Hayley Hughes, author of memoir Thank You, Burnout: From depletion to peace. Hayley walks in nature, turning to look at the camera with a smile. Hayley's long, flowing hair shows her movement. Thank You, Burnout is out now. Published by Hembury Books

What if burnout could become an opportunity?

A chance for courage, change, growth, healing, gratitude and newfound life.

It can, here’s an example…

Hayley Hughes is an Australian author and working mother who writes to heal. Her debut memoir, Thank You, Burnout is out now. ABC NEWS MENTION ‍ ‍

Purchase Thank You, Burnout

Author Interview

This book is about burnout

with a beautiful twist

Hayley Hughes pushed herself to depletion in the name of accomplishment and success. Her burnout felt eternal, deep, consuming. A full stop.

But amid profound collapse, burnout also became a chance, an unexpected catalyst for becoming.

Thank You, Burnout is an intimate walk through someone else’s woods. It winds the valleys and peaks of human emotion, through courage, self-determination and healing to reveal there’s much to gain from change.

A collection of heartfelt journal entries, Hayley’s powerful memoir is honest and personal, detailing an ordinary life that transformed into one of remarkable vibrancy and happiness.

Thank You, Burnout explores darkness and light, offering a portrait of hope that ventures into the aches and joys of helping ourselves.

With grace, Hayley’s story speaks to anyone who has felt the effects of burnout or the strange relief of finally having nothing left to give. An ode to presence and subtraction, Thank You, Burnout is a tale of coming to our own rescue and being the heroes of our own self-care stories. It inspires trust in intuition all the way to peace.

It’s possible the message in the wind, sky or the trees isn’t about fighting for a fairy tale. Maybe it’s about being receptive to
finding the fairy tale in the most unexpected places — Hayley Hughes
‍ ‍

Strong, distinctive voice. I can see this book being an incredible support to women who find themselves lost within our hyper-productivity culture. This is a beautiful, heartfelt story that will undoubtedly resonate with many.

—Penny Carroll, Journalist and Editor
A visceral reading experience, so absorbing and powerful. It should be widely read. The way you express your emotions is really engaging and original. Lovely writing, and the honesty with which you share what was happening is remarkable. It makes for a powerful read. It’s the most raw account of burnout I’ve read, and I feel like I understand it better now.

—Jessica Mudditt, Founder and Publisher, Hembury Books
Insightful and heartfelt. I wanted to keep reading. A masterpiece. The author’s inner strength shows itself on so many pages. The value of the writing is huge, many will benefit from these words. Brilliant. Beautifully written and expressed and encapsulates the author’s sincere concern on burnout on others. From the heart. This book brings to everyone’s attention how important work-life balance really is. Very important work.

—Combined early reader feedback
Exquisite, so beautiful, what a beautiful set of words. Reads like poetry.

— Kimberley Bennett, Entrepreneur
This book is a recipe for living, and a homage to the healing power of nature, gratefulness and self-preservation. The writing is beautiful, poetic and real. Hayley Hughes is a magical wordsmith with an innate ability to cut through with words and their meaning, economically expressed with amazing craft. Clever writing. I could feel the pulse, such is the depth of feeling.

—Combined early reader feedback
A RAY OF HOPE. 5 STARS. This book gives an intimate insight into the life of a busy career-driven mum of young boys and her slow downward spiral into burnout. It hits home in many regards to the pull many women feel in juggling life and ‘having it all’, and the guilt that ensues. An encouraging read and full of metaphors that put to words how many of us are feeling but struggle to articulate. It shows a path for anyone struggling with a downward trajectory that change is possible! Highly recommend!

—5 star Amazon review 8 April 2026
A LYRICAL JOURNEY. 5 STARS. There are many memoirs of major life-altering events like loss or divorce, but this memoir is about one we don’t talk about as much - career burnout and the opportunity it can give for re-shaping and re-framing. A lyrically written and deeply personal reflective journal of a journey through burnout and coming out the other side into a radically changed lifestyle and sense of identity. For people-pleasing women taking on more than any one person can handle is a trap that is all too easy to fall into. This book shows us that it is ok to step back, to change direction and that there can be a soft landing when we come down from our high-wire juggling act.

