“Jess Janz has a gift: she makes you remember what it feels like to be human, These pages are alive with honesty, courage, and the kind of connection we are starving for in a lonely world. The Table Where We Meet is a reminder that meaning is built in the small moments, and every person we meet could change us for the better. Jess captures these truths masterfully." ―Doug Cartwright, founder of Alchemy Coaching, speaker, author of Holy Shit, We're Alive!
"For as long as I’ve known Jess, she’s been wholly aligned with her purpose of bringing people together. The Table Where We Meet captures that gift on the page. It’s an invitation to slow down, to listen, and to find yourself reflected in the stories and strangers around the table. In a fast-paced world, Jess reminds us that connection is both an art and an act of courage―and this book is her most beautiful gathering yet." ― Wendell Holland, founder and chief designer, Beve Unlimited; Builder, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
"In a world that has trained us to lead with our job titles, Jess Janz reminds us that the most revolutionary act is asking someone who they actually are. Drawing from her years of experience convening connection-hungry strangers, she teaches us how to find the courage we need to truly see and be seen by others. The Table Where We Meet isn't a book about wishing for connection―it's a roadmap for practicing it. This book is warm and humorous and insistent that we're all carrying universes inside us that almost no one thinks to ask about. An indispensable book for an age of loneliness." ―Jonathan Merritt, author of Learning to Speak God From Scratch
"Learning how to be a host? Invaluable. Knowing how to make people feel seen, heard, and encouraged? That's priceless. This book is fun and enlightening." ―Michael Bungay Stanier, author of The Coaching Habit
"The Table Where We Meet is a beautifully honest reflection on what it means to connect in a disconnected world. Janz’s storytelling feels effortless yet deeply felt, guiding readers through moments that are both ordinary and transcendent. It’s a book that reminds us of the quiet power of vulnerability and the courage it takes to truly see one another. Warning: this book will make you want to be a better neighbor." ―Tanner Olson, Author of Getting Through What You're Going Through
"If you’re longing for connection―to yourself, to your people, or to the kind of community you haven’t quite found yet―this is your book. It reads like a thought provoking instruction manual for mending the parts of you that want to open again, but it also feels like sitting down with your long-lost best friend over tea. As I read, I kept nodding. . . omg yes, me too! I felt less alone in my quirks, my sensitivities, and how I see the world. Jess is an exceptional writer. Her stories have the warmth of an afternoon wrapped in a blanket, watching a fire with your favorite people. Her insights are invitations into a world of wonder and depth. This book is restorative on every level. I genuinely believe if everyone read it, we’d all be better for it." ―Meghan Sylvester, actor and author of The Body Positivity Journal
"A refreshing, aching portrayal of the human condition and the art of belonging, The Table Where We Meet eats and leaves no crumbs." —Lyndsay Rush, USA Today bestselling author of A Bit Much
“Required reading for anyone desperate for something real. The Table Where We Meet is a guide to soulful conversation, a compelling case for the power of letting yourself be seen, and a roar of hope all in one. If you are sick of small talk, screens, and surface-level living, read this.” —Victoria Hutchins, yoga teacher, poet, and author of Make Believe
"When was the last time you lingered over a meal and felt not only satiated but seen? In The Table Where We Meet, Jess Janz invites us to sit down and remember what it feels like to be included, welcomed, and wanted. Janz stirs together the perfect balance of self-deprecating humor, heart, and honesty, and the result is feast. Loneliness is the epidemic of our age, but Janz shows us the medicine we most need might just be as simple as showing up for dinner. Compelling, human, and utterly amusing, Janz’s debut is one you will not want to miss." —K.J. Ramsey, licensed therapist and author of The Place Between Our Pains: A Memoir of What Joy Can Survive
"Jess Janz has given us a gentle rallying cry, urging us—in equal parts humor and honesty—to slow down, look up, and remember the transformative power of creating real connection in a distracted world. A helpful and important read." —Scott Erickson, author of In the Low and Honest Advent
“This is a rare book that doesn’t just describe human connection— it helps you enact it. With real warmth and great wit, Jess Janz reminds us that every person is a universe and that genuine conversation is one of the last forms of everyday magic.” —David Gate, poet and author of A Rebellion of Care
