aubrigail's review against another edition
3.0
I love Heather Havrilesky's advice column on The Awl (Ask Polly) and wanted to see what her book was about. I enjoyed it. I definitely come away with a "we're all fucked up and awesome and in this together" feeling...which is helpful if you're at all inclined to get into the moods where everyone else is awesome (and absolutely not in the least bit fucked up).
I highly, highly recommend her advice column (she and Dan Savage are my faves). http://www.theawl.com/tag/ask-polly
I highly, highly recommend her advice column (she and Dan Savage are my faves). http://www.theawl.com/tag/ask-polly
ginnikin's review against another edition
3.0
Often charming, frequently a mess, this is an entertaining read, especially if you love Havrilesky's current advice column (which I do).
ladyeremite's review against another edition
4.0
I sometimes feel like Heather Havrilesky and I are long separated sisters. So much in this memoir spoke to me, even if the particularities did not.
damsorrow's review against another edition
2.0
Put it down a third of the way through and double-checked that Dear Polly and this lady were the same person. :( They were. I didn't bother to read the rest of the book, but I DID read the rest of Dear Polly. Not sure what happened. Really uninteresting.
owloutstanding's review against another edition
3.0
I admire the strength it took to write this book and see it through until it finished. I do not have such work ethic and fortitude. There are many good lines in the book and there is enough insight to feel connected to and want the best for Havrilesky. Maybe I'm just a hard ass for wanting more from her. For wanting some of the chapters to end without cloying advice or wrapped-up, perfect sentiments about how life is supposed to be imperfect. I feel the exact same book inside of me (and started in a notebook) and I think, "I am so fucking tired of listening to myself." It's one thing to process one's upbringing for oneself. And then there is something else--something that might cut more to the heart of things. (Or I'm totally projecting and sounding like an asshole.)
aespeckh's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the section on how being in love with the idea of love (and even more with unrequited love) makes it very difficult to actually love and be loved. Funny and thoughtful.
amandanan's review
4.0
3.5. Excellent read. While reading it, the author's voice and descriptive storytelling sounded just like Lorelai Gilmore. The last few chapters resonated deeply. I'll probably reread them at some point.
debz57a52's review against another edition
3.5
Heather Havilesky has a great deal of stories to tell about her childhood and early adult life, and I was here for it. She wrote just enough to be able to envision things, but not so much that she hammered a dead horse. Many of the stories in her memoir are both funny and sad, or made me both melancholy and angry for her. And I was almost always shocked by the weirdness (ineptitude) of adults when they are around kids. In this way, this book reminds me of other books I've read like this: Educated by Tara Westover, Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson, and even the fictional Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson.
raviwarrier's review against another edition
2.0
Heather's memoirs of her early life in her dysfunctional family with cynical parents is tragic. It's a wonder how she managed to surpass the traumatic experiences to write a book with a humorous outlook to her experiences.
If you want a book that helps you prepare for disasters, this is not it, however, if you want to read something tragic and funny at the same time, pick it up.
If you want a book that helps you prepare for disasters, this is not it, however, if you want to read something tragic and funny at the same time, pick it up.