Perfect Is Boring And It Tastes Like..., Jess Johnston
Perfect Is Boring And It Tastes Like..., Jess Johnston
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Perfect Is Boring (And It Tastes Like Kale)
Finding Belonging and Purpose Without Changing Who You Are

Author: Jess Johnston

Narrator: Jess Johnston

Unabridged: 4 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/04/2025

Synopsis

What if we accepted our struggles and stopped trying to be someone we’re not?  In this poignant, hilarious book, the bestselling co-author of I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants) shares her experiments in finding our way back to each other.

Jess Johnston used to feel alone in her mess. Then, in a random burst of courage, she started sharing those insecurities and struggles out loud, and what she found shocked her. Again and again, women replied, “Me too! I thought I was the only one!”

Women are really hard on themselves. We often believe that if we just “did better,” “worked harder,” and “were less messy/flawed/human,” our lives would be infinitely better and we’d receive the belonging we crave, but the exact opposite is true. It isn’t our lack of perfection that isolates us; rather, it’s our authenticity about our imperfections that brings us together. 

With honesty, heart, and humor, Johnston takes on the lies she’s believed and the lessons she’s learned (and is still learning), including:

• if I’m rejected, I will die. (We won’t.)
• I’m a junior varsity adult, and the best spot for me is usually the bench. (Nope, we’ve got to get in there and play.)
• my job is to keep people happy and make sure they like me. (Excuse me while I go hide in my closet and have an anxiety attack.)

Jess Johnston reminds us that the answers are in us already, in accepting that we’re a lot—a lot of mess, and a lot of great too.

About The Author

Jess Johnston lives in Southern California with her husband and four kids, who are the loves of her life. She is an Enneagram Seven and is enthusiastic about everything—but especially people, travel, and sauces. Jess’ writing makes you feel like you’re sitting cross-legged on her couch in your cozy pants while sharing hearts and drinking coffee. She is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller, I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants) and has been a top contributor to publications such as The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, and Motherly.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Kayla on March 07, 2025

Loved this! So relatable and funny.......more

Goodreads review by Erin on December 19, 2024

Perfect is Boring (But It Tastes Like Kale) by Jess Johnston is the most relatable, hilarious, and heartwarming book I’ve read in a long time. It feels like sitting down with your super wise, super funny older sister who just gets it. I felt like this could’ve been written just for me, right down to......more

Goodreads review by Amanda on September 05, 2024

Perfect is Boring (and It Tastes Like Kale) is the hilarious book bestie all women need. I laughed myself silly at the relateable and squirmy moments that, as it turns out, are much more common to being a human than my brain would have me believe. This book encourages authenticity and ditching the p......more

Goodreads review by Jennifer on February 01, 2025

This book is a beautiful reminder to embrace our imperfections and love the people around us extravagantly. In retelling how she struggled, and then found belonging and purpose in each stage of her life, Jess encourages others to do the same.......more

Quotes

“Oh, the way I love this book and love Jess Johnston. She brings all her best qualities—vulnerability, depth, and humor—to this book in such a meaningful, impactful way. Reading it is like a breath of fresh air. It really is okay to be human, imperfections and all. Grace is for us all.”—Amy Weatherly, co-author of I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants)

“In a world that tries to be so perfectly perfect, Jess Johnston breaks through the noise, reminding us all that being real is the best way to be. I loved her book—and you will, too!”—Leslie Means, founder of Her View From Home and bestselling author of So God Made a Mother

“Jess Johnston’s thoughtful words have long resonated as exactly the message moms need to hear—and in such a funny and entertaining way that it’s just delightful to hear them. A generation of girls were raised to be ‘perfect,’ and now as mothers, this perfectionism can be stifling. Jess Johnston’s book is an invitation for a new generation of moms to boldly choose a messy, meaningful, pleasurable life in spite of it all. A hilarious, thoughtful, moving read . . . Perfectionism is overrated. Long live the beautiful mess.”—Liz Tenety, co-founder of Motherly

“Refreshingly self-aware . . . In this quippy guide, Motherly contributor Johnston (coauthor of I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants)) calls on women to cast aside unrealistic social expectations and embrace their God-given ‘flaws and gifts.’ . . . Christian women should take note of this down-to-earth invitation to seek self-acceptance.”—Publishers Weekly

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