A warm, wise, and wholly original memoir of survival, renewal, and transformation, by one of New York City’s most successful and respected special events coordinators. With her top-level events company, Save the Date®, Jennifer Gilbert has worked with Fortune 500 companies, broadcast media giants, international nonprofit organizations, and celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to Bill Gates and beyond. Yet few of her clients or colleagues have known, until now, that Jennifer is not only a self-made success: she’s also a survivor. After a random, near-fatal attack left her body in critical condition on a crowded city street, and left her with emotional wounds that would take years to heal, Jennifer embarked upon a journey to reclaim her life. This is her story, in her own words: I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag, an intimate, poignant, inspiring memoir of perseverance, rediscovery, and hope. Order Your Copy Today.
This is a beautiful and brave memoir, full of hard-won wisdom. I read it in one sitting. It speaks from the heart and to the heart. -Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion
Breathtakingly honest, funny, and surprising, I Never Promised You a Goodie Bag is the unforgettable story of how, after a traumatic encounter in her twenties, Jennifer Gilbert found her way back to happiness. I couldn’t stop reading. -Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
Packed with funny stories about bridezillas and demented captains of industry, this is a fascinating tale of how we regain joy in the aftermath of unspeakable horror. -People Magazine (3.5 stars out of 4)
A savvy, often funny account of the ups and downs of building a business; a penetrating look at how [Gilbert] overcame the psychological scars of the attack; a warm and happy ending. You’ll laugh with her, you’ll learn from her, and you’ll be glad you made her acquaintance. -Parade
It would be easy to get caught up in the chatty details of all the near-disasters Gilbert encounters in her fast-paced life in the world of event planning but this memoir is about more than cake and flowers. -Library Journal
What distinguishes Gilbert’s memoir from the inspirational survivor pack is her willingness to share the bumps along her road to recovery. . . . A memoir that shows we can choose to be more than the sum of those events that are beyond our control. -Kirkus Reviews
I read a lot of memoirs, and was drawn to this one because of the title. It sounded cute and fun. What I got instead was one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. Jennifer Gilbert’s story is one I think all women in New York City, certainly (and elsewhere!) should read… –Rachel, New York City
Jennifer Gilbert’s story and redemption of her traumatic attack reminded me of how it is possible to walk through fear, terror really, and not only live to tell but to rise above the deepest depths of anxiety and find the strength to go on. –Barbara, Florida
A courageous story related with candor and humor. –Gail, Texas
From the very first chapter I was in. Laughing, and ready to go! Then the story got better. It got deeper. -Amber, Encinitas, California
