Toggle navigation

The Middle Matters

Why That (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Really Good on You

Lisa-Jo Baker

About The Middle Matters

The best-selling author of Never Unfriended opens up about midlife and what it feels like to have outgrown those teenage jeans—but finally grown into the shape of our souls.
 
“I want to give Lisa-Jo’s book a standing ovation.”—Aarti Sequeira, chef and TV personality
 
Do you ever wonder how you woke up one day with all the responsibilities of a grown-up who secretly enjoys buying groceries in bulk, can no longer recognize the tween celebrities on the magazines at checkout, but is still surprised when a Starbucks barista calls you “ma’am”—because your inside self is frozen in time to about twenty years ago?
 
So does Lisa-Jo Baker.
 
In these intimate reflections on midlife, Lisa-Jo invites us to get a good look at our middles and gives us permission to embrace them—beyond what the media, the mirror, or the magazines say. Through gutsy, beautiful storytelling, she admits out loud what most of us are thinking about marriage, parenting, the bathroom scale, and how badly we all want to buy those matching Magnolia Market mugs.
 
Her delicious stories come from not being afraid of who she is, because Lisa-Jo knows that the middle might be the best part of the love story of life, kids, faith, doubt, marriage, failure, wonder, and the muffin top—and that these are all good things. She’s not asking you to seize the day, just to make sure you actually see it for all its wildly ordinary glory.
 
Welcome to the middle!

Praise for The Middle Matters

“What a thought-provoking collection of reflections and wisdom! Through personal stories about love, loss, and life in the middle, Lisa-Jo invites us to take a long look inside our own mind’s secret nooks and crannies, which aren’t nearly as dark, scary, or ordinary as we might think.”—Layla Palmer, The Lettered Cottage blog

“With captivating wit, hard-won wisdom, and breathtaking honesty, Lisa-Jo has written a love letter to the delicious middle.”—Mandy Arioto, president and CEO of MOPS International and author of Have More Fun

“With Lisa-Jo’s guts as our unfettered guide, may we finally learn the sumptuous truth of our years: that a grilled cheese sandwich without the middle is just toast.”—Erin Loechner, founder of OtherGoose and author of Chasing Slow

“Thank you, Lisa-Jo, for reminding women everywhere how important it is to find meaning in the midst of the confusing middle.”—Joy Prouty, artist and educator

Praise

“In a world that is telling every woman to speed up and get to the good part or slow down because you’re about to miss it, I’m so grateful a message like The Middle Matters is bringing the grace and truth and good news that we need.”—Jess Connolly, author of Wild and Free, Dance Stand Run, and You Are the Girl for the Job

“For any adult who still sometimes feels like the shy, insecure kid from junior high, Lisa-Jo Baker is the breath of fresh air you’ve been waiting for. She gives us permission to fully embrace our lives— imperfections and all—and reminds us that it’s okay to feel like you totally do not have life all figured out.”—Jennifer Fulwiler, SiriusXM radio host and author of One Beautiful Dream

“Lisa-Jo’s hilarious and honest stories won’t push and prod you toward some better version of yourself. Instead, in fun and funny prose that fairly dances off the page, The Middle Matters opens our eyes to the wonder of the lives and loves that are ours to receive in these middle years.”—Christie Purifoy, author of Placemaker and cohost of the Out of the Ordinary podcast

“This is a story of every woman at some point and time, and it left me so encouraged. This is a book I want to pass along to all my girlfriends so we can discuss it together. Lisa-Jo is so relatable and likable, and it all comes across in her writing. I’m grateful for her words.”—Kelly Stamps, blogger and mom of three

“In this witty and heartwarming book, Lisa-Jo Baker makes a case for why the middle matters. And just like an Oreo wouldn’t be the same without the cream in the middle, those seemingly mundane and messy middle years can actually be where some of the best stuff of life happens!”—Crystal Paine, founder of MoneySavingMom, host of The Crystal Paine Show, and New York Times best-selling author

