One of the prompts in my 2018 Reading Challenge is a book with an ugly cover.  I therefore contemplated reading Fire and Fury due to its very ugly cover:

but I just couldn’t bring myself to!  I kept seeing really positive reviews of Dolly Alderton’s memoir, and decided that was much more appealing than reading about the orange one – so I went for that instead, as there is scribbling on the cover so that can count as ugly?!

Here is the Amazon blurb:

“When it comes to the trials and triumphs of becoming a grown up, journalist and former Sunday Timesdating columnist Dolly Alderton has seen and tried it all. In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, wrestling with self-sabotage, finding a job, throwing a socially disastrous Rod-Stewart themed house party, getting drunk, getting dumped, realising that Ivan from the corner shop is the only man you’ve ever been able to rely on, and finding that that your mates are always there at the end of every messy night out. It’s a book about bad dates, good friends and – above all else – about recognising that you and you alone are enough.”

And what other authors have said about it:

‘A wonderful writer, who will surely inspire a generation the way that Caitlin Moran did before her’ Julie Burchill

‘If Nora Ephron is the cool aunt you wish you’d had, Dolly Alderton is your favourite cousin. I loved it and I can’t imagine anyone who wouldn’t; it’s a genuine delight’ Kristen Roupenian, author of Cat Person

I’d already read Dolly’s article in the Sunday Times Style magazine called ’30 Things I’ve Learned About Life At 30′ – which I loved – so I guessed I was going to enjoy her book.

Now, I think I am older than target market (this is becoming a recurring theme in my book reviews.  Do I just need to accept I’m mid 40s?!?) as Dolly was 28 when she wrote it but I really enjoyed it. I also felt that Nina – in the last book I read – should really read it!

It’s sort of autobiographical – but jumps around rather than being strictly chronological.  There are also some hilarious random chapters which are (I am assuming fake) emails about weddings / baby showers / hen do invites – and texts to people – and these were all laugh out loud funny.  Totally should have written LOL to be down with the kids…….

Dolly’s reliance on booze / hard drugs / casual sex is also looked at in detail – so definitely don’t read if that’s not your bag.

What I LOVED was Dolly’s relationship with her friendship group – and especially her best friend Farly.  The friendship changed over the years – but was the one constant throughout the book.  They definitely went through their ups and downs together too – and clearly love each other completely and utterly as friends.

I read it really quickly as I was enjoying it – and Dolly’s writing style is great.  I feel like I want to buy a copy for all of my 20 something cousins!  I also really want a follow up in about 5 years to find out how everyone is doing…….