Nonfiction

The Secret Lives of Candy Hearts

By Tommy Siegel

Published today!

(4.5 / 5)

I was already somewhat familiar with Tommy Siegel and his Candy Hearts comics, so I was excited to check out this new collection. I enjoyed reading the book, and it was a nice pick-me-up that had me literally laughing out loud at times. The statements are so blunt yet relatable, like seeing into what someone really thinks. I thought the pop-culture references were a nice touch. The art is colorful and portrays each situation well. I liked it as much as I hoped I would! Note: there are some f-bombs sprinkled in, so if you find that offensive, this might not be the book for you.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the free review copy of The Secret Lives of Candy Hearts! Opinions in my review are completely my own.

January 7, 2025 by danimae1981 Comics eBook 0

Worry Lines: You’re Doing Really Well Given the Circumstances

By Worry Lines

Coming soon on May 7, 2024

(5 / 5)

This book is something that would be great to have, just to look through on a day when I can use a pick-me-up or a reason to smile. The images are simple yet inviting, with bold colors and generic people that I think anyone could relate to. I love how these simple images can give such a great visible portrayal of emotions and feelings. I saw myself in so many pages, conveying things that I often find hard to even describe with words. Through the book, the collection looks at a variety of struggles (anxiety, depression, procrastination, lack of focus, etc) we face in day-to-day life and puts a positive spin on them, making you feel like it’s okay to not always be okay. I have a feeling I’ll be ordering a physical copy of this book when it releases.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the free review copy of Worry Lines! Opinions expressed in my review are completely my own.

This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy

By Liz Kelly, LICSW

Released today!

(4 / 5)

I’m not a big nonfiction reader, but I was drawn to the cheeky title and potential for a more lighthearted take on self-help. This book isn’t necessarily comedic, but it feels less clinical than a lot of self-help books out there and managed to get me to chuckle a few times. To me, this book felt like a toolbox filled with a variety of methods and suggestions one could pick and choose from, based on preference. A lot of the information wasn’t necessarily new to me, but this book puts it all in one place and describes things in a way that’s easy to understand. I especially liked the numerous real-world examples given throughout the book, helping me understand the concepts the author was trying to convey. There’s a lot of great information here, and I made lot of bookmarks and highlights throughout so I could refer back to those sections. It’s obvious that this book isn’t meant to completely replace therapy, but it provides a great reference to the types of skills one would work on in a therapy environment.

Thank you to PESI Publishing, Bridge City Books and NetGalley for the free review copy of This Book Is Cheaper Than Therapy! All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

March 19, 2024 by danimae1981 Kindle Nonfiction Self-help 0

The Way She Feels

By Courtney Cook

(5 / 5)

TW: self harm, suicidal thoughts, drug use

First off, I want to stress that this book is a memoir, so if you’re looking for a bunch of specific facts or advice about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), this might not be the book you’re looking for. I’m not a big nonfiction reader, so sometimes books that are very factual and clinical just don’t keep my attention. In The Way She Feels, Courtney Cook shares her personal experiences as a person with BPD. Obviously, not everyone with the condition will have the same experiences, but I appreciated the honesty and openness she shared about some very difficult-to-discuss experiences and behaviors that she had. I really liked the varied format of the book, with colorful drawings throughout. It made the book feel more inviting. Even more text-based stories in the book had illustrations, so it didn’t feel overwhelming. This book gave me a glimpse into her mind that helps me understand what a person with BPD might experience and feel. And I think coming out of this, you see that despite the obstacles she has faced, she is a person that feels and loves strongly. That things can get better even if your teenage years are rough. That so much of the stigma that media associates with BPD just isn’t accurate, and it’s not fair to only associate it with serial killers and “crazy”. And that even people from a good upbringing might have to face mental health challenges that aren’t their fault.

October 21, 2023 by danimae1981 Memoir Nonfiction Paperback 0

Cunk on Everything: The Encyclopedia Philomena

By Philomena Cunk

Narrated by Philomena Cunk

New Release!

(4 / 5)

A month or two ago I was introduced to Philomena Cunk on the Netflix series, Cunk on Earth. The satirical documentary had me laughing, so when I saw the book, Cunk on Everything, I knew I had to read it. As luck would have it, I was able to receive an advance audiobook copy through NetGalley. Now instead of just reading Philomena Cunk’s words, I could hear them in her own voice, the way it was meant to be heard. I don’t feel like reading the book would be quite the same experience.

The book is organized like an encyclopedia, going through various topics in alphabetical order. Philomena Cunk is hysterical, with her absurd observations and mixing up people or countries with similar names to make bizarre statements. There were many moments that had me laughing out loud, like when she said Pluto wasn’t a planet anymore because they discovered it was actually Mickey Mouse’s dog, and that The Beatles didn’t have 6 legs like a beetle, but 8 legs like a spider and made girls scream, like a spider. It’s such an unexpected perception of the world, and I loved it.

I will note that the book is obviously very British, which isn’t surprising given that Philomena Cunk is British. But, I feel like there were a bunch of British references that I just didn’t get because I’m not British myself. At times I found my mind wandering a bit because she was discussing a topic I didn’t know anything about. Also, this book is originally from 2018, so it felt a little dated when she would make references to the queen, who has since passed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for the free audiobook. All opinions in my review are exclusively my own.

September 28, 2023 by danimae1981 Audiobook Humor Nonfiction 0