Books are one of the great loves of my life. They are my playground, my classroom, my companion, my work, and my soundtrack. Audiobooks keep me company while folding laundry or walking my dogs. eBooks give me a break from doomscrolling in waiting rooms. Physical books are my research tools in the afternoon and the lullaby on my bedside table. But every so often, I pick up a book that hums with an energy that lets me know this one will be different. I hold my breath, my stomach tightens, and I can practically hear the click, click, click of bench seats moving upwards before barreling down a roller coaster. East Winds: A Global Quest to Reckon with Marriage by Rachel Rueckert was one of those books for me.

In East Winds, Rachel takes us on her year-long honeymoon as she and her husband Austin travel to South America, Asia, and Europe. Rachel had planned a solo trip to explore marriage customs around the globe before meeting the man who became her husband; despite falling in love and making this commitment, she still felt ambivalent about marriage as an institution. As this trip for one became a trip for two, budget strains, stresses of life and travel, and blistering lessons along the way pushed Rachel to consider what marriage means for her.

The books rests in the center of the venn diagram of Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, and Educated by Tara Westover. If you know and love those books as I do, you know that this is not just a travelogue. It is an exploration of childhood trauma, religious and cultural messaging around marriage, and individual and family struggles with mental health.

Because Rachel, https://exponentii.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_5173-scaled-1.jpg-in-chief of Exponent II magazine, is my friend and colleague, I knew that several of Rachel’s most challenging family and life experiences paralleled my own in significant ways. I expected that in reading this book, I would be encountering the weight of religious and family expectations that I too faced while growing up that impacted many of my own life choices. I opened the pages, anticipating sharp corners and loops, but instead found Rachel walking alongside her readers, guiding us through a braided story of her life and journey. My energy shifted from anxiety to excitement as I delighted in her gorgeous writing and the personal insights I gained through her words. I can’t wait for the audiobook to come out so I can listen to her read her story.

I was thrilled to see Rachel at Writ and Vision in Provo earlier this week and celebrate the launch of her book. She was kind enough to sign two copies to give away on the blog. And don’t miss the interview blogger Spunky did with Rachel!

Giveaway time! To enter the drawing for a chance to win a signed copy of East Winds, simply comment below that you would like to win a copy. For a second entry, share this post on social media and comment again. Enter between now and Thursday, December 8. To enter you must be a resident of the United States. I will assign a number to each entry and on Friday, December 9, I will use a random number generator to select the two winners. Winners must send me their mailing address by December 12 or I will select a new winner.