Thebest-sellingauthorofNeverUnfriendedopensupaboutmidlifeandwhatitfeelsliketohaveoutgrownthoseteenagejeans--butfinallygrownintotheshapeofoursouls.

"IwanttogiveLisa-Jo'sbookastandingovation."--AartiSequeira,chefandTVpersonalityDoyoueverwonderhowyouwokeuponedaywithalltheresponsibilitiesofagrown-upwhosecretlyenjoysbuyinggroceriesinbulk,cannolongerrecognizethetweencelebritiesonthemagazinesatcheckout,butisstillsurprisedwhenaStarbucksbaristacallsyou"ma'am"--becauseyourinsideselfisfrozenintimetoabouttwentyyearsago?SodoesLisa-JoBaker.Intheseintimatereflectionsonmidlife,Lisa-Joinvitesustogetagoodlookatourmiddlesandgivesuspermissiontoembracethem--beyondwhatthemedia,themirror,orthemagazinessay.Throughgutsy,beautifulstorytelling,sheadmitsoutloudwhatmostofusarethinkingaboutmarriage,parenting,thebathroomscale,andhowbadlyweallwanttobuythosematchingMagnoliaMarketmugs.Herdeliciousstoriescomefromnotbeingafraidofwhosheis,becauseLisa-Joknowsthatthemiddlemightbethebestpartofthelovestoryoflife,kids,faith,doubt,marriage,failure,wonder,andthemuffintop--andthattheseareallgoodthings.She'snotaskingyoutoseizetheday,justtomakesureyouactuallyseeitforallitswildlyordinaryglory.WelcometothemiddlePraiseforTheMiddleMatters"Whatathought-provokingcollectionofreflectionsandwisdomThroughpersonalstoriesaboutlove,loss,andlifeinthemiddle,Lisa-Joinvitesustotakealonglookinsideourownmind'ssecretnooksandcrannies,whicharen'tnearlyasdark,scary,orordinaryaswemightthink."--LaylaPalmer,TheLetteredCottageblog"Withcaptivatingwit,hard-wonwisdom,andbreathtakinghonesty,Lisa-Johaswrittenalovelettertothedeliciousmiddle."--MandyArioto,presidentandCEOofMOPSInternationalandauthorofHaveMoreFun"WithLisa-Jo'sgutsasourunfetteredguide,maywefinallylearnthesumptuoustruthofouryears:thatagrilledcheesesandwichwithoutthemiddleisjusttoast."--ErinLoechner,founderofOtherGooseandauthorofChasingSlow"Thankyou,Lisa-Jo,forremindingwomeneverywherehowimportantitistofindmeaninginthemidstoftheconfusingmiddle."--JoyProuty,artistandeducator