Reviews

How to Grow Up: A Memoir by Michelle Tea

aspen_moon's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.75

Found the pacing of the book a little strange when writing memoirs I prefer when the writer goes in chronological order of events this book seemed to throw you around a bit 

Though her writing once again has indeed helped me tremendously 

notlikethebeer's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

A collection of essays from one of my favourite authors. In this book Michelle Tea covers a range of topics, but particularly addiction, money, and relationships. Really brilliant!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction

pajge's review against another edition

4.0

not gonna lie, at first i thought michelle lost me on this one. it read as preachy and annoying, but it really redeemed itself in the latter half, i especially liked the chapters on cooking and working out. funny, charming, beautiful to read after her prior works, seeing her get her shit together. i really enjoyed this one, glad i stuck with it

knbee's review against another edition

1.0

First of all a disclaimer... I did not finish this book. I read more than half, but in the end, could not make myself finish it. Honestly, I cannot relate to who Michelle Tea has "grown" into. Such a disappointment... I loved her early memoirs.

meghan111's review against another edition

3.0

I was provided a free advance digital copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Those who enjoyed Cheryl Strayed's blend of advice column and confessional in [b:Tiny Beautiful Things|13152194|Tiny Beautiful Things Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar|Cheryl Strayed|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339807006s/13152194.jpg|18330294] should seek out this new book by Michelle Tea. Containing frank truths, funny anecdotes, and very little prescriptive "advice", it offers a reassurance to anyone suffering from class issues, misogyny, poverty, traumatic memories of bullying, dysfunctional families, or homophobia that it does, indeed, get better.

spinstah's review against another edition

4.0

This was a great read. Tea is a recovering alcoholic who takes us through some of the experiences she's had after sobering up, that she considers to be part of growing up. Dating around and eventually developing a stable relationship, roommates and living situations, and taking more control over her work as a writer and literary event planner. She's brutally honest and extremely funny, and I could relate to a lot of this, even though my life has taken a very different path.

bookhoarding's review against another edition

4.0

Tea gives us the autobiography we need. She shares her ups and downs, her addictions (alcohol, love, clothes), her flaws and her strengths. This is a must-read because she doesn't make herself a victim, or try to flaunt her achievements, she's just telling her story like it is.

evalucia's review against another edition

2.0

Michelle Tea's BLACK WAVE was one of my favorite books of 2016 which is the only reason that I actually forced myself to finish this book and didn't give up about three chapters in. Reads more like a clichéd and predictable self-help book than a "memoir."

keetham's review against another edition

3.0

Pleasant but not revolutionary. An ode to living a middle class life after not living said life. Good for the commute to work. Made me wish I was a writer who tapped away at home and went for jogs on the beach though.

debbiemanning's review against another edition

3.0

I won this book from Goodreads. I was unfamiliar with the author, but grew to respect her for turning her life around. She's accomplished amazing things with little more than a high school education. Having lived in the Boston area, her reminiscences about Chelsea made me smile.