the message. Tuck your babies in every night she says, yet she is often traveling and on tour. She used to be so poor, but the make up she recommends adds up in to the hundreds. She also pushes breast feeding and states she makes milk like a cow and pushes it on her friend....yet stops at 8 months to lose weight. She eats merely 1,000 calories a day when trying to lose weight, a number that may be harmful to many. And no where in the book does she actually tell you how she does it all, because here is the truth; she can't. She can't take bubble baths with her husband, workout, tuck her kids in, fly all over the country, make everyone a home cooked meal, clean her house, grocery shop, etc. She has a lot of help or she let's the ball drop sometimes on certain things. And it is time momma's were honest about the fact we also only have 24 hours in a day.
My point is, I find a lot of this content to be damaging to Mom's who are trying and searching for advice. Girl, you might not be rockin' cut offs but your ass looks fine in the yoga pants. Celebrities are just too far removed to actually relate to the average mom's struggles.
Also, there needed to be more recipes; and screw the grass fed butter crap. My sweet kids will eat regular butter and live to tell the tale.
There were a couple interesting segments in here, to be sure, and I appreciated the candor regarding the author's pregnancies, births and marriage.
On the other hand:
The poor-me attitude about how ALL GIRLS HATE HER (because she's gorgeous, of course, and has giant boobs, and is so, so, so, so pretty, and other girls just *hate* that) was super annoying. For whatever reason - she is a beautiful woman, after all - the author comes across as wildly insecure and requiring a lot of validation about her looks. I felt myself becoming very impatient with her as she repeated many variations on this theme throughout the book. Living well is the best revenge, as George Herbert said, and you'd think that the author would feel plenty validated at this point by her beautiful family, career, and happy life. But what do I know about it? Personally, I didn't know much about the author prior to reading this book. I do think she's very pretty, seems like a nice person (on the surface; who really ever knows?), has an enviable career, a beautiful family, and makes appetizing cookies. Who cares if a bunch of a-hole high school girls didn't like you? high school is long over and you're a millionaire! lol. So yeah, anyways, the victim attitude got a little old.
And the other thing that I really didn't love was the diet advice. The author described her affinity for circuit training and then when I saw her example regime, I thought, that's it?! Well, I guess if you're doing it on 1,000 calories a day, it is. 1,000 calories, or even 1,500 (her non-weight loss calorie number), seems pretty low to me.
Overall the book spent too much time, to my taste, in high school and her dating life and was a little skimpy in the sections I was more interested in, those about her career (music and design) and her family life. For fans of hers, please note: my rating does not apply to the author, but rather is my opinion of her book.
I’m a huge fan of Jessie James Decker and her show Eric & Jessie: Game on on E! and I couldn’t wait to read this book once I heard about it. It’s so much more than just a cookbook (although their are tons and plenty of good recipes!!) Jessie touches on her childhood,growing up in poverty, being bullied growing up, marriage, children, fitness, healthy eating, etc. A reason for writing the book was Jessie wanted to answer all questions fans usually have when meeting her asking her “How do you do it all?” She gets deep and personal throughout her book, with pages of personal photos taken by her, friends and family. Jessie also talks relationships in the book and how her bad ones made her into the person she is today and how it helped her to find her husband Eric and how she found her true friends. She gives tips to help others throughout the book also as a self help book along with her own personal journey.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Jessie James Decker. Her style, personality, and music are just so “a girls girl” and I was excited to read this glimpse into her life and it didnt disappoint! Jessie is raw and honest about struggles she has faced from childhood through adulthood and gives practical tips on everything from motherhood, relationships, beauty, and everything in between. This is definitely a book that I feel like I’ll return to time and again for inspiration. The chapters can be read here and there as the topics are relevant but it’s also a really interesting and fun read start to finish. I finished it in a couple hours!
Loved this book. It’s almost like a big magazine. I loved how it told us about her story, gives you tips and tricks on every aspect of your life, and if you want to learn her southern cooking tricks thats in the book also. I love how Jessie gives a little juice but like always keeps it very classy. This book is a must read.
Fluffy. Easy read, combo autobiography, cookbook, makeover tips. She comes across as almost likeable, as likeable as a perfectly done up, size 0, country star/NFL wife who is giving tips on fitness, makeup and having a hot meal on the table for your husband can be.
Prior to picking up this book, I had no idea who Jessie James Decker or Eric Decker were. I had never seen their reality show and had never heard her music (and I'm not a football fan). I am, however, a fan of pop culture and enjoy lurking on Instagram, so I was aware of Jessie's social media presence and was intrigued to check out this book when I saw it.
Back in 2004, the reality show Newlyweds starring Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson was really popular. Even though I wasn't a big fan of their music, because of my love of all things pop culture, I enjoyed the show and found it relatable as I was also a young, engaged woman on the cusp of my own wedding and about to embark on newlywed life. My husband-to-be and I would watch the show and when Jessica's book came out about planning weddings, I scooped it up right away. This book took me back to that whole time period and was highly reminiscent of our poor, doomed Nick and Jessica. Unlike Nick and Jessica though, I actually think these two might stand a chance (well, it's the world of celebrities so who knows, I mean at least they'll last longer...).
The good: I think fans of these two and the show will enjoy hearing some of the backstory of how they came to be. There are also plenty of pretty pictures of young Jessie and the playful couple to feast your eyes upon. I think Jessie is pretty honest about being a successful wife. I think it was really bold of her to admit that she gives up projects and working to stay home and cater to Eric during his busy season, in a society where we have started to frown upon women who enjoy homemaking and letting their husbands lead (remember the Candace Cameron Bure debacle where she said she was "submissive", which was grossly misunderstood?). I also think most men, although not all...and whether they want to admit it or not, do still want a wife that will give them children and tend to the home. What's misunderstood about this scenario though is that just because a woman obliges to this, it doesn't mean she isn't strong or doesn't have ambitions of her own, and Jessie shows that. She does seem to successfully divide her time between catering to her husband and children, and performing and running her clothing business. I don't think we have to choose one or the other and I think there's no shame in admitting that we enjoy taking care of our husbands. I also appreciated her honesty about still putting effort into date night and keeping up your appearance. Again, this not a popular opinion to voice in a room full of married women. Because of her values and ability to recognize how to make her relationship work (and the fact that they have 3 children together), I think there's a chance these two might last much longer than the doomed "Newlyweds" of days of old.
That being said, there's also some bad: The book frequently sounds very much like the diary of a 14 year old girl. There's lots of rambling about mean girls and being hated on for being pretty. There are far too many purposeful uses of "Ya'll". There's also some pretty bad advice, like going tanning to cure acne (shutter) and restricting your calories to 1,000 a day. Oy.
If you take it for what it is, the book is cute, but cringey. I wonder what Jessie may think when she's 50 and looks back on all of her "lifestyle advice"...
I found this book in a bin of books at Walmart maybe two years ago. I think I bought it for the recipes, but this morning I picked it up just to thumb through it and ended up just reading the whole thing. I don't know of this celebrity, but I loved the story of how much her mother loved her as a child, and I found myself inspired to try to rise to the level of maternal encouragement that her mother showed all of her children - when her son said he wanted to be a ninja, she didn't launch into historical lessons or question the practicality of becoming a ninja in the modern age, she put him into martial arts lessons and sewed him a ninja costume. I also feel like I learned so much from this author's tremendous clarity around her goals and focus - she knew in high school that she wanted to be an entertainer and so she mobilized all of her resources and seized every opportunity which would help move her in this direction - she took two exercise classes in school, she asked to speak daily on her school news broadcast, she took graphic design to learn to design things for a future fashion label. I was also so impressed with her decisiveness and ability to communicate with people she loves.
I also enjoyed learning about NFL football players lives - just interesting details like the fact that they stay in hotels on Saturday nights even when they are in their hometown.
