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madison_mls's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Oh how I love being a woman✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
wisewayfarer's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Eating disorder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer and Death
elenasl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.75
read this for a book club with my 3 childhood best friends, so it made for a great discussion about friendship and growing and changing overtime (as individuals and together). the first third of the book is STEEPED in alcohol. other parts are a bit rushed. the story line of her friend’s sister was very very sad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, and Eating disorder
fr3ckls's review against another edition
4.5
this was a really refreshing read and so different from what im used to. even tho i can’t relate to some experiences (excessive drinking, casual sex and being super independent) there were so many things i could relate to: body image issues, feeling lost and behind my peers and an extreme love for my friendships. the representation of friendship as a central part of life and how for dolly it was the main form of love was a beautiful thing to see. we are taught from a young age to look for romantic love (specially afab peole) but the community, the love, the care we can share from friendships is so healing and important.
the chapter on florence was beautiful but heartbreaking.
in the beginning it was a bit hard to get into, i heard so many people talking about it but i didn’t knew much about the book and the structure itself but after a bit it was easier
the emails and the recipes where a bit needless (i was so confused with the emails until i realised they were fake/exaggerated versions for “comical” relief(?)), but despite the lack of time structure it was super interesting to read and in the end you got used to it
the chapter on florence was beautiful but heartbreaking.
in the beginning it was a bit hard to get into, i heard so many people talking about it but i didn’t knew much about the book and the structure itself but after a bit it was easier
the emails and the recipes where a bit needless (i was so confused with the emails until i realised they were fake/exaggerated versions for “comical” relief(?)), but despite the lack of time structure it was super interesting to read and in the end you got used to it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, and Eating disorder
pgmoon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I picked up this book after reading a lot of fantasy earlier in the year, and I’m definitely glad I did! EIKAL feels a lot like reading someone’s diary, kind of like Carrie Bradshaw’s musings or the vibe of Golden Girls. It’s a super engaging and relatable read, capturing the essence of personal experiences being told to you by a friend.
Despite the book's distinctly English references, which might not always work for everyone, I found them to be delightful and immersive. Alderton makes you really feel her experiences: for examples, I particularly felt a connection when Alderton described her best friend Farly growing into her relationship with her fiancée; I knew the feeling of friends growing away from you. Additionally, the parts about body image and navigating your late 20s were especially spot-on for me. The book’s focus on platonic relationships was also really refreshing and really resonated.
While some sections of the book could drag a bit, the inclusion of recipes was a nice touch that added depth and broke up chapters well. And although the insights aren't necessarily groundbreaking, they are delivered with such warmth and humor that they are truly moving.
Overall, this is a sweet and funny read. If you enjoy the introspective and humorous tones of the show mentioned above, you'll likely find this book a proper addition to your reading list.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death and Eating disorder
greta_the_great's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder
erins11's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Alcoholism
andreamhi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This book didn’t change my life like so many people promised it would, but I think it’s because I’m very lucky to have already known a lot of the things Dolly gives advice on. Everyone should read this, this book to me is already one of those books that in a decade everyone will say ‘remember that book?’
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Eating disorder, and Terminal illness
rheagoveas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, and Eating disorder
Minor: Mental illness
bookishpip's review against another edition
*DNF at 50%*
I really, really wanted to love this. So many people I know have read and loved it. But I just don’t think it’s for me. Maybe I grew up too poor/working class to appreciate the blatant privilege that is never properly acknowledged?
At first I was so excited for this - I think being a woman in my early 30s I’m possibly a target audience, and reading all about MSN brought so much nostalgic joy for my early teens! However, I’m now halfway through, and all I’ve learned is that Alderton went to a boarding school, then to an incredible university (not for its own merit, mind, but because her parents insisted she attend university), breezed her way into a great job (that gets totally overlooked) whilst also drinking loads and doing drugs on the side, and wasting large amounts of money on a pointless cab ride because a friend also did it one time. I got to the point where her best mate got into a serious relationship with a man and, instead of being a decent friend, she gets jealous and makes it all about her.
There were some parts of this that were funny, but other parts I think that were supposed to be funny and instead came across as tone deaf to her own incredible privilege as a middle class, privately educated white woman.
I’m sure that ALL of the growth happens in the second half of the book but I just can’t bring myself to pick it back up. Sorry.
I really, really wanted to love this. So many people I know have read and loved it. But I just don’t think it’s for me. Maybe I grew up too poor/working class to appreciate the blatant privilege that is never properly acknowledged?
At first I was so excited for this - I think being a woman in my early 30s I’m possibly a target audience, and reading all about MSN brought so much nostalgic joy for my early teens! However, I’m now halfway through, and all I’ve learned is that Alderton went to a boarding school, then to an incredible university (not for its own merit, mind, but because her parents insisted she attend university), breezed her way into a great job (that gets totally overlooked) whilst also drinking loads and doing drugs on the side, and wasting large amounts of money on a pointless cab ride because a friend also did it one time. I got to the point where her best mate got into a serious relationship with a man and, instead of being a decent friend, she gets jealous and makes it all about her.
There were some parts of this that were funny, but other parts I think that were supposed to be funny and instead came across as tone deaf to her own incredible privilege as a middle class, privately educated white woman.
I’m sure that ALL of the growth happens in the second half of the book but I just can’t bring myself to pick it back up. Sorry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder