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linnybear's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I was dreading it for the first 35% of the book, picking it up was like making your way through the torment mostly because I found it utterly unrelatable. Not that everything I read has to be relatable but I didn't find it funny nor interesting to read about an abandoned sheltered child turned out alcoholic who somehow found a great pack of friends and a job despite their problems with various substances.
I stuck through it mainly for the writing, but then I cried as I read the chapter about Florence, and I thought how important the ending chapters would be to the younger me. Just proving the author's point that you don't need constant validation from anyone (especially a man), that you are enough, and showing it through her own experiences.
It's not something groundbreaking that wasn't said before, quite frankly it has been said many many times but in this book it doesn't sound cheesy or condescending. And I actually quite liked how it wasn't really about love as much as it was about friendships, loss and making peace with yourself. I'd be happy human being if fiction authors write friendships exactly like in this book.
I stuck through it mainly for the writing, but then I cried as I read the chapter about Florence, and I thought how important the ending chapters would be to the younger me. Just proving the author's point that you don't need constant validation from anyone (especially a man), that you are enough, and showing it through her own experiences.
It's not something groundbreaking that wasn't said before, quite frankly it has been said many many times but in this book it doesn't sound cheesy or condescending. And I actually quite liked how it wasn't really about love as much as it was about friendships, loss and making peace with yourself. I'd be happy human being if fiction authors write friendships exactly like in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Eating disorder, and Grief
julierambaeck's review against another edition
Didn’t understand what I would gain from the story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
lindasoderlundd's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Alcohol, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Grief
Minor: Cursing, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
sidekicksam's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
2.5
I was hesitant about this book, and I was both correct in my expectations and also surprised at some bits. If more of the book was as profound as the chapter on Florence was, I would have felt more connected to the book. The nostalgia of the 00s with the rise of MSN messaging, first encounters with boys, and some of the friendship love stories were also very relatable and fun to read.
But (and there is a massive big but with this book for me), the overall tone of the book just made it very difficult for me to either love Dolly or to appreciate any of her stories. The excessive drinking and the egocentric attitude in her relationships with her friends (and not in her teen years, but as a 20-something) made her seem bratty and self-indulgent in my eyes. The satirical e-mails in between chapters definitely emphasized Alderton's ability to write (I liked her writing well enough), and though I also understood the recipes she included, with the naggy tone of her stories and the satirical tone of the e-mails, they felt out of place to me.
Perhaps it is because I don't have a close group of girlfriends that are my whole world, or because I am not single, or because I had a very different upbringing that the book didn't resonate with me. But alas. Personally, though I do consider the message of friendship evolving and that being ok an important one for people to read about and learn, I would expect a memoir to reflect on bigger personal growth or a truly outstanding story. This was not that for me, and for that I am sorry.
I would recommend picking up Conversations On Love, in which Dolly also contributed. And for memoirs I really appreciated: Educated (Tara Westover), I'm Glad My Mom Died (Jennette McCurdy), Taste: My Life Through Food (Stanley Tucci) and Finding Me (Viola Davis).
But (and there is a massive big but with this book for me), the overall tone of the book just made it very difficult for me to either love Dolly or to appreciate any of her stories. The excessive drinking and the egocentric attitude in her relationships with her friends (and not in her teen years, but as a 20-something) made her seem bratty and self-indulgent in my eyes. The satirical e-mails in between chapters definitely emphasized Alderton's ability to write (I liked her writing well enough), and though I also understood the recipes she included, with the naggy tone of her stories and the satirical tone of the e-mails, they felt out of place to me.
Perhaps it is because I don't have a close group of girlfriends that are my whole world, or because I am not single, or because I had a very different upbringing that the book didn't resonate with me. But alas. Personally, though I do consider the message of friendship evolving and that being ok an important one for people to read about and learn, I would expect a memoir to reflect on bigger personal growth or a truly outstanding story. This was not that for me, and for that I am sorry.
I would recommend picking up Conversations On Love, in which Dolly also contributed. And for memoirs I really appreciated: Educated (Tara Westover), I'm Glad My Mom Died (Jennette McCurdy), Taste: My Life Through Food (Stanley Tucci) and Finding Me (Viola Davis).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
gzaborski's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
I cannot wait to reread this book again in a few years. Discusses issues of self-image, dependency, growth, friendship, and of course love. Made me remember what I have ahead of me at age 23 and for that I’m grateful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Eating disorder, Cancer, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Drug use
breenareads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Alcohol, Sexual content, Drug use, and Cursing
Moderate: Cancer and Death
tatjanasbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Terminal illness, Grief, Addiction, and Cancer
Moderate: Death, Body shaming, and Eating disorder
Minor: Fatphobia
brysonchristina1's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Of all the books I've read this year, this was the most well written. Dolly's story isn't unique (not to say her life isn't interesting) but that's what makes this book so great. So many millennial women can relate to what she has to say. And sometimes the most empowering and affirming thing is to know that other people, other women, are going through, will go through, and have gone through what you're experiencing. And in a time when you're questioning a lot about your life and it's purpose (beyond ordering things off Amazon), it's relieving to realize you're not alone. I loved this book. It's what I needed, and I'm recommending it to all my friends immediately.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Drug use, and Grief
saarahkaatharina's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Alcohol, Cancer, Death, Drug use, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Grief
madisophi's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
One of my new favorite books!! Dolly covers the typical stress and joys of being a teen and 20 year old as well as the “doom” of your 30s which such grace, humor, and hope. Honestly, a must read for any 20/30 year old.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, and Eating disorder