Hilarie Burton Morgan started her career off with a bang at the young age of 18 as a VJ on MTV’s hit music request show TRL, followed by years playing the beloved character of Peyton Sawyer on fan-favourite One Tree Hill. While these experiences weren’t without their bright spots, in her mid-20s Morgan found herself craving a new path forward, a different life. This is where her charmingly down-to-earth memoir The Rural Diaries begins.
Walking away from the spotlight of One Tree Hill, Morgan did not expect to find the new path that she desired so quickly; yet the universe had a different plan when she was introduced to her (now) husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan. (Yes, we are talking about the man who played Denny Duquette on Grey’s Anatomy and currently plays Negan on The Walking Dead, among numerous other memorable roles). The Rural Diaries walks the reader from that pivotal time right up to the present day, sprinkling in stories from her childhood and younger years. In this memoir, Morgan shares the life lessons that have come along with running the family’s “Mischief Farm,” as well as a slew of gardening tips and home-spun recipes. From renovations to farming to acting, there really isn’t anything this woman can’t do! She chronicles her own evolution from young actress to burgeoning businesswoman, all the while also balancing the roles of partner and mother to her two children. And she places emphasis on the family’s role in preserving their beloved town of Rhinebeck, New York, including the ways they have invested in local businesses and lent a helping hand to support local organisations.
Morgan has a magical way with words. She bares a piece of her soul on the page, the soul of a life-long writer, although this is her first published book. Not only does she convey her pure love for her family here, but she openly shares a number of extremely personal experiences — the difficulties of maintaining a relationship which is often long distance, struggles with fertility and profound loss through a series of miscarriages, as well as the stark reality of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry. The result is a text which binds the author to her readers through an honest, yet uplifting, glimpse into the highs and lows of real life.
Morgan is a fierce female, grounded in the truth of her life and what she has shaped it to be, committed to supporting those around her, and unashamed to admit the trials she has both faced and overcome. At times described by others as a witchy woman, she is one who believes in “signs” as much as she believes in the ability to manifest desires into existence by the sheer expression of faith that they will happen (paired with a lot of hard work!). And the true bookworms among us will appreciate the significant influence that literature has had on her life, from Anne of Green Gables to Dandelion Wine. Morgan even leads into each chapter with a literary quote that perfectly shapes her narrative.
Simply put, you’ll want to add this one to your list of “must read” books! The Rural Diaries is a beautiful love letter to Morgan’s husband, children, and home in Rhinebeck, New York. It is a fantastic, multilayered read for both fans and those seeking inspiration for their own lives.
The Rural Diaries is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers such as your local bookstore! Many thanks to Harper One Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Hilarie Burton is an actress and producer best known for her role as Peyton on One Tree Hill, as well as her work as an MTV VJ, and her leading roles in popular Hallmark movies. She lives on a working farm in the Hudson River Valley with her partner, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, their son Gus, baby daughter George, and a whole lot of animals.
Synopsis | Goodreads
The beloved actress and star of One Tree Hill, White Collar, and Lethal Weapon, Hilarie Burton, tells the inspiring story of leaving Hollywood for a radically different kind of life in upstate New York with her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan—a celebration of community, family, and the value of hard work in small town America.
While Hilarie Burton’s hectic lifestyle as an actress in New York and Los Angeles gave her a comfortable life, it did not fulfill her spiritually or emotionally. After the birth of their first son, she and her husband Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the star of The Walking Dead, decided to make a major change: they bought a working farm in Rhinebeck, New York, and began a new chapter in their lives.
The Rural Diaries chronicles her inspiring story of farm life: chopping wood, making dandelion wine, building chicken coops. Burton looks back at her transition from urban to country living—discovering how to manage a farm while raising her son and making friends with her new neighbors. She mixes charming stories of learning to raise alpacas and buying and revitalizing the town’s beloved candy store, Samuel’s Sweet Shoppe with good friend Paul Rudd and his wife Julie, with raw observations on the ups and downs of marriage and her struggles with infertility. Burton also includes delicious recipes that can be made with fresh ingredients at home.
Burton’s charisma, wide eyed attitude, and fortitude—both internal and physical—propels this moving story of transformation and self-discovery. The Rural Diaries honors the values and lifestyle of small-town America and offers inspiration for anyone longing to embark on their own unconventional journey.
