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Living Fully: Dare to Step into Your Most Vibrant Life
An irresistible guide to living without holding back, from the vibrant lifestyle entrepreneur and host of the Living Fully podcast.
Mallory Ervin is known for exuding energy, joy, and laughter. But despite her public accomplishments, Mallory is no stranger to battling unhealthy attachments to performance and success. Now, in her unforgettable debut book, Mallory invites readers to see how her surprising journey--from achievement and accolades to devastating, never-before-shared lows--guided her and led her to a deeply fulfilling life.
In Living Fully, Mallory shares her personal story of overcoming the unhealthy and damaging patterns in her life and shows readers how to trade this for something completely new and more rewarding. What she discovered was there had always been a different life available to her, one that she had not yet seen. Now she encourages readers to resist a "just fine" existence and to step into a life they never dared to imagine before. Through inspiring stories and practical advice Mallory encourages readers to:
- stop returning to a "just getting by" mentality
- shift perspective so blessings don't become burdens
- remember that life's curveballs don't have to knock you off your feet
- identify your passions and get back to your truest self
- slow down and enjoy the extraordinary in the everyday moments
- quiet the voice of fear
- get clear on the life you want
"I wrote this to be your wake-up call, the thing that turns the lights on in your life and propels you to make real change, once and for all, " Mallory says. "I want you to wake up and stay awake."
For anyone hungry for a richer life, or tired of coasting through life in a "cruise control" mindset, Living Fully is the ultimate invitation to embrace abundance and joy--and not look back!
Mallory Ervin is known for exuding energy, joy, and laughter. But despite her public accomplishments, Mallory is no stranger to battling unhealthy attachments to performance and success. Now, in her unforgettable debut book, Mallory invites readers to see how her surprising journey--from achievement and accolades to devastating, never-before-shared lows--guided her and led her to a deeply fulfilling life.
In Living Fully, Mallory shares her personal story of overcoming the unhealthy and damaging patterns in her life and shows readers how to trade this for something completely new and more rewarding. What she discovered was there had always been a different life available to her, one that she had not yet seen. Now she encourages readers to resist a "just fine" existence and to step into a life they never dared to imagine before. Through inspiring stories and practical advice Mallory encourages readers to:
- stop returning to a "just getting by" mentality
- shift perspective so blessings don't become burdens
- remember that life's curveballs don't have to knock you off your feet
- identify your passions and get back to your truest self
- slow down and enjoy the extraordinary in the everyday moments
- quiet the voice of fear
- get clear on the life you want
"I wrote this to be your wake-up call, the thing that turns the lights on in your life and propels you to make real change, once and for all, " Mallory says. "I want you to wake up and stay awake."
For anyone hungry for a richer life, or tired of coasting through life in a "cruise control" mindset, Living Fully is the ultimate invitation to embrace abundance and joy--and not look back!
208 pages, Hardcover
First published February 8, 2022
557 people are currently reading
4916 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
January 28, 2022
I received a free e-copy of Living Fully: Let Go of Unhealthy Attachments, Stay Inspired, and Find Lasting Fulfillment by Mallory Ervin from NetGalley for my honest review.
Absolutely amazing book! So absolutely and brutally honest, emotional, heart-felt, gut wrenching and raw. This is a book that absolutely everyone should read. In the crazy, fast-paced world that we live in today from working, family, a world of perfection, judgement, social media and so much more that we get lost in. How much time do you spend on social media, wondering how many people have looked at your post, liked your post, responded to your post? How much time do you spend doing your hair, make-up, nails, etc? Do these things bring you true joy or are you hiding behind a mask? Mallory takes you into all aspects of her life and helps break down so many things she has been through in order to help others.
I got so much out of this book that I know I will go back and read it again. Thank you, Mallory for this amazing read!!
Absolutely amazing book! So absolutely and brutally honest, emotional, heart-felt, gut wrenching and raw. This is a book that absolutely everyone should read. In the crazy, fast-paced world that we live in today from working, family, a world of perfection, judgement, social media and so much more that we get lost in. How much time do you spend on social media, wondering how many people have looked at your post, liked your post, responded to your post? How much time do you spend doing your hair, make-up, nails, etc? Do these things bring you true joy or are you hiding behind a mask? Mallory takes you into all aspects of her life and helps break down so many things she has been through in order to help others.
