I loved Allie's blog and first book, but sadly, this was a letdown. I mean, I'm still giving it 3 stars - it wasn't bad and if you enjoy Allie's work in general, it's definitely worth giving a try - but I found this a bit lackluster. The funny stories and jokes didn't deliver as well for me as they have in the past, and something about the entire collection just kind of felt to me like maybe Allie Brosh didn't really want to write this, but felt like she was supposed to, or something? I could totally be projecting here, and I try to never assume an author's intentions, but that is the general feeling that stuck with me through a lot of Solutions and Other Problems: that maybe her heart wasn't in it this time.

All of that said, it broke my heart to learn some of the tragedies that have struck Allie Brosh and her family since we last heard from her. If she writes another book, I'm sure I'll still read it, too, and I'm forever grateful for the incredible impact Hyperbole and a Half had on me as a mentally ill teen who felt so alone until finding Allie's words.

This is one of the most conflicted 3-star ratings I've ever given, because I waited so many years, holding my breath, convinced that if Allie ever wrote another book, it would be everything I wanted and more... and it simply wasn't. But that's okay. I think this book is going to be the perfect fit for a lot of readers, and if I'm not one of those, I'm still glad I got the chance to read this, and I'm glad Allie decided to create something new.

✨ Content warnings for:

Spoiler

mental illness, medical scares, cancer scares, medical procedures, death of a sibling, grief/loss, loss of pets

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