“Lisa-Jo Baker tackles middle age with her trademark wit and down-to-earth charm, making every reader feel like they’re sitting on the other side of the table for a coffee chat with the author. Ultimately, this book challenges readers to not only accept but also embrace midlife with all of its messiness, in a way that makes it clear we are not alone.”—Courtney Walsh, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of Things Left Unsaid

“Lisa tells chuckle-worthy, relatable stories that unlock new places of gratitude and contentment. She reveals that the seemingly ordinary points of life are what hold the meaning and beauty of our interwoven stories.”—Jessica Honegger, founder and co-CEO Noonday Collection and author of Imperfect Courage

“Whether you are entering the middle, are in it, or are beyond it, you’ll find not only yourself in this book but wisdom and encouragement. The Middle Matters is a vulnerable, compelling read that I want to gift to every friend I know.”—Jessica Turner, best-selling author of The Fringe Hours and Stretched Too Thin

“Life is a circus. As the ringleader, I often find myself forgetting to enjoy any of it. In The Middle Matters, Lisa-Jo gives us all a motivational mission and a plan for making it happen.”—Claire Diaz-Ortiz, author and speaker

About Lisa-Jo Baker

Lisa-Jo Baker is the bestselling author of Never Unfriended, Surprised by Motherhood, and The Middle Matters. With a BA in English/prelaw from Gordon College and a JD from the University of Notre Dame Law School, Baker has lived and worked on three continents in the human rights field. Her writings have resonated with thousands and have been featured on HuffPost, BibleGateway, Fox News, Today online, Christianity Today, and more. A sought-after national speaker, she is the cohost of the Out of the Ordinary podcast. Originally from South Africa, Baker now lives with her family just outside Washington, D.C.

Featured Videos

Book Trailer: THE MIDDLE MATTERS by Lisa-Jo Baker

Product Details

272 pages | Published by WaterBrook

On Sale Date: Jul 23, 2019

Trim Size: 5-1/2 x 8-1/4

Carton Quantity: 12

Sneak Peek

Read the first two chapters of The Middle Matters. The best-selling author of Never Unfriended opens up about midlife and what it feels like to have outgrown those teenage jeans, but finally grown into the shape of our souls. Do you ever wonder how you woke up one day with all the responsibilities of a grown-up who secretly enjoys going to Costco, can no longer recognize the tween celebrities on the magazines at checkout, but is still surprised when a Starbucks Barista calls you "ma'am"—because your inside self is frozen in time from about twenty years ago? So does Lisa-Jo Baker. In this collection of bite-sized essays, Lisa-Jo Baker invites women to get a good look at their middles and gives permission to embrace them—beyond what the media, the mirror, the magazines, or our teenagers say. Through gutsy, beautiful storytelling, she admits out loud what most women are thinking about marriage, parenting, failure, and how badly we all want to buy those matching Magnolia Market mugs. Her delicious stories come from not being afraid of who she is (Your Age is Not a Dirty Word). Because she has finally grown comfortable in her own skin (The Scale is Not the Boss of You). She's not asking you to seize the day, just to make sure you actually see it; for all its wildly ordinary glory (Sobbing in my Minivan Over Honor Roll). Because Lisa-Jo knows that the middle might be the best part of the love story of life, muffin top included.

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Beverly Rykerd, VP, Director of Publicity
brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com
(719) 268-1935
Secondary contact: Chelsea Woodward, Associate Publicist
cwoodward@penguinrandomhouse.com
(719) 268-1915
 
Best-Selling Author Lisa-Jo Baker Reflects on Midlife, Empowers Women to Find Beauty in the Ordinary  
 
“I want to give Lisa-Jo’s book a standing ovation because it’s exactly what’s needed for this particular time, when our ‘ordinary’ lives seem so unextraordinary compared to what we see or hear on our phones. I’m beginning to embrace my middle, physically and metaphorically, and I’m finding the most extraordinary thing: The freedom and the joy I thought was missing in my life? It was there all along.”—Aarti Sequeira, chef, TV personality, journalist and author
 
Special trips, extravagant celebrations, and YouTube proposals are awesome, but they aren't where real life really lives. When these moments flood women’s screens, be it on their social media feeds or in the latest romantic comedy, their lives can suddenly feel boring, ordinary and terribly routine.
 