I got so much out of this book that I know I will go back and read it again. Thank you, Mallory for this amazing read!!
January 26, 2024
I so desperately wanted to love this book, as I was a fan of her podcast. I personally feel that the mark was missed with this memoir, as it read as a self help book.
Mallory has faced a bucket load of her own challenges, but I feel that the way she writes, she does not acknowledge the privilege she has in life. Privilege is not a fault, but I do feel that it should be discussed with the topics that she is trying to solidify. I felt the only chapter that she truly wrote with pure vulnerability and humility was the chapter about her nephew. This was the one (and only) place in the book I could feel connected to the author. Otherwise, I struggled because of the life that Mallory's portrays online. Mallory writes about not getting wrapped up in the "shiny" things, but it seems that her instagram and socials show that she is drawn toward the "shiny" things.
I know that it is written in the book not to compare your life to the socials of an influencer, but if an influencer is going to write a book about not comparing, I feel that they should demonstrate that same understanding in their own life.
Overall, disappointed.
Mallory has faced a bucket load of her own challenges, but I feel that the way she writes, she does not acknowledge the privilege she has in life. Privilege is not a fault, but I do feel that it should be discussed with the topics that she is trying to solidify. I felt the only chapter that she truly wrote with pure vulnerability and humility was the chapter about her nephew. This was the one (and only) place in the book I could feel connected to the author. Otherwise, I struggled because of the life that Mallory's portrays online. Mallory writes about not getting wrapped up in the "shiny" things, but it seems that her instagram and socials show that she is drawn toward the "shiny" things.
I know that it is written in the book not to compare your life to the socials of an influencer, but if an influencer is going to write a book about not comparing, I feel that they should demonstrate that same understanding in their own life.
Overall, disappointed.
February 16, 2022
I picked this book not because I know of the author's very minor celebrity but because my good fantasy friend Jen Hat maker seemingly endorsed it. This is no Jen Hatmaker book. The author is a bit narcissistic , A former Miss Kentucky and Amazing Race contestant who dishes out some tired self help commonalities like balance is good and prescription pill abuse is bad. Nothing really fresh or profound.
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley
January 16, 2022
This book was just what I needed. I spent the last several months knowing that I needed to read more motivating/self help non fiction books, but the weight of the year kept me fully in fiction. Living Fully was just the right amount of personal and light to help get me back into reading the stuff that fills me up and ready to take on the year.
Mallory's personal stories and homey feel to her writing make it easy to sink right into the lessons and learning in the book without feeling too heavy. If you are a fan of personal triumphs, motivation, and inspiration, this book is very much for you.
Mallory's personal stories and homey feel to her writing make it easy to sink right into the lessons and learning in the book without feeling too heavy. If you are a fan of personal triumphs, motivation, and inspiration, this book is very much for you.
November 18, 2021
I have been patiently waiting on Mallory’s book to be released. When I got the chance at an early release I jumped on it. Mallory is such a great storyteller, I could feel myself relating to her stories and seeing how to apply her knowledge to my life. If you are looking for something uplifting that will motivate you to do better, be better for you this is it. Mallory’s faith, determination and strength is unlike no other. 10 out of 10 would recommend this to everyone. Can’t wait to get my physical copy in February.
July 10, 2022
1. You walk into a craft store.
2. Copy and paste the top 100 quotes and that’s this book.
Disclaimer: technically I didn’t read the entire book as about 10 pages didn’t print and were blank.
2. Copy and paste the top 100 quotes and that’s this book.
Disclaimer: technically I didn’t read the entire book as about 10 pages didn’t print and were blank.
December 8, 2022
I don’t watch television. I used to when I was younger, but that was over a decade ago. Mallory Ervin is a blond woman from a reality television series I hadn’t heard of called The Amazing Race. She was runner-up in becoming Miss America and did other stuff like getting addicted to Prescription Medications.
Ervin goes to therapy on her family’s recommendation, gets better, and writes a book about it. She does social media work and makes original content. She attributes her success to God. If it works for you, I’m not going to insult you. There are people out there that find comfort in God, but I am not one of them.
