Stories of a DIY Life Gone Wrong . . . and Learning to Find the Beauty in Every Imperfection

I enjoyed reading this book the first time, the second time, and am now in the third reading. The first time is mostly oohing and aahing at the beautiful pages and the superb writing form. Then you have to start over, and really take in the true lessons KariAnne shares about living life and learning about life with God. I'm waiting to finish the third reading till I get my eager fingers on the hard cover book. Thanks, KariAnne, Tyndale, and all involved for giving the world a lovely book.

I've been following KariAnne Wood, blogger of Thistlewood Farms, for years. I was so excited when I heard she was releasing a new book so of course I had to read it! This book is for every woman. I plan on ordering a bunch to give away for Christmas gifts. I resonated with every chapter LOL. There are life lessons and amazing DIY projects throughout the entire book. learned that I don't have to be perfect at everything and I'm going to mess up. God's timing is always right on time!

This is such an inspirational book. It is the kind of book that you can't put down and will want to read it from cover to cover in one sitting. KariAnne writes like she is in the room with you just chatting away. And in her sweet way, she will give you a life lesson and you will want to be a better person. Oh, and at the end of each chapter, there is a tutorial of some of the projects in her home. Now that is very special.

This book will not only change your perspective but it will change your life -- you will forgive yourself more, you will laugh more, you will likely even cry a little more. The message that KariAnne delivers is the message that women need to know and believe -- we are amazing just as we are, even when we feel we are only close to amazing. God truly speaks through this book... one you will pick up and read over and over again.

KariAnne is a master story teller with a bubbly personality that will make you laugh and feel like you're sitting right beside her on her sofa in this book.This book is an excellent addition to anyone wanting a light-hearted and fun read about decorating and trusting God to lead your path.

Reading this book is like sitting with your best friend on the porch swing with a glass of iced tea and sharing life experiences. KariAnne Wood is not only a great blogger, DIY Diva, but a gifted storyteller with an amazing perspective on faith, family and life! Great read!

A thoroughly enjoyable read, So Close to Amazing is like sitting down with a really good cup of coffee for a chat with your BFF. Filled with funny anecdotes, touching stories, and doable DIYs, the book is easy to pick up and hard to put down. Anyone who liked The Magnolia Story is going to love So Close to Amazing!

KariAnne is a wonderful writer and you feel like you are sitting with her having coffee as she so openly and honestly tells you about her life experiences. Her honesty is very refreshing and additive. She warmly invites you to join in celebrating how beautifully and uniquely God has created each and everyone of us.

I love this book! Karianne is honest, real and relatable and her words will make you think about the leaps of faith you've made in your own life and inspire you to reach for your own goals, whether it's relocating, chasing a dream, starting a business or the courage to do a DIY project!

Karianne is a compelling author who has detailed her life in hilarious detail. The book is insightful, compelling, amusing and encouraging. You'll love all the stories. It is so relate-able. Go get your copy.

KariAnne's sweet and spunky personality shines through the pages of this memoir. Her humble, yet funny life stories are endearing to decorators, DIYer's and everyone who is a home-creator and loves a good project. Good Read!

KariAnne writes an endearing message, using real-life experiences and charm and wit.

This book will have you smiling from cover to cover............great gift idea for that someone who has everything!

Come sit by me, KariAnne constantly tempts. A bubbly Miss Sunshine with a heart of humble faith. With purple painted toenails. With blond curls bouncing. And with red lipstick marks left on her sweet tea glass.

Grab your own cup of whatever, sit down with KariAnne, and breath in her engaging stories of so-close-to-amazing. One part memoir, one part DIY, and a whole chunk of uplifting chapters fill this inspiring book with life lessons.

You’ll laugh out loud at her mishaps, you’ll shed a tear over her stories, and you’ll shake your head in agreement with every chapter and every sentence. No life is perfect and obstacles sometimes litter our journey, but KariAnne will let you know you are not alone in your so-close-to-amazing life struggles.

And in the end, no, right from the beginning, she will convince you to believe in yourself and that you are an amazing person. You’ll want to be KariAnne’s best friend. This is an amazing book. Don’t miss it!

If there was an award for “sweetest heart in all of blogland,” my friend KariAnne would win hands down. The pages of her book are filled with encouraging words, incredible storytelling, and her obvious enthusiasm for life. In So Close to Amazing, KariAnne perfectly weaves together her bubbly personality, huge heart, love for DIY, and hilarious stories!

While reading So Close to Amazing, I found myself staying up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it while I was on vacation because I just couldn’t put it down. (And I think my fits laughter over her hilarious stories may have woken up my family a few times in the process...oops!) It was such an encouragement to me and touched my heart in so many ways. Thank you, KariAnne, for your inspiring book!!

This book is such an uplifting and sweet reminder that we aren't all perfect but we can find our amazing even in our imperfections. The stories are honest and real and made me feel less alone in this world where we hear/see supposed perfection in media and online. Life is messy and we're going to do embarrassing things or have to make hard decisions, and KariAnne's book was such a refreshing reminder for me to just keep it real and embrace the things I'm good at, appreciate others for what they're good at, and to just enjoy the ups and downs of life. I love the DIY projects too! Such a great little addition to an already amazing book. KariAnne's personality shines through and I loved reading her story.

This was such an enjoyable read. You will not be able to put it down! It is full of life and laughter. And a little bit of the imperfect! But that is what makes it so amazing - not so close - but truly amazing. KariAnne is such an inspiring writer, like having your best friend across the table from you and you are sharing a cup of coffee. She spills her heart out to us in the most humorous way and teaches us a few life lessons in the process. And she is the best cheerleader of life anyone could want. As a bonus the book has a DIY tutorial at the end of each chapter so we can all be amazing and make our own projects, just like KariAnne.

KariAnne Wood shares her uplifting, honest, and hilarious stories of her family's move from Texas to Kentucky. Tales of meeting new friends, finding her place in a new community, and of course, the renovation of her gorgeous farmhouse are shared, while lessons are learned. This book is a celebration of individualism, faith, and finding beauty in imperfection. KariAnne is so genuine and relatable that reading this book is like spending time with an old friend. It just feels good. So Close to Amazing is absolutely amazing!

So close to AMAZING indeed ! Karianne's book IS amazing. Amazingly funny, amazingly touching, amazingly human and amazingly hopeful. I laughed & thought and laughed some more with each turn of the page. I heartfelt book written by a truly amazing person. Get yourself & a friend a copy!