I read this book for the first time in late 2018, I was fresh out of a breakup and was on the train from Paris to London. This book quickly became and remains, my favourite book. I have read it approximately 6 times since then and I will continue to read it every time I am feeling down or lost.
When I first found this book, I had never even heard of Dolly Alderton. The book was a spontaneous purchase due to my aforementioned breakup, and a need for something to keep me entertained while sitting on the train for a few hours. So, for those of you who are in the same position that I was two years ago, let me bring you up to speed in less than 50 words (by “the same position”, I mean not knowing who Dolly Alderton is, I’d be very surprised if you were also fresh out of a breakup on a train from Paris to London).
Dolly Alderton is a former dating columnist from the UK, she is the co-host of the chart-topping podcast ‘The High Low’ and this was her debut book that millennial-ised (not sure if I just made that word up but I think maybe I did?) confessional women’s literature.
Okay, now that we’re all on the same page, onto the review.
Simply put, this book feels real, raw, and honest in the best way possible. It gives you a glimpse into Dolly’s life as she stumbles her way through learning to understand love. It is elegant while relatable, funny while touching and inspiring while comforting.
Dolly is unbelievably self-aware and honest which you’ll grow to see through this collection of memoirs which touch on MSN chat rooms, cringe first dates, wild drunken nights, baby showers, cross-country taxi rides, and of course love. Oh yeah, as well as the memoirs, there’s also odd recipes, emails to imaginary people, shopping lists, and intimate text conversations. It sounds weird but trust me, it works!
This book made me laugh and it made me cry (like the kind of ugly cry where you actually feel a bit grim after). It will make you want to take a wild chance and enjoy the craziness of youth while it’s here. It made me want to live!
This book made me aware, of myself, my female friendships (aka. the greatest loves I’ll ever know), and of everyone else fighting to understand life in their 20’s.
It is an easy but enjoyable read and I honestly would recommend it to everyone I know. I think even the worst reader could demolish this book in a handful of days. Trust me, just read it okay!
Just as a disclaimer, if you choose to take my advice and read this book and you somehow happen to not enjoy it, please don’t tell me because I don’t actually want to know. Please let me enjoy it in my ignorant, happy, book-loving bubble.