Every journey, every story is uniquely yours - the power of sharing your story

"Success is not a destination, it is a journey. It is not measured by external achievements, but by the growth and evolution of your soul. It is not something that can be given to you, but something that you must earn through hard work, dedication, and self-discovery." 

If you're a woman in your early 30s who's on a journey of self-discovery and healing, "The Mountain is You" by Brianna Wiest is a book you'll love. It's a self-help book that helped me own my journey and achieve personal growth.

What I loved about this book is that it encourages readers to take ownership of themselves and their journey. Wiest emphasizes that we have the power to overcome our challenges and obstacles by cultivating self-awareness, self-worth, and self-love. The book is filled with inspirational stories and practical exercises that helped me embrace my unique strengths and talents, and use them to create a fulfilling and meaningful life.

I found "The Mountain is You" particularly valuable because it recognizes that our journey is our own, and that we are the only ones who can truly own it. By accepting responsibility for our thoughts, emotions, and actions, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our potential.

Overall, I highly recommend "The Mountain is You" to anyone who's seeking to own their journey and become their best self. It's a compassionate and empowering book that can help you cultivate resilience, self-awareness, and self-love, and achieve your goals on your own terms. 

Review by a fellow Millings Own members - Sandra Ellis based in London

I didn’t even plan to buy I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee. Honestly, I literally bumped into it. I was wandering around a bookstore one random Saturday—feeling lost, a little down, and questioning life—when I walked straight into a pile of books. It fell to the floor, and as I bent down to pick it up, I saw the title and thought, "Well, that’s a mood if I ever saw one."

How could I not buy it after that?

The title alone made me feel less alone. I mean, I want to die, but also, food sounds nice. Same, right? So, I started reading it that afternoon, and wow, it was like Baek Sehee had been reading my mind. She writes about her sessions with her therapist, her feelings of being detached from life, and just that general, What am I even doing here? feeling that so many of us know all too well. It felt like she was putting into words all the stuff I’ve felt but never really knew how to say.

There were so many moments where I’d be reading and suddenly go, "Oh my god, yes! That’s exactly how I feel!" It’s weirdly comforting when someone else is out there feeling the same kind of stuck, even if it’s someone you’ve never met. It made me realize that I wasn’t as alone as I thought—and maybe, just maybe, it’s okay to not have all the answers.

Baek doesn’t sugarcoat anything, which I appreciated. She’s real about her depression, and reading her conversations with her therapist made me think, Maybe I should try therapy too. It was like a quiet nudge to start taking my own mental health more seriously. It wasn’t preachy or full of “self-help” advice—it was more like, “Hey, we’re all trying to figure this out, and it’s okay if we need a little help along the way.”

Honestly, this book found me at the right time. Sometimes when you’re feeling lost, life (or the universe, or fate, or whatever you believe in) sends you these little signs—like literally knocking a book into your path. I’m so grateful I picked it up that day. It reminded me that even when things feel heavy, I’m not alone, and there’s always space for a good snack (and a little self-care).

Read and loved by Saffy Mills

I first picked up Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman during a big transition in my life. I had just uprooted everything—my home, my friends, my comfort zone—for a new work opportunity in a new town. It was a pretty scary time. I remember coming home from work, feeling uncertain and out of place, and turning to this book for some much-needed comfort. It was like having a companion when I felt most alone.

What struck me about Eleanor Oliphant is how it dives so deeply into the effects of trauma, isolation, and the ways we cope. Eleanor, the protagonist, is quirky, socially awkward, and completely out of touch with what others consider "normal." But as the story unfolds, you realize she’s not just a bit odd—she’s someone who’s been through serious trauma and is carrying the weight of that every day. The way Gail Honeyman writes Eleanor’s journey felt so real to me—how sometimes, we’re just trying to get through each day, and healing doesn’t come all at once.

I especially loved how the book balances the darker aspects of Eleanor’s life with moments of humor and lightness. There were times when I found myself laughing out loud, even when just pages before, I was tearing up. The emotional range is what makes this story so special. It doesn’t rush Eleanor’s growth—it lets her be complicated, messy, and misunderstood, which felt incredibly relatable, especially during my own time of upheaval.

Over the years, Eleanor Oliphant has become a bit of a safety blanket for me. I still listen to the audiobook when I’m feeling anxious or overwhelmed, like having an old friend to talk to, even if it's just the steady, comforting presence of Eleanor's voice. It’s not just the story that’s comforting—it’s knowing that someone else, fictional as she may be, is also taking it one day at a time, working through her trauma in the way that makes sense for her.

This book is more than just a great read—it’s been a companion in my life for the last 10 years. It reminds me that we all have our struggles, and even when we feel like we’re not “normal” or like we’re somehow on the outside looking in, there’s still hope, laughter, and connection to be found. If you're going through a tough time, or even if you're not, I hope this book can offer you the same sense of comfort and connection it’s given me.

My 10 year companion

Saffy Mills