jazzy_g's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The protagonist's experiences were very personally relatable which likely explains why I enjoyed this book so much. Now in my early 30s, I have never been divorced, nor married however I have had a few long-term relationships end throughout my mid to late 20s and found myself in very similar resulting spirals of patterns, thoughts and destructive and erratic behaviours.
Monica Heisey, through sorrow and humour, brilliantly addresses many elements of the millennial and post break-up experience including the financial struggles of trying to adapt to single life in a society where living off an average single-person salary is becoming increasingly difficult; the begrudging but often necessary return to your parents' home (often also a surprisingly healing experience); the awkward relationship with your own body; the random 'self-care' efforts to feel more balanced and 'beautiful'; the coming to terms with your bisexuality that still feels like relatively unexplored terrain; the attempts to fill a hole with random online shopping sprees; the despair, torment and fun of modern dating both online and otherwise; the depressive episodes so full of self-loathing and self-pity that you cannot see the light, end up pushing loved ones away and struggle to share in their joy; the challenges of maintaining and nourishing friendships and creating new connections in adulthood; the rabbit-hole of often bizarre Google searches (I found these particularly funny and familiar); emerging through the pain and out the other side, with better perspective, recognising that there is more, there is hope and there are much larger problems out there.
If you are a millennial and going through a tough time, or a similar experience, this book should help provide a laugh.
Monica Heisey, through sorrow and humour, brilliantly addresses many elements of the millennial and post break-up experience including the financial struggles of trying to adapt to single life in a society where living off an average single-person salary is becoming increasingly difficult; the begrudging but often necessary return to your parents' home (often also a surprisingly healing experience); the awkward relationship with your own body; the random 'self-care' efforts to feel more balanced and 'beautiful'; the coming to terms with your bisexuality that still feels like relatively unexplored terrain; the attempts to fill a hole with random online shopping sprees; the despair, torment and fun of modern dating both online and otherwise; the depressive episodes so full of self-loathing and self-pity that you cannot see the light, end up pushing loved ones away and struggle to share in their joy; the challenges of maintaining and nourishing friendships and creating new connections in adulthood; the rabbit-hole of often bizarre Google searches (I found these particularly funny and familiar); emerging through the pain and out the other side, with better perspective, recognising that there is more, there is hope and there are much larger problems out there.
If you are a millennial and going through a tough time, or a similar experience, this book should help provide a laugh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Body shaming
alysereadsbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is one of my favorite books of the year! Listened to it on audiobook, but really loved it. It legitimately made me laugh out loud at times. A lot of dark gallows humor. It's so realistic that it's slightly painful and cringey at times, but also made me love Maggie more. Definitely going to read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Mental illness
julianh's review against another edition
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Cursing, Drug use, and Eating disorder
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book came at the perfect time. this was relatable and witty, i really enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Mental illness
readingwithkt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Vomit and Drug use
kleinekita's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Laugh out loud funny, a millennial Bridget Jones having a complete break down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Mental illness and Drug use
bonchoix's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Body shaming, and Mental illness
Moderate: Eating disorder and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infidelity, Stalking, and Biphobia
carlaah1984's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I didn't find this book as funny as I thought I would, but I found it to be so genuine and honest that it was remarkable. I haven't been divorced but it made me understand what my friends have been so much more, and build empathy for them and understand their experiences in ways that I don't think they would have been able to tell me or explain themselves. I found it refreshing that her friends were annoyed or mad. That she could have complex feelings and desires.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Eating disorder
leahisdudish's review against another edition
3.0
much preferred physically reading to the audio book. the harry styles reference lives rent free in my head
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness
jacs63's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I was quite disappointed in this book. It's been raved about on social media, but it was quite average. Filling an entire book up with lists , that fill so many pages up, is just a boring and lazy device. Sometimes there were 3 or so huge lists in a chapter. It could have quite easily just been an article to be honest. She can write, but this was quite boring. Not so sure it was a novel really either. It read more like a memoir.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Mental illness, and Sexual content