Getting Married at Last: My Journey from Hopelessness to Happiness is a nonfiction memoir written by Lori A. Peters. Peters was all too aware of what she considered her imperfections as she was growing up. She was not comfortable with her appearance, particularly her face, which seemed to have inherited the worst qualities of both her mother and her father’s facial features. While their faces seemed just fine to her, those features just didn’t work somehow for her. It made a difference in how she saw herself, and it colored her interactions with others. Peters found herself gravitating to girlfriends who were hotter and more perfect, girls who seemed to attract men easily and be able to do the relationship thing with a native grace. Lori’s case was different. While she did have her share of interested boys as she was growing up, and, later on, men, nothing seemed to progress to the point of a relationship that was picture perfect. Even long-term relationships seemed to go south inexplicably, causing Peters to wonder as she passed her thirties and progressed into her fourth decade if she would ever actually get married. And as she learned more about herself, she started to think that being single for life wouldn’t actually be that bad a thing after all.

As I read Lori A. Peters’ marvelous nonfiction memoir, Getting Married at Last: My Journey from Hopelessness to Happiness, I began thinking of her life story as one of the most compelling coming of age memoirs I’ve come across. Peters’ voice comes loud and clear throughout this disarming and ruefully funny book. Her writing is an absolute joy to read, and her story is first rate. This author is brutally honest while at the same time making it perfectly clear that she doesn’t take herself too seriously. Her memories of growing up with her parents are wonderful, especially her dad being way ahead of his time when it came to tech and stereophonic gadgetry. As I read about her finding her own crowd of happily single people and the rich and fulfilled lives they shared, I could envision her fully growing into herself and the process of becoming comfortable in her skin, and her life; it seemed to work so perfectly. Many people don’t ever fully come of age, and witnessing vicariously as Peters did so was a delight.

Peters’ work is listed primarily as women’s nonfiction/relationships. I did wonder, as I began to read, if I would feel put off or out of sync with what was being shared, but I soon realized that her story communicated powerfully regardless of gender. Her voice never made me feel excluded from the circle of friends into which she deftly transforms her reading audience. Getting Married at Last is an extraordinarily good debut work, and I’m hoping to see more books from this accomplished, literate and humorous author. Getting Married at Last: My Journey from Hopelessness to Happiness is most highly recommended.

From self-love, self-care, to building confidence and mastering the secrets to creating lasting and strong relationships, Lori A Peters seems to get it all in Getting Married at Last: My Journey from Hopelessness to Happiness, masterfully blending her personal journey to an amazing love experience with powerful thoughts, reflections, and wonderful insights and tips on what it takes to find true love, embrace it, and make it grow. I was hooked from the very start of the book because of the candid voice and the ruthless honesty of the author.

The reader is introduced to the author as she complains, sharing her heartache with her friend, because someone has left her again, and she says it’s the same story and only the names of the men change every time she has to tell the story. In this book, she explores the question of why she was always heartbroken, left behind in relationships, and it is what she wakes up to that will surprise and inspire readers. This is a book that offers a tremendous journey of hurt and healing, of love and relationships, and the hope that everyone should hold onto.

Lori A Peters’ story is one that many people, especially women, are familiar with, an inspiring story with relevant, hard-won lessons. This is one of those books that doesn’t just tell readers how to find love, but shows them how the author discovered the secret to becoming creative in receiving and giving love. It’s a book that will help seekers understand what to look for when they want love. Getting Married at Last: My Journey from Hopelessness to Happiness will also teach readers the importance of self-care and how to find their own path towards love. It’s a great inspiration.

Do you believe that you're ready to be married? Are you the kind of person that you're seeking to marry? What this means is that if you want a kind, responsible and loving partner, are you that also? Or are you merely looking for someone to rescue you, be the knight in shining armor, or to be accepted exactly as you are? Marriage is a commitment. It takes work. As you read Getting Married at Last: My Journey from Hopelessness to Happiness by Lori A Peters, keep these thoughts and questions in mind. As you begin to read, reflect on the various aspects of the author's journey that she took to get to the place of self-discovery. This book is inspirational and will provide you with some tools and exercises that you can begin to partake in immediately to achieve results. On her road map, you will see the pathway through the hills and valleys of challenges and struggles that she encountered on her journey to overcome these obstacles and to obtain the strength of the person that she's become. Peters has provided you with all of the tools and resources that you need on your own road to discovery in this book. The Happiness Hangout platform and Blogs are where you will find the support, classes, and information that you need to obtain and keep a healthy marital relationship.

This is a great book because of its transparency. Reading it allows everyone the ability to see themselves. It begins with you, whether you want to be married or not. We all should make a continual effort to work towards self-improvement, not only for ourselves but for those around us. Peters shows how through hard work, perseverance, taking an honest assessment of oneself, and letting go positive change can occur. As displayed in The Happiness Hangout, conversation, knowledge and increasing your level of happiness are the tools that everyone needs to create and continue a positive life transition. A few other important factors that Peters points out are implementing a Gratitude Rant and to journal your journey because it not only empties out your emotions, but it allows you to go back and reflect on how much you’ve grown.