My Own Magic - by Anna Kloots (Hardcover)

I don’t often write reviews but wanted to after seeing so many reviews that seems like they are likely written by her ex who’s bitter about her sharing her story. Oh the jealous trolls who are clearly so unhappy with their life. I was married to a narcissist who led me through a very traumatic marriage, divorce and now coparenting relationship and I’ve related to this book so much. It’s helpful to have my feelings and experiences put into her words. People always ask, wonder why people stay in abusive relationships, and these reviews are a big reason. The fear of being or being seen as ungrateful, selfish, whiny, of overreacting, etc. My ex used those fears to manipulate me into accepting his abusive behavior & guilt me for doing anything for myself. The simplest act of care was selfish and that mindset has taken a lot of therapy to undo. The put your mask on before you help put on your kid’s concept. Also the idea that having any sort of privilege means you aren’t allowed to struggle, hurt or be depressed or anxious is incredibly damaging. Those takes on life are unempathetic, lacking in humanity and are aimed to bring others down. Where the author seems like genuinely the opposite. A glad half full type who did sacrifice her own happiness to bring others up (which is a big focus of the book, recognizing that we have a right to be happy too and an obligation to ourself to pursue it, to stay true to ourselves and to say no to things that stand in our way or don’t align) I relate to her and her story and recognize so much of myself, my experience in her/hers and appreciate her sharing. If you haven’t been through a traumatic relationship experience and/or been raised in a super religious home which can fixate on selflessness to the point of martyrdom you may not relate to or get this book. And for that I’m so happy for you.

This book was shockingly amateurish. How did she get published??? It’s the story of a spoiled brat with zero self awareness being shocked that her husband divorced her because she was a self centered, vapid, whiner.

If you are interested in the story of an absolute narcissist who can’t write and thinks the world revolves around her, then this is for you. It’s SO bad, in terms of writing and story telling, but also just a gross read - it reeks of woe is me privilege and someone who thinks she is owed everything in the world and is delusional about what reality looks like.

I am so sorry for the waste of paper and time. The writing was poor, the plot was nonexistent, and the characters were unlikable. I couldn't connect with Anna at all, and I found her journey to be both boring and predictable. The book was also full of clichés and platitudes. It felt like Anna was just trying to check off all the boxes of what a "self-help" book should be. I would not recommend this book to anyone. It's a waste of time and money.

I have never read a worse book. Poorly written, don't even bother to think about buying it.

The tone of this book reads like a schoolgirl diary. Anna is not what I would call a writer. Nobody knew who this girl or her sister were until they made money and became “influencers” in the wake of Covid and her husbands death. They seem kind of like grifters. I used to follow her on Instagram, but got tired of the constant pics of herself and her “fairytale” life. Can’t figure out how she pays for that life. This book is written by a girl who has had nothing but privilege and been given a lot! Millions of women have gotten divorced and had to start over… get a job, struggle without anyone’s help to make their own magic🙄

This book was one long complaint, without any accountability for Kloots' own choices and actions. I applaud anyone who wants to become a writer, but one cannot simply call themself a writer - a lot more work is involved. This book was definitely one I judged by the cover, which to me was the best part. Save your time and money and skip this one.

When looking to purchase this book I stumbled upon the bad reviews here and was taken aback. I’ve followed Anna on social media for a few years now and was looking forward to her memoir so I wasn’t sure what I might be getting in to w with this book. However, I really enjoyed it. Is it the best writing in the world? Probably not, but my interest never swayed. Did Anna have several privileges and could have acknowledged them better? Probably. But, I still give it 4 stars and look forward to reading her next book. Her post college years and marriage were very different from a “normal” experience - and I think that’s why it was interesting to read! (Example: She and her husband never had a true home of their own due to her husband’s career which required intensive travel.) I enjoyed seeing her open up about struggles behind what seemed like the perfect life presented on social media, and the candidness of what led to her marriage ending. As unique as it was, I think Anna’s story could be helpful to other women (especially from Christian backgrounds or who marry young) realizing that the person they married is ill-suited for them, and/or they’ve built up a majority of their identity around another person and are trying to navigate back to their own dreams. Anna is still one of my favorite “content creators” to follow, largely because she seems more genuine (never uses filters, shares free travel guides, posts what brings her joy even if it’s too cheesy for many, etc.) It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but that’s okay - she shouldn’t be. I still recommend this book and checking out her social media to see her happy ending and life in Paris. (Also, the apartment mentioned in another comment belonged to his stepdad that they used while in NY - according to Anna, she only stayed in it, reluctantly, post divorce for a few months prior toward her already planned move to France because that was easier than her husband assisting paying for her rent short-term elsewhere, which he had offered originally since he ended the marriage and wanted to help her be on her own…likely since she worked for him as well. Not sure why that was criticized, but I would get my own lawyer too to be safe in any divorce however amicable, especially if my husband controlled so many aspects of our married life. On another note, I never realized who her brother-in-law was until months after following Anna. He’s mentioned in the book, but it’s not a main theme or anything advertised or capitalized on.)

I loved this entire book. While this is a story about a woman going through a divorce, it is more about a metamorphosis of a person who finds herself and follows her passion. I found this book to be very inspiring.

This is privilege at its absolute worst here, especially since after reading several other reviews it seems like this “writer” only got her book published due to some piggy-backing off a family members death. I felt like I was reading entries from a bratty and entitled middle school girls diary. Enough with the author and her sister capitalizing off of a tragic death. I returned the book.

Save your money. Unbelievable to me how it got published. None of it makes sense. Okay, a marriage ended. While I don't doubt that is painful, there were no children, no custody battle. She wasn't homeless. Her parents paid for a lawyer who told her ex to move out of his apartment in order for her stay there until she found a place to live. Instead of looking for her own apartment she travelled with friends who provided million dollar getaway vacations. But, even putting aside the vapid content, (!) the narrative is difficult to follow. She jumps all over the place--not just chronologically but also emotionally. One chapter ends with uncontrollable tearful sobs while the next begins with patronizing attempts at humorous observations and judgments about the people she observes. My favorite line was when she attempts dating again: "I felt like I was used goods." Really? You're 30. You married a guy you met when you were 19. "Used goods" sounds like something a movie magazine or my great grandmother would spew out in the 1940s.

The book is a waste of time, money, and paper. This relentlessly positive Instagram product-pusher (aka influencer) has no talent as a writer. Editors can only do so much with awful material, but how it got approval for publication in the first place we can only guess came through her privileged connections. Clearly it was aimed at middle-America white women who love reading about their Instagram crushes (who also are cautioned to save their time and money), but even they will find it impossible to relate to. This book is not just poorly conceived and uncompelling, but the themes are as hackneyed as bologna on white. Disney princess positivity and glitter are not what many women need to "get over" a short, mis-matched first marriage, and on with life. The author, a grown woman, returned for a good cry to the security blanket of her parents' home - that much is relatable, if tediously predictable. Then the book gets into her playing tourist for an extended time in a large apartment in an expensive section of Paris. How did she afford all that without any steady income (much less on a tourist visa that prohibits her from working from France)? The book never says, but the author implies that manifesting a glittering magic wand made it happen. Instead of trying to learn to write better than her girlish middle school style, Princess Anna and her magic assistant, the charming Swan Prince, should consider careers as tour guides at Disney. The uninspired anecdotes, and bratty, entitled tone, make this disappointing book worthy of the discard bin.

it's just not very well written, and Anna writes from a place of deep privilage that is hard to relate to. I just found myself not invested and honestly a bit turned off by the tone.