SPARKLE & SHINE

A collection provides colorful affirmations designed to inspire self-confidence and optimism.

Nocero offers a playful approach to self-help with this manual, which she wrote as a supplement to her previous book, The Magical Guide to Bliss (2017). Her new work includes over 100 M.A.N.T.R.A.s, or “Magical Affirmations Now Transform our Reality into an Adventure.” In Section One, “Pay Attention,” maxims include “I am worthy of love,” and “I am happy, magical and magnificent me.” The author explores each idea in one or two pages, often with a rhyme and cadence that feel reminiscent of Dr. Seuss: “For when I declare I am enough, it is time for me to see. I am here to manifest in this life the most amazing me.” Nocero also includes etymological anecdotes, noting, for example, that enthusiasm is derived from entheos, which is a Greek root meaning “in God.” There are empowering quotes from feminist icons, such as Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Gloria Steinem, as well as personal notes from the author to readers, entitled “To my Butterflies,” signed “I Love You, Meg.” Nocero shares a variety of helpful suggestions in these pages, such as doing “a physical and spiritual cleaning” every six months and cultivating hope about the future. The prose is colloquial (“We’ve got this!”) and will easily speak to millennial and Gen Z readers. The author’s biggest strength is creating fun acronyms and providing new takes on old sayings, like “K.I.S.S.” or “Keep It Simple Sunshine.” Unfortunately, the bite-size pieces of wisdom can sometimes feel clichéd or even reductive. (One of the mantras is simply “All is well.”) But with a raging pandemic, it seems like a good time to develop optimism and embrace self-care. Nocero delivers some positive ideas on where to begin.

An upbeat but simplistic self-help guide.