Gypsy NoMad Hippie Chick: Homeless In New Hampshire by Dana Vilandre is the story of a woman as she tackles homelessness and realizes that life can be beautiful regardless of the circumstances. Our protagonist is an unnamed female who is homeless, but she dreams of a life that she craves. Brought to her lowest, she is trying to find herself and maintain balance in a life that has no apparent direction. But she takes every day as an adventure and tries to survive it. Through it all, she learns her capacity for love, friendship, and her relationship with God. When her world collapses, she never thought she would be able to get back on her feet. But, somehow, she found the strength to do it. She found herself and, in the process, she found her happiness as well.

Definitely heart-warming, the author gave the reader so much to delve into and experience. Simply the fact that our protagonist is nameless throughout most of the story is enough to make “her” anyone. She could be me, you or any woman in our lives. She lives through her hardships with a smile on her face, she fights for what she believes to be right and tries to make the best of the situation. She doesn’t accept defeat; she makes an effort and that makes her special. Even though you don’t know her name, you will make a connection with her. It felt like I synced my mind with her and felt what she was going through. She takes the reader through her pain, her sadness and her happiness. There is something about the way "she" connects with the reader that makes reading this story a journey with a lost friend. The author adds strains of humor in the story to uplift the reader. Dana Vilandre also matches the pace with “her” progress. The story slowed down when “she” did and picked up when “she” was hyped on her success. This is a genius story worthy of attention and I hope we get more of “her” because this was magic.

In Gypsy NoMad Hippie Chick, we are introduced to Dana Vilandre who is struggling to survive and navigate her way through the world without means. Homeless and dealing with a separation from her kids, she finds herself moving from place to place, trying to find herself and the inspiration to write. Despite all the hardships, she has a goal in mind that keeps her moving each day even when it feels hopeless. Wanting to create a non-profit organization for women is what drives her through this year of hell she is experiencing. Along the journey, we encounter a slew of men who come in and out of her life with each one giving her more of a perspective of herself. As we travel with the author on the year-long uncertain road ahead of her, we experience her joys and sorrow as she tries to find balance in her life.

I thought Gypsy NoMad Hippie Chick was a really powerful read that tugged at your heartstrings. The style of writing Dana Vilandre uses transports the reader into her shoes and along for the ride in the year of uncertainty that she has gone through. I found myself amazed at how she never gives up and keeps on moving and writing, which is something that not a lot of people could do. In a way, the situation in which she finds herself gives her more fuel and inspiration to write. My favorite parts of the book are the poetry which is well written and so emotionally charged that it gives the reader a glimpse into Vilandre’s heart during this struggling time. Gypsy NoMad Hippie Chick is definitely a book I will be recommending to others. I am eager to read more of Dana Vilandre’s works in the future.

In Gypsy NoMad Hippie Chick: Homeless In New Hampshire, Dana Vilandre narrates this personal journey with a mixture of poetry, prayer, and positive energy that both soothes and terrifies the reader. Once married, she now shares custody of her children, a circumstance that offers a number of financial and physical challenges. When Dana isn’t living in her car she accepts the generosity of room and board from a collection of friends. Pursuing a dream of establishing a non-profit to aid women in need of physical, emotional, and financial support, Dana gathers support from people she meets along the way. A line from Dana Vilandre’s opening verse prefaces the pages that follow: "Been a bit of a Gypsy for a while/ Feeling it is time to come back home/ Then something else seems to come down my path/ And again I find myself being told to roam." Each chapter begins with a poem about the contents of that chapter.

Dedicated to the women of Her Place, Gypsy NoMad Hippie Chick: Homeless In New Hampshire by Dana Vilandre is a poignant, often thought-provoking memoir that evokes mixed emotions in the reader. Dana Vilandre’s account of her nomad life is a confusing mixture of emotions. The author often downplays the reality of her situation with optimistic reassurances verging on fiction, yet the sentiment with which she faces life is compelling. Daily prayers of gratitude help the author approach each day with a sense of hope. Vilandre employs the knowledge of studied writing in this well-orchestrated volume of personal thoughts. The reader is left with an appreciation of this woman’s sense of freedom in enjoying life to the fullest.

Gypsy NoMad Hippie Chick is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Dana Vilandre takes the reader on a journey through a very difficult period in her life. Although many details are not disclosed, she reveals she left her husband and children, has difficulty in finding a job, is homeless and is starting a non-profit organization for women. She describes her emotional state through her writings at the beginning of each chapter; some are in poetic form and others are journal writing. In Gypsy NoMad Hippie Chick: Homeless in New Hampshire, author Dana Vilandre gives insights into the challenging life of being homeless. She drifts between sleeping in friends’ homes and sleeping in her car. Her life is infused with her prayers and conversations with God.

One of the strongest aspects of this book is the realistic portrayal of homelessness. While some readers may feel somewhat disappointed in not having the details of the ending of her marriage, or how she became homeless, the author’s goal is to reveal the emotional side of this life. Dana is a talented writer, dropping pearls of information throughout the book. For example, she shares the difficulties she has in maintaining relationships, with both men and women. And, she learns to own responsibility for her part in her circumstances. She often cites the manta, “Breathe. Relax. Pray,” a method for discovering her inner peace. This is a heartrending, and a heartwarming, journey. Author Dana Vilandre has written a compelling story in Gypsy NoMad Hippie Chick. This is a thought-provoking book for any person struggling with life.