This is an important book about the experiences of the author, Lara Parker, and her nearly lifelong challenges with her chronic illnesses—including but not limited to endometriosis and PCOS—that she groups together as “vagina problems.” The book is about her experiences, but it is also structured by topic, and not in the typical memoir format that’s chronological. It makes the read repetitive at times, but it almost feels like a textbook where you could read only certain chapters without reading the entire thing (a chapter about physical pain and doctors differs from a chapter about navigating relationships, for example).
I believe it’s an important read for anyone pursuing a career in the medical field. One of Lara’s complaints that she makes throughout the book is that doctors didn’t believe her about her pain for *years,* and she was diagnosed with several of her illnesses after they had been present for a long time with no treatment. Another thing that’s important to understand is the relationship between mental and physical health. Lara talks about being depressed because of her chronic illnesses where her pain will make her pass out, and also struggling to be in a relationship as someone who can’t have penis-in-vagina sex and as a person with chronic pain.
Is it well edited? I don’t believe so, but I don’t think it matters for this particular book. Lara makes her points crystal clear regardless. I hope more people read this book.

The Dawn of Yangchen by F.C. Yee

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced