Book Review: Places I Stopped on the Way Home by Meg Fee
After immersing myself in a series of self-help and self-improvement books over the past few months, picking up Meg Fee’s memoir, Places I Stopped on the Way Home, was a refreshing change. This collection of short essays felt like the perfect companion for an evening spent with a cup of tea, offering a heartfelt exploration of life in your twenties and prompting personal reflection.
A Journey of Vulnerability and Honesty
Before reading this book, I hadn’t heard of Meg Fee, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her through her words. As I skimmed through reviews, a few adjectives kept surfacing: vulnerable, raw, honest, heartbreaking, and genuine. Fee's writing encapsulates all these qualities, creating a deeply relatable experience for readers.
Finding Yourself in New York
Ever since high school, New York City has been a place I’ve dreamed of visiting, or perhaps even living in, for a while. A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to spend three days there, and the city exceeded my expectations with its vibrant energy, creativity, and endless opportunities. Meg Fee's reflections on her life in New York drew me in even more, as I was eager to see how her experiences aligned with my own perceptions of this iconic city.
The Confusion of Your Twenties
This book resonates with every twenty-something navigating love, uncertainty, work, and self-discovery. Fee doesn’t romanticize her decade-long journey in New York; instead, she shares her experiences with honesty about the heartbreak and disappointment that often accompany this stage of life. Her beautiful writing is captivating and relatable, making readers feel understood in their confusion and struggles.
Like many, I’ve found myself questioning the future and feeling frustrated about not being where I expected to be at this age. Through my own confusion, I've learned to let go of rigid expectations—of myself, others, and the timing of life. Fee encapsulates this sentiment perfectly: “I'm mourning all of the lives I'm not living. And that occasionally I feel like I'm failing all of the time, and in all ways.”
Becoming
The final chapters of the book are pure gold. I found myself re-reading sentences, nodding in agreement, and highlighting meaningful passages. Fee emphasizes that life is composed of small moments that create our unique experiences. The memories tied to a smell, sound, or taste can evoke powerful emotions and shape who we are. Documenting these moments—big or small—through journaling is something I highly recommend. I recently revisited my journal from five years ago and was amazed at how much I’ve grown and changed since then.
“Our job is not to create a masterpiece, but to give voice to that which only we can give voice to. Our job is to go to work doing that which feels called to do.”
There Is No “Happy Place”
One of the most important takeaways from Places I Stopped on the Way Home is the realisation that there is no “happy place.” I’ve often found myself dreaming of different cities or situations, thinking they would bring happiness, but Fee reminds us that true contentment begins within. Cultivating self-love is at the core of finding joy, gratitude, and fulfilment, regardless of external circumstances.
“We don't talk about that much, do we? How we have to fight for ourselves, and ultimately face ourselves? How the best and most courageous thing we can do is cultivate self-love.”
Keep Going
I’ll leave you with Meg Fee’s inspiring words: “Keep going, not because it's easy, but because that is what it is to be human—to continuously show up despite the fact that it's hard.”
Thank you for joining me in this exploration of Places I Stopped on the Way Home. I’d love to hear your thoughts and takeaways from the book in the comments below!
Much love,
Zané