I am not the intended audience for this book. The title sounded interesting, and the Dewey Decimal number was in my zone of interest, so I picked it up from the library. I had misgivings when I saw the cover photo, but I decided to soldier on and read it anyway.
I don’t regret reading it, but none of the advice was original. I don’t know what I expected, though. Ervin uses stories and anecdotes to get her point across.
If you are a fan of Ervin, perhaps you will get more out of this book than I did. Maybe my stalwart atheism makes it harder to accept other perspectives. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
Ervin goes to therapy on her family’s recommendation, gets better, and writes a book about it. She does social media work and makes original content. She attributes her success to God. If it works for you, I’m not going to insult you. There are people out there that find comfort in God, but I am not one of them.
I am not the intended audience for this book. The title sounded interesting, and the Dewey Decimal number was in my zone of interest, so I picked it up from the library. I had misgivings when I saw the cover photo, but I decided to soldier on and read it anyway.
I don’t regret reading it, but none of the advice was original. I don’t know what I expected, though. Ervin uses stories and anecdotes to get her point across.
If you are a fan of Ervin, perhaps you will get more out of this book than I did. Maybe my stalwart atheism makes it harder to accept other perspectives. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
January 29, 2023
I bought this book because Julie Chrisley had Mallory on the Chrisley Confessions podcast in February 2022 and recommended it on her podcast. I liked what I heard Mallory speaking about enough to buy it. I quickly got bored reading it though and put it down. I’d pick it back up and put it down again. Determined to finish it almost a year later for my 2023 book challenge, it was very challenging to finish it after I reached the halfway mark. There is some useful information here and there in it but I got tired of reading “I” “I” “I” and felt like I was being forced to talk to someone that just won’t stop talking about themselves. Yes, it’s HER book… I get that although nothing about this book inspired ME to “Live Fully” or dared me to step into a more vibrant life. While reading the book I glanced at her IG account and it all feels ho-hum to me. This book is just about Mallory and her vibrant life. I was genuinely tired of hearing about her talk about herself. I also didn’t buy the book because I felt any certain way about my life… the podcast recommendation got me. I probably should have waited for someone else to read it and suggest it to me instead.
February 11, 2022
An incredibly privileged woman who struggled with an addiction to prescription drugs insists in an ableist manic way that everyone can achieve whatever they truly need and want by putting their faith in God and letting positive thinking and divine cues steer them. The book claims to be for everyone, but it's overtly not.
February 15, 2022
I really hate self help books, and that’s what this felt like. I was excited to hear about struggles Mallory has faced and how it lead to the Instagram perfect life she leads today, but there were only quick references to those hard times. The one chapter about her sister’s loss had me ugly crying, but I wanted more of that story-telling and less “make gratitude lists”.
March 3, 2022
Good stories, advice is meh.
June 21, 2024
❤️❤️ I loved this book for so many reasons. It made me think, cry, touched my heart and just made me examine what is important.
Everyone should add this to their list!
February 11, 2024
I have been a fan of Mallory since 2010 when she & her dad appeared on Amazing Race. Now, a social media influencer & thriving sweatshirt company owner she is a household name.
Living Fully is such an inspiring read for all!
This book is a great reminder that everyone makes mistakes & has obstacles in life. It’s what you do with them that matter.
This is a quick read, so give it a go !!
XO
Living Fully is such an inspiring read for all!
This book is a great reminder that everyone makes mistakes & has obstacles in life. It’s what you do with them that matter.
This is a quick read, so give it a go !!
XO
Read
August 12, 2024going to follow others leads and stop rating autobiographies!
December 30, 2021
The first half of this book was 1.5 stars. The second half was 4 stars. I read the premise for this book and was really intrigued by her story and was looking forward to following along as I knew nothing about her prior to reading. The first 60ish pages seemed to be chapters chopped up into small segments about ways to improve your life and was lacking the really bones about her story and how she came to know these things. The second half provided a lot more of exactly that and by the end I was able to have some solid takeaways such as the “fine life” and the everyday balance analogy about the rubber and glass balls. It also is faith heavy in a few sections, but not an overwhelming book theme.
