Everything I Know About Love: Now a Major BBC One Series
Ratings142
Average rating3.7
Is it overhyped, or did I just pick it up at the wrong time? I might get some backlash for this, but here are my thoughts on Everything I Know About Love.
I picked this book because it was all over Instagram, with people raving that it's a guiding light for lost 20-somethings. As someone who feels a bit lost in my 20s, I hoped to find some advice or comfort. But no—it didn't resonate with me. There were maybe two chapters I could relate to, but beyond that, nothing.
It could be that this book just isn't for readers like me. I can see how women in their 20s, struggling with dating, friendships, and careers, might find it more to their taste. For me, it felt less like a memoir and more like reading someone's personal journal.
Do I hate it? Absolutely not. This is one of those experiences where it was fun in the moment, like enjoying a bowl of ice cream, but later end up regret eating the pint. Don't expect any serious advice from this memoir. Sorry to all the fans!
Read for book club...uhhhhh my favorite part is the way British people say “hospital” instead of “the hospital”
Reading “Everything I Know About Love” by Dolly Alderton kind of felt like she cracked open my own diary from my 20s, but made it way more interesting. It's weirdly comforting to see your own mess of late nights, bad decisions, and those attempts to find who you are in someone else's story. Dolly's way of talking about her ups and downs, from feeling utterly alone to trying to be the loudest person in the room just to feel something, hit super close to home. Her humor is kind of sarcastic/cynical and so relatable and real—had me actually laughing out loud. Of course there were moments that were heartbreaking, and I sobbed more than once. It's like she's telling this super common story of the insecurity and loneliness of your 20s and growing into a 30-something woman who grows to love her own company, but in a way that feels fresh and super relatable. Every woman in her 20s and early 30s NEEDS to read this book.
3.5. I thought I was going to DNF this book when I first started reading it, but I'm glad I stuck with it; the last third of the book made it come together nicely.
I thought the writing was done well and the stories were interesting, but I think this book would resonate more with people who experienced a similar level of fun and carelessness during their teens and 20s. It will also hit harder if you have strong friendships. For me, it just highlighted how much fun I've denied myself and how much I wish I had the same connection to female friends that Dolly describes.
I would still recommend this to people in their late 20s and early 30s. There's a lot of value to be gleaned from the reflections and stories shared. And it's also good fun.
Easy reading, funny at some point and very relatable in other. Altough full of cringy common places and cliches
Before I started reading this book, I took a peek at the reviews on GR and saw most of them were between 2-3 stars because this was a book that was not very relatable and spoke on behalf of a certain group of people. I finished this book yesterday and I absolutely loved it. I think people seem to forget it is a memoir, based on Dolly's life and hence it will not be relatable to everyone because it is one individual's personal experience. I loved the writing in this, how Dolly pulled herself out of the mess she was in and I loved that it ended happily. I am in my twenties and in that sense, it is relatable because these are the things I enjoy doing, I love going out, I love meeting people, I love my friends. This book was not judgemental, but I loved reading about Dolly's experience. I'm happy for her. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm happy with where I am now and this was a very nice book to read.
A book all the girlies should read, such a beautiful book about the importance of friendship
“Love is a quiet, reassuring, relaxing, pottering, pedantic, harmonious hum of a thing; something you can easily forget is there, even though its palms are outstretched beneath you in case you fall.”
Everything before Homecoming chapter felt like I was talking to my best friend I haven't seen for a long time. A lot of relatable experiences and feelings. Everything after Homecoming chapter was a lesson for me. Not in a boring way but in an exciting way. Big fears turned into tiny ones. It was a comfort read for me ~
DNF @ page 105
I just can't with the writing style and am just not connecting to the book
2/5 Stars • Even though this book is about being in your 20's and the struggles one faces. I found this book very unrelatable, was contemplating DNFing at 200 pages but pushed through to finish it.
sin duda uno de mis libros favoritos, me lo leí justo en un momento en el cual me siento totalmente identificada con la protagonista y creo q ese es uno de los mejores cumplidos q le puedes dar a una obra en modo diario como esta. te quiero dolly xxx
When I was 17 I read the Bell Jar, and I thought no one had ever understood me like Sylvia Plath understood me. I don't think I've felt that in a book since until now, at 28, I read Everything I Know About Love. In the final chapter when she whipped out the Plath fig tree quote that I thought about daily for all of my early twenties and still rattles around my brain at 3am occasionally I nearly keeled over and died right there and then. Deceased. Dolly Alderton gets it.
3.5 (rounded up) at times cheesy and desperately trying to invoke millennial humor - though that is to be expected, i suppose, considering the subject matter - and at times warm and heartfelt and comforting. since on many levels i don???t relate to dolly???s teenage years and early twenties, the first half of the book especially could cross into the contrived for me. the email interludes in particular fell flat and didn???t add much. over the course of the second part this book really opened up to me more. i guess because i like the idea of character growth even in real people and i like watching it happen (or reading about it) because it makes me feel a bit more hopeful about my own person. the fact that maybe it isn???t so crazy insane desperate lost to not know who you are or what you want when you???re 24. the searing importance of friendship felt like a solid, reassuring cornerstone. the focus drawing solace out of simple things felt less forced, more genuine. a good read for when you feel like you???re existing in between time for a bit (like, perhaps, while you???re on holiday)
accessible to the point of being boring and mundane. no surprise that the highlights of the book are the chapters that don't even really focus on her own life.
This book and author are overhyped. It's good, nothing special at all. I wouldn't buy the book but would read it if I had access to a free copy and was bored
if I'm being completely honest, it took me a long time to read this book because I really struggled to get through the first half. I think that was partially because it wasn't what I was expecting, and partially because I didn't always feel like dealing with how raw and honest it is. but whenever I found myself in a place in need of guidance, I found myself reaching for it again and again. when I got to the second half I discovered just why this book is so raved about, and why it deserves every ounce of the praise it has received. if I have any advice it would be to just read it. don't look at the reviews and don't develop any expectations, just pick it up and start reading it and once you get to the end you will see why. I think everyone in their twenties should have a copy of this book.
“When you're looking for love and it seems like you might not ever find it, remember you probably have access to an abundance of it already, just not the romantic kind. This kind of love might not kiss you in the rain or propose marriage. But it will listen to you, inspire and restore you. It will hold you when you cry, celebrate when you're happy, and sing All Saints with you when you're drunk. You have so much to gain and learn from this kind of love. You can carry it with you forever. Keep it as close to you as you can.”