Another 5 Star Review! This one is from a professional book reviewer. She heard my Speak Up Talk Radio interview and thought my topic and book were interesting and important. I felt honored when she asked if she could read and review my book.

Stepping into a New Role, Stories from Stepmoms, by Shawn Simon

5 stars

Jena C. Henry, August 2020

What’s it like to be a stepmom? Is it like The Brady Bunch? Author Shawn Simon lets women who have become stepmothers share their lives in their own words. Ms. Simon also tells her own stories. The women are open and direct, and speak of hope and love, but they also tell stories of pain and mistakes. 

I like that each chapter in the book focuses on a specific subject such as “The Joy of the Holidays”, “Do I Really Matter?”, “Jealousy” and “Feeling Like a Proud Mom”. My favorite chapter is by stepmothers who experience their stepchildren becoming parents. These women are loving their roles as “step grandmothers”!

I thought it was important to include “The Ten Stepmom Truths”. These were developed by the author and her friends. I like some of the truths better than others, but I appreciate that they are pointing the way for women who have a hard role.

Most women in the book married men who were divorced, not widowed. Some of the families became “blended”, either the women had children already, or they gave birth after they married, and some did not have children besides their stepchildren. Each woman was brave as she took on the role of stepmother. All of these women faced problems and praises. I am saddened by their pain and encouraged by seeing them love their families the best that they can. 

This is an important and much-needed book and Author Simon is to be commended for collecting these stories of real women and real families and for presenting them with heart. 

Thank you to the author for a review copy. This is my honest review.