March 3, 2024
She didn’t have a ghost writer & it shows.
September 1, 2022
Ugh I just love Mallory and her book was absolutely perfect. So many great pieces of advice and inspiration. I learned a lot about Mallory that I didn’t know when I first fell in love with her as a human after watching her infectious and bubbly personality and optimism during the Amazing Race. This is a book I could read again because there are so many good nuggets to pull from for different seasons of life. 5 stars from me!
Read
June 12, 2024I am a fan of the author’s on social media and enjoy her podcast. I thought this would be more of a memoir. The book was very self-help which I don’t care for…the author is a Christian and I thought that would be talked about more than it was. I was able to take away some good and her story is powerful. I just had different expectations than what was reality.
May 22, 2022
I don't know if I am a perfect audience for this book. I love Mallory, and was excited to read her book, but it was a bit more self-help than I typically read. I enjoyed her message and could connect with some parts, but it was not a new favorite.
April 19, 2024
Not really one for self help books but this one had been calling my name for some time so I said, why not. Something changed for me in the past six months and I firmly believe I read this book for a reason. I left the Catholic Church over 10 years ago after losing my brother and our best friend in a tragic accident. I have struggled with my faith, with fear of death and so many other things but as I mentioned something changed. I have felt the pull to get back to my faith and I made a decision to start working on that this year and every day I have been reminded that I am in fact on the right path. This book, listening to Mallory share her struggles, her successes and her faith has been a positive reminder that faith is important. No regrets here, glad I listened to the signs and read this book.
March 28, 2023
Just what I needed at this stage . It is a good uplifting book. About being good to yourself. Living for what you want. Lots is positive messages and a good book to rest my jittery soul.
October 17, 2024
Fun to hear her amazing race stories. This is a self reflection book and many things she talked about resonated with me.
February 9, 2022
Incredible! Thank you for this gift Mallory!
February 13, 2022
I didn’t expect this book to be so good! I made a therapy appointment.
(There was a bit of bragging and name dropping, but not too bad.)
(There was a bit of bragging and name dropping, but not too bad.)
June 6, 2022
2.5 stars
September 1, 2022
Read my full review here: https://www.between-bookends.com/2022...
I am a huge gymnastics fan, and Shawn Johnson is one of my top favorite gymnasts. I follow her YouTube channel which is how I was first introduced to Mallory Ervin, one of her best friends. I looked up Ervin’s podcast Living Fully and really enjoyed the positive and inspiring episodes. When I saw her book was completed after hearing about it through her podcast, I was excited to finally get my hands on it.
Ervin writes a very personal and vulnerable self-help book meant to motivate and spark you to “live fully”. Rather than numbing out or settling for fine, which she describes as the new rock bottom, she encourages you to make the most of the only life you get to live. Her book is split into three parts: The Wake-Up Call, Staying Awake, and Living Fully.
In the first part of the book she discusses her drug addiction to prescription painkillers, as well as her obsession with perfectionism and achievements. She entered treatment but she describes how she had to work at what caused her substance abuse not just the abuse itself. I think this is true for anyone; you have to work at your core issues regardless of what your version of numbing out or addiction may be.
Each chapter has a different message, such as “Living in Legacy Mode”, “Keeping the Faith”, and “Ignoring the Noise”. She ties personal family stories to each theme, so the book is really part memoir and part self-help. Some self-help books may motivate you in the moment but don’t leave you with anything to make actual change. But I took action in my own life before I was even finished reading. I just love Ervin’s positive and relatable messages. I truly feel like she cares about spreading her message. Her book was very genuine and I thought her writing was very impressive and easy to read.
I saved many quotes while reading and rereading them makes me feel hopeful all over again. I was already a fan of Ervin but I would encourage anyone to read her book. What she preaches is far from drastic. She provides simple changes you can make to adjust your attitude and perspective on life. I think everyone should embrace living fully!
Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent Books for an ARC of this book.
I am a huge gymnastics fan, and Shawn Johnson is one of my top favorite gymnasts. I follow her YouTube channel which is how I was first introduced to Mallory Ervin, one of her best friends. I looked up Ervin’s podcast Living Fully and really enjoyed the positive and inspiring episodes. When I saw her book was completed after hearing about it through her podcast, I was excited to finally get my hands on it.
