“Shirley Strawberry is a sistah who has been there and conquered that. Her insightful advice on life, love, and relationships makes her book a must read for anyone struggling with past hurts.” – Mo’Nique, Academy Award winner and host of “The Mo’Nique Show”
I decided to start our Mocha Girl Reads monthly book club read with a book from a Mocha Girl we all know. Every morning if you tune into an “Urban” radio station in your area or go to the i♥radio app on your phone, you have heard her on the Steve Harvey morning show. Yes, this is the book about all those crazy letters and her advice to those people we think are clueless about the word consequences. I haven’t read the book yet. Just got it today so I can’t really tell you much about it, so here is the information I have.
From Amazon.com Listen up, ladies! Shirley Strawberry, co-host of the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, delivers more of the no-nonsense woman-to-woman straight talk her listeners have come to love. Shirley tells it like it is—from the heart. Whether the topic is cheating boyfriends, crazy mothers-in-law, job troubles, or money problems, Shirley’s girlfriend-next-door honesty has made the Strawberry Letters segment of the show a huge hit. Now, in this uplifting motivational guide, she brings her vivacious, inspirational, and down-to-earth message to women everywhere: Get up, get out, and be the best you can be!
As a single parent and a woman willing to let Mr. Right find her, Shirley’s been there and done that—and she’s got hard-won lessons to share. In this call to action to help women look at their lives with a candid eye, she tackles the issues her fans want to hear about:
• Love and Relationships: the highs and lows of dating, marriage, and breakups
• Family: the challenges of being a great mom
• Sisterhood: ways to get (and give) the support you need to stay sane
• Self: tips for overcoming low self-esteem and depression, and finding balance, faith, and acceptance
Full of motivating “Strawberry Tips,” personal stories that provide welcome advice on the run, and helpful suggestions for drama-stuck girlfriends, this book offers a simple message of strength: a challenge to love yourself and your life!
In case you have never heard of Ms. Shirley Strawberry here is her bio.
Langston Hughes wrote a poem entitled Mother to Son. Over time, the second line of that poem has become a popular adage for many people who struggle to find their way through life. That descriptive line applies to my life as well because, like so many of you, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”

I’m Shirley Strawberry. And even though life has been difficult at times, I’d like to think, as Langston Hughes said, “I’se still climbin’.” I’m a native Chicagoan. I was born on July 28, many…many years ago (smiles) in the town with the golden coast. My father died when I was just a year old, and tragically, his death was the catalyst that changed my life forever. Soon, our family went from living comfortably to barely making ends meet. Growing up, I was a great student but always got into trouble for talking too much! I just would not— could not—be quiet! It was the same at home. I always had something to say and I definitely had a smart mouth. (Read more)
Feel free to leave comments here as you are reading the book. I’m looking forward to this one and hearing what everyone thinks of it. At our next book club meeting we will talk about this book as well as announce our book for November.
Keep the pages turning!
♥Mocha Girl Alysia♥