What if burnout could become an opportunity?

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

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.

Purchase Thank You, Burnout
Purchase Thank You, Burnout
Book Launch Interview
Book Launch 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

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.

Order your copy today
Order your copy today
Headshot of Hayley Hughes, author of Thank You, Burnout: From depletion to peace smiling. Hayley wears black rimmed glasses and a white knit top against the green, nature-filled background.

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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