Description

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You know her. You’ve seen her. You may even see yourself in her.

If you’re arriving to the midlife crisis party—the one that’s serving low self-esteem, desperation, unreliable behavior, forgetfulness, carelessness, and the loneliness of loss—the stories and anecdotes in this memoir will assure you that you are not alone. 

For Sara Arnell, it took a rogue lobster, a dying rock star, an eighteen-pound tumor, a meditation guru, a famous medium, and a former monk to put her on a path toward light, hope, and healing. If reading this book helps even one person, according to Sara, then telling this story is all worth it.

“Sara Arnell is the only writer I know who can make self-deprecation and wisdom look like the same thing. There Will Be Lobster is a darkly funny memoir with a big heart, and it’s the exact comeback story we all need right now.” —David Hollander, author of Anthropica and L.I.E.

“This book is a deeply personal story that’s not afraid to show you the crazy moments that we all have, but often don’t admit to. Read this memoir if you want to learn how honesty, vulnerability, and sheer perseverance can help you step into your light and illuminate a new path—one that is happy, healthy, and full of hope.” —André Leon Talley, author of New York Times bestseller The Chiffon Trenches and former Vogue editor-at-large

About the Author

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By the time she was in her late twenties, Sara Arnell was a mother, wife, and rising advertising executive. By the time she was appointed CEO of a well-known ad agency, it seemed like she had it all. But appearances can be deceiving. Beneath that veneer of achievement, she was now a divorced, sad, lonely, anxious, self-medicating, empty-nesting, middle-aged mess with a cancer diagnosis. She gained so much weight that her clothes didn’t fit anymore. She lost so much self-esteem that she could barely recognize herself. Her friends and family had no idea what she was going through privately. After all, she was good at advertising and she knew how to sell herself—how to put her best foot forward. She knew she’d hit rock bottom one New Year’s Day morning when she woke up on the floor, sporting a giant black eye and watching a rogue lobster crawl out from under a chair.

There Will Be Lobster is the story of Sara’s path to reconnecting with a loving, healthy, and productive version of herself and ending the middle-aged crisis party that got way out of control. Through telling stories, anecdotes and life lessons learned, Sara reminds people that they have the power to take care of themselves and rise back up—no matter how far they think they’ve fallen.

Praise For…

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“Sara Arnell is the only writer I know who can make self-deprecation and wisdom look like the same thing. There Will Be Lobster is a darkly funny memoir with a big heart, and it’s the exact comeback story we all need right now.”  —David Hollander, author of Anthropica and L.I.E.

“No matter where you are in life’s journey, there are stories and anecdotes in this book that will confirm what we know but don’t always practice—self-care and self-love are the two most powerful healers you have available.”  —Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

“This book is a deeply personal story that’s not afraid to show you the crazy moments that we all have, but often don’t admit to. Read this memoir if you want to learn how honesty, vulnerability, and sheer perseverance can help you step into your light and illuminate a new path—one that is happy, healthy, and full of hope.” —André Leon Talley, author of New York Times bestseller, The Chiffon Trenches and former Vogue editor-at-large

“Reading this book makes you want to look more closely at your friendships, ask more real questions, and take the time to truly pay attention to signs and signals that indicate a friend needs help. There Will Be Lobster is a poignant portrayal of a woman in crisis—a woman like many of us—so used to being the strong one at home and work, that she just doesn’t know how to ask for help. It’s a must read for anyone who is looking to make a transition to a new chapter in their life.” —Christina Juarez, CEO, CJ & Company

“This is Sara’s story, in her own words of how she stepped into her light and illuminated a magical, better world for herself. It’s a crazy ride, full of extraordinary characters and events but in the end, her compelling honesty is a lesson in how to help heal yourself and be the best you can be.” —Alyssa Duffy, founder, a-listed studio

“What an enjoyable read. Sara gives us quite a ride upon the wave of elevational theater in her study of the futility of chasing lasting happiness solely in its external reflections. After decades of winning deserved accolades, Sara’s belief in herself reaches its lowest ebb when, unexpectedly, she discovers through Vedic Meditation how to turn within and finds what she was seeking: inner contentedness and purpose. Sara skillfully and courageously shares her life experiences with candor and humor. In doing so, she exemplifies a Vedic principle of good citizenship, to make personal experiences relevant socially, thereby making one’s growth toward illumination relatable, bringing hope to readers.” —Thom Knoles, Vedic Meditation Master

“While names and storylines may differ, Sara’s intimate account of her transformation from seeking fulfillment through others to ultimately finding it within herself is a journey of awakening we all find ourselves on. Through Sara’s masterful storytelling, we can see that even in moments of struggle, loss, and fear, life will hand us breadcrumbs of hope that encourage us to continue searching for a better way. Regardless of where you are on your journey, Sara’s story will inspire you to take that next step in realizing your full potential and purpose, with some laughs along the way.” —Susan Chen, founder, Meditate With Susan

“Sara Arnell’s memoir There Will Be Lobster is filled with wry self-deprecating humor but equally replete with genuine poignancy. In writing so transparently about the full catastrophe of her midlife crisis, Sara takes us on a journey that arrives at hard-earned resilience and lasting insight. This book is a rollicking account of the human condition written in an authentic, original voice.”  —Gail Straub, co-founder, Empowerment Institute and award-winning author Empowerment and The Ashokan Way

“I remember Sara Arnell as the tough, polished woman wearing a perfectly chic leather jacket while ruling over the hottest branding agency in Manhattan. Through There Will Be Lobster, I met a frightened, bewildered woman lurching through a terribly dark midlife passage. That both people are the same shows how sharply life can change. Sara shows that our only chance is changing with it—and that change is a messy, frightening process best handled with brutal honesty and humor.” —Hugh O’Neil Gallagher, brand writer and author, Chicken 65