What people are saying

One part memoir and one part afternoon on the porch with a friend (with sweet tea in hand!), So Close to Amazing offers us fresh perspective on our own twists and turns in life . . . and delivers those life lessons through KariAnne’s signature wit and charm. - Ruth Chou Simons, Author of GraceLaced

KariAnne’s oh-so-relatable stories and hysterical tales of her everyday mishaps and grand adventures had me doubled over in laughter (while trying to keep the mascara from smearing down my face). The heart lessons found in the journey will inspire everyone who (like me!) finds themselves in this “so close to amazing” sisterhood. - Melissa Michaels, The Inspired Room blog

So Close to Amazing is a reminder that life is never perfect, always changing, and ever evolving, and that with faith, we can overcome the obstacles that simply living life brings our way. KariAnne invites readers into her witty and wonderfully wacky world of moving to the country in Kentucky with her husband and four children, with its challenges of fitting in to a new place. With the humor and humility she lives out in everyday life, she’s a friend you want to sit down and have coffee with, who would be fun to do a DIY project with, and who speaks to the hearts of real women everywhere. - Rhoda Vickers - Southern Hospitality Blog

KariAnne doesn’t know it yet, but she’s my new BFF. She’s hilarious, honest, and the perfect kind of hot mess who lets you know you’re not alone. At the risk of stating the obvious, So Close to Amazing isn’t close to amazing. It is amazing. You’ll find yourself cheering for KariAnne through every mishap―and thanking God for loving each of us as we are. You get more than a book with So Close to Amazing. You get heartfelt stories, great DIY projects, and a new BFF. - Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of The Happiness Dare and Love Idol

KariAnne’s book is a joyful mix of quips and sweet messages à la the friend you wish you always had. She says it like it is, combined with a little Scarlett O’Hara drama and appreciable humor for good measure. Just like an old house with lots of layers, she peels them back, revealing a profound life message with applicable truths underneath. Her book feels like the perfect afternoon with a familiar friend. Sitting together over a glass of sweet tea after a good flea market trip, she’s the one who says, “I’ll go first.” Friendship is something that happens when two people say, “Me, too,” and KariAnne has a way of reminding you that you’re not the only one. Her honest, real, relatable approach to life is refreshing for her audience in so many ways. So Close to Amazing had me in fits of laughter, paired with unexpected tears that come only when someone is so honest with their own struggles and unexpected twists in life. It’s here that she reminds us in her own one-of-a-kind way not to miss the little moments. Because it’s in the little moments that the most beautiful ones are unexpectedly found. - Ashley Mills, The Handmade Home

Each page is filled with KariAnne’s genuine enthusiasm, mind-blowing optimism, and humble faith. It is an entertaining reminder of the power of believing you are amazing, even when you miss the mark by a little bit, and the power of remembering to put it in his hands. - Laura Putnam, Finding Home Farms

For the twelve years I’ve known KariAnne, she’s never done anything halfway. Anything she touches is always amazing! This book is no different. It is an engaging, creative blend of humorous sharing about a woman’s struggles on everything from fitting in to keeping faith. It will encourage you on your worst days, affirm you on your best days, and make you smile any day at all. You will join her journey from one adventure to the next and will most likely come away inspired for your next DIY project. - Brenna Stull, Author