Book Review Alert! Dear Universe, I Get It Now by A.Y. Berthiaume

We love to read here at Ur Basic Mom. Some of us are addicted to audio books, but I need to feel a physical book in my hands.

When a new book arrives on my doorstep, I jump right in.

Then, usually, nothing.

I read the first few chapters, maybe half of the book, get what I will from it, and then forget about it.

The graveyard of half finished books on my night stand is deep.

So, when I received Dear Universe, I Get It Now: Letters on the Art and Journey of Being Brave and Being Me by A.Y. Berthiaume in the mail, I cracked that baby open. And then, I didn’t put it down all night. Or the next night. Or the next. And then I was done it. In three days.

DONE a whole book. This is big guys. Usually if I finish a book, it takes me at least a month and I start three other books before I finish the one I started.

Here are 3 things I love about Dear Universe, I Get It Now by A.Y. Berthiaume

It’s relatable. For me, being a woman of a similar age with similar experiences as the author, I felt very seen. I also felt like she was able to articulate feelings that I hadn’t even addressed yet about past traumas (particularly in her chapter about miscarriage).
It’s an easy read but not empty. This is a big one for me. As a mom, sometimes I just can’t do something too, too heady, focused, or in depth. When I get to reading at the end of the day, my eyes feel like they are going to bleed out of my face if what I pick up is just too much. On the flip side, though, often times easy reads are also pretty empty. This book was so easy to read, but definitely not empty or full of fluff. It was the perfect balance.
I had to take a good hard look at myself, but I didn’t feel judged. This is another thing that I was so pleased with. In Dear Universe, Berthiaume takes on a lot of major issues. In reading about them, I was often made to take a good hard look at myself and my biases and how I’d handled situations in the past. But instead of feeling judged or shamed, I felt like I was given a clear path on how to move forward in a better way.

Favorite Chapter:

My favorite chapter in the book comes pretty early on. It’s chapter 2 and it’s called Tree Hugger (and Kisser). Now, this is definitely not to say that the rest of the chapters go down hill, they are all excellent TBH.

What I love about this chapter is the way we get to see into the heart of a child who just wants to play pretend and remain an innocent child a little bit longer. I think I loved this chapter so much because of the ages of my kids and wanting to be able to allow them to stay little, innocent, and free just a little bit longer.

Favorite Quote:

What I could lean into was what I had learned from all the losses before. That time would eventually ease some of the suffering. Even though I had no control of my body, it wasn’t my fault. That some things are unexplainable, and accepting them is actually less painful than holding on to theories of why. That not being silent, not shrouding my feelings, that giving it a name, was healing.
I Gave Them a Name, A. Y. Berthiaume