In the Bookcase

7/13/2017

Book Review: The Magnolia Story

The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna Gaines (5 star review)


The Magnolia Story

written by Chip & Joanna Gaines

208 pages // published in 2016 // non-fiction biography, Christian interest




BOOK DESCRIPTION

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 Review


5 Star Rating


I looove this book. I just finished it, but I'm about ready to start over from the beginning and read it through again.

Chip and Joanna Gaines, now featured on a highly popular HGTV show, didn't start out with having everything. For starters, they had to find each other, and then everything else just sort of popped into place at just the right time. Now they run multiple businesses and are crazy successful in pretty much everything they try their collective four hands at.

“It was all trial and error and figuring things out. And sometimes you've got to try something outside of your comfort zone to figure out what it is that you truly love.”

After reading this book, I came to realize (even more so than I previously knew) how down-to-earth this couple is. They are fun, quirky (especially Chip, if you know what I mean), and together they are a beautifully talented couple who knows how to make a godly marriage work. They love their family, and strive to put family at the top of everything in the world, no matter where things like wealth and fame might take them. Plus, they have an incredible work ethic. This book showed me beyond a doubt, that Chip and Joanna could tackle anything they wanted to, and somehow, someway, they will get the job done, even if it requires a miracle to be involved in the solution. Seriously, they share about some amazing moments in their life and business together, where it could only have been God. Which bring me to another point I'd like to bring across. What I really love from this book is how the Gaines put God in every project, every decision, each new chapter of their life. They truly offer their thanks to Him. Just watch as the blessings and surprises along the way unfold.

Can you believe that how insanely beautiful that Joanna decorates their fixer-upper houses, that she never even thought about decorating until after she met Chip? That she never went to school for it? That her whole design concept is just life-inspired? And how she turns those houses in breathtakingly beautifully dream homes, I'll never wrap my head around.

“If all I'm doing is creating beautiful spaces, I'm failing. But if I'm creating beautiful spaces where families are thriving, then I'm really doing something.”

I have to say, my favorite part includes Chip Gaines being thrown in jail. I mean, it is one of the most hilarious stories you'll ever hear!

For a biography, this sure is an entertaining read. If this book doesn't touch your heart, I don't know what will. It's one of the most inspirational books I've read in a long time. I can't wait to visit The Silos for myself someday.



Available on Amazon in hardcover, e-book, and audio format.

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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous7/15/2017

    Oh, the Gaines are such a cute couple! I really want to read their book now!

    -Marissa H.

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  2. I read this earlier this year. Wonderful book about a wonderful couple!

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  3. sounds cute

    ReplyDelete