In her new book, The Middle Matters: Why That (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Really Good on You (7/23/19, WaterBrook) best-selling author, podcaster and speaker Lisa-Jo Baker frees women from the pressure to live up to everyone else’s expectations of what a meaningful life should look like. Rather than asking them to seize the day, she encourages them to simply change the way they see each day—because the very best stories really do grow out of the soil of ordinary life.  
 
Through a series of gutsy, intimate reflections on midlife, Baker bravely admits what most women in the middle are thinking about marriage, parenting, body image, failure, and how badly they all want to buy those matching Magnolia Market mugs. She gives them permission to embrace their middles as she shares how she has made peace with her own—and yes, even with her muffin top!

This beautiful collection of essays is a must-read for the woman who is shocked to find herself at the midpoint of her life and needs to hear how things actually are rather than how they are supposed to be. They may be surprised to find that the thousands of ordinary, not-so-picture-perfect moments of the middle are what make a truly extraordinary life.
 
As host of the Out of the Ordinary podcast and blogger with more than 75,000 followers, Baker has garnered a following of women who look to her to see beauty in the ordinary and Divine in the everyday.
 
She can speak to:


   • 5 fast ways to change how we see our ordinary lives
   • Seeing the day instead of always trying to seize the day—spotting the “extra” in the ordinary
   • Opening our front door to start building community even when we feel inadequate
   • Dealing with faith doubts in midlife and guiding our children through their own doubts
   • Embracing the extraordinariness of being seen and cherished by God
   • Handling failure in our marriages, families, finances and careers
   • Learning to love and appreciate our bodies in midlife
 
“These are the days of miracle and wonder,” writes Baker. “These are the stories that will line our empty nests one day. We are living the memories that will be passed down to the ones who are still living their beginnings. The middle is the gift you didn’t know you were right in the middle of, friend.”
 
For more information, visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com.
 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

LISA-JO BAKER, a former attorney and longtime Community Manager at (in)courage, is the best-selling author of Never Unfriended and Surprised by Motherhood. Her writings have resonated with thousands and have been featured on Huffington Post Parents, Bible Gateway, Fox News, Christianity Today, IF Table, and more. She is the co-host of the Out of the Ordinary Podcast and a sought-after national speaker who considers connecting with women in real life the best part of her job. She and her husband of over 20 years live just outside Washington, DC, with their three very loud children. For more information, visit www.lisajobaker.com.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LisaJoBaker
Twitter: @LisaJoBaker
Instagram: @LisaJoBaker

PRAISE FOR THE MIDDLE MATTERS
 
“Baker (Never Unfriended), cohost of the Out of the Ordinary podcast, combines personal anecdotes and scriptural passages in this encouraging paean to self-love aimed at Christian women entering middle age… (Her) upbeat tone, self-deprecating humor, and generosity toward others will be appreciated by Christian women looking for parenting and life advice as they enter their middle-aged years.”
Publishers Weekly

“With captivating wit, hard-won wisdom, and breathtaking honesty, Lisa-Jo has written a love letter to the delicious middle. Filled with riveting personal stories along with innovative takes on all the things we struggle with most, this is the kind of book you will want to read once a year, simply to get a refresh on all the truths and practical ideas contained inside.”
—Mandy Arioto, president and CEO of MOPS International and author of Have More Fun

“For any adult who still sometimes feels like the shy, insecure kid from junior high, Lisa-Jo Baker is the breath of fresh air you’ve been waiting for. She gives us permission to fully embrace our lives— imperfections and all—and reminds us that it’s okay to feel like you totally do not have life all figured out.”
—Jennifer Fulwiler, SiriusXM radio host and author of One Beautiful Dream

 “No one writes about motherhood, marriage, and life as Lisa-Jo Baker does. Whether you are entering the middle, are in it, or are beyond it, you’ll find not only yourself in this book but wisdom and encouragement. The Middle Matters is a vulnerable, compelling read that I want to gift to every friend I know.”
—Jessica Turner, best-selling author of The Fringe Hours and Stretched Too Thin

Contact Publicist