Ervin writes a very personal and vulnerable self-help book meant to motivate and spark you to “live fully”. Rather than numbing out or settling for fine, which she describes as the new rock bottom, she encourages you to make the most of the only life you get to live. Her book is split into three parts: The Wake-Up Call, Staying Awake, and Living Fully.
In the first part of the book she discusses her drug addiction to prescription painkillers, as well as her obsession with perfectionism and achievements. She entered treatment but she describes how she had to work at what caused her substance abuse not just the abuse itself. I think this is true for anyone; you have to work at your core issues regardless of what your version of numbing out or addiction may be.
Each chapter has a different message, such as “Living in Legacy Mode”, “Keeping the Faith”, and “Ignoring the Noise”. She ties personal family stories to each theme, so the book is really part memoir and part self-help. Some self-help books may motivate you in the moment but don’t leave you with anything to make actual change. But I took action in my own life before I was even finished reading. I just love Ervin’s positive and relatable messages. I truly feel like she cares about spreading her message. Her book was very genuine and I thought her writing was very impressive and easy to read.
I saved many quotes while reading and rereading them makes me feel hopeful all over again. I was already a fan of Ervin but I would encourage anyone to read her book. What she preaches is far from drastic. She provides simple changes you can make to adjust your attitude and perspective on life. I think everyone should embrace living fully!
Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent Books for an ARC of this book.
November 29, 2021
Do you ever think that sometimes books find you at exactly the right time and season of your life? I do, and I think that’s exactly what Mallory’s book, Living Fully, did.
I’ve loved Mallory ever since seeing her on The Amazing Race. I’ve since come to love following her and her family on Instagram.
This season of life has been one big test after another. It’s come with feelings of anxiousness, not being enough, fear of failure, you name it and I’ve probably felt it. I am proud to say though that I’m taking steps to do what I can to help with my mental health, but it’s not always easy and can take a lot of work. I’m also very thankful for the support I have from family.
But that’s exactly why this book came at just the right time. Mallory talks about her life and how she struggled with the need to always be the best, the pressure she put on herself, and a lot of the similar things I felt. What makes this so much better than someone just telling their story, is that she tells her story and how she’s shifted her thoughts, actions, and perspective. She now lives everyday as fully as possible because she is able to find the joy within, and shows you that you don’t have to have a million followers or the perfect life to do so yourself.
I love when Mallory calls something a hero piece, when her husband Kyle makes the funniest jokes, how she makes a recipe out of what literally seems like nothing, how her life she shares is just that the life they’ve created for themselves, not for the people they show it to on social media.
Thank you so so much to Netgalley and Convergent Books for the ARC!
I’ve loved Mallory ever since seeing her on The Amazing Race. I’ve since come to love following her and her family on Instagram.
This season of life has been one big test after another. It’s come with feelings of anxiousness, not being enough, fear of failure, you name it and I’ve probably felt it. I am proud to say though that I’m taking steps to do what I can to help with my mental health, but it’s not always easy and can take a lot of work. I’m also very thankful for the support I have from family.
But that’s exactly why this book came at just the right time. Mallory talks about her life and how she struggled with the need to always be the best, the pressure she put on herself, and a lot of the similar things I felt. What makes this so much better than someone just telling their story, is that she tells her story and how she’s shifted her thoughts, actions, and perspective. She now lives everyday as fully as possible because she is able to find the joy within, and shows you that you don’t have to have a million followers or the perfect life to do so yourself.
I love when Mallory calls something a hero piece, when her husband Kyle makes the funniest jokes, how she makes a recipe out of what literally seems like nothing, how her life she shares is just that the life they’ve created for themselves, not for the people they show it to on social media.
Thank you so so much to Netgalley and Convergent Books for the ARC!
March 25, 2022
I wanted desperately to love this book- I loved Mallory on her two Amazing Race appearances (yes I know she did a third but that was a different can of worms) and have followed her on Instagram for a number of years.
