The Magnolia Story

Publisher's Summary

Are you ready to see your fixer-upper?

These famous words are now synonymous with the dynamic husband-and-wife team Chip and Joanna Gaines, stars of HGTV's Fixer Upper. As this question fills the airwaves with anticipation, their legions of fans continue to multiply and ask a different series of questions, like: Who are these people? What's the secret to their success? And is Chip actually that funny in real life?

By renovating homes in Waco, Texas, and changing lives in such a winsome and engaging way, Chip and Joanna have become more than just the stars of Fixer Upper; they have become America's new best friends. The Magnolia Story is the first book from Chip and Joanna, offering their fans a detailed look at their life together, from the very first renovation project they ever tackled together to the project that nearly cost them everything; from the childhood memories that shaped them to the twists and turns that led them to the life they share on the farm today.

They both attended Baylor University in Waco. However, their paths did not cross until Chip checked his car in to the local Firestone tire shop, where Joanna worked behind the counter. Even back then Chip was a serial entrepreneur who, among other things, ran a lawn care company, sold fireworks, and flipped houses. Soon they were married and living in their first fixer-upper. Four children and countless renovations later, Joanna garnered the attention of a television producer who noticed her work on a blog one day.

In The Magnolia Story, fans will finally get to join the Gaineses behind the scenes and discover:

• The time Chip ran to the grocery store and forgot to take their sleeping new baby
• Joanna's agonizing decision to close her dream business to focus on raising their children
• When Chip bought a houseboat, sight unseen, and it turned out to be a leaky wreck
• Joanna's breakthrough moment of discovering the secret to creating a beautiful home
• Harrowing stories of the financial ups and downs as an entrepreneurial couple
• Memories from Chip and Jo's wedding
• The significance of the word magnolia and why it permeates everything they do
• The way the couple pays the popularity of Fixer Upper forward, sharing the success with others and bolstering the city of Waco along the way

And yet there is still one lingering question for fans of the show: Is Chip really that funny?

"Oh yeah," says Joanna. "He was and still is my first fixer-upper."

©2016 Chip and Joanna Gaines (P)2016 Thomas Nelson Publishers

Super entertaining!

Really enjoyed this one, from the story to them telling of of their lives and how they landed the show. To anybody listening, it's pretty clear that this couple are a perfect match, balancing each other out. I definitely think it was far better to hear about the ups and downs in their own words, and loved when Chip would recall certain times and spontaneously chuckle about them, like buying that houseboat or being 90 minutes late for their first date and still managing to charm the pants off Joanna's sister and roommates. Good stuff... far more funny than a sit com. After finishing up this audiobook, two things were very obvious to me: that Chip and Joanna work hard and put family above all else. However, they also care about the community and have a strong faith in God. I should probably point out that before purchasing the book, I had no idea of who they were, despite being a big fan of reality TV. Yet, I kept seeing The Magnolia Story on Audible getting rave reviews, so jumped at the chance to purchase it as the daily deal. I should explain that the only reason for not watching their show is because I am completely blind and would no doubt miss out on much of the visuals throughout the program, but I still appreciate the beauty of a Home and the way it's maintained and decorated. Now, after listening to their book, I am interested in trying to watch the show and see what I can learn from it. Much success to Chip and Joanna! Worth the time and credit for sure! 😊👍🏼

34 of 35 people found this review helpful

Surprised! This is not a "chick book"

My wife wanted listen to this book due to the popularity of the TV show. I figured it was a "chick book" that I had little interest in. I recently got in to a situation where I had a long wait with no internet. All I had to kill the time was The Magnolia Story my wife previously downloaded. It turns out this is not a book about decorating & design targeting a female audience. It is about a hardworking couple raising a family and building a business telling their unique story. It is literally told from the ground up. To a discerning listener the timeline offers a long-term inside look that answers the question so often asked of successful people, "How did you do it?" There were several points made by both Chip & Joanna that caused me to stop, meditate and reflect. One of the strongest points they made is they idea that we never "arrive". That kind of thinking causes us to become complacent which is a real danger to our personal and professional success. But intentionally rearrange the state of thriving away from a destination and place it on the journey. That simple act will cause us to be intentional about the way we live naturally putting more focus on the everyday process of our lives instead of just the singular events.

