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juliaem's review against another edition
2.0
There's something to be said for a book that'll take a day or two to read. A lot of the essays were poignant, but overall, this anthology made me feel like I should be having a quarterlife crisis like every single neurotic contributor to the collection. Which maybe I should be, but I think crises are best when they arise organically, as opposed to literary-induced.
girlinacardigan's review against another edition
2.0
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/its-a-wonderful-lie-edited-by-emily-franklin/
maddness22's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5
I'll share in the common criticism that this book is pretty much limited to the experience of successful female writers in New York City. However, they're really well written essays by successful female writers in NYC. While I wished there were more applicable experiences to, say, the Midwest (especially for the sections about where they lived), this was probably the highest quality collection of essays I've ever read. Each of them felt like a warm cup of coffee telling me "I've been there, sister" regardless of the experience. The women are unapologetic in their admissions of where they messed up and where they succeeded in their twenties. A cozy and well assembled read!
allisonarthur's review against another edition
3.0
This book was recommended to me by a friend who is sick of listening to me question myself and my progress in life. She said "It's a Wonderful Lie" is insightful and makes you feel better about being a woman in your twenties. I'm not sure I agree. While the handful of authors do stress the fact that not having a solidified game plan in your 20's is okay, I am now terrified that I won't figure out my life until I turn the big 3-0. So, if you're a woman in your twenties and are looking for affirmation that you're not the only one out there floundering, this book is for you. Just don't go expecting answers.
melissarochelle's review against another edition
3.0
Filled with great stories about life in your twenties...it's not always sunshine and roses like some would like us to believe! Some of the stories were still a little too happy...and everything always worked out in the end, but maybe that's good news. It can only get better, right?!
sleepbee's review
3.0
My favorites are: Twenty-eight is the New Eighteen, Girls Can Do Anything!, I Can't Have Sex with You and Twenty-nine Year Old Nomad Seeks Home.
Fair warning: I enjoyed this book because I could relate to the Helpless Writer theme.
Fair warning: I enjoyed this book because I could relate to the Helpless Writer theme.
annabcarey's review
2.0
The first couple of sections were great, but the ones on love and friendship got really upsetting. Some of the essays were just miserably heteronormative and very hard to relate to, as someone whose romantic life and friendships have always been non-standard. Frequent references to the sorts of people who you just don't consider partners (almost never based on personality), or "every girl needs a gay guy friend," or "men and women can't relate without men wanting sex," or...any number of things that we just desperately need to get over as a society. Not to mention several instances of the writers using "that's retarded," which is absolutely not ok with me.
If the second half of the book had been what the first half was, I'd have probably given this a four, but the later essays just ruined it for me.
If the second half of the book had been what the first half was, I'd have probably given this a four, but the later essays just ruined it for me.
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