I tried hard- and there are some powerful chapters- but it falls short
Mallory writes a lot about dreaming big, living fully, you can create your own legacy. This is fluff words, coming from a place of privilege. Mallory comes from a family/background of some degree of wealth (as you need money to enter pageants, you need money for therapy and rehab), which makes it much easier for her to achieve her dreams and goals. She is oblivious to the fact that people with limited financial option cannot just move to an ocean community to study to become a marine biologist because that is their dream.
I'm a Christian and certainly see the value and importance of faith in life, but the 'as long as you have God you're alright" narrative is superficial at best. It's easy to rely on God when you don't have far to fall- even with her addiction, her struggles, she knew she would fall back to the security of her family and the wealth protection it provides her. While money isn't everything, I get that, it does make struggles in life significantly easier (i.e. if wealthy person has an addiction they can afford rehab, therapy, ongoing treatment, which leads to their recovery).
It's a self-help book written from a place of privilege, which leads to a very surface read, that ultimately takes away from depth of some chapters where the story is raw.
I tried hard- and there are some powerful chapters- but it falls short
Mallory writes a lot about dreaming big, living fully, you can create your own legacy. This is fluff words, coming from a place of privilege. Mallory comes from a family/background of some degree of wealth (as you need money to enter pageants, you need money for therapy and rehab), which makes it much easier for her to achieve her dreams and goals. She is oblivious to the fact that people with limited financial option cannot just move to an ocean community to study to become a marine biologist because that is their dream.
I'm a Christian and certainly see the value and importance of faith in life, but the 'as long as you have God you're alright" narrative is superficial at best. It's easy to rely on God when you don't have far to fall- even with her addiction, her struggles, she knew she would fall back to the security of her family and the wealth protection it provides her. While money isn't everything, I get that, it does make struggles in life significantly easier (i.e. if wealthy person has an addiction they can afford rehab, therapy, ongoing treatment, which leads to their recovery).
It's a self-help book written from a place of privilege, which leads to a very surface read, that ultimately takes away from depth of some chapters where the story is raw.
January 14, 2022
Mallory Ervin brings us into her life in Living Fully, her debut nonfiction book. Ervin starts with anecdotal tales from her life that swirl into her lowest lows in rehab. Throughout the book, she recounts the lessons she's learned along her way in life and how we as the reader can apply it to our own lives.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Living Fully isn't the book I was expecting. I have been following Mallory for several years; I was expecting a lifestyle book, not a self-help book. Mallory creates the life, and the content comes from the life. The book I was expecting was about building a full life and making things memorable for my family and those around me.
I struggled to rate this book because the later chapters had me in tears. Mascara all over my face, Mallory is a masterful storyteller. Ultimately I went with a 3-star rating because I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone not already following Mallory. I don't think they would make it through the book's first half to get to the good stuff.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Living Fully isn't the book I was expecting. I have been following Mallory for several years; I was expecting a lifestyle book, not a self-help book. Mallory creates the life, and the content comes from the life. The book I was expecting was about building a full life and making things memorable for my family and those around me.
I struggled to rate this book because the later chapters had me in tears. Mascara all over my face, Mallory is a masterful storyteller. Ultimately I went with a 3-star rating because I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone not already following Mallory. I don't think they would make it through the book's first half to get to the good stuff.
January 12, 2024
This is such nonsense and clearly ghost written. Mallory makes all these claims about being a previous drug addict because she claims to have abused adderall. But her book is all this fluff about her “trials” and how she’s remained positive through it all and is “living fully” but it’s just word salad.
Mallory Ervin is a trust fund baby. Her writing is so narcissistic it hurts to read. She’s never worked a day in her life on anything but shopping and stealing other people’s ideas and being an influencer… claiming to be “obsessed” with everything and shilling out money for Gucci anything and everything. I think she thought this book would be motivational? But what motivation is there for overcoming her first world problems that are not real. Skip this one.
Mallory Ervin is a trust fund baby. Her writing is so narcissistic it hurts to read. She’s never worked a day in her life on anything but shopping and stealing other people’s ideas and being an influencer… claiming to be “obsessed” with everything and shilling out money for Gucci anything and everything. I think she thought this book would be motivational? But what motivation is there for overcoming her first world problems that are not real. Skip this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews