EDITORIAL REVIEWS

"Houser discusses burnout and offers remedies for the critically overburdened in this motivational primer. In this self-help guide, the author, a career strategist and empowerment coach, speaks about her own experience with burnout and details how she found her way to becoming "lit up" instead ("Like many women, especially full-time working parents and care‐givers, I slid down the long slippery slope of being everything to everyone-except myself").

The book is chock-full of helpful, battle-tested advice designed to lift readers from the despair of feeling pushed past their limits... The author's writing style also contributes to the guide's effectiveness-instead of brimming with long, winding, and dry stretches of text, Houser's book features succinct paragraphs that don't allow their brevity to curtail her message. Despite the book's concision, Houser includes a wide range of scientific information gleaned from various studies to support and contextualize her anecdotes and justify her post-chapter activity recommendations.

The author's vulnerability in sharing her own story ("Even looking for the resources to help myself out of this hole seemed impossible. I ended up in such a bad place that I needed to take a leave from work for the sake of my physical and mental health") adds an additional layer of credibility to her advice. Stressed-out readers looking to make changes in their lives will want to pick up a copy of this book." - KIRKUS REVIEWS (STARRED REVIEW)

"Burned Out to Lit Up: Ditch the Grind and reclaim Your Life" by Cara E. Houser is a powerful, energetic, encouraging way to get back to the real you and reclaim yourself. If you find that you've gotten off track in your life, whether it be career goals, relationship goals, or personal ones, this self-help book could be the key that changes everything. Written in an enthusiastic, realistic style, you'll find that its uplifting tone is just what you need. The good news is that the answers lie in you already. You just have to find them, reframe them, and enjoy your efforts.

Houser is exceptional at taking complex ideas and simplifying them into manageable parts. You can have clear thinking again. You can put yourself first in an unselfish way. As the old saying goes, You can't take care of anything unless you take care of yourself first. People from all walks of life can suffer burnout, and this book helps you identify what it is and how it feels and gives you practical, takeaway advice that you can use to get the real you back. It's a hectic world, but you don't have to throw in the towel.

Reflective questions and prompts will help you examine your life, what you want, and how you've been operating-mostly in a stressful way, no doubt. If you wear yourself out, you can't reach your potential. Running on fumes will only take you so far. The topics on creating your physical space, creating your mental space, rebuilding yourself, and practicing resilience are things that can save your life. Because as everyone knows, stress can lead to major health issues.

If you're so used to setting your own wants and needs aside to focus on others, you must read this book. I like the author's point that burnout isn't just boredom or lack of inspiration. It's a physical, emotional, and psychological thing that takes place. This book's honesty can help you take an honest look at your own life. If you've reached the end of yourself and need to know how to turn around and make a fresh start, this is a must-read." - READER VIEWS (BRONZE AWARD WINNER)