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Live in Love: Growing Together Through Life's Changes
Listening Length: 9 hours and 28 minutes
In this refreshing and inspiring memoir, Lauren Akins, the wife of country music star Thomas Rhett, shows what it's really like to be "the perfect couple" fans imagine, and reveals what it actually takes to live in love, stay in love, and grow together.
When country music star Thomas Rhett won the ACM Award for Single of the Year with "Die a Happy Man," his wife, Lauren Akins, was overjoyed. Her childhood best friend and now husband was being anointed the hottest new star in country music--for a song he had written about her. He was living his dream. Lauren was elated, but she was also wrestling with some big questions, not the least of which was, How can I live my own life of purpose?
Lauren Akins never wanted to be in the spotlight, but as Thomas Rhett made his relationship with Lauren the subject of many of his hit songs, she was tossed into the role of one of America's sweethearts. Revered by fans for her down-to-earth ease and charm, her commitment to humanitarian work, and the pure love she exudes for her family, Lauren has never shared her side of their story--full as it's been with deep love, painful loss, tremendous joy, and a struggle to stay grounded in faith along the way--until now.
In Live in Love, Lauren shares details about her childhood friendship with Thomas Rhett, explaining how they reconnected as young adults. She offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of being married to her best friend, who just happens to be a music star, and the struggle to find her own footing in the frenzy of her husband's fame. And in heart-wrenching detail, she opens up about her life-changing experiences doing mission work in Haiti, and then in Uganda, where she met the precious baby who would become their first daughter. From sharing the romance of their handwritten wedding vows to the challenges they faced as they adjusted to the reality of becoming first-time parents, Live in Love takes an intimate look at one couple's life--and opens a window into all of our journeys on the path to self-discovery.
Live in Love is a deeply personal memoir that offers inspiring guidance for anyone looking to keep romance alive, balance children and marriage, express true faith, and live a life of purpose.
In this refreshing and inspiring memoir, Lauren Akins, the wife of country music star Thomas Rhett, shows what it's really like to be "the perfect couple" fans imagine, and reveals what it actually takes to live in love, stay in love, and grow together.
When country music star Thomas Rhett won the ACM Award for Single of the Year with "Die a Happy Man," his wife, Lauren Akins, was overjoyed. Her childhood best friend and now husband was being anointed the hottest new star in country music--for a song he had written about her. He was living his dream. Lauren was elated, but she was also wrestling with some big questions, not the least of which was, How can I live my own life of purpose?
Lauren Akins never wanted to be in the spotlight, but as Thomas Rhett made his relationship with Lauren the subject of many of his hit songs, she was tossed into the role of one of America's sweethearts. Revered by fans for her down-to-earth ease and charm, her commitment to humanitarian work, and the pure love she exudes for her family, Lauren has never shared her side of their story--full as it's been with deep love, painful loss, tremendous joy, and a struggle to stay grounded in faith along the way--until now.
In Live in Love, Lauren shares details about her childhood friendship with Thomas Rhett, explaining how they reconnected as young adults. She offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of being married to her best friend, who just happens to be a music star, and the struggle to find her own footing in the frenzy of her husband's fame. And in heart-wrenching detail, she opens up about her life-changing experiences doing mission work in Haiti, and then in Uganda, where she met the precious baby who would become their first daughter. From sharing the romance of their handwritten wedding vows to the challenges they faced as they adjusted to the reality of becoming first-time parents, Live in Love takes an intimate look at one couple's life--and opens a window into all of our journeys on the path to self-discovery.
Live in Love is a deeply personal memoir that offers inspiring guidance for anyone looking to keep romance alive, balance children and marriage, express true faith, and live a life of purpose.
Audible Audio
First published August 18, 2020
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About the author
Lauren Akins
1 book146 followersLauren Akins is an American author, podcaster, and philanthropist. She is the author of Live in Love: Growing Together Through Life's Changes, which was a New York Times best seller.
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September 26, 2020
This is going to be a longer review because, well, I have a lot of opinions about this one. Particularly because the author claims to have the same world views as me (Protestant Christian) and I am always just a bit more critical of Christian authors (not because I’m mean or naturally a critic — quite the opposite actually—, but because I want the person writing to be a good witness to nonbelievers and non Christians).
