What people are saying about the book

“I was honored to review this book. I thought it is appropriately directed towards teens and young adults, but it sends a powerful message to all generations. We all need to work on becoming our best selves, and this book brilliantly provides a compassionate way to do so. I particularly liked chapter 15, Marker 4.”

Martha A. (Pendleton) Riggle, MD – Animal fanatic

“7 to 5 is a playful, quirky, hopeful approach to learning the tools you need to help you achieve a life that is happier, healthier, and authentic to who you truly are. This book is grounded in numerous evidence-based theories and approaches that support its effectiveness. How many of us spend our lives chasing the idea of happiness by buying the next best shiny new thing or shiny new relationship only to be disappointed when that feeling doesn’t last?

Those of us who grew up reading or listening to fairy tales, may be looking for the “happily ever after” relationship and the idea that prince charming will come along and rescue us from our tower of misery. When in fact, we already have everything that we need. Navigating life is difficult, especially when we don’t have a map or compass to guide us. 7 to 5 reminds us of the power of hope which connects us to something amazing within ourselves. It empowers us to move beyond our comfort zone and toward a journey of authentic life.”

Kathy Boyd-Mansfield, LCSW-C - Aging social worker, compassionate listener & always a mom

“I like the playful tone this book takes even as it grapples with serious subjects. From the stand point of a child and adolescent therapist, I can see this resonating with youth and can see myself using it in sections to run a group series. As a person who likes reading self-help, I like how it isn’t just a series of concepts but allows for action steps. Angela House, LCSW-C operationalizes the concepts so you can put them in action. It would be fun to use this in a book group to explore the impact with one another. Whatever use, professional or personal, I appreciate anything that helps us actualize our potential by changing our relationship to our thoughts, beliefs, actions, and the world.”

Majorie Sharkey, LCSW-C - Coordinator of behavioral health & mom

“Whether you’re in high school, college, or just trying to figure yourself out, this is your book. It offers practical strategies, advice, tools, and techniques to navigate difficult feelings and challenging situations. It is informative, relatable, and easy to understand. This book proves that learning about mental health can actually be simple, helpful, and even fun.”

Tamara Medina MSN, PMHNP-BC – Mental health provider

“I enjoyed the variety of word searches, multiple choice scenarios, and good news/bad news theories. The book was very easy to read!  I loved chapter 16: Super Power, The voices of positivity. Awesome examples of positive self-talk.”

Melissa Gettel – Human mom & direct care associate

“I love this book. It flows in such a way as to hold the reader’s interest. I particularly loved the balance between actionable advice and motivational insight. It speaks to the difficulties that define us: navigating careers, relationships, building confidence, or learning to empower ourselves to pursue our dreams. 

What makes the book stand out is how relatable if feels and the simple skills and techniques it provides to help us thrive. I loved the beautiful and sweet illustrations throughout the book. I loved how the word searches reinforce key points to help flow into the new section. I also loved the app resources. I’m a LOLA trying to connect to AKO.”

Karin Socks, LCSW-C – Human lover of nature, pet mom & therapist

“Angela House’s book is thoughtful, grounding, and inspires self-motivation from within. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in self-help, as well as other clinicians to utilize in their work with clients.  This book integrates the abstract and theoretical with the creative, artistic and practical.  It takes what would normally be considered “overwhelming” concepts and breaks them down in fun, easy to use ways that can be accessed by all ages and abilities alike.  

Angela House does a great job of building upon various concepts, skills, and activities chapter by chapter in a way that keeps the reader/user on the hook wanting more! She also gives a fresh and honest take on realistic coping by using art and humor. I honestly wish I had this book years ago! I plan to use it in session with clients, and for personal use, myself! 10/10 recommendation!” 

Sharon Rose Marren, LCSW-C  -  Therapist, wife, mom-to-be & professional cat mom

“7 to 5 is a practical, fun filled guide to better mental health which in today’s busy, hectic culture of stress, is an opportunity to breathe, laugh, and learn something helpful.  The book is full of humor and valuable vulnerable thoughts we all share in this human experience. The material is given in an approachable way that helps readers learn and explore their own “markers” in a nonjudgemental way, gaining valuable self-awareness, easy to use resources, and skills to help address maladaptive habits of mind or behavior they have had keeping them from a “happy-ish” life.”

Liz Lundberg, LCSW-C – Human therapist, adventure-er & mama bear

“This was a funny and authentic read. I found it easy to follow and extremely relatable. I love all the little quirky messages like “good news, bad news” and “note to self”. The scenarios are realistic and found in everyday life. I think this book will help different types of people understand that they’re not alone in their thoughts and feelings.

