Book Review: “Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still” by Kristina Kuzmič

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I’m assuming that if you enjoy reading blogs, you probably enjoy reading in general. I happen to love reading, but I have a short attention span when it comes to books. Unlike a movie, which is over in a couple of hours, a book takes commitment. And that commitment makes me picky. I don’t want to waste hours or even days of my life on a book that doesn’t satisfy (this is the same reason I’m so selective about TV shows). Also unlike movies and TV shows, there’s no real rating system for books. I’m a firm believer that the type of media I consume has an impact on my life, mental state, and overall happiness. So I try to avoid things that could damage my mental/emotional/spiritual wellbeing. I’m always nervous to start a new book that may include content I’m not interested in consuming (things that are pornographic, vulgar, harmful, vicious, untruthful, etc.). I only want to take in that which is “virtuous, lovely…of good report or praiseworthy” (Pearl of Great Price, Article of Faith 13). This is why I value good book reviews so much. I want details without spoilers. I want to know what I’m committing too, but I also want the joy of discovering the book for myself. So when I read a great new book, I’m going to let you know!  

Ready for my first recommendation? The book is titled Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still by Kristina Kuzmič. If you don’t know who Kristina Kuzmič is, go to YouTube right now and look her up. You can thank me later. Not only are her videos hilarious, they’re filled with truths about life and parenting that we tend to overlook or obscure in the chaos of our hectic, competitive lives. Her life story is inspiring and relatable. And her perspective on life is extremely uplifting—something we all need more of these days. I’ve been following Kristina Kuzmič for several years, so when she announced her book, it immediately went on my wishlist. I bought a copy as a Mother’s Day gift to myself and raced through it in the early days of cluster feeding a newborn. It’s an easy, fast, entertaining read while simultaneously handling deep, difficult topics. Her book doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable realities. She openly discusses her battle with depression and suicidal thoughts. She walks you through personal tragedies ranging from war, poverty, and divorce to sexual assault and miscarriage. And sprinkled throughout are lessons she’s learned about marriage, parenting, and friendship. It really is a book with something for everyone.

Kristina begins her book saying, “I want to be for others what I needed when I was at my lowest.” And that’s what her videos, her social media platforms, and Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still are all about. Sometimes she does that through humor. Sometimes she does it by simply offering the hope that when things are at their worst it won’t last forever and things can and will improve. The subtitle of her book is “Hope and Humor from My Seriously Flawed Life” and it’s a perfect summery of the book.

Kristina and I have very little in common when you compare what our lives look like. But somehow, I can still find myself in the pages of her book. It’s easy to bond with her while reading her stories and advice. While I may not be from Croatia or have gone through a divorce or have teenage kids, I have experienced many of the thoughts, emotions, and self-doubts she expresses. Her parenting recommendations are both helpful and thought provoking. And the book is all around charming.

My favorite chapter was actually the very first, titled “Wish Out Loud.” She talks about how our culture teaches us from a young age that our dreams and ambitions ought to be secret. That sharing those things with others is embarrassing and makes us vulnerable. She counters this cultural norm by saying, “No matter what your aspirations are…they’ll never happen if you don’t try. But it’s hard to muster up the confidence to try without your loved ones cheering you on, and they’re not even going to get the chance to support you if you never let them know what your dreams are.” Wow. Way to call me out, Kristina.

I’ve always been ambitious. I tend to bite off more than I can chew, because I get so invested in my goals. I think I ought to be able to do everything, and frequently create expectations for myself that I could never possibly meet while also juggling three kids, a husband in the Army, and the everyday responsibilities of being an adult human being, good citizen, and member of a church community. Because of this, I’ve learned to talk myself out of a lot of my ambitious ideas. I tell myself that “I can’t” far too often because I still haven’t learned how to pace myself appropriately when chasing a dream.  Kristina’s advice to wish out loud and allow others to support you in your dreams and pursuits felt very targeted at me.

This book is definitely worth your time! It makes a great gift (*cough* Christmas! *cough*), so buy one for yourself and someone you love. It would be a perfect baby shower gift, especially for a second- or third-time mom. But now I want to hear from you. What are some of your favorite books you think I should read and review?