—5 star Amazon review 4 April 2026
NICELY WRITTEN AND DEEPLY RELATABLE. 5 STARS. Because of this book, I’ve decided to take some much-needed time off to reset, switch off, and properly reevaluate things before I reach a breaking point. It’s given me permission to slow down without guilt and reminded me that looking after myself isn’t optional—it’s necessary.

—5 star Amazon review 24 April 2026
THANK YOU, HAYLEY HUGHES. 5 STARS. The author takes you on her journey from her darkest days of burnout, to her recovery then to feelings of peace and happiness. Even if you have not experienced burnout, this book is a beautiful reminder that success and happiness can be found when you slow down and truly appreciate the little things in life. These little things are often the most important. Beautifully written! Thank you, Hayley Hughes.

— 5 star Amazon review 28 April 2026
FIVE STARS. Hayley’s memoir is an honest, unflinching look at what burn out feels like and how to find your way back to yourself. She takes you on a journey into that vague place of what it feels like and why you can’t understand what is happening to you. If you’ve ever been burnt out or feel something’s wrong and question why you aren’t bouncing back - this book’s for you. Hayley deftly defines what burn out is and shows you how to recover from it by changing the mindset that got you there in the first place. I felt so good by the end of this memoir and it was a great reminder of how to not end up there again. Beautifully written, insightful and helpful, thank you Hayley for this great memoir.

—5 star Goodreads review 9 May 2026
FIVE STARS. Burnout Memoir: A Reflective Journal on Career Burnout, Work Stress and Finding Balance. A beautiful series of journal entries, this burnout memoir offers a powerful personal exploration of work stress and career burnout and the journey towards renewed vitality and peace. It captures the eventual accumulation of “too much” in a demanding senior role and the inevitable unravelling that follows. It speaks to the silent load many women carry as they navigate careers in leadership, while balancing family, identity and personal life. With courage, determination and the decision to set clear boundaries, a hope-filled approach to life emerges from burnout through a gradual recovery journey. This is an intimate, inspiring reflection, written with deep humility and woven with thought-provoking metaphors. It gently explores perspectives around career and life, and it had me reflecting well beyond the last page.

—5 star Amazon review 21 May 2026
FIVE STARS. Firstly, I'd like to thank Hayley for sharing her journey with us. It takes tremendous courage to open your heart and allow readers into such a deeply personal chapter of your life. My heart broke throughout Part One as I witnessed Hayley navigating the depths of burnout. With every page, I could feel the heaviness she carried. Her words captured the weight, exhaustion, and emotional toll so vividly that I found myself walking alongside her through it all. As her journey unfolded, I began to feel the light breaking through the darkness. The sense of hope, healing, and renewal was uplifting, and at times it felt as though some of the weight on my own shoulders eased too. There were many aspects of this memoir that resonated with me, but what struck me most was Hayley's lyrical writing style. Her words flowed beautifully, drawing me deeper into her world and making every moment feel tangible and real. Congratulations, Hayley, on such a beautiful and powerful book. Even though I was reading from my couch, I felt transported to your creek, standing before the old arched gate draped in soft layers of moss. I could picture myself there, wrapped in a blanket with a warm cup of tea in hand. Most of all, I'm so glad you've found peace beyond the burnout. Your journey is one of courage, resilience, and hope, and I feel grateful to have shared a small part of it through these pages.

—Five star Goodreads review 2 June 2026

Thank You, Burnout memoir out now visual including Booktopia, Amazon, Barnes & Noble retailer logos. Ebook and paperback on a blue background. Non-fiction book for women about burnout, change, healing, growth, self-help, breakdown and breakthroughs.

Now available

Thank You, Burnout is out now.

Publisher: Hembury Books.
Stockists include Better Read Than Dead Bookstore, Amazon, Booktopia, Walmart, Rakuten, Barnes & Noble and other global retailers.

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Hayley Hughes

Hayley Hughes is an Australian author and working mother who writes to heal. In 2024, burnout compelled Hayley to leave her successful senior management career to pursue a more fulfilling life. These experiences led to Thank You, Burnout.

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