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elizabethdaisy's review against another edition
5.0
A profoundly moving story. I had no idea about Hannah's upbringing, and even the snippets and comments she'd made in videos didn't cover the really intense and difficult things she's experienced. I sat in shock after finishing it, and then spent a few hours talking about it with my mum (a retired psychiatric nurse who was horrified about how the mental health system in America can fail its citizens). An excellent read, but difficult because you can't just hug Hannah afterwards.
thelibraryskeeper's review
4.0
"I'd say I've come a long way. I always have to try and remember to be kind to myself. It's a journey of continued effort and occasional failure. And that's okay. I can't beat myself up for that."
I've been watching Hannah's videos for a long time and I've always admired her spirit and her quirkiness. I followed her through the Ingrid stuff and saw her come out even more confident with herself after. This book is an honest funny and beautifully written account of some of Hannah's life. I loved that she didn't sugar coat it - shes gone through some hard stuff and some of it is still "buffering".
I've been watching Hannah's videos for a long time and I've always admired her spirit and her quirkiness. I followed her through the Ingrid stuff and saw her come out even more confident with herself after. This book is an honest funny and beautifully written account of some of Hannah's life. I loved that she didn't sugar coat it - shes gone through some hard stuff and some of it is still "buffering".
katietopp's review against another edition
5.0
I'm going to be honest. I'm not a Hannah Hart super fan. I'm more of a casual watcher. But I got this book because I felt drawn to it. And honestly? This is a beautiful book. It's honest and witty and heart wrenching. But also thought provoking and relatable. Maybe it's because I'm in my mid-twenties and going through my own bout of finding my adult self as Hannah put so gorgeously into words on these pages. But either way it was an excellent read for the super fan and no subscribed alike. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.
if_you_give_a_mouse_a_prozac's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.25
ellyrarg's review against another edition
3.0
I did not expect this book to be what it is. I’ve seen a handful of her drunken cooking videos and thought it might be a bit of silly fun, but what came out was an intense, honest look at a truly traumatic upbringing. Woah buddy.
Weirdly, it felt like it finished too soon. Perhaps it’s just that I’ve been reading fiction, but I wanted to hear how things turned out at the end of the conservatorship with her Mama. What happened after that year?
Also, she didn’t discuss finances explicitly, but when she said she had money I was shocked to later discover her millionaire status (not because she doesn’t deserve it, she does, but more that we spent so much time reading about the poverty in which she lived, and then couch surfing or whatever, the switch - bar the fancy too big house that I stupidly assumed was affordable because of her partner- wasn’t really brought up, or it was implied/so subtle I missed it. Weird sidenote: I also watched the trailer for her show edible history and I hart food, which both rang so surface level after finishing such a vulnerable and honest book. I wish I hadn’t watched it while still processing the read).
But life is not a narrative with a tidy and complete ending and even with an intense glimpse into her life, what she chooses to share and what she doesn’t is up to her, and I imagine there is a lot more than what aspects she shared in the book (which is fine, privacy is definitely a thing people have a right to).
Overall, way more serious and insightful than I was expecting and a good (if heavy) read.
Weirdly, it felt like it finished too soon. Perhaps it’s just that I’ve been reading fiction, but I wanted to hear how things turned out at the end of the conservatorship with her Mama. What happened after that year?
Also, she didn’t discuss finances explicitly, but when she said she had money I was shocked to later discover her millionaire status (not because she doesn’t deserve it, she does, but more that we spent so much time reading about the poverty in which she lived, and then couch surfing or whatever, the switch - bar the fancy too big house that I stupidly assumed was affordable because of her partner- wasn’t really brought up, or it was implied/so subtle I missed it. Weird sidenote: I also watched the trailer for her show edible history and I hart food, which both rang so surface level after finishing such a vulnerable and honest book. I wish I hadn’t watched it while still processing the read).
But life is not a narrative with a tidy and complete ending and even with an intense glimpse into her life, what she chooses to share and what she doesn’t is up to her, and I imagine there is a lot more than what aspects she shared in the book (which is fine, privacy is definitely a thing people have a right to).
Overall, way more serious and insightful than I was expecting and a good (if heavy) read.
bboduffy's review against another edition
3.0
My Drunk Kitchen was pretty much the only YouTube channel I subscribed to in college. Puns, cooking, drinking - what's not to love? I was curious to learn more about Hannah Hart, the journey that drove her to make the show and her experience as an internet personality. This book was a fast, easy read but one with unanticipated depths.
