Monday, February 20, 2017

Book Review { The Magnolia Story }


Synopsis: Are you ready to see your fixer upper?

These famous words are now synonymous with the dynamic husband-and-wife team Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. As this question fills the airwaves with anticipation, their legions of fans continue to multiply and ask a different series of questions, like—Who are these people?What’s the secret to their success? And is Chip actually that funny in real life? By renovating homes in Waco, Texas, and changing lives in such a winsome and engaging way, Chip and Joanna have become more than just the stars of Fixer Upper, they have become America’s new best friends.

The Magnolia Story is the first book from Chip and Joanna, offering their fans a detailed look at their life together. From the very first renovation project they ever tackled together, to the project that nearly cost them everything; from the childhood memories that shaped them, to the twists and turns that led them to the life they share on the farm today.

They both attended Baylor University in Waco. However, their paths did not cross until Chip checked his car into the local Firestone tire shop where Joanna worked behind the counter. Even back then Chip was a serial entrepreneur who, among other things, ran a lawn care company, sold fireworks, and flipped houses. Soon they were married and living in their first fixer upper. Four children and countless renovations later, Joanna garners the attention of a television producer who notices her work on a blog one day.

In The Magnolia Story fans will finally get to join the Gaines behind the scenes and discover:

The time Chip ran to the grocery store and forgot to take their new, sleeping baby

Joanna’s agonizing decision to close her dream business to focus on raising their children

When Chip buys a houseboat, sight-unseen, and it turns out to be a leaky wreck

Joanna’s breakthrough moment of discovering the secret to creating a beautiful home

Harrowing stories of the financial ups and downs as an entrepreneurial couple

Memories and photos from Chip and Jo’s wedding

The significance of the word magnolia and why it permeates everything they do

The way the couple pays the popularity of Fixer Upper forward, sharing the success with others, and bolstering the city of Waco along the way

And yet there is still one lingering question for fans of the show: Is Chip really that funny? “Oh yeah,” says Joanna. “He was, and still is, my first fixer upper.”

My thoughts: I knew before I even opened this book I was going to love it! I love their show, Fixer Upper, so to read a book written by them about their story I just knew I was going to love it. This was my first biography/memoir that I had read in a long time and it was the perfect one to start with. I really want to read some other biographies of people I really have an interest in.

I really loved how open they were when telling their story; they told stories of the first few weeks as being parents and the mistakes they made while learning how to be a parent and financial mistakes they made when opening their businesses. It was really encouraging hearing their story because it really gives you an open mind that if you really have a dream and have faith in something if you just put in a little hard work you can achieve any dream you set your heart to. 

I already knew how much Chip and Joanna Gaines cared for each other and what an awesome couple they were, but hearing the story and how they bring out the best in each other really shows how their show is so successful!



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1 comment :

Chesson | Magnolia+Main said...

This was such a good book - I loved it, too! I hope they write a second one because I'm sure there's more stories to tell from all of their adventures.