Here we go. First off, this book lacks any depth. She begins with her upbringing which has about as much hardship and insight on life as an episode of Full House (no offense to Full House. 10 year old me loved that show). She describes an idyllic life in a safe neighborhood where she was only ever surrounded by like minded, kind, faithful people. In essence, a southern utopia of SEC Football loving folks who believe dancing and rock and roll are a part of satans plan to corrupt the youth (she doesn’t say this of course but there was no worship in her church and her Christian school didn’t allow dancing. Footloose anyone? We all know the ending to that story). Lots of “oh my gosh”, #blessed, “y’alls”, and “this one time at youth group” stories.
Then we move to college where she attends a school within 3 hours of her life “crew” because she can’t bear the thought of missing her parents annual “ugly Christmas sweater” party with 60 close friends from home. You know, the real reason for the season (direct quote: we Christmas HARD y’all). She also almost has a mental breakdown her first year because she doesn’t get chosen by her sorority of choice. I really can’t even begin to describe where my mind was going at this point (give you 1 hint: WHO CARES). But fear not, she prays that God finds a way to get her into the “right” sorority and guess what: she rushes the year later and GETS IN! Wow (#blessed). Life is so much better when you get to go to parties with the RIGHT sorority people. I will chill with the sarcasm from here on out, sorry.
This narrative goes on and on detailing every young break up, make up, trip home, school test, and pick up truck ride. Oh, and the Christmas parties. Don’t forget those.
At some point, her boyfriend, Thomas Rhett, makes it big time in the country music world. They have been dating on and off since middle school and had always had a “connection”. He proposes in the “perfect” way with all her family in her hometown, they have a “perfect wedding” and go on a dreamlike honeymoon to Hawaii.
Then they expand their family through adoption. She does describe how difficult the international adoption process was for her and her husband. It was nearly a year long process and sounded like it entailed over a dozen 30+ hour flights to and from Uganda. In the end (we all know this already because of her Instagram), their adoption was successful. I do appreciate that the author reflects on her own privilege and the drastic differences between the community she grew up in and the community that her daughter would have grown up in had she not been adopted by an American family. And she does share that this adoption would not have been possible without a surplus of money, family that was willing to fly to and fro with her, and a body guard and driver she had at her disposal while she was in Uganda. For all the criticism I have for this book, I will always have reverence towards her heart for helping others, particularly those in vulnerable populations. She could do so many other things with her wealth and I 100% love that she chooses this cause.
A big reason for why I feel this book misses the mark is because she doesn’t address the one thing that she claims sparked her interest in writing her autobiography; the tendency for media to paint a “perfect life” and “perfect marriage” of her and her family. She details in her book that there were many times when she had two kids under two and she felt resentful, angry and even hateful towards her husband. She wanted to “set the record straight” in her own words. However, on her social media pages, she isn’t transparent about any of this! She only posts perfect pictures praising her husband’s accomplishments, calling him the greatest father and husband, showing the best of “mom life”. I appreciate that she shares in her book times when she wasn’t happy and even on the verge of depression, but why not share this on those little square boxes that you post to over 2million people? As a wife to a person who also has a very demanding career that takes him away from family often, I felt seen when she was describing how she felt taken advantage of, forgotten, not herself, and an accessory to her husbands life as opposed to the priority. If she wanted to “set the record straight”, she didn’t have to wait to write a book; she could have just posted a picture and wrote it in a caption and reached far more of her following.
All in all, this book gives details of a very privileged life about someone who means well. The book also portrays Christianity as more of a name it and claim it prosperity gospel. If you pray for “good things”, God will provide them for you. This is not biblical and not rooted in truth. God decides what is “good”, we do not. Maybe God needs you to suffer, to fail, to not get what you want in order to glorify Him. When we read books about superficial suffering and people getting everything they pray for, we show a false picture of who God is and what the gospel message means for us (hint: it does not mean that we have a happy comfortable life if we chose to follow Jesus).
Here we go. First off, this book lacks any depth. She begins with her upbringing which has about as much hardship and insight on life as an episode of Full House (no offense to Full House. 10 year old me loved that show). She describes an idyllic life in a safe neighborhood where she was only ever surrounded by like minded, kind, faithful people. In essence, a southern utopia of SEC Football loving folks who believe dancing and rock and roll are a part of satans plan to corrupt the youth (she doesn’t say this of course but there was no worship in her church and her Christian school didn’t allow dancing. Footloose anyone? We all know the ending to that story). Lots of “oh my gosh”, #blessed, “y’alls”, and “this one time at youth group” stories.
Then we move to college where she attends a school within 3 hours of her life “crew” because she can’t bear the thought of missing her parents annual “ugly Christmas sweater” party with 60 close friends from home. You know, the real reason for the season (direct quote: we Christmas HARD y’all). She also almost has a mental breakdown her first year because she doesn’t get chosen by her sorority of choice. I really can’t even begin to describe where my mind was going at this point (give you 1 hint: WHO CARES). But fear not, she prays that God finds a way to get her into the “right” sorority and guess what: she rushes the year later and GETS IN! Wow (#blessed). Life is so much better when you get to go to parties with the RIGHT sorority people. I will chill with the sarcasm from here on out, sorry.
This narrative goes on and on detailing every young break up, make up, trip home, school test, and pick up truck ride. Oh, and the Christmas parties. Don’t forget those.
At some point, her boyfriend, Thomas Rhett, makes it big time in the country music world. They have been dating on and off since middle school and had always had a “connection”. He proposes in the “perfect” way with all her family in her hometown, they have a “perfect wedding” and go on a dreamlike honeymoon to Hawaii.
Then they expand their family through adoption. She does describe how difficult the international adoption process was for her and her husband. It was nearly a year long process and sounded like it entailed over a dozen 30+ hour flights to and from Uganda. In the end (we all know this already because of her Instagram), their adoption was successful. I do appreciate that the author reflects on her own privilege and the drastic differences between the community she grew up in and the community that her daughter would have grown up in had she not been adopted by an American family. And she does share that this adoption would not have been possible without a surplus of money, family that was willing to fly to and fro with her, and a body guard and driver she had at her disposal while she was in Uganda. For all the criticism I have for this book, I will always have reverence towards her heart for helping others, particularly those in vulnerable populations. She could do so many other things with her wealth and I 100% love that she chooses this cause.
A big reason for why I feel this book misses the mark is because she doesn’t address the one thing that she claims sparked her interest in writing her autobiography; the tendency for media to paint a “perfect life” and “perfect marriage” of her and her family. She details in her book that there were many times when she had two kids under two and she felt resentful, angry and even hateful towards her husband. She wanted to “set the record straight” in her own words. However, on her social media pages, she isn’t transparent about any of this! She only posts perfect pictures praising her husband’s accomplishments, calling him the greatest father and husband, showing the best of “mom life”. I appreciate that she shares in her book times when she wasn’t happy and even on the verge of depression, but why not share this on those little square boxes that you post to over 2million people? As a wife to a person who also has a very demanding career that takes him away from family often, I felt seen when she was describing how she felt taken advantage of, forgotten, not herself, and an accessory to her husbands life as opposed to the priority. If she wanted to “set the record straight”, she didn’t have to wait to write a book; she could have just posted a picture and wrote it in a caption and reached far more of her following.
All in all, this book gives details of a very privileged life about someone who means well. The book also portrays Christianity as more of a name it and claim it prosperity gospel. If you pray for “good things”, God will provide them for you. This is not biblical and not rooted in truth. God decides what is “good”, we do not. Maybe God needs you to suffer, to fail, to not get what you want in order to glorify Him. When we read books about superficial suffering and people getting everything they pray for, we show a false picture of who God is and what the gospel message means for us (hint: it does not mean that we have a happy comfortable life if we chose to follow Jesus).
September 10, 2020
Full review: https://justreadingjess.wordpress.com...
Live in Love by Lauren Akins is an excellent book. You get to learn more about her life and hear the other side of your favorite Thomas songs. This was my first approval from NetGalley.
Live in Love by Lauren Akins is an excellent book. You get to learn more about her life and hear the other side of your favorite Thomas songs. This was my first approval from NetGalley.
September 3, 2020
I’ve been a fan of Thomas Rhett for a long time and when I saw his wife on TV at one of the award shows she just looked like she would be sweet and a perfect match for him. Then add in music videos and Instagram and I was hooked on this couple.
Getting their story through this book was awesome. You get a real feel from the time they were young kids to current on how they were raised to live in faith and how they navigated everything and were still able to be true to their beliefs.
Their story is uplifting, yet lets you see their struggles…….you will be happy and laughing one minute and then heartbroken the next.
I like the fact that Lauren is brutally honest in this book even when it doesn’t picture her in the best light. I really liked this couple before the book and now I adore & love them even more.
***Maybe if you aren’t comfortable with religion this might not be for you but for me as a believer it just strengthened my faith***
Getting their story through this book was awesome. You get a real feel from the time they were young kids to current on how they were raised to live in faith and how they navigated everything and were still able to be true to their beliefs.
Their story is uplifting, yet lets you see their struggles…….you will be happy and laughing one minute and then heartbroken the next.
I like the fact that Lauren is brutally honest in this book even when it doesn’t picture her in the best light. I really liked this couple before the book and now I adore & love them even more.
***Maybe if you aren’t comfortable with religion this might not be for you but for me as a believer it just strengthened my faith***
February 26, 2020
5 STARS.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH MORE THAN I EXPECTED TO! And y'all, I had high expectations. As soon as I heard about it on Lauren's IG I felt like I needed it and then low and behold it was on Netgalley and I was offered the chance to read and review it. I am a country music FAN but I didn't want to read this because Lauren is Thomas Rhett's wife, I actually thought it would have a little more about her work in Uganda and with Love+One, kind of along the lines of Kisses with Katie or something similar, which is what I was looking for, and it did go into her work a bit but it is so much more than that. Live in Love is a confession of absolute love and gratitude and light. It is beautiful and inspiring and I cried my way through it. It is also brutally honest and raw and just so real which, to be honest I did NOT expect because we all live a filtered life, not least of all those under the telephoto lens of fame. But Lauren did the unexpected and told it like it is. She laid out the good times and and the hurt times, and the inclusion of Thomas Rhett's perspective really added a lot to the book. It would have been easy to just include Lauren's thoughts and feelings on their life and relationship in writing, it is her book after all, but it is also THEIR life, and TR's genuine involvement just emphasized the point made in the book that they are doing life TOGETHER. I have so much more respect and admiration for the both of them for how honest they were about the importance of therapy and communication and how necessary it was for them to succeed together. The grass is greenest where you water it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH MORE THAN I EXPECTED TO! And y'all, I had high expectations. As soon as I heard about it on Lauren's IG I felt like I needed it and then low and behold it was on Netgalley and I was offered the chance to read and review it. I am a country music FAN but I didn't want to read this because Lauren is Thomas Rhett's wife, I actually thought it would have a little more about her work in Uganda and with Love+One, kind of along the lines of Kisses with Katie or something similar, which is what I was looking for, and it did go into her work a bit but it is so much more than that. Live in Love is a confession of absolute love and gratitude and light. It is beautiful and inspiring and I cried my way through it. It is also brutally honest and raw and just so real which, to be honest I did NOT expect because we all live a filtered life, not least of all those under the telephoto lens of fame. But Lauren did the unexpected and told it like it is. She laid out the good times and and the hurt times, and the inclusion of Thomas Rhett's perspective really added a lot to the book. It would have been easy to just include Lauren's thoughts and feelings on their life and relationship in writing, it is her book after all, but it is also THEIR life, and TR's genuine involvement just emphasized the point made in the book that they are doing life TOGETHER. I have so much more respect and admiration for the both of them for how honest they were about the importance of therapy and communication and how necessary it was for them to succeed together. The grass is greenest where you water it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
November 14, 2020
At first I thought, she was a bit self-absorbed, because it felt like he loved her more than she loved him, but as soon as I stepped back I realized, this is exactly what a healthy, strong woman should look like. Stand up for yourself, support your spouse, submit to one another, but do not be a doormat. It's OK to still have your own dreams and aspirations. I think she is the balancing force to their relationship, keeping them grounded when they could have got swept up in the whirlwind of it all. I love that she shows they are both not perfect and how taxing it can be for one person to not support the other. This was honestly a great book! Thanks Cami, I'd have never read this if not for you.
December 12, 2020
I am sure Lauren Akins is a sweet, sincere woman. She came off that way in the book. But this just lacked depth to me and was full of cliches. She says she doesn't have a perfect life, but she sure made it sound like the first 18 years of her life were just that. I loved hearing about the adoption of their daughter, but so much of this book just felt fluffy to me.
October 7, 2024
3.5 stars - I especially loved the second half of Lauren’s story and reading about her mission work, their adoption, and their marriage.
January 2, 2021
I absolutely devoured this book. Let me start by saying, fame does not intrigue me in the slightest. I didn’t follow Lauren on social media and I don’t keep up with what famous people are up to. I wanted to read this book for three reasons - 1. The story of her daughters adoption 2. Her faith 3. Her philanthropic history..
I LOVE memoirs and honestly I wish I could read one on everyone from my in laws to people I grew up with. As always, I don’t typically feel that I have the right to rate anyone’s story because that’s something that belongs to them and it just seems a bit odd...... but outside of her deserved 5 stars for doing something vulnerable this is all around a great read.
Lauren’s story was powerful and gripping. Such an ordinary, beautiful childhood full of love and grace. I felt like I was reading my childhood best friends memoir. It was relatable, honest, humbling, and REAL. She touched on how from outsiders it looks like she’s living a fairytale and I felt that was so relevant in today’s world. We all think we know someone’s story because of media when in fact- it’s never as it seems in a pretty picture, even when it’s imperfectly perfect.
I think everyone could pick up a little from this book - especially how to love and serve.
I LOVE memoirs and honestly I wish I could read one on everyone from my in laws to people I grew up with. As always, I don’t typically feel that I have the right to rate anyone’s story because that’s something that belongs to them and it just seems a bit odd...... but outside of her deserved 5 stars for doing something vulnerable this is all around a great read.
Lauren’s story was powerful and gripping. Such an ordinary, beautiful childhood full of love and grace. I felt like I was reading my childhood best friends memoir. It was relatable, honest, humbling, and REAL. She touched on how from outsiders it looks like she’s living a fairytale and I felt that was so relevant in today’s world. We all think we know someone’s story because of media when in fact- it’s never as it seems in a pretty picture, even when it’s imperfectly perfect.
I think everyone could pick up a little from this book - especially how to love and serve.
March 26, 2021
There’s something so refreshing about reading this- her honesty and vulnerability in sharing the hard parts of living in fame is rare. And even more so, her beautiful faith and obedience to the Lord’s voice in her life. I have to admit, I’m definitely fan girling over the Akins family now...
June 24, 2021
4.25/5 stars
The honesty with which Lauren wrote this book was so relatable and beautiful. I really enjoyed getting a sneak peek into Thomas Rhett and Lauren’s life, and learning about all the trials they have endured. I was a big fan of theirs before reading this, and am an even bigger fan now!
The honesty with which Lauren wrote this book was so relatable and beautiful. I really enjoyed getting a sneak peek into Thomas Rhett and Lauren’s life, and learning about all the trials they have endured. I was a big fan of theirs before reading this, and am an even bigger fan now!
March 19, 2020
I was so pleasantly surprised by this memoir! I’ve loved this couple and watched their journey on social media for awhile so I was ecstatic to get my hands on Live in Love. This book is fantastic! I loved Lauren’s authenticity in telling her story and how she pulled back the veil to show the real and raw truth about their courtship and adoption process. This memoir is real and honest, allowing readers a glimpse into their lives and into her heart. From childhood to motherhood, Lauren tells her story in a human, authentic way. This was a fantastic memoir, and one that I think would be perfect for teenage girls to read as they navigate this modern world. It’s beautifully written and lovely from beginning to end. 5⭐️. Thank you @randomhouse for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.
September 29, 2020
Live In Love has become one of my favorite books, and not just because I'm a fan
of Thomas Rhett and Lauren. I followed their journey through adoption years back but didn't know all the details she shares here. Such an incredible story about their faith in God. I loved reading about her childhood and relationship with Thomas Rhett. She was very vulnerable and open about their struggles and I could relate to it being married to a spouse with a crazy, inconsistent and demanding schedule. Easy read, I didn't want to put it down!
of Thomas Rhett and Lauren. I followed their journey through adoption years back but didn't know all the details she shares here. Such an incredible story about their faith in God. I loved reading about her childhood and relationship with Thomas Rhett. She was very vulnerable and open about their struggles and I could relate to it being married to a spouse with a crazy, inconsistent and demanding schedule. Easy read, I didn't want to put it down!
June 27, 2021
Now I'm an even bigger Thomas Rhett fan than I was! This story about Thomas Rhett & Lauren's love story is so (so so so) sweet....almost too sweet even. Lauren shares her life growing up in a loving Christian family and growing up with friends (Thomas Rhett among them). Their love story is something out of a romance movie and I loved it. In the second half of the book, Lauren shares the struggles of growing a family, adoption, changes life brings to a new mom (and dad) and how difficult it is to become a mom... her struggles resonated with me even though I'm not a celebrity wife, or a family of adoption.
I've read this before, but I really loved the reminder, "He will find you where you're at."
I've read this before, but I really loved the reminder, "He will find you where you're at."
February 11, 2024
I NEVER rate a biography 5⭐️ but this book was spectacular! I have always loved Thomas Rhett and Lauren, but this book made me love them even more. It’s nice to know that Lauren feels all the same emotions and thoughts as a wife and I’m excited to look into Lauren’s foundation while blasting Thomas Rhett music.
October 28, 2024
Such a sweet book!! I was tearing up through most of the descriptions of Willa Gray's adoption. A little cheesy at some parts, but overall a sweet, feel-good book.
April 11, 2025
An inspiring book that provides a good reminder that nobody’s perfect, family means everything, and God provides 💕
October 11, 2024
This book started out as Lauren describing her childhood, which basically seemed perfect. I feel like any people who hate on this book are just mad that they didn’t have a great childhood and Lauren did. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the way she grew up; every parent wishes that they could give their child the kind of life that Lauren’s parents gave her. Sometimes it seemed too perfect, yes. But how can anyone be mad at a child growing up in a family and community full of love?
As it went on and Lauren became an adult, I appreciated that she shared the emotional struggles she went through and that she was so transparent about sharing the difficulties in her and Thomas Rhett’s marriage. From the outside everything about them seems so lovely and perfect and “goals”, but that was not the reality at all.
I’ve seen people criticize the fact that her Instagram is all fluffy and lovely moments, while this book describes that behind those pictures, Lauren was feeling depressed and abandoned. “She should’ve been more real online.” First of all, what would she even post to be more “real”? A picture of herself crying with the caption “TR is too busy for his family”? Everyone would be on her case for airing her dirty laundry and making private matters public. There’s nothing wrong with posting good moments online, especially when you are celebrating your two little girls and a husband whom you love. It makes sense that she would share details in the book because she likely ran everything by her husband regarding what to share, which is way more respectful to the privacy of their marriage than posting online every time something was bad. No one shares their problems online as they happen; it’s a retrospective thing. That complaint that she isn’t sharing enough on her social media is made null by the fact that she released this book and took the time to explain her challenges/difficulties with the detail deserved instead of complaining about her husband online. She did the right thing here.
My favorite parts of the book were when Lauren shared the key points in her and TR’s love story (and realizing that the moments she described were in specific songs he’s written!!) and the trips Lauren would take to Uganda. I loved how she described finding her purpose and using her husband’s platform to bring awareness to the struggles and hardships that those in third-world countries face. It’s really encouraging to see famous people use their resources for good.
I also loved the spiritual aspect of this book. I knew that the Akins family were Christian, but I didn’t know how deeply their faith was integrated into their lives. It was beautiful to learn about how Lauren’s faith grew and fluctuated over time and how much of a support system she had in that regard.
All in all, this book made me happier to listen to Thomas Rhett’s music because I love supporting artists and their families when they’re good people who strive to do good. I listened to the audiobook version of this, which I highly recommend, as Lauren narrated it herself (with her cute southern twang) and Thomas Rhett even popped in sometimes to give his perspective.
As it went on and Lauren became an adult, I appreciated that she shared the emotional struggles she went through and that she was so transparent about sharing the difficulties in her and Thomas Rhett’s marriage. From the outside everything about them seems so lovely and perfect and “goals”, but that was not the reality at all.
I’ve seen people criticize the fact that her Instagram is all fluffy and lovely moments, while this book describes that behind those pictures, Lauren was feeling depressed and abandoned. “She should’ve been more real online.” First of all, what would she even post to be more “real”? A picture of herself crying with the caption “TR is too busy for his family”? Everyone would be on her case for airing her dirty laundry and making private matters public. There’s nothing wrong with posting good moments online, especially when you are celebrating your two little girls and a husband whom you love. It makes sense that she would share details in the book because she likely ran everything by her husband regarding what to share, which is way more respectful to the privacy of their marriage than posting online every time something was bad. No one shares their problems online as they happen; it’s a retrospective thing. That complaint that she isn’t sharing enough on her social media is made null by the fact that she released this book and took the time to explain her challenges/difficulties with the detail deserved instead of complaining about her husband online. She did the right thing here.
My favorite parts of the book were when Lauren shared the key points in her and TR’s love story (and realizing that the moments she described were in specific songs he’s written!!) and the trips Lauren would take to Uganda. I loved how she described finding her purpose and using her husband’s platform to bring awareness to the struggles and hardships that those in third-world countries face. It’s really encouraging to see famous people use their resources for good.
I also loved the spiritual aspect of this book. I knew that the Akins family were Christian, but I didn’t know how deeply their faith was integrated into their lives. It was beautiful to learn about how Lauren’s faith grew and fluctuated over time and how much of a support system she had in that regard.
All in all, this book made me happier to listen to Thomas Rhett’s music because I love supporting artists and their families when they’re good people who strive to do good. I listened to the audiobook version of this, which I highly recommend, as Lauren narrated it herself (with her cute southern twang) and Thomas Rhett even popped in sometimes to give his perspective.
August 3, 2020
Oh my gosh this book! By the first page I knew this book was going to be special. I love Thomas Rhett’s music it’s always filled with how grateful he is for the love of his wife and his family and how happy he is. I follow both him and his wife on Instagram,so when I saw her book I knew I needed to read it. His wife gives up a peek into their private world. From her time growing up with her amazing close knit family and close group of friends, staring at the sky filled with stars in Tennessee, to her first meeting Thomas Rhett and starting as friends , to deciding to date and then breaking up. She goes college and becomes a nurse and then having him pour his heart out and admitting he loved her since the first time he saw her at summer camp and yes I did cry at that moment. Graduating college and they get married and her wanting to be more than just Thomas Rhett’s a country stars wife, she wanted to find a purpose in life and this just made me love her more. She goes to Haiti and then Uganda and meets a baby that she and Thomas Rhett decide to adopt, when they could have given up when so many obstacles appears during the adoption process, they relied on their faith and could finally take baby Willa Gray home , soon they add another baby, Lauren who was pregnant while trying to bring Willa home gives birth, so now she’s a mom to two! Lauren admits that marriage counseling saved their marriage and isn’t ashamed to admit it! Through every step Lauren relies on her faith in God. I never wanted this book to end. Their love story is amazing and I loved how she says it’s not perfect they work on it every day, she’s honest and tells the stories behind Thomas Rhett’s songs. She opens the door to how their marriage needs work like everyone else’s . Lauren pours her heart out in every page and I found myself crying at parts. This book is like sitting down with a wonderful friend and listening while she tells her story and sharing a glass of wine Five stars!
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August 17, 2020I have been following Lauren Akins for a couple of years now on my personal IG. I can honestly say I am a huge fan of both her and her husband, famous country singer @thomasrhettakins. I love everything about them as a couple and their little fam bam. While their marriage looks picture-perfect on social media, I was surprised how much Lauren acknowledged it is far from it. They struggle with common issues most of us married couples go through - who would’ve thought right? Lauren was super honest and raw on sharing their personal journey through marriage counseling (pre/post children) and coping with the spotlight and fame.
Lauren begins the memoir by taking us through her amazing childhood memories, falling in love, and starting a family. I enjoyed the small passages from Thomas Rhett - it was sweet to hear both sides of particular events, especially about the Ugandan adoption process for their daughter Willa Gray (she’s the cutest). They truly went through a long vigorous process with multiple obstacles while never losing faith in God. I have so much more respect and admiration for the both of them! Highly enjoyed and recommend this delightful memoir.
Lauren begins the memoir by taking us through her amazing childhood memories, falling in love, and starting a family. I enjoyed the small passages from Thomas Rhett - it was sweet to hear both sides of particular events, especially about the Ugandan adoption process for their daughter Willa Gray (she’s the cutest). They truly went through a long vigorous process with multiple obstacles while never losing faith in God. I have so much more respect and admiration for the both of them! Highly enjoyed and recommend this delightful memoir.
October 28, 2020
3.5 stars. I didn’t know much about Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren, before reading this book so I definitely was not a “fan”. I knew they had adopted so I was interested in learning more about their story. The beginning story of their childhood was sweet but more information that I would’ve cared to read. If you are a fan of theirs, you probably would enjoy the details of how they grew up. I really admired Lauren’s strength through the tough adoption process while Thomas Rhett became very famous. It’s a beautiful story and I really appreciated that she discussed marriage counseling, resentment during postpartum, and all the other real life struggles when you are married with young children. Lauren’s faith is inspiring and she gives the glory to God that they were able to bring their beautiful daughter from Uganda home and survive the learning curve of balancing fame and family. Overall, I’d recommend it but not to everyone.
November 10, 2020
I've been a fan of Thomas Rhett's music for years now, and it didn't take me long to figure out that his wife Lauren is actually even cooler than he is. (I'm sorry, that's just a fact. I think he would agree with me.) I was so excited when I heard she was writing a book, and this did not disappoint!
I loved getting an inside look at the country music industry. But what I loved even more was learning about Thomas Rhett and Lauren's life together - their childhood, how they broke up and got back together, their journey with adoption and having children of their own, and how even their "relationship goals" romance isn't perfect. I found myself admiring Lauren even more after reading this. She is such a strong woman who is so focused on spreading the love of Christ and I love that! She is definitely someone I feel like I look up to now.
