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purplepierogi's review
5.0
what a fantastic, funny, tragic-but-laugh-through-the-pain memoir. Laura Chinn writes not just of crippling cystic acne (relatable) but more so the trauma of her parents’ divorce, zig zagging coast to coast trying to navigate life without real parental figures, her brother’s terminal brain cancer, drug-addled friends and questionable youth escapades (not relatable at all but wild and intimate and entertaining). this kind of memoir could definitely fall into the dark humor puff pity piece, but Chinn describes it all with a really biting humor that acknowledges she was going through a lot, but also maybe also was an asshole at times, just surviving. What can I say, I laughed, I cried, I bookmarked like crazy bc the little quips cut right to the emotional core of healing from trauma, I’m a fan.
thank you Hatchette Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
thank you Hatchette Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
nicolecaprice53's review
5.0
Laura Chinn is so real. I laughed and cried. I’d recommend this to every young woman I know.
toofondofbooks_'s review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Everyone who knows me knows that I love a good memoir, and I extra loved this one. I thought that Laura Chinn's willingness to be honest about what kind of person she was in her teenage years (selfish, like really selfish and self destructive). I feel like a lot of memoirs I read, people really seem to make themselves look favorable, or at least palatable when talking about their earlier years, but not here. I don't know if I would have the same willingness to really look at who I used to be, cringe and all, and put it out there for the world.
I also just felt like this writing was so good. There is a blurb in the back of the book that says that it feels like exchanging secrets with a friend, and that's the best way that I can describe it as well. I read this book physically and listened along with the audio and it felt really immersive, and I felt like I was just chillin' with the author and listening to every good, bad, or just cringe thing she's ever done.
I think this book has a little something that each person who reads it can relate to or take from it, for instance, the discussions of Laura's constant battle with acne was so painfully relatable to me, as I constantly struggle with painful adult acne and trying to keep it at bay.
This is also the first book that's made me literally sob in awhile - the stories of the loss of multiple loved ones throughout absolutely destroyed me to the point where I had to put the book down for the night and watch parks and rec instead (sometimes it's good to take a break from a book that makes you cry, even if it is a 5 star). Overall, I really have no complaints. I was thoroughly entertained and at the same time I felt like I had a lot to think about with this one. I will probably end up seeking out Laura Chinn's other projects now!
I also just felt like this writing was so good. There is a blurb in the back of the book that says that it feels like exchanging secrets with a friend, and that's the best way that I can describe it as well. I read this book physically and listened along with the audio and it felt really immersive, and I felt like I was just chillin' with the author and listening to every good, bad, or just cringe thing she's ever done.
I think this book has a little something that each person who reads it can relate to or take from it, for instance, the discussions of Laura's constant battle with acne was so painfully relatable to me, as I constantly struggle with painful adult acne and trying to keep it at bay.
This is also the first book that's made me literally sob in awhile - the stories of the loss of multiple loved ones throughout absolutely destroyed me to the point where I had to put the book down for the night and watch parks and rec instead (sometimes it's good to take a break from a book that makes you cry, even if it is a 5 star). Overall, I really have no complaints. I was thoroughly entertained and at the same time I felt like I had a lot to think about with this one. I will probably end up seeking out Laura Chinn's other projects now!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Death of parent, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Drug use, Body horror, Death, Homophobia, Hate crime, Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Ableism, Blood, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Racism, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Medical content, Alcohol, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Excrement, Infidelity, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Slavery, Suicide, Genocide, and Incest
This author was raised Scientologist (although she no longer is a part of the faith) but there is discussion of the religion in the book, so if that bothers you, I wouldn't pick it up.smutfortwo's review against another edition
5.0
I love a memoir and a memoir by a comedy writer is so much fun. I did not want to put this book down, there are some wonderful high highs, very depressing low lows, but her voice and her style of writing is just so compelling, it really pulls you in and makes you feel like you were there with her. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, and I highly recommend it. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
averyvm's review
5.0
Had to give it five stars because I was actually laughing out loud while reading this book. Laura’s story is a perfect mix of being relatable, hilarious, and absolutely devastating. I loved this book.
alison_marie's review against another edition
4.0
Laura’s life was wild growing up — Scientologist parents, no western medical treatments, living by herself as a teenager in Florida, etc. — but she writes about her past with a lot of honesty and compassion to her younger self and her friends.