The book is kind of just all of her thoughts about everything in life (having a baby, how to decorate, what to eat, how to feed kids, how to date, etc) all together. And I flatly disagreed with some her her philosophy on certain things (TV for meals) but found her perspective to be interesting on others and even found some things I want to try (like her brilliant idea to tell people to get her a framed photo of them when people ask what she wants for her birthday or Christmas - I'm all terrible at remembering to take and print out photos of people I love). Honestly, I worry sometimes that as I age I become close friends with those who are most like me and one thing I liked about this book was that it was like sitting down to tea with someone quite dissimilar to myself and hearing her perspective on many aspects of life.
Let's just throw this out on the table, I've NEVER finished a book so fast in my entire life. I ordered my copy off of Amazon on Monday. The shipment arrived yesterday and I was super excited to dive into such a wonderful book! I picked up the book at 8pm CST and started reading the book, learning more and more about Jessie. Soon as you know, it's 10:30 and I'm closing the book. Completely finished.
I really enjoyed the history that Jessie gave behind the badass women she is today. Through the many changes in schools, the constant bullying, and the several unhealthy relationships before becoming the confident women, she presents today. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who needs to hear someone else's story to better their own.
Overall a fast, entertaining read. Some select parts annoyed me, but mostly the book was honest and interesting. You get a peek into her life, past and present which kept me reading as she does delve into details that were not shared on her show or social media. All in all, she comes off as a very goofy, down-to-earth, girl's girl. I'm happy to report I like her a bit more after reading her book, which I had initially feared would not be the case!
Quick, cute read for any fan of JJD. It was interesting to read more about her life story. She’s sweet and relatable, very much the every girl who happens to now lead a pretty charmed life. She worked hard to get there though and definitely proved that the “manifestation technique” really does work. Team Jessie all the way.
Nice, easy read. I love Jessie and this felt like hanging out with a friend! I was a bit taken aback by the use of flavor packets in a lot of her ‘signature’ recipes, but upon reflection, I think her use of Uncle Bens makes her that much more relatable (not to mention easier and cheaper) - that’s how my mom cooked for me too!
I am a sucker for Jessie and Eric Decker! I love them and their family and loved their show when it was on E! This book is a cute look into their lives that I think any fan would enjoy. She also includes a handful of recipes - some for basics, some for Southern dishes, and I am excited to try some out!
A enjoyed it. It was a light easy read. I do have to say much of the advice in this book seemed to apply to just her. It definitely wasn’t as deep as I was expecting it to be. Although I’m not really sure why I would expect a book from her to be particularly deep.
I like JJD. I just had a hard time buying into her having no friends and a terrible high school experience, yet winning homecoming, being in choir, and being a cheerleader.
I really liked this book! I'm a big fan of Jessie James Decker and I appreciate her values. It's a nice inside look to her life, and how she manages to be an amazing wife, mom, designer, and singer. Provides good tips on fashion, health, beauty.
I was hoping this would have more make up and hair ideas. Or at least some how to pictures. I will try some of the recipes. Overall, this book made me think differently of her. Oh well.
Book 2 • I discovered my love for Jessie James Decker back in 2014 when I came across the tv show ‘Eric & Jessie’. These two absolutely gorgeous people (both inside and outside) made me laugh and fall in love with their love for each other. Since then, I have followed Jessie on Instagram and love following along with her little family. I love her style in every way you can think of, like if you could choose to be exactly the same as someone else in this life, I would want to be like her in every way (I know that sounds weird but I think she has a beautiful life in every way) I have had her book in my bookcase for a few years but only now reading it. I enjoyed all the little tips and tricks in relating to different aspects of life, and I couple of the recipes I would like to try but need to tweak a little living in Australia. A small sections which really jumped out at me “If you don’t listen to yourself, listen to the people whom you love and trust. If they’re telling you a relationship isn’t good, you really should listen to them. Don’t pull the is-against-the-world card, because you’ll end up alone. Friends or family who have proven their love for you over time don’t want to see you unhappy.” A cute read from another person I admire.
Ok, hear me out. JJD and I have completely different views regarding women's rights and politics, but that didn't stop me liking this book. I found it a cute, quick read about her life with makeup tips and even recipes that are pretty good.
