Overview

Not Finished Yet: Essays on the Rhythmic Beauty of a Life in Flux is a poignant and powerful collection of memoir essays that trace the winding, unfinished path of personal growth. Using a metaphor of the jellyfish life cycle, the author reflects on what it means to live in the space between who we've been and who we're becoming. With unflinching honesty and lyrical precision, these essays explore the evolving nature of identity, self-worth, and transformation. From childhood reckonings and coming-of-age confusion to adult revisions of long-held beliefs, the author charts a journey marked by uncertainty, vulnerability, and the fierce hope that we are never fully defined by a single version of ourselves. Themes of change, resilience, and imperfection run throughout-whether in stories of navigating relationships, recovering from addiction and depression, or finding voice in the face of loss. Each essay offers a glimpse into a life in motion, a self continually shaped by experience, memory, and reflection. Not Finished Yet is not a story of arrival, but of ongoing becoming. It is a testament to the beauty of the unfinished self, and a gentle invitation to embrace the messiness of growth with compassion and courage. For anyone who has ever felt caught between chapters, this collection offers solace and solidarity in the truth that we are all-still-becoming.

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9798992661620

Table of Contents

Reviews

""The rawness of loss entwined with the quiet gestures of love is haunting yet beautiful, and the whole book is candid and impossible to set aside."" -- Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️""Adams's talent for finding meaning in the in-between spaces-the moments of drifting and waiting-offers hope and possibility. Her words encourage readers seeking inspiration to embrace their own cycles of growth and to find beauty in the unfinished."" -- Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ""Not Finished Yet is a candid, well-crafted and beautiful book, blending memoir and poetic prose to explore mental illness, grief and memory. Full of lyrical writing and compelling aquatic imagery, Tracie Adams invites readers to view their lives differently."" --Maria Ashford, Bookshelfie Reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ""Not Finished Yet travels the span of a life without defining its ending. Delicate prose guides the reader through snapshots like mementos depicting some of the most difficult and most celebratory moments of the author's life. What's best, is the consistent metaphor for an ever-transformative existence, leading to a hopeful new beginning."" --Melissa Ruth Rotert, Author of The Ridders Series and Editor of Epistemic Literary Journal ""A very engaging read and such an evocative narrative journey. Not Finished Yet tells the story of one woman's transformation with well-crafted precision and vulnerable honesty. In this beautiful reflection of life, Adams captures the intricacies of being human: the good, the difficult, and how, above all, to keep moving forward."" --Amber Budd, Editor of The Orange Rose Literary Magazine ""The epilogue reinforces the jellyfish motif, emphasizing life's fluid, unfinished nature, with Adams drawing on her Christian faith to frame suffering as a path to strength. In her journey from polyp-like vulnerability to regenerative maturity, the essays blend lyrical prose, quotes from literature and scripture, and introspective narratives to illustrate how adversity fosters metamorphosis. This is a masterful blend of vulnerability and hope, making it a compelling read for anyone navigating life's uncertainties. The jellyfish analogy is ingenious. Not Finished Yet was an incredibly eye-opening read. I found the author's strengths lie in honesty about heavy topics without descending into despair. Faith subtly underpins many essays, offering hope amid chaos, as in ""The God of Our Mamas."" This resilient, heartfelt book celebrates impermanence as a gift. It's ideal for those navigating change, blending melancholy with quiet triumph. Adams reminds us that life's beauty lies in its fluidity, not finality."" -- Reviewed by C. Casino for Readers' Favorite

Author Information

Tracie Adams, a retired educator and playwright, lives on a farm in rural Virginia with her husband and two writing buddies who look a lot like dachshunds. Her debut book, Our Lives in Pieces, is a collection of essays with the universal theme of finding beauty in brokenness. Her second essay collection, Not Finished Yet, releases in 2026. Her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net, longlisted for Wigleaf Top 50, and published online and in print editions of over a hundred literary journals. She writes to find meaning in the suffering and the joy of the human experience. Recurring topics in her writing are addiction, motherhood, adoption, grief, and family. While most of her work is not explicitly Christian in content, her faith in Jesus is the gold thread woven through every word she writes. When she is not writing or reading, she can be found birdwatching, enjoying a playlist of 80's music on her porch, or being chased by five short people who call her Glamma.

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