I found it easy to stay engaged and found the information to be useful. I am finding myself trying to distinguish my cognitive distortions since I have a habit of overthinking. I also try to remember the things that are under my control, and to pause before reacting. This book is well written, and the pictures are wonderful. I like that Angela described positive and negative items, as this makes my own thoughts more identifiable.

I would absolutely recommend this book. It’s easy to follow, relatable, and suited for all ages.”

Stephanie Walling – Human wife, mother & goat mom

“Angela House’s book is a playful look at feelings and thought processes most of us can remember experiencing when we were teens or young adults. The concept of using the 7 to 5 game to work through emotions and improve one’s life is original and fun. The book encourages readers to examine their feelings and the reasons for them, but not to wallow in them.

Readers are supported to take action to better their mood, their appearance, their financial situation, and their lives in general. The book is not vague and pulls no punches. If you smell, it tells you to take a shower and brush your teeth. At the same time, it shows readers how to break down seemingly overwhelming tasks (like looking for a first job) into achievable “baby steps.” I think the 7 to 5 game could benefit any young person looking to sort through confusing feelings and/or wanting to improve their life.”

Susan Boyd, MD – Human psychiatrist & mother of two teenage boys

 “I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it because it was a helpful and easy read. I really enjoyed the part about common cognitive distortions. I liked how the author gave scenarios that were relatable and funny.

I see myself in LOLA.”

Alyssa Gettel – Human in her 20s & mom-to-be

“After reading chapter one I rediscovered my love for reading! This book is fantastic! I love the realness and relatability of the book. The light headedness while getting such an important message (life sucks but you have the ability to change that through your thought process) is very powerful. I’ll use this game in my everyday life.”

Jess Wilk – 21-year-old happy(ish) human

 “This book was easy to read, easy to relate to, and entertaining! I feel any young adult who reads this book will find it hilarious but insightful. I will definitely will be buying it for my grandchildren so each have their own copy!”

Nicole Houser – Human grandmother & mom

“Angela House, LCSW-C has addressed a significant and serious cultural issue in 7 to 5, and done so in a creative manner that should attract and hold the attention of those in her target demographic- teens and 20-somethings- and give them both models for their progress and hope. As a minister, I know young folks who are struggling to find their way, needing more support than they are getting, and taking desperate measures.

God created all of us and meant for each of us to be able to rise to our personal maximum potential with the support of family, friends, school, house of worship, and the medical community. That this is becoming less effective is a travesty, one which this book can help those young ones, and all of us around them, overcome.”

Minister Richard Kittle – Father, husband, singer & woodworker

“I love this book! It’s an easy-to-understand manual of how and why our brain talks us into believing the worst. There are so many “aha” moments in this book. Both adolescents and adults will find helpful information to lessen negativity in their lives. Anyone can work on being “happy-ish” with this gem.”

Rachelle Long Fischer, RN, MSN, FNP-C, CPNP-PC, CAS – Caretaker of children & families, mother of two humans, four fur babies & gammy to two beautiful boys

“This mother-daughter duo have created a quirky masterpiece for anyone who would like to have a better and more joyful life. This book is hilarious, very relatable, and easy for everyone to follow, no matter where you are in your life. Angela House, LCSW-C turns mental health from intimidating to inviting by speaking directly to her audience with warmth, clarity, and humor. This book is a joyful roadmap to better living!”

Laura Pennington - Community activist, community outreach worker, mom & aunt

“This book offers a support system to any young adult currently coping with figuring out what to do next in the world around them. Angela House seamlessly combines her wisdom as a professional therapist with funny and light-hearted pop-culture references that are bound to attract anyone navigating their twenties. Her ingenious game adapts to the reader’s headspace and provides hopeful and manageable assistance and solutions.”

Sophia Randle - Twenty-something Baltimorean & aspiring art administrator

“7 to 5 is a refreshing, honest, and funny take on the stresses adolescents and young adults face as they find their way in the world. It tackles big issues like anxiety, depression, insecurity, and procrastination by giving resources and easily digestible tools to implement in a way that feels lighthearted and uplifting. Reading this book was like talking to Angela herself, hilarious but deeply insightful. It felt like talking to a friend who genuinely wants you to flourish. I also love that her daughter is the illustrator- it makes the book even more personal and full of heart. I’m sure this book will help a lot of young humans become happy(ish) and thrive!”

Erin Foutch, MSN, CRNP, FNP - Busy mom & people person

“Book of the Year! (to me)”

Joshua S. Washington - Happy(ish) twenty-something human