Some people find the transition from early childhood to a teenager and then adult as a meaningless journey hoping to find s middle ground or place where the journey might end or come full circle. As you learn more about the adventures and many different jaunts the author shares we realize her need for acceptance, compliance, danger, and the unpredictable. Always wanting center stage and not fully content with herself, she seems to wallow in her thoughts and her own creative ways of living in her own world. Friendships and relationships change as each person matures, and seeks out new friends or paths in life. The author resents being a teen, following rules, wanting to control events and hoping to program her friends to follow her fun and outside of school activities. Bars, parties, dinners, and just hanging out the author creates what she thinks is her perfect world.
Her best friend Farly meets Scott and she hated watching her treated so badly by teenage boys but then Scott falls for her how could he not? She relates the way she made boys like her with smoke and mirrors always camouflags the real her. Even complaining about texts and no calls plus telling her she was being melodramatic and she was allowed a boyfriend yet thus was not supposed to allow her to prioritize him above her. The author can handle second best or being the third wheel. Even her career goals were uncertain and she drifted from magazine to newspaper as an unpaid chair filler under the guise of work experience. The job offer did come as a result of reviews she wrote for a television series. Then Farly’s relationship takes center stage and the changes it made between them. She can’t handle change she needs to control friends and has her fears.
Drugs became part of her life, excessive drinking and always escaping reality and life by drowning in drinking and drugs.
The author complains that it’s not the life she planned for both of them and of course Scott is in the picture.
Then there is Hector who does not exactly work out and her reasons to have and not have a boyfriend. Plus her Christmas letter with humor, and job news and she breaks up with Jordan and reads the rest followed by her weekly shopping list.
The saddest and most heartfelt chapter is titled Florence, about Farley’s sister and her illness, her death, and how she was there every step of the way.
She finally sees a therapist and she begins to hopefully understand herself through different eyes. Included are recipes, emails, tinder dates, excessive nightly drinking, fitting in, and complaints about different relationships.
It’s funny, and relatable for younger audiences, dating stories and being single, dating, views on marriage, and more.
The chapter with her therapist opened her eyes to new ways to look at herself, relationships and understanding that she could not control everything and everyone. Farly and Scott break up right before the wedding. Helping her deal with it and even creating a special time on the day she would have been married. Three missed calls started it all and on page 265 read the enlightenment.
Her idea to follow was to write an article on people pleasing and her editor sent her in the direction of an author named David whose publisher sent her his book based on this area. Getting to know to interview him allows the author to become more aware of her inner self and the conversation was direct, relatable, and honest. He continued their interactions and he seemed interested in her.
The final chapters focus on a major change within herself and a new mindset as she begins the next decade of her life. The twenties are gone and thirties next and if you want the author’s insights read the chapter titled thirty and learn plus everything I know about love at thirty. Age is a number it does not define who you are or what you want to be. Clothes are your choice don’t let age dictate it I don’t. Learn her thoughts on love and more as author Dolly Alderton takes you on many journeys in her life. Everything I know about love. What about you?
Fran Lewis just reviews
Just Reviews 
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