I Miss You When I Blink

Essays

By: Mary Laura Philpott

Narrated by: Mary Laura Philpott

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A charmingly relatable and wise memoir-in-essays by acclaimed writer and bookseller Mary Laura Philpott, “the modern day reincarnation of…Nora Ephron, Erma Bombeck, Jean Kerr, and Laurie Colwin—all rolled into one” (The Washington Post), about what happened after she checked off all the boxes on a successful life’s to-do list and realized she might need to reinvent the list—and herself.

Mary Laura Philpott thought she’d cracked the code: Always be right, and you’ll always be happy.

But once she’d completed her life’s to-do list (job, spouse, house, babies—check!), she found that instead of feeling content and successful, she felt anxious. Lost. Stuck in a daily grind of overflowing calendars, grueling small talk, and sprawling traffic. She’d done everything “right” but still felt all wrong. What’s the worse failure, she wondered: smiling and staying the course, or blowing it all up and running away? And are those the only options?

Taking on the conflicting pressures of modern adulthood, Philpott provides a “frank and funny look at what happens when, in the midst of a tidy life, there occur impossible-to-ignore tugs toward creativity, meaning, and the possibility of something more” (Southern Living). She offers up her own stories to show that identity crises don’t happen just once or only at midlife and reassures us that small, recurring personal re-inventions are both normal and necessary. Most of all, in this “warm embrace of a life lived imperfectly” (Esquire), Philpott shows that when you stop feeling satisfied with your life, you don’t have to burn it all down. You can call upon your many selves to figure out who you are, who you’re not, and where you belong. Who among us isn’t trying to do that?

“Be forewarned that you’ll laugh out loud and cry, probably in the same essay. Philpott has a wonderful way of finding humor, even in darker moments. This is a book you’ll want to buy for yourself and every other woman you know” (Real Simple).

Critic reviews

"Mary Laura Philpott narrates her collection of engaging personal essays with clarity and verve, as befits someone used to public speaking. The Emmy-winning cohost of the show 'A Word on Words' on Nashville Public Television and author/illustrator of the humor book PENGUINS WITH PEOPLE PROBLEMS, Philpott has created a blend of memoir and social commentary that touches on a wide range of life experiences. Midlife angst, the perils of perfectionism, the truth telling of children—even when addressing serious topics, the often witty essays put a positive spin on life, which is magnified by Philpott's upbeat tone and cheerful demeanor. Her attractive, well-modulated voice increases the audiobook's appeal, making this an excellent listen for anyone looking for relatable inspiration."

Loved it!

I enjoyed this book so much! Light and hilarious look at the ups and downs of women’s lives.

I’m old enough to be her mom, and yet

Everything she writes about resonates with my own experience. The title essay is destined to be a classic. Loved every part of this book.

So very relatable!

Every time you want to beat yourself up for some quirky behavior she will confirm that it's not just you. There's no fix in here, but it sure feels good to know you're not alone. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end.

Witty and Smart

I Miss You When I Blink is a combination of “oh my gosh, you feel that way too-giggle giggle” and “I know your pain- tear tear” that makes another working mom (trying to balance family, career and the ever elusive self-care) feel like she has a tribe. Mary Laura, Thanks for your honesty and your willingness to poke fun at your own journey so I feel more normal!

Awesome

Really made an impact on me! Perhaps one reason is because I’m also a recovering perfectionist English major grad of Davidson! Excellent, authentic, articulate. Thank you, Mary Laura!