I have had a hard time putting this book down! It has been quite a long time since I have allowed myself to read a book just for me, and I wouldn’t have picked anything else! I can relate so much to every chapter in this book. Nicole’s way of telling a story brought me right back to my childhood. I too was a chubby kid who got picked on because I only had one pair of jeans from a thrift store and only wore sweatpants the rest of the time because I didn’t want to wear mom jeans! My parents also had trauma that seeped out into their parenting style and I’m desperately trying to break that cycle with myself and my child. Reading her book reminded me that we are not alone in our trauma, and we need to take the time to love ourselves! Since reading this book, I have been inspired to take a workout class once a week for myself. For years, I have been telling myself that I “don’t have time” but really I was unwilling to make time because that felt selfish, but Nicole has helped remind me that taking care of myself is not selfish!

“You’re too fat. You’re too smart. You’re too weird. You’re too good. You’re too sexual. You’re broken. No one wants someone like you.” These words resonated with my childhood soul. These words, and more, were some of the horrible things I told myself over and over growing up! I felt so alone but there was Nicole, just a few hours away, feeling the exact same thing! I believe this book has the power to help women everywhere love themselves, heal from trauma, and find like minded people to bond with because of this book. A must read!

“Marry Yourself First: A Modern Woman’s True Story Of Healing The Heart” is by far the best book I have read in a long time! A must read for every woman on the journey to healing a broken heart. A personal story that weaves in terms from both psychology and healing modalities to help the reader understand what is happening in the mind and body from a scientific point of view.

Brilliantly written, this book captures the reader right from the start with events in the author’s personal journey that all women can relate to in one way or another. Nicole Russo as a Myofascial Release practitioner has been able to capture in words how we heal from the deep wounds and traumatic events in our lives, that at times, we do not recognize as triggers for our current emotional and physical pain.

Marry Yourself First is written in part as a love story, a romantic novel that opens up our awareness of deep personal pain and the struggles to heal our heart so that we can be open to finding love. It is a fantastic book for men to read and see a glimpse of how emotional pain can become entangled in relationships.

If you are a mental health therapist or bodyworker, I encourage you to read this book to explore a compelling discovery of pain and self-love from a client’s perspective and share it with your clients. If you are client of mental health or receiving bodywork, I encourage you to read this book to get a deeper understanding of how the two work hand in hand towards you healing your heart and share it with your therapists. Nicole Russo has done a fabulous job in bridging a gap and creating a world, a pathway, a journey into the mind/body connection towards emotional healing!

Nicole is an intelligent, no nonsense business owner and professional who’s been through the ringer of life experiences. In her memoir-meets-self-improvement book, she takes the reader on her own journey of self love and personal discovery to show the world that just because someone looks like they have everything figured out and put together on the surface, doesn’t mean they feel like they have it together. And sometimes you have to put it all in a blender and start over to achieve your perfect happiness, and that’s OK too!

Through a lifetime of hard earned personal discovery, Nicole shares the wisdom she’s learned along the way in hopes of helping anyone looking for a little more love for themselves find their path. Whether you just want a bit of a self confidence boost or are looking to completely overhaul your self image (like Nicole chronicles in the book), her story can help you find the first steps on this journey for you. It’s part love story, part self improvement, and part late night confessional with a life-long best friend.

The books reads like a no-nonsense memoir. Nicole speaks to her reader much in the way one tells a story to a friend–casually, with a good dose of humor, but not glossing over the less-than-sunny bits. She details the trauma she’s experienced throughout her life, but also the amazing breakthroughs too. The lessons aren’t always “Do this and your life will be better,” but more “here’s how I challenged myself and the results I achieved from doing so.”

CW/TW: Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Rape, and Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders and Terminal illness

Typically I don’t read books. I was never able to get into reading and if I did, the book had to capture me within the 1st-2nd chapter which is exactly what ‘Marry Yourself First’ did. I couldn’t put the book down, I wanted to know more.

Being a Mom to a toddler & working from home full time, you don’t always have the time to sit down and read. But let me tell you, I made darn sure to find the time to continue where I left off. I finished the book in 6 days! Now to me, that’s impressive for myself.

At the beginning of the book, I was able to relate to Nicole on how she was the chubby girl in school, didn’t click with anyone & didn’t really have anyone that liked me. I knew right then that I needed to continue. Nicole really has a great way to keep you intrigued. Throughout the whole book, I always said to myself, what else? What else happen to her? Who else broke her heart? I knew she had to have found love somewhere and someone who wouldn’t break her heart so I continued on – and sure enough, the ending will have you in awe!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I recommend it to anyone that may have any doubts on if they love themselves to buy this book. You won’t be disappointed.

For those of you die-hard romantics…would you ever really stop to marry yourself? Where did the prince go? Where’s the gorgeous Friesan horse he was going to pick me up with?

Nicole DeSouza made me really stop…dead in my tracks….and read this book….while I sped read it…the information in here is LIFE CHANGING….

As a person new to Myofascial Release John Barnes) that was my instant connection to Nicole….plus the extraordinary Joanna Hunter helped too….MFR has helped me release lots of trauma in my cells….years’ worth….and Nicole’s book truly helped me to get the most from my last treatment.

It IS OK TO LOVE….yourself.

Follow Nicole’s incredible journey as she shares with humor, wit, experience and above all LOVE…..

What are you waiting for? Get this book. LOVE you as the gift.