allisonleslie's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.5

Picked up this book with no expectations but simply to read it with my work bookclub - and I’m so glad I did. This book had me angry, sad, laughing, and even crying. I loved getting to hear all of the stories including the story of the main character and her experience with therapy. Being able to follow growth between each character while learning more about human nature as the story progressed. 

I may have even recommended this book to my own therapist. 

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melissafelicia's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

This was a beautiful story about a therapist whose patients were all going through something difficult, while she herself was also going through something difficult and seeing her own therapist about it. In the end, all the stories came together beautifully. The stories were sometimes heartbreaking, but it was inspiring to see the patients grow/recover/accept/learn to love again. Ultimately, this book was about human connection and growth, mixed with interesting insights and psychology facts. 

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elizaandstella's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

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tracy_j's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

It took me awhile to read this book but that's because I was absorbing so much. I think therapy is so valuable and Lori did an amazing job covering so many aspects of it. I could see myself reading this book again which I don't say often. 

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roveronez's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

What a great book! Lori Gottlieb talks about her life, how she became a therapist, and her struggles as well as the life challenges of her patients in such way that we feel like we're reading a novel. So many insights, the kind of book that naturally teaches you so much about psychology and gives you tools to cope with your own struggles without sounding like a "self-help" book. I loved it! ❤️

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fkshg8465's review

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

I really enjoyed this book, and of course, I’m obsessed with trying to figure out who John is and what’s the name of his show!

I liked her thoughtfulness and deliberateness with her patients. I liked knowing she is also someone who needs a therapist as well. It’s given me a new lens to look at me in therapist through.

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cj5300's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

Did not expect to get so emotionally attached to many of the characters in this book. I cried at the end. 

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carly_the_librarian's review

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emotional inspiring reflective

4.75


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mariamarsbar's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective

5.0


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sapphicbookworm23's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

5.0

As of 9/15/23, this is my 2nd favorite book of the year, second to Pleasure Activism.

As an aspiring psychotherapist, this book gave me an intimate glimpse into the tender, dynamic, and evolutionary client - therapist relationship. I think anyone who appreciates raw, authentic, and deep human connection and honesty will appreciate this book. We all have unique an often painful stories and histories that we carry with us, yet it's so rare for others to learn about them and hold space for them. This book gently forces you reflect on your own life, how you're living in ways that don't align with your values, and a reminder that life is so short. If we knew we had only a few months left to live, most of us would change our priorities and behavior entirely - how can we do that NOW until waiting for our death to near?

Memorable quotes:

Page 332: "The inability to say no is largely about approval-seeking - people imagine that if they say no, they won't be loved by others. The inability to say yes, however - to intimacy, a job opportunity, an alcohol program - is more about lack of trust in one-self. Will I mess this up? Will this turn out badly? Isn't if safer to stay where I am?

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