Where do I even start with raving about this book because genuinely, I don’t think I’ve ever had a non-fiction book speak to me so much as this one did! For those that don’t know who she is (how dare you), Melanie Murphy is an Irish YouTuber and regularly posts videos about health, beauty, food, sex, LGTBQ+ issues etc.

I have been following Melanie for I think a little over half a year and I quickly became sucked into her channel, her content and just her general loveliness so I knew I was going to break out of my general non-reading of YouTuber memoirs (the only other one was Carrie’s All I Know Now) to pick up her book. And I’m so glad I did.

Melanie is only a little over two years older than me and I think this is why I maybe related to her, and a lot of stuff she talked about, so much. She grew up in the same type of Ireland I did, with the same kind of introduction to social media ad the internet. we went through the same terrible fashion and dating stages as teenagers. I just got a lot of what she went through and reminisced about.

Melanie has some pretty strong points in this book, particularly about relationships with food and body, and learning how to self-love. You can tell she planned out this book really well, as each part of the book has specific chapters relating to different things under that topic and it all fits together really nicely to create a well-rounded discussion on food, sex, body, confidence, dating, you name it.

I think this book is generally aimed at people in their late teens onwards which I think is perfection. She talks open and honestly about sex, masturbation and modern dating in a way that people still tend to find it hard to talk and accept today (especially in Ireland). Melanie is so wonderful and hard-working and at times she seems so far above us normal people as a successful YouTuber but many of her experiences are completely average meaning it’s easy to relate to her and say, ‘Hey, if this happened to Melanie too, it’s not that bad,’ or ‘If Melanie could confront this and get over it with help, I can too.’

I genuinely think this book could end up helping a lot of people, even if it’s just finding that friend talking to you straight from the pages. This is a book I think I will find myself cracking open again and again just to reread certain passages to feel less alone or I need some sharp-witted advice.