Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes

Goodreads Summary:

The mega-talented creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away With Murder chronicles how saying YES for one year changed her life―and how it can change yours, too.

With three hit shows on television and three children at home, the uber-talented Shonda Rhimes had lots of good reasons to say NO when an unexpected invitation arrived. Hollywood party? No. Speaking engagement? No. Media appearances? No.

And there was the side-benefit of saying No for an introvert like Shonda: nothing new to fear.

Then Shonda’s sister laid down a challenge: just for one year, try to say YES to the unexpected invitations that come your way. Shonda reluctantly agreed―and the result was nothing short of transformative. In Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes chronicles the powerful impact saying yes had on every aspect of her life―and how we can all change our lives with one little word. Yes.


My Thoughts:
Shonda Rhimes is an amazing woman. I was already a Shondaland Productions fan. I watch Grey's, Scandal, and How To Get Away with Murder. She writes characters in really relate-able ways and she has always shown diversity in races, lifestyle, and personality. I didn't know much about Shonda as a person. I assumed she was an extrovert and living it up in Hollywood. I have no idea why I assumed that because I was so very very wrong. Shonda like most writers lives in her head and finds it all too easy to stay there for long stretches of time and only peak her head out when needed.

I found a lot of myself in her story. I say No way more than I should. I am not ready to say Yes but this book has gotten me a step closer to living out loud the way I used to. Shonda has a unique voice and her style is unmistakable. I found myself laughing with her and crying with her. 

I would recommend this book to everyone. Yes, everyone, but specifically people who may be a little stuck and needing a boost. This book is a straight up bright light at the end of a dark tunnel.


While writing this review I was watching another episode of Gilmore Girls.