I'm Just Happy to Be Here: A Memoir of Renegade Mothering

By: Janelle Hanchett

Narrated by: Janelle Hanchett

Length: 9 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

"A refreshingly raw, contrasting perspective on the foolproof idea of motherhood." (POPSUGAR)

"By turns painful and funny...A searingly candid memoir." (Kirkus)

"Far from your cookie-cutter story of addiction...[I'm Just Happy to Be Here] describes Hanchett's journey to recovery and sobriety in imperfect and unconventional ways." (Bustle)

In this unflinching and wickedly funny memoir, Janelle Hanchett tells the story of finding her way home. And then, actually staying there. Drawing us into the wild, heartbreaking mind of the addict, Hanchett carries us from motherhood at 21 with a man she'd known three months to cubicles and whiskey-laden domesticity, from judging meth addicts in rehab to therapists who "seem to pull diagnoses out of large, expensive hats."

With warmth, wit, and searing B.S. detectors turned mostly toward herself, Hanchett invites us to laugh when we probably shouldn't and to rejoice at the unconventional redemption she finds in desperation and in a misfit mentor who forces her to see the truth of herself. A story of ego and forced humility, of fierce honesty and jagged love, of the kind of failure that forces us to re-create our lives, Hanchett writes with rare candor, scorching the "sanctity of motherhood," and leaving beauty in the ashes.

©2018 Janelle Hanchett (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Hanchett offers a startling account of her struggles with alcohol and drug addiction in this raw and riveting memoir....Readers will cheer Hanchett toward her triumphant recovery." (Publishers Weekly)

"By turns painful and funny, [I'm Just Happy to Be Here] explores the pressures of modern motherhood while chronicling one woman's journey toward acceptance of her own limitations and imperfections. A searingly candid memoir." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Janelle Hanchett presents motherhood as we seldom see it: with irreverent humor, brazen honesty, deep love and loss. Her story is about finding peace right in the mess of motherhood, and that's what makes it wonderful." (Jill Smokler, New York Times best-selling author of Confessions of a Scary Mommy)

dark yet playful

this book hits hard. it is dark yet playful. at it’s best it lives in that place that can only be reached by a lifetime of experience and bad decisions and hard work and luck and whatever else it is that brings someone back from there alive.

Real and relatable

This book had me crying through so much, if I couldn’t relate on one level, I could relate to something else. Real, raw, and beautiful

Thank You for this book I couldn't stop.

beautiful. heartbreaking. relatable in the deepest parts of me. I am sad it is over. more like This, please. more real books that make me understand human suffering and the hell we create on earth for ourselves. it is all different, and all exactly the same and makes me love every human on the planet because we are all just trying our best and failing and trying again.

Beautiful

Beautiful and sad and funny and real!
I read this in 3 days! It’s beautiful.

Beautifully written

Where do I even begin I absolutely loved this book because addiction isn’t all rainbows and unicorns and I loved the truth in the words that Janelle wrote what an amazing book you will not be disappointed it’s a must read especially for anyone who has been touched by alcoholism or addiction whether it’s a family member or themselves

Holy wow!

I’m not much of a reader at all. I’m 36 and the last book I read was in high school. I’ve attempted to read here and there but never more than a couple chapters. I read this book in one day. Only putting it down to tend to my kids and the occasional pee. The story is gut wrenching in both the best and worst ways. Janelle’s style and use of language brings the story to life as if you were there too. As if you too were in the story. Like the fly on the wall that you always wished you could be for these kids of stories. As a mother, this book changed me. Well done Janelle. Thank you for sharing.

Many times, this book took my breath away.

Many times, this book took my breath away and left me in tears.

This book started out, a little difficult for me to get into but I am extremely happy I didn't give up on it. Being an ACOA myself and having a family with multiple siblings that struggle with addiction I found this book to be very therapeutic. Amazingly written!!! I am soo proud of Janelle and I love her truth, her words, her thoughts!!! Janelle you are amazing!!!

Not what I thought It would be about but loved it

This book was not what I thought it would be about. It's about addiction and recovery and how one can f up your life and blame everyone in the world never once looking in the mirror. I went out of my way to listen to this book almost every day so I could finish the book. the story was so compelling and I just always wanted to know what happened next. My husband who normally doesn't like the books I like was forced to listen to part of it on a long drive and a few days later he was like 'did you finish that book? I'm wondering what happened to that lady.?" So that speaks a lot to the compelling nature of the story.

It's well told. It's funny. It not for one minute allow you to think you are a better person that she is or that she is a better person than you. In the end, she was just happy to STILL be here because none of us is guaranteed another day whether we are complete f ups or the holiest of the holy. I'm glad she shared this memoir. And her husband is a SAINT!

Real and tragic and messy and beautiful

As a woman who has lived through the hell of addiction and suffering and tragic loss, I can attest that no one judges us more harshly about our motherhood than we do ourselves. I've read other great memoirs written by sober women, and I've heard many women in the rooms tell their stories, but it is tragically rare that anyone includes the really ugly details. It's not that they didn't happen, it's that society praises those with 'high bottoms' who have made it to recovery without somehow being a total depraved embarrassment. Most of us who could not manage that tend to keep quiet so we don't have to relive our shame, and those of us who do share our tragic tales are often lauded as brave and inspiring by the same women who act like we're too abnormal to actually befriend. It was very satisfying to hear the honest story of a woman with a low bottom who was an utter disappointment to herself but never gave up hope of being a good mother. I certainly don't understand or relate to everything she did or didn't do, but I totally understand why she shares it and why it's so damn important that we all do. There were many times in which I felt worthless as a mother, but I was able to heal and grow and somehow become admired by and best friends with my now adult sons. May other readers come away with compassion and hope for themselves or compassion and hope for those who are still lost and suffering.

beautiful sad and strong

this book was heart wrenching, insightful, and wonderful. thank you Janelle. your story really resonates with me.