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“In Ordinary Time, Annie Jones turns mundanity into meaning—giving her readers a beautifully told and deeply considered account of the everyday choices that pile up to become a life. It reads like a soothing conversation with a trustworthy friend.” — Mary Laura Philpott, author of I Miss You When I Blink and Bomb Shelter: Love, Time, and Other Explosives
“Thoughtful childhood nostalgia and stories that find the magic in the mundane will be especially touching for millennials.” — Erin Napier, bestselling author of Heirloom Rooms and Make Something Good Today
“Annie B. Jones gently and deftly pushes back on the idea that an interesting life has to be an adventurous one. Through stories of friendship, marriage, and running a small town bookstore, she shares a life rich with beauty and meaning. Ordinary Time will make readers reflect on their seasons of letting go and the merits of staying put.” — Laura Tremaine, author of The Life Council and Share Your Stuff, I’ll Go First
“Ordinary Time is like a hug from an old friend in sentence form.” — Sean Dietrich, columnist, podcaster, and author of Kinfolk and You Are My Sunshine
“Turns out, our generation’s Kathleen Kelly loves empty churches and The Book of Common Prayer but also Fleabag and dancing something called the Sleazy Slide. This book proves that real life—surprising, heartbreaking, seemingly simple life—will always be better than the movies. Lucky Thomasville that Annie stuck around, and lucky us that she shares her stories.” — Elizabeth Passarella, author of Good Apple and It Was an Ugly Couch Anyway
“Annie writes a love letter to everyone who's ever wondered if they made the right choice to stay, to stick around, to continue on. I absolutely adored the tender way she carries her stories of remaining, and how she shares them to remind us of our long obedience in the same direction.” — Erin Moon, author of I’ve Got Questions and host of the Faith Adjacent podcast
“What a privilege it is to go along with Annie B. Jones on her journey of staying put. Earnest, graceful, and beautifully written, this book is an exquisite reflection on the art of finding enchantment in ordinary time. This is one to treasure and come back to again and again.” — Annabel Monaghan, uthor of Summer Romance and Nora Goes Off Script
“Annie B. Jones has a gift for putting complicated feelings into words—I lost count of the times I thought, “me too!” as I read these pages. Ordinary Time is a book that will help you appreciate the satisfaction of quiet days, find joy even in complicated community, and see the beauty of ending up in a life you never expected. Annie has written a lovely book about the pain of goodbyes and the surprises that can happen when you choose to stay put.” — Kerry Winfrey, author of Waiting for Tom Hanks and Very Sincerely Yours
About the Author
Annie B. Jones is a writer, podcaster, and the owner of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in Thomasville, Georgia. Jones hosts From the Front Porch, a weekly podcast about books, small business, and life in the South, and her work has been featured in Southern Living magazine. A native of Tallahassee, Florida, she lives in Thomasville with her husband, Jordan, and their dog, Sam Malone.
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4.9 out of 5
97.14% of customers are satisfied
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Memoir in Essays for every woman
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5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read for everyone!!
My words will not do this book justice at all, but I will attempt it.I have been a listener of From the Front Porch podcast for eight years and a long distance supporter of The Bookshelf for just as long after hearing about it on the podcast. I met Annie in person at the store in 2021, and my kids got to listen to her read during story time at the amphitheater. I can 100% say she is as delightful in person as she is on the podcast . The staff at The Bookshelf are some of the most down to earth friendly humans you'd ever meet. You truly feel at home when you walk into the store. We stop in the store every year on our way to our vacation spot. It's worth taking a detour for, that's for sure.I couldn't have been more excited for Annie when she announced this book. I couldn't wait to be immersed in the pages. Dare I say we can all relate to at least one topic she wrote about in this book, if not more. Annie put her whole heart into writing this book, and I, for one, am grateful for her words so delicately and thoughtfully written. There were several times that I cried, especially when she talked about her grandmothers. Annie, thank you for sharing your heart with us readers and listeners.Thank you to Netgalley and HarperOne for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.0 out of 5 stars Almost Great
This is a great read - I can only give 4 stars due to the insertion of politics where I felt it added no value.Otherwise, loves it.
5.0 out of 5 stars ANNIE INSPIRES!
With unflinching honesty, author Annie B. Jones tells the whole truth about transplanting to a small town. Even as owner of an established bookstore, some in Thomasville, Georgia were slow to accept her. She struggled with finding a comfortable church where she could fit. Annie shares her efforts to make new friends. The only question mark for me comes from the author's humility. She's a nationally-known indie bookstore owner. Her podcast, after more than 500 episodes, is booming. I thought she would have been sharing more of her accomplishments on those two fronts.
5.0 out of 5 stars Quiet reflections about staying put as an adult
Do I know Annie B. Jones? Yes, yes I do. I am one of the fortunate people to regularly shop in our hometown independent bookstore owned by Annie and have gotten to know her over the years. She and I are both self-proclaimed introverts who recharge in our quiet time, but are able to engage with other people easily when necessary. I will try to be objective but I am also thrilled for Annie to have this debut!With that said, I personally enjoyed this book and totally related to much of her commentary on life choices and small town life. Throughout these reflections on her life and the choices she has made, I felt like I got to know her even more. Everything that she grappled with over the years resonate as truth for many people. It is always interesting to come across writing that connects with you as the reader, on a more personal level. And, although I do not live in my hometown, I am close to where I lived during my formative years and have lifelong ties to this region of the world, so I understand the push and pull of staying and leaving. Are there times that I dreamed of living in a big city or a remote northern town? Absolutely. Ultimately, that path was not mine either. And in most ways I appreciate without regret living in a small Southern town.On the topics that are covered, if you know the South, you know why these topics are relevant to life choices.. I appreciate the fact that Annie has always been a questioner of life, like why do I attend this Church? Or why do I live here? Do I want to have children? Do I want to own a small business? I never thought much about the last one, but it really is a huge part of who Annie is as a person and now as an author. All of these things are pieces of her heart and truly shine in her as a person.When considering if this book is right for you, if you like essay collections or are a fan of a writer like Mary Laura Philpott, then this book will fill that spot on your TBR list. Highly recommend!#OrdinaryTime #NetGalley #HarperOne
brilliant thought provoking easy to read
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Excellent read
I follow the author on Instagram, and imagined the book would be excellent. I was not disappointed! It’s lovely - pair it up with a cozy blanket and some coffee, and you’re in for a treat.
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Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put―A Biographical Exploration of the Unexpected Joys of a Quiet Life
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