Helen Rebanks’ memoir about life as a farmer’s wife is sincere, relatable, and a great read. Of course, it is not simply about being someone’s wife. It is a frank account of figuring out life as a woman. Rebanks happens to have chosen life as a wife and a mother of four, but her story shows us that this doesn’t mean losing yourself in the process. In fact, the very act of her telling her story feels empowering.

I found this book reassuring: Rebanks is honest about her struggles, mistakes and flaws, as well as her skills, passions and priviledges.

Rebanks shares a lot of the details of ordinary life: the school runs, chores, dog walks and farm errands. She shares little stories about first dates, looking for work, playing with her children and going to parties. Much of the book focuses on her love of food. Of course, all these small moments turn out to be the most precious. As Rebanks herself writes, “the small domestic things matter… Learning that the word ‘mundane’ has its roots in the Latin word ‘mundanus’, of the world, made me see everything through a different lens…”

What Rebanks’ story shows us is that life is not about creating a finished product or achieving perfection. This book is about hard, work, passion and perseverance. It is about figuring things out together and learning as we go along. It is about how we make our lives together and live them well.