“A distinctive voice delivers an entertaining and insightful look at family and mental health.”
SOMETIMES NOTHING IS MORE UNEXPECTED THAN JOY.
What happens when a marketing executive leaves San Francisco to care for her dying mother on their family farm in Ohio? A Hallmark heroine would fall in love with her high school sweetheart during a snow-storm — but this is no Hallmark movie. Sarah Gormley spent most of her life trying to outrun the persistent self-loathing that plagued her from childhood, convinced that self-worth was something she had to earn by doing rather than being. When she returned to Salt Creek Farm at age forty-five, Gormley had no idea that detaching from the success she believed defined her, untangling the complicated relationship with her mother, and continuing the hard work of therapy would lead to a wildly transformed life.
Told with exceptional candor and humor, The Order of Things is a story about how one woman learned to let go of the patterns of her past to create a future she never imagined.
“Lots of books tell us what to do to change our lives, but very few actually show us what real change looks like. This book will make you laugh and cry at the same time, and you’ll be astounded by Gormley’s ability to write so beautifully about the messiness of life. Easy to read and impossible to put down, The Order of Things should be on your must-read list.”
“I’ve been waiting for this book since I heard Sarah speak at DePauw University in 2019, where I instantly fell in love with her as she described leaving her high powered job to care for her mother. Now, through her generous, beautiful book, I feel like she’s my best friend. The Order of Things is tender and sassy and real, like Sarah herself. I didn’t want this book to end, so I just might read it again and again!”
“In her poignant yet humor-laden debut, Gormley invites readers on an introspective journey through the tangled pathways of womanhood. With unflinching honesty and a generous sprinkle of wit, Gormley tackles the universal question that echoes in the minds of women everywhere: How did my life turn out this way?”
“Sarah Gormley’s debut memoir is much more than the story of one woman who confronted her unhappiness and marched toward a better life. It is also a beautifully written testament to doing the hard work of changing your circumstances and opening your heart to a more meaningful life filled with hope and love. This story will resonate with any woman who has spent time chasing gold stars only to end up exhausted, lonely, and unfulfilled. Gormley’s a towering talent and a writer to watch!”
“In The Order of Things, Sarah Gormley invites us into the depths of her life experiences, from the triumphs of her career to the shadows of self-doubt, and ultimately to powerful transformation. With honesty and humor, she offers profound insights into the process of self discovery and the beautiful complexity of. real change. Gormley’s story is truly one about self hope and the endless possibilities that come with embracing one’s true self.”
“When you know a person well, you can be in touch with their inner essence, their inner core—the most essential part of them. Sarah has a golden core.”
