Raised in a Christian community, where belief in the teachings of the Bible ruled above everything else, Juls Amor often found herself with unanswered questions. As she matured, she found it hard to believe in many of society's preset beliefs about life and happy ever after. Eventually she began questioning the notion that her happiness always depended on someone else, but still she struggled to live up to the standards and expectations. She did everything expected of her: going to school, working, getting married and working through failed marriages, but still something was missing. Yearning for self discovery and understanding, she stripped herself of everything pertaining to her old lifestyle and moved far away from home in a bid to find true happiness.

The Year Of The Frog by Juls Amor is a touching tale of one woman's quest to discover the true meaning of happiness and fulfilment. Juls Amor bared her soul in this book and hopes other women who have been in the same position as her, emotionally deflated by society's predetermined concept of happiness, will find some solace in her voice. Her struggles are not unlike those faced by many women across the globe. Society expects you to believe in God, go to school, get a job, get married and live happily ever after. However, what if you do all these things and still you do not find true happiness? Then what? This is what made her leave it all behind and I greatly admired the fact that she had the courage to do this. Many would rather struggle to fit in, even when fitting in does nothing for their inner peace and happiness. Her story shows that it is never too late to try to find happiness and it might not be easy either, but it is a worthy struggle.

Year of the Frog is the story of author Juls Amor’s experience of finding the true love of her life. Amor recounts her failed marriages and her other failed relationships as she spends a year “kissing frogs” in the hopes of turning up a prince. Year of the Frog is not simply a story of a woman working hard to find a man to complete her. It is the story of Amor seeking out her deepest desires, separating them from what she was conditioned to believe she should want, and then acting on those dreams to discover her most authentic self. Amor gives up her thriving practice and the luxuries of her life to move to a Third World country that she describes as paradise in order to find out who she truly is. Her drastic move and quest to seek out her own soul leads Amor to find the truest love of all.

Year of the Frog by Juls Amor is a book every woman should read! Amor explores how she had been conditioned to seek love outside of herself, and I think there is wisdom for all women in the author’s experiences. I was able to easily identify with Amor, and there were moments that brought tears to my eyes because I knew exactly what she was talking about. Amor offers women the insight of her experience that loving oneself is not only an acceptable practice but a necessary trait for a healthy relationship. I did find some of the end section where the author was summarizing her experiences and wisdom to be a bit jarring. However, I loved how the author included the understanding of how unhealthy the male gender role is as well, something I was happy to see in a feminist novel. I definitely recommend giving this book a read.

In spite of the Women’s Liberation movement, many women still believe that they have to be all and do all for everyone around them. For the few freedoms that have been gained, there is often an overwhelming sense of guilt or eventual burn-out from trying to do too much. The Year of the Frog: A Tattletale Fairytale follows the path of discovery Juls Amor undertook to find herself and move past the guilt, unhappiness and dissatisfaction of a ‘traditional’ life. After two failed marriages and a yearning to find inner peace, Juls moved to Paradise where she discovered meditation and Mother Earth. Over the course of several years, Juls learned to break the patterns of the past and to enjoy life on its own terms – not according to the dictates of the church, society or, as she frequently refers to it, Mr. (Status) Quo. Each new experience teaches Juls something about herself and her visits to a Peruvian shaman even open up the past so that she comes to understand the deep-seated causes of her adult behavior.

The Year of the Frog: A Tattletale Fairytale is an incredible journey into Juls Amor’s search for meaning and happiness in her life. It is a long read, but only because it is an in-depth revelation and should be savored and contemplated chapter by chapter. Although this is Juls’ private story and her truths may not be the same as anyone else’s, it offers hope to those who suffer from feelings of inadequacy and are searching for more meaning in their life. With honesty and forthrightness, Juls bares her soul to throw off her own chains and she offers you the opportunity to learn from her experiences; it may be just the push you need to start on the path to search your own soul and grow.

A book beyond refreshing! Jules opens up and leaves out taboos, she shows us beautiful insights, of which many are of help to people in different stages of life, facing issues we all come along with. Very well written, captivating and honest. I highly recommend it!