Jenna Bush Hager, the former first daughter and granddaughter, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and coanchor of the Today show, shares moving, funny stories about her beloved grandparents and the wisdom they passed on that has shaped her life.To the world, George and Barbara Bush were America’s powerful president and influential first lady. To Jenna Bush Hager, they were her beloved Gampy … Jenna Bush Hager, they were her beloved Gampy and Ganny, who taught her about respect, humility, kindness, and living a life of passion and meaning—timeless lessons that continue to guide her.
In Midland, Texas, Jenna’s maternal grandparents, Harold and Jenna Welch—Pa and Grammee—a home builder and homemaker, lived a quieter life outside the national spotlight. Yet their influence was no less indelible to their granddaughter. Throughout Jenna’s childhood and adolescence, the Welches taught her the name of every star in the sky, the way a dove uses her voice—teaching her to appreciate the beauty in the smallest things.
Now the mother of three young children, Jenna pays homage to her grandparents in this collection of heartwarming, intimate personal essays. Filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable stories, Everything Beautiful in Its Time captures the joyous and bittersweet nature of life itself. Jenna reflects on the single year in which she and her family lost Barbara and George H. W. Bush, and Jenna Welch. With the light, self-deprecating charm of the bestselling Sisters First—cowritten with her twin sister, Barbara—Jenna reveals how they navigated this difficult period with grace, faith, and nostalgic humor, uplifted by their grandparents’ sage advice and incomparable spirits.
In this moving book, Jenna remembers the past, cherishes the present, and prepares for the future—providing a wealth of anecdotes and lessons for her own children and all of us. Poignant and humorous, intimate and sincere, Everything Beautiful in Its Time is a warm and wonderful celebration of the enduring power of family and an exploration of the things that truly matter most.
“As long as I’m alive, my grandparents will not be forgotten. . . . I hear their voices in the letters they sent me and in my memories. They offer comfort, support, and guidance, and I will listen to them always.”
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What a beautiful tribute to the Bush family by Jenna Bush Hager!! Her love for her family saturated every page of this moving book. I laughed, I cried…..I felt every emotion under the sun. At times, I felt like I was reading George HW Bush and Barbara’s love story, two of my most favorite people ever!! Their relationship with each other is what we should all aspire to achieve. Jenna shares her most personal thoughts about love, loss, marriage, sisterhood, motherhood, and friendships. Everything important to her, she shares with us and invites us into the Bush family. Their family is easy to relate to because they are so “normal” as you will see through the letters, photos, and memories Jenna shares with the reader. Of course, Jenna and her sister Barbara had to live this life in front of the millions of people and they did it with grace. We can learn a lot from the Bush family. They are all a class act!
Here’s one of the tidbits Jenna shares with us that she learned from her Granny, Barbara Bush:
“I have learned the gift of uniqueness and authenticity: from wearing mismatched Keds to your signature pearls and snow what hair! You taught me that humor, wit, and grace are the best accessories and that worrying too much about looks is (in your words) boring. Words matter, kindness matters. Looks fade.”
These little gems are scattered throughout the book and I just devoured them all!!
*For a little more insight into Gampy and Granny Bush, I recommend searching on YouTube for Barbara Bush Wellesley Speech and Bush’s Tribute to Bob Hope (this one had me in tears it is so funny),
I highly recommend this to book to anyone who would enjoy reading a feel good collection of stories that everyone can relate to. It’s a love story of marriage, family and life. Being it’s almost Valentine’s Day, it would be a perfect read. This book has nothing to do with politics, so it doesn’t matter what party you align yourself with because this is a story of love above all else.
3.8
Reflective and refreshing with some emotional and funny moments sprinkled throughout.
Everything Beautiful in Its Time by Jenna Bush Hager is an excellent collection of memories, reflections, and stories that allows the reader to venture firsthand into the wonderful Bush family.
In this book, Jenna remembers and talks about all four of her grandparents who were special and unique all in their own ways. She describes growing up with her sister, Barbara, and their experiences as children and adults learning, growing, loving, and being loved by her grandparents, parents, and sister. She talks about lessons learned, words of wisdom, memorable experiences, and every day remarks that helped shape her into who she is today. She includes letters written to and from her grandparents, memories, and advice given in love and support. She talks about how she felt, and what happened not only growing up, but also her memories of when she felt the momentous loss of each grandparent.
This book presented so many wonderful words of wisdom. I confess I cried a few times as I read of Jenna’s heartache and loss of her Gannie and Ganpy (First Lady Barbara Bush and Former President George H. W. Bush) and Grannie (Jenna Welch). Harold Welch, Pa, passed away when she was younger. I also smiled, laughed, and felt a warmth radiating from my heart reading about her touching and close relationships and the love she has for her family.
I learned so much about this amazing family through this book. It was so great to have a chance to spend time with part of the family.
This book is for anyone that has a family, has ever been loved, or enjoys reading about words of wisdom and humor from the Welch and Bush families.
A truly touching and truly memorable read.
5/5 stars enthusiastically
Thank you EW and William Morrow for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I listened to this audiobook in bits and pieces and every time I got a chance to
“open” the book, my heart was left happier than it was before. Regardless of political views or how you feel about the Bush family, anyone who has ever loved and lost a beloved family member will appreciate the relationships shared in this book.
My goodness!! What an engaging memoir of family, love, and where loss can take us, to better places and beautiful memories. Everyone has their time! Thank you Jenna for writing such a gorgeous memoir 🙂
This non-fiction novel by Jenna Bush Hager tells the story of her life growing up in the Bush family and her story of her grandparents George & Barbara Bush and her maternal grandparents Harold & Jenna Welch. Filled with essays, letters and pictures of the Bush and Welch families. I really enjoyed reading this delightful novel.