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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
If You Say So by Michelle Herman reflects on the author's personal and communal experiences shaped by art, caregiving, and memory. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Herman was part of a community dance project, using ballet for structure and inner balance. She recalls formative life stages: teaching, caring for family and pets, and relationships marked by support and complications. Cooking emerges as a consistent form of nurturing, beginning in graduate school and continuing through to family tradition. Herman talks about her evolving relationship with Columbus, Ohio, and her daughter Grace, as well as her attachment to home and place, and her friendship with Judith, whose mentorship prompted Herman to examine identity, loss, and legacy. In sorting through Judith’s possessions, the reality of a sometimes contradictory nature and enduring bonds of connection emerge.
In her memoir, If You Say So, Michelle Herman gives readers an observant, honestly written account that is heartening to read. What stands out most is Herman's ability to let the experiences stand on their own, sharing what she has been through and how these have shaped her so that we might also find comfort in them. Herman's memoir is not driven by a singular dramatic moment; instead, it focuses on steady, clear prose and an unflinching attention to the quiet routines and sudden ruptures that define a person. Herman’s voice is intimate without being confessional, thoughtful without veering into sentimentality. She has experienced loss and been through its aftermath in huge ways, and there is grace in everything that she chooses to include. Overall, this is a great, inspirational memoir that is perfect for readers looking for authentic, well-crafted writing. You will find much to appreciate here. Recommended.