Also, if you get the chance, listen to the audiobook! Lauren and Thomas Rhett narrate it which makes it even better. <3
I loved getting an inside look at the country music industry. But what I loved even more was learning about Thomas Rhett and Lauren's life together - their childhood, how they broke up and got back together, their journey with adoption and having children of their own, and how even their "relationship goals" romance isn't perfect. I found myself admiring Lauren even more after reading this. She is such a strong woman who is so focused on spreading the love of Christ and I love that! She is definitely someone I feel like I look up to now.
Also, if you get the chance, listen to the audiobook! Lauren and Thomas Rhett narrate it which makes it even better. <3
December 28, 2020
I had a hard time getting into this book. Lauren is not a polished writer by trade, and I think that shows - for better and for worse. At times it makes her feel more relatable, but also seems to make her story feel drawn out and tired at times. This book is laid out in the form of a memoir and she covers a lot of different topics, from her childhood through young adulthood. I most enjoyed the chapters focused on international adoption and her mission work. I think those who are fans of Lauren and Thomas Rhett Akins would enjoy this read as a fairly satisfying/interesting glimpse into their personal lives.
May 16, 2020
I have loved Thomas Rhett ever since his very first song! I then fell in love with his cute wife Lauren on Instagram and then started following her. When I heard she had a new book out and it was on NetGalley, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. I dove right in and knew it would be great. She’s genuine, “real” and so down to earth . What a great love story this is and it couldn’t come at a better time than during this pandemic! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. I loved it!
January 12, 2021
Refreshing, light, and full of all the goodness the world needs more of right now, this memoir reveals the real people (along with their real struggles) behind the fairytale celebrity couple. But no one is perfect, and Lauren and Thomas Rhett choose love and each other every day. Loved reading about their close knit community, their love story, their adorable little girls, and the real story that the magazines and Instagram squares can’t capture. Good for Lauren for having the strength and bravery to share her story with the world in her own words.
May 18, 2020
I received a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I enjoy getting a behind the scenes look of celebrity lives so I did enjoy that aspect of the book. I follow Lauren on Instagram and know that religion is an important part of her life, but this book is probably not for you if that doesn’t interest you. I really wanted to like the book but just couldn’t get past the tone of the writing at times.
This book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I enjoy getting a behind the scenes look of celebrity lives so I did enjoy that aspect of the book. I follow Lauren on Instagram and know that religion is an important part of her life, but this book is probably not for you if that doesn’t interest you. I really wanted to like the book but just couldn’t get past the tone of the writing at times.
September 26, 2020
{Live in Love}
~by Lauren Akins~
×Reviewed by Chloe×
💗
When I began this book, I had yet to realise the wonders of Lauren Akins' world, and the horrors. Having to deal with teenage & adult women claiming she was a 'gold digger', although Lauren knew Thomas Rhett long before his fame. Also having to deal with the #marriagegoals and #goals hashtags that were swarming their social media, and Lauren had enough. So, she wrote this book, and enlightened us with her story.
=Chloe Skye
📙📖
must-read
~by Lauren Akins~
×Reviewed by Chloe×
💗
When I began this book, I had yet to realise the wonders of Lauren Akins' world, and the horrors. Having to deal with teenage & adult women claiming she was a 'gold digger', although Lauren knew Thomas Rhett long before his fame. Also having to deal with the #marriagegoals and #goals hashtags that were swarming their social media, and Lauren had enough. So, she wrote this book, and enlightened us with her story.
=Chloe Skye
📙📖
must-read
October 12, 2020
Loved this book! Clearly written with a coauthor... so the writing wasn’t the best. But I really enjoyed how open, honest, and vulnerable she was. I think people have a lot to learn from her and her marriage to TR. Would recommend to lots of people for insight into what a real and healthy marriage looks like with Jesus at the center.
January 16, 2021
This is described as refreshing and inspiring, and I couldn’t agree more. Lauren Akins is REAL, and she shares her honest thoughts on life, love, motherhood, marriage, and being married to country superstar Thomas Rhett while still keeping her faith. I loved her honestly and her inspiration.
Some memoirs feel so preachy. This is real. I loved this so much.
Some memoirs feel so preachy. This is real. I loved this so much.
August 31, 2020
Great, great book! I couldn't put it down, read it in two days cover to cover! Much insight here into the challenges of celebrity marriage, or for that matter, almost any marriage. Great book for Christians!
September 3, 2020
Lacked depth
Interesting to read about background, family and adoption. Lacked depth and insight. Quick read. Thankful for work she is doing in Uganda.
Interesting to read about background, family and adoption. Lacked depth and insight. Quick read. Thankful for work she is doing in Uganda.
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