I have been looking forward to Juliet’s School of Possibilities since I first heard Laura Vanderkam mention it on the Best of Both Worlds Podcast last year. I love Vanderkam's books about time management and this is her first novella. She incorporates her knowledge and expertise into a short fable about a woman named Riley who is spread too thin. ⁣⁣⁣
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In a society where “busy” reigns supreme, Vanderkam’s books are a wonderful reminder about how we get to choose how we spend our time and energy and this book is such a fun spin-off. We meet Juliet who shares wisdom and helps Riley rethink this balance. “Expectations are infinite. Time is finite. You are always choosing. Choose well.”

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ( )

Juliet's School of Possibilities is a parable designed to help readers consider the choices and priorities they have in their lives, particularly as those choices relate to their careers.

The parable centers around a young woman named Riley who is struggling. She's having trouble meeting her employer's and clients' expectations; her boyfriend is fed up with her not having time for him; her best friend has has enough of the brush-offs.

It's as if Riley is trying to keep 1,000 plates spinning at once, but her priorities are in the minutiae of responding to emails as they come in (rather than delegating to her assistant, or prioritizing the important email). She's so distracted with everything calling for her attention that she succeeds at nothing.

Riley attends a corporate retreat at a mystical place run by a prominent, has-it-all-together woman, Juliet. Juliet takes an interest in Riley and is able to help Riley "see" some possibilities: one a lonely life with nothing to be proud of; another with all of her dreams coming true and then some. This part of the book reminded me a little of The Alchemist, and I see I'm not the only reviewer who had that thought.

The story continues, and I'll stop the plot summary so you can see how it concludes.

At page 117, Laura Vanderkam steps in and speaks directly to the reader. She reminds us something from the parable: expectations are infinite, and time is finite. Vanderkam has questions designed to help the reader look to the future and consider some possibilities with regard to career and personal life. There's blank space to record your responses.

There are additional questions for those reading the book as a group. Reading groups, especially formed among colleagues, might yield interesting conversation and practical ways someone might be able to adjust their own workflow.

I think some readers will appreciate the example within the story and discussing Riley's life and her choices. Maybe they'll see aspects of themselves in Riley; or maybe they can't relate to her.

The parable fell flat for me. I didn't think Riley's situation or the way it was presented was believable.

My favorite part was at the end where Vanderkam asks questions designed to challenge us and how we treat our priorities. These are ideas similar to what she explores in depth in her previous books.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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