Writing with a delicate balance of humor and truth, critically acclaimed author Rebecca Barry reflects on motherhood, work, and marriage in her new memoir about trying to build a creative life.

When Rebecca Barry and her husband moved to upstate New York to start their family, they wanted to be surrounded by natural beauty but close to a small urban center, doing work they loved, and plenty of time to spend with their kids. But living their dreams turned out not to be so simple: The lovely old house they bought had lots of character, but also needed lots of repairs; they struggled to stay afloat financially; their children refused to sleep or play quietly; and the novel Rebecca had dreamed of writing simply wouldn't come to her.

Recipes for a Beautiful Life blends heartwarming, funny, authentically told stories about the messiness of family life, a fearless examination of the anxieties of creative work, and sharp-eyed observations of the pressures that all women face. This is a story of a woman confronting her deepest fears: What if I'm a terrible mother? What if I'm not good at the work I love? What if my children never eat anything but peanut butter and cake? What if I go to sleep angry? It's also a story of the beauty, light, and humor that's around us, all the time - even when things look bleak, and using that to find your way back to your heart.