Reviews

How to Be a Grown-Up by Daisy Buchanan

kirkw1972's review

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3.0

I'm a little bit old for the intended demographics for this book but downloaded it as you're never too old to learn a few new tricks. 

There's a lot of good advice in here and I really liked the ideas around building online friendships. There are topics for all types of readers from money and mental health to even masturbation. It's really quick and easy to read. I enjoyed it

Free arc from netgalley

moadore's review

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3.0

A bit of a mixed bag, and I've been staring at the review box for ages working out to exactly word this...

On one hand it was funny and honest, making it a refreshing change from the crowd of self-help / self-development gurus who reek of perfection and appear to (from the outside at least) to have unattainable and unrealistic amounts of joy in their life.

But on the other hand, I didn't find any of the advice ground-breaking and I had already figured out most of it on my own. Don't get me wrong, Daisy speaking about her mistakes and set-backs was a warm and fuzzy reminder that we all have them but when I read a self-development book aimed at "surviving your twenties" I don't expect to be spoon-fed life guidance that my 19-year-old self could have dished out.

As a note, I started consuming self-development books when I was a teenager so maybe that's why I got there a bit quicker? I dunno. As I said, mixed feelings but still a good read for girls in their early 20s - just don't expect any epiphanies.

katieejayne's review

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5.0

**I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review/ as a result of my job**
Everyone needs to read this book. It is quite simply fabulous. Daisy reminisces on her trials and tribulations from her early twenties and what she's now realised as she's entered her thirties. Now, though I'm twenty-one...nearly twenty-two, I still found myself nodding along to paragraphs in this. It got to a point regarding iPhones where I was howling with laughter, couldn't catch my breath and proceeded to send a photo of the phrase to everyone I know.

I also found it very reassuring to see that I wasn't the only person concerned that at twenty-one I hadn't got my life together. In the sense of that when I was fourteen I thought I'd have a stable relationship (well, I've made a start on this so...), have my own home and would have a degree and be a working woman. Now, I've sorta half done most of that. I've recently met a lovely guy. HE COOKS. I'm saved. For those unaware I am the person that put foil in the toaster and couldn't figure out why the oven wasn't warming up...I had turned on the wrong part of the oven. I had, what was meant to be a pizza in there for over twenty minutes... I still live at home but as we all know that in this day and age I'm doomed to never own my home due to my adoration of the avocado. 'Tis the disease of the millennials. It is in fact nothing to do with the rising house prices, difficulty finding a well payed and/or salaried job and the near Mensa level puzzle solving it takes to figure out the mythical being that is the mortgage. I am about to enter the second year of my degree after taking a few years out following a hellish college experience. I've been a bookseller for just under six years now... So, I have half done most. Which considering where I was two years ago I didn't think I'd be sat here looking at my University time table and thinking well when can I get the train down to see my lovely boyfriend. I like to think fourteen year old Katie would be okay with the current situation.

What I loved most about this book is how Daisy got her friends and family involved. In each section she had someone else share their experiences of dating, jobs, health everything. It felt like a wonderful support group with the overriding message of trust us, your doing fine. If you're getting a full eight hours, have food on the table and are looking after yourself you're winning at life. Which is something I think everyone needs to hear. Do I want to own my own home? Of course but I don't need to put a time limit on it. In the same breath just because you've labeled a job as your dream career doesn't mean that when you enter it you must stick to it. Health both physical and mental should be placed above all else. I can see this being a book that I go back to again and again.

I already intend to make everyone in my life read this.
www.a-novel-idea.co.uk

sophienocturne's review

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4.0

A brutally honest, yet entertaining read covering a whole host of topics including friends, money, confidence etc. I found this book so incredibly relatable and it was the perfect read to help navigate the doubts that have been creeping in since I left university. I especially appreciated how frank and sex-positive Buchanan's writing was. It's a great life manual for twenty-somethings.

jentidders's review

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4.0

Gosh I wish I'd had this to read in my twenties.

tashmachin's review

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funny informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

claire_michelle18's review

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4.0

I wish I could have read this book in my twenties! Comforting, hilarious and honest

twiinklex's review

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5.0

You know how some books are some good, so perfect, and you love them so much, you feel like no words or review will ever sufficiently do them justice? This book is one of them.

I enjoy all the anecdotes and there were certain parts that made me laugh out loud. But most importantly, this book understood me so well from the get-go and talked about every little thing I have ever been insecure about. It was such a great comfort knowing that I wasn't alone. Unlike many celebrity memoirs, so many of Daisy's thoughts and experiences were relatable.

There was even a specific chapter dedicated to forgiving yourself for mistakes that I found very timely and was exactly what I needed right now.

This is a book that I would highly recommend all young adults to read.

lasunflower's review

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funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.5

I was surprised how relatable it is, as someone in their mid twenties. Some great wisdom and also validation I am doing fine.

ka_t's review

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informative lighthearted slow-paced

3.0

Well written, but (IMO) less engaging than the books of Dolly Alderton etc.