Author Lara Casey has had interesting things happen in her life that could have been the stuff of a good memoir. But Make It Happen is more of a self-help book, and I’m not sure it stands up to the competition in that crowded category. Casey discusses various challenges she’s faced, but in a very surface manner – each is given just a few sentences – after which comes pages of vague advice. It was just too cheerleader-ish for me, without enough story or unique perspective. But her enthusiasm makes it an easy read and leaves you with the sense of having connected with someone fun, someone you’d like to know better.

I’ve reviewed other books on the subject that go deeper, both in terms of sharing personal experience and offering unique suggestions for going after your dreams – Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project books come to mind, along with Jennie Allen’s Restless, and Let’s All Be Brave by Annie F. Downs. But I hope Lara Casey tries memoir writing. I think she’s got the material, and it would be great to see her tell her story with more depth and less advice.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.