C W

Evanna Lynch did a fabulous job of telling her story and struggles with anorexia. The depth, the detail, the complexity, whilst ensuring she did not glamorise the illness. Amazing. And also how she writes about recovery and how its messy and complicated and has many different parts was just so spot on. Mostly when I read an anorexia memoir I'm left thinking that the person hasn't actually recovered mentally and am frustrated that they can't even see that themselves. But Evanna Lynch thankfully did not leave me feeling that way. Instead she has inspired me at the level of recovery one can hope to achieve.

This book was problematic. First I did not appreciate that the author talking as though one must be a certain level of thinness to have anorexia. This was clearly highlighted when she was evaluating the thinness of models talking how they are on the edge of it but don't have it. Ugh dislike. Also the evaluation of trans teens insinuating that its about body hate during adolescence. Don't know why the author talks about transgender issues when they have zero experience in this area. I also did not like how the author glorified the experience of anorexia. This book would be very triggering to people in the grip of an eating disorder. It was interesting to hear the persons position of recovery and how they navigated it over the years but overall I don't recommend it.