This book isn't going to change the world or even help women in their fight for equality (she pushes us back a few steps), but I still enjoyed her charismatic sense of humour. I found her life story engaging and I actually wanted to know more. This is a book for her fans and girls interested in other women's life stories.
I do find her advice to be damaging to young girls and to new mums while also living up to the 'good wife' stereotype that is outdated these days. You can't simple be a new mum, have dinner on the table, regularly work out and launch a clothing range. She can comes across conceited and a bit out of touch, but regardless I wanted more.
Great! Country music star, Jessie James, gives an up close and personal autobiography. From her early music days with L.A. Reid to the Country Music Awards. She provides a fun eclectic overview of her life that includes: dating advice, marriage, motherhood, work-life balance, recipes, and cosmetics.
Some topics covered:
-Bullying -Being an Entrepreneur -Diet and exercise -NICU and "wimpy white boy syndrome" -Breastfeeding issues (low milk production)
The writing is easy-going, engaging, and inspirational. A lot of fun photos. This book would be a great gift for teens and young women. 💕
🌷Book Quotes:
"My experience with high school bullies was so traumatic that it carried over into my adulthood." (p. 35)
"No matter whether I'm being a southern belle or a boho babe, my philosophy is the same: style is just another way of expressing your creativity." (p. 204)
This book is like a conversation with a close girlfriend—funny, candid, and heartfelt. Although it is probably most intriguing to someone like me who has followed Jessie James’ career for a while, the book nonetheless offers realistic, down-to-earth, and useful tips for any 20 to 30-something. One part memoir and one part lifestyle guide, Jessie offers many interesting insights about what it means to be a mother, wife, and career woman in the music industry. The awesome recipes alone make the book a quick and worthwhile read, perfect for a weekend afternoon or day at the beach.
This felt like reading about a girlfriend's life. A girlfriend that has it all together... who makes you wonder how she does it? Jessie reminded me that we all have struggles. She's been through some stuff... and came out in tact. As a woman, I found her relatable and inspiring. What more can you ask for from a book like this?
I gave it 4 not 5 because a good section of the book is about early years of motherhood. As the mom of a 21 year old, this wasn't as relatable for me. But, I could absolutely see recommending this to my daughter if she is a mom someday.
Not a fan of this memoir at all. Maybe I had set the bar too high after finishing Jessica Simpson’s “Open Book” the other day and absolutely loving it. The first thing that I disliked about this book was that Jessie didn’t narrate it herself. The connection just wasn’t there because of that and I felt like the tone was all wrong for who did narrate it. Overall the book was very boring and almost whiny about her past. I really enjoy following her on Instagram and I wish I wouldn’t have read this book to make me change my thoughts on her.
I think she is an awesome person. I liked the insight and stories she shared. I have always liked her music and her reality show. This book shows more of the hardships she went through. I think to see someone overcome adversity is inspiring. The only part I would have liked left out was the calories and the numbers of her weight. I think for some readers that information could be taken into account for their own health and comparisons.
Jessie James Decker is my absolute favorite! I had this book pre-ordered and then flew through it once I received it. She goes into how she stays fit, how she does hair and makeup, as well as stories about her childhood and family and a lot more. I've also tried a couple of the recipes and the chocolate chip cookies are perfection! A fun, easy read. Would highly recommend if you're a fan!
If I was early 20’s this would be a three star book. Since I’m almost 40, a lot of the content didn’t relate to me, ie wedding planning and facing bullies. However, I loved having a sneak peek into Jessie and Eric’s sweet life. Such a cute little family to read about during the Corona virus shut-in.
This is honestly a cute book. I am very different than her in a lot of ways, but ultimately I feel like we have a lot in common. I love her drive, along with the love she has for her family and friends. We also have similar style in clothes (and extra points for her saying Schitts Creek is one of her favorite shows). If you just want to relax, this is a good read.
I actually didn’t know much about Jessie James Decker other than she is married to NFL player Eric Decker and that she is a really good cook with a wonderful cookbook. The first half of this book was okay but once she started talking about being a mother, wife, and how she takes care of her family… I can relate to that. Good stuff!