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ciarajallen's review
5.0
this book is funny and warm and brilliant and tender and i loved every second of it. i ordered my own copy halfway through because i just knew i needed to scribble in the margins.
dembury's review
3.0
There are chunks of material in Alderton's writings and thoughts that I definitely agree with, and found refreshing to have explicitly spelled out and explored; primarily, her viewpoints on how valuable her friendships with other girls are. The keystone quote that really sums this up is "Nearly everything I know about love, I've learned in my long-term friendships with women." I love that Alderton emphasizes that over and over again. She also isn't afraid to poke and explore at various ideas like how much people in a new romantic relationship with someone shove their friendships to the side, or just how presumptuous baby showers can be (the line of people "demand[ing] money and time from people to celebrate [their] own personal life choices" is so accurate). It's so very clear Alderton cares deeply for her loving friendships and wants to encourage readers to do the same! I think that if readers come away with anything from this book, it will be to tend to and value your friendships, because those are the people who you can build a real, true community and family with.
On the other hand, this book just DRIPS with privilege and heteronormativity. Alderton is a 30-something woman who is largely reflecting on her teens and 20s, which were filled with drinking, partying, careless spending, European holidays, working jobs that allow an unusual level of creative freedom, etc. and this results in a book that is, on manyyy levels, just not relatable whatsoever. At times she genuinely sounds like a caricature of a British party woman that might pop up on an SNL skit or an episode of "Skins". She describes so many drunken nights that they begin to blur together, and each consecutive one offers less than the one before, which made me want to start skipping chapters.
This book was also just extremely hetero. Even when Alderton is emphasizing female friendship and not changing yourself for any man, there is a steady and constant undercurrent that runs through the entire work that still places romance with a man as highly desirable and finding a partner, even if it happens later in life, still needs to happen at some point. It just seems so antithetical to everything she comes to conclusions about time and time again, and by the end of the book the conclusion sort of peters out to this weird agreement of "Yes, love yourself and cherish your female friendships because they're the most precious love you will have, oh and also you will get a boyfriend one day who will love you even if you're silly and don't shave and have a wild past!"
All in all, there are some really heartfelt and valuable writing in "Everything I Know About Love", but it's a little like mining: you're gonna have to dig and pick through some rubble to get to the shiny bits (I actually don't know how mining works, so just picture the mining scene in "Snow White"). I'm curious to maybe read Alderton's latest work and see how her writing and voice have developed since this book came out.
On the other hand, this book just DRIPS with privilege and heteronormativity. Alderton is a 30-something woman who is largely reflecting on her teens and 20s, which were filled with drinking, partying, careless spending, European holidays, working jobs that allow an unusual level of creative freedom, etc. and this results in a book that is, on manyyy levels, just not relatable whatsoever. At times she genuinely sounds like a caricature of a British party woman that might pop up on an SNL skit or an episode of "Skins". She describes so many drunken nights that they begin to blur together, and each consecutive one offers less than the one before, which made me want to start skipping chapters.
This book was also just extremely hetero. Even when Alderton is emphasizing female friendship and not changing yourself for any man, there is a steady and constant undercurrent that runs through the entire work that still places romance with a man as highly desirable and finding a partner, even if it happens later in life, still needs to happen at some point. It just seems so antithetical to everything she comes to conclusions about time and time again, and by the end of the book the conclusion sort of peters out to this weird agreement of "Yes, love yourself and cherish your female friendships because they're the most precious love you will have, oh and also you will get a boyfriend one day who will love you even if you're silly and don't shave and have a wild past!"
All in all, there are some really heartfelt and valuable writing in "Everything I Know About Love", but it's a little like mining: you're gonna have to dig and pick through some rubble to get to the shiny bits (I actually don't know how mining works, so just picture the mining scene in "Snow White"). I'm curious to maybe read Alderton's latest work and see how her writing and voice have developed since this book came out.
hanaflane's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
2.75
Places are kingdoms of memories and relationships, the landscape is only ever a reflection of how you fel inside.
sophiaiscoolxd's review
emotional
funny
reflective
5.0
i cried no less than 10 times reading this book which is a first
madhattress's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
kellylee55's review
4.0
4⭐️ This one took me about 50ish pages to get into, but then I was hooked. This was a very raw and honest glimpse into her life and her personal experiences with love and what it truly means to have love in your life. I cried and laughed and really enjoyed this one.