I Used to Have a Plan

When life doesn’t go according to plan, this is the kind of book you reach for. After her world was turned upside down, Alessandra Olanow began sharing honest, heartfelt illustrations that captured the messy reality of starting over—from shock and self-doubt to self-compassion and healing.

I Used to Have a Plan brings that same soothing, relatable voice to the page, pairing charming drawings with sharp, memorable insights on navigating change and loss. Thoughtfully structured as a journey—from “I Didn’t See That Coming” to “I Like It Here, Can I Stay a While?”—it walks you through the process of falling apart, finding yourself again, and coming back stronger.

Comforting, candid, and quietly uplifting, it’s part guide, part companion—filled with empathy, wit, and the reminder that even when everything changes, you can rebuild in a way that feels even more true to you.

• Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.7 x 7.4 in inches
• Details: 128 pages
• By Alessandra Olanow