KariAnne doesn’t know it yet, but she’s my new BFF. She’s hilarious, honest, and the perfect kind of hot mess who lets you know you’re not alone. At the risk of stating the obvious, So Close to Amazing isn’t close to amazing. It is amazing. You’ll find yourself cheering for KariAnne through every mishap—and thanking God for loving each of us as we are. You get more than a book with So Close to Amazing. You get heartfelt stories, great DIY projects, and a new BFF.

KariAnne’s book is a joyful mix of quips and sweet messages à la the friend you wish you always had. She says it like it is, combined with a little Scarlett O’Hara drama and appreciable humor for good measure. Just like an old house with lots of layers, she peels them back, revealing a profound life message with applicable truths underneath. Her book feels like the perfect afternoon with a familiar friend. Sitting together over a glass of sweet tea after a good flea market trip, she’s the one who says, “I’ll go first.” Friendship is something that happens when two people say, “Me, too,” and KariAnne has a way of reminding you that you’re not the only one. Her honest, real, relatable approach to life is refreshing for her audience in so many ways. So Close to Amazing had me in fits of laughter, paired with unexpected tears that come only when someone is so honest with their own struggles and unexpected twists in life. It’s here that she reminds us in her own one-of-a-kind way not to miss the little moments. Because it’s in the little moments that the most beautiful ones are unexpectedly found.

Each page is filled with KariAnne’s genuine enthusiasm, mind-blowing optimism, and humble faith. It is an entertaining reminder of the power of believing you are amazing, even when you miss the mark by a little bit, and the power of remembering to put it in his hands.

For the twelve years I’ve known KariAnne, she’s never done anything halfway. Anything she touches is always amazing! This book is no different. It is an engaging, creative blend of humorous sharing about a woman’s struggles on everything from fitting in to keeping faith. It will encourage you on your worst days, affirm you on your best days, and make you smile any day at all. You will join her journey from one adventure to the next and will most likely come away inspired for your next DIY project.

One part memoir and one part afternoon on the porch with a friend (with sweet tea in hand!), So Close to Amazing offers us fresh perspective on our own twists and turns in life . . . and delivers those life lessons through KariAnne’s signature wit and charm.

KariAnne’s oh-so-relatable stories and hysterical tales of her everyday mishaps and grand adventures had me doubled over in laughter (while trying to keep the mascara from smearing down my face). The heart lessons found in the journey will inspire everyone who (like me!) finds themselves in this “so close to amazing” sisterhood.