Her experiences as a latch-key kid, caring for her little sister as well as her schizophrenic mother from the age of 10 were heartbreaking to read. Her struggles grappling with a Jehovah's Witness upbringing and sexuality, and wisdom and forgiveness of negligent father figures were powerful. All of which was interspersed with punny humor and self awareness.
Her experiences as a latch-key kid, caring for her little sister as well as her schizophrenic mother from the age of 10 were heartbreaking to read. Her struggles grappling with a Jehovah's Witness upbringing and sexuality, and wisdom and forgiveness of negligent father figures were powerful. All of which was interspersed with punny humor and self awareness.
thewallflower00's review against another edition
5.0
Hannah Hart should not exist.
Her presence in the world defies natural order to things. Because there is no way a woman from this background--a background of foster families, drugs, mental illness, international fame, fundamentalist parents, schizophrenic parents, self-harm, social services, and such and so forth--becomes as positive and optimistic and a generational leader as she does. There's no universe where that computes.
Like I've mentioned before, I get apprehensive around memoirs by people under thirty years old. You never really know if their life is interesting enough for a whole book. But I had no doubts about Hannah Hart.
I watched Hannah in her early days. She only ever released little tidbits about her life in her videos. She was attracted to Scarlett Johanssen in one, that she was emancipated from her parents in another. It set up a bizarre puzzle for viewers. But little did I know this was no five hundred piecer. This was a two-thousand. With no border. And it's all Persian cat faces.
This book answers the questions of that mystery. But there's so much to unpack that you never truly understand it all (which is the sign of a good book). None of the terror that must have been present in Hannah Hart's life comes through in her videos. So how can she function as a human being?
As far as the book itself, her talent extends to the written word. It's full of wit and humor, but also pathos and drama. There is sufficient ups and downs that it's never tonally consistent. But that's a good thing, because the palate is always cleansed and the meal never takes too long to cook. Hannah goes from talking about being homeless to how to be a good traveler. It'll leave an impression on you.
Her presence in the world defies natural order to things. Because there is no way a woman from this background--a background of foster families, drugs, mental illness, international fame, fundamentalist parents, schizophrenic parents, self-harm, social services, and such and so forth--becomes as positive and optimistic and a generational leader as she does. There's no universe where that computes.
Like I've mentioned before, I get apprehensive around memoirs by people under thirty years old. You never really know if their life is interesting enough for a whole book. But I had no doubts about Hannah Hart.
I watched Hannah in her early days. She only ever released little tidbits about her life in her videos. She was attracted to Scarlett Johanssen in one, that she was emancipated from her parents in another. It set up a bizarre puzzle for viewers. But little did I know this was no five hundred piecer. This was a two-thousand. With no border. And it's all Persian cat faces.
This book answers the questions of that mystery. But there's so much to unpack that you never truly understand it all (which is the sign of a good book). None of the terror that must have been present in Hannah Hart's life comes through in her videos. So how can she function as a human being?
As far as the book itself, her talent extends to the written word. It's full of wit and humor, but also pathos and drama. There is sufficient ups and downs that it's never tonally consistent. But that's a good thing, because the palate is always cleansed and the meal never takes too long to cook. Hannah goes from talking about being homeless to how to be a good traveler. It'll leave an impression on you.
sunnily's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible. I loved it. It made me laugh, it made me cry, I was astonished with how much and how strongly it made me feel everything.
I thought it was going to be somewhat light and fluffy and it definitely was not. She is a wonderful writer, and her life story is so incredible. I was inspired and amazed and just- wow. Good book.
I thought it was going to be somewhat light and fluffy and it definitely was not. She is a wonderful writer, and her life story is so incredible. I was inspired and amazed and just- wow. Good book.
jjvaldezbooks's review against another edition
5.0
My heart for Hannah Hart. I read it in one sitting and I am so so proud of this woman I have watched grow online as a casual fan. Her bravery and kindness is everything I aspire to be.
sleepysamreads's review against another edition
5.0
There's something completely indescribable about reading someone's story and being able to see some of yours in it.
I've always admired Hannah, but after reading this book I admire her so much more. Her strength is ineffable. I'm glad to have had the chance to read her story. She is truly an inspiration and such a beautiful human.
I've always admired Hannah, but after reading this book I admire her so much more. Her strength is ineffable. I'm glad to have had the chance to read her story. She is truly an inspiration and such a beautiful human.