46 of 48 people found this review helpful

Heartwarming!

What made the experience of listening to The Magnolia Story the most enjoyable?

The story, honestly. Chip and Joanna did such a great job on the book, and hearing them narrate it was a pleasure. Especially the times you heard Chip laugh, or the meaningful inflections in Joanna's voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

They are a family of faith. So if you watch the show, and you're interested in reading the book, but aren't religious, their belief in God is definitely a strong theme throughout the book.

25 of 27 people found this review helpful

Beautiful feel good story!

I have a soft rule of not reading memoirs of anyone less than 60 years old because it seems to me that for anyone younger to write a memoir takes real audacity and excessive ego. Occasionally, I set the rule aside and read such a book. This is one case I'm happy that I did. I purchased The Magnolia Story because it was a $3.95 Audible Daily Deal with an average rating of 4.8 stars with over 10,000 listeners rating it. I've never seen Chip and Joanna Gaines' HGTV show and do not believe I had ever heard of them. The audio book is five hours in length and I had 5 hours to listen; the book has been in my Audible library for a while so I decided to give it a try not expecting to complete it. The book blew me away. It is an inspiring story! Very highly recommended!!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Love!!

Everything about this couple sets the example of how a marriage could be. They are the epitome of "Faith, Love, Communication!". Their story reminds me of my own marriage and how faith has helped overcome obstacles. One sitting, one day, LOVE IT!

30 of 34 people found this review helpful

Wonderful!!

Just what you would expect from Chip and Joanna! These two are incredibly inspiring people. I highly recommend listening to this book. It's read by Chip and Joanna. It couldn't be any better.

21 of 24 people found this review helpful

This story will make your heart happy

I absolutely LOVE Fixer Upper. The amount of "real" that is on that show compared to other shows on any network makes me smile. The way that Chip and Joanna are to each other and to other people just put a big smile on my face every time I watch them. So, when I saw that they had a book coming out I was hoping that it would be narrated by them. It is!

The stories that are in here basically take from when they first met until the present, sprinkling in some amazing stories that you won't find anywhere other than this book. If you love them on Fixer Upper, then I promise you will enjoy this book.

The amount of times that The Magnolia Story has made me laugh and cry was too many to count. It really was just a cute and enjoyable audiobook.

Both Chip and Joanna narrate the book, but it seems to be mostly Joanna with Chip just chiming in from time to time (unless the story is from his perspective). And his little additions made me laugh almost every time.

It's just so nice to have a story that can make your heart happy at the end of the day. Especially with all of the bad going on in the world. The Magnolia Story was my little reprise from all of the negativity around us. The same way that Fixer Upper is for me, too.

29 of 34 people found this review helpful

I'm now a fan!!

I didn't know much about Chip and JoJo prior to reading this book. I'd caught the show a few times (while at the dentist, we don't have cable) and so I thought I'd check out the book.

I loved reading about their crazy wonderful life and adventures!

12 of 14 people found this review helpful

Wholesome and Uplifting

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes the show on HGTV, or anyone who loves a story about people who build their own destiny.

What did you like best about this story?

What I liked best about this story is the positive attitude that both Chris and Joanna exude. It's refreshing to hear people being thankful and happy for the lives they have created and worked so hard for.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

It was nice to hear their story in their own voices, but Joanna talks a bit fast. I almost thought I had put the book on 1.5X speed for listening.

What else would you have wanted to know about Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines ’s life?

Since I'm not a super fan of the show, I didn't have any unanswered questions.

Any additional comments?

Fun listen, but glad it was a daily deal and not something I used a credit to buy.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Better than I'd hoped!

I was trying not to cry listening to this at work, but it's everything I wanted to hear. Sometimes, we just have to be reminded that things aren't perfect they will never be and to remember what's most important. I appreciate their stories so much. I think I'm gonna go get a hard copy!

19 of 23 people found this review helpful

How to live life<br />

This audio has exceeded my expectations. It's a lovely story of how life is lived in the best way possible.

I loved evert minute of it ♡

I loved evert minute of it. It is so inspiring on so many levels. Thank you for the message of hope you have so beautifully portrayed in this book, and you did all that just by being you.

Loved loved loved this book!!!

Loved the book, Joanna and Chip, so inspirational for your own life and own ideas