Order of Things: A Memoir About Chasing Joy

Sarah Gormley

Book cover for Order of Things: A Memoir About Chasing Joy
Image for variant 9798990642539
Book cover for Order of Things: A Memoir About Chasing Joy
Image for variant 9798990642539

Order of Things: A Memoir About Chasing Joy

Order of Things: A Memoir About Chasing Joy

Sarah Gormley

Member Benefits

  • 30% Off All Books - Savings that support storytellers, not stock prices.
  • Fight Book Bans - Every membership sends a book to LGBTQ+ youth in affected states.
Member Book Price
$16.95 $11.87
Non-Member Book Price $16.95

An annual membership will be billed at $48/year.

Discount applies to first-time members only. Already a member? Log in here.

View full details

Description

"A beautifully written testament to doing the hard work of changing your circumstances and opening your heart to a more meaningful life filled with hope and love. . . . Gormley's a towering talent and a writer to watch!" -Christie Tate, New York Times bestselling author of Group and B.F.F.

Sometimes nothing is more unexpected than joy.

What happens when a marketing executive leaves San Francisco to care for her dying mother on their family farm in Ohio? A Hallmark heroine would fall in love with her high school sweetheart during a snowstorm-but this is no Hallmark movie. Sarah Gormley spent most of her life trying to outrun the persistent self-loathing that plagued her from childhood, convinced that self-worth was something she had to earn by doing rather than being. When she returned to Salt Creek Farm at age forty-five, Gormley had no idea that detaching from the success she believed defined her, untangling the complicated relationship with her mother, and continuing the hard work of therapy would lead to a wildly transformed life. Told with exceptional candor and humor, The Order of Things is a story about how one woman learned to let go of the patterns of her past to create a future she never imagined. Ultimately, Gormley's book is about hope, with a powerful message that will inspire you to think about the possibility of change in your own life.

Critical Reviews

"Sarah Gormley's debut memoir is much more than the story of one woman who confronted her unhappiness and marched toward a better life. It is also a beautifully written testament to doing the hard work of changing your circumstances and opening your heart to a more meaningful life filled with hope and love. This story will resonate with any woman who has spent time chasing gold stars only to end up exhausted, lonely, and unfulfilled. Gormley's a towering talent and a writer to watch!" -Christie Tate, New York Times bestselling author of Group and B.F.F.

"In The Order of Things, Sarah Gormley invites us into the depths of her life experiences, from the triumphs of her career to the shadows of self-doubt, and ultimately to powerful transformation. With honesty and humor, she offers profound insights into the process of self-discovery and the beautiful complexity of real change. Gormley's story is truly one about self-hope and the endless possibilities that come with embracing one's true self." -Fran Hauser, bestselling author, speaker, entrepreneur, media executive, and women's champion

"I've been waiting for this book since I heard Sarah speak at DePauw University in 2019, where I instantly fell in love with her as she described leaving her high-powered job to care for her mother. Now, through her generous, beautiful book, I feel like she's my best friend. The Order of Things is tender and sassy and real, like Sarah herself. I didn't want this book to end, so I just might read it again and again!" -Meg Kissinger, award-winning journalist and author of While You Were Out

"In her poignant yet humor-laden debut, Gormley invites readers on an introspective journey through the tangled pathways of womanhood. With unflinching honesty and a generous sprinkle of wit, Gormley tackles the universal question that echoes in the minds of women everywhere: How did my life turn out this way?" -Jo Piazza, national and international bestselling author of The Sicilian Inheritance and We Are Not Like Them

"Lots of books tell us what to do to change our lives, but very few actually show us what real change looks like. This book will make you laugh and cry at the same time, and you'll be astounded by Gormley's ability to write so beautifully about the messiness of life. Easy to read and impossible to put down, The Order of Things should be on your must-read list." -Bonnie Wan, strategist, speaker, and author of The Life Brief

"When you know a person well, you can be in touch with their inner essence, their inner core-the most essential part of them. Sarah has a golden core." -David, Sarah's Therapist

Publishing Information

Publisher: Salt Creek Publishing
Pub date: 2025-10-14
Length: 258 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 30% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.