Reviews with content warning for Vomit - So Sad Today: Personal Essays

honest and candid. not all of the essays were for me but i enjoyed the ones i liked very much. helps show that while someone can grow and heal they aren’t necessarily completely healed, and can still have parts of themselves they would like to work on. an important and real showcase of mental illness throughout one’s life and relationships.

Content Warnings

alisonfaith426's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

2.5

Content Warnings

qi_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

2.5

this was ... a lot.

overall, i did enjoy the personal essay and melissa broder has interesting thoughts that she throws in that did make me think about my own position on things (for example, how being born in nonconsensual). i still enjoy her writing style; it's engaging, accessible, detailed and funny. this was a great book for in-between classes and waiting periods since i could read an essay and then move on with my day.

i would also like to shout out the essay about her husband, their relationship and his illness. this was one of the last ones in the collection but it felt the most.. real and vulnerable since she was not only talking about her personal relationship issues but of her partner as well.

however, i didn't really click that much with it. some of the essays and the essay formats (the conversation with her higher self on google hangouts) felt random and although she is allowed to express herself however, she wants to it didn't translate that well in my opinion. i found myself becoming very bored in some essays and it would cause a reading slump then jumping in and finding one i really love, as is what happens in most essay collections for me.

finally, huge content warning. i haven't shared any of her experiences however, the way she writes about them was very confronting? like i wasn't triggered but a common reaction was 'wow this is a lot'. i don't knock her down for this but i think the graphic nature of her storytelling should be noted before engaging with the book especially if you have gone through the same experiences.

here is a list of quotes i liked:
"i am a superficial woman of depth"

"is it worth being so talented if you have to suffer from a profound sensitivity that is intrinsically connected to your gifts?"

"i have the brain of an addiction and the heart of a sixteen year girl"

"there was adam, who was cute, but into bukowski, so no"

"all i want from you is to be liked. of course, that is a scared women's way of saying what i really want, which is to connect with you on a deep and true level while i am still on this earth, and maybe even after i am off it"

Content Warnings

nosophiesallowed's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

just look at the list of trigger warnings before even thinking about reading this.

i loved how open and raw these essays are but if you like clean and tidy books with pretty things and happy endings you’re going to hate it.

(i was sent a free copy from the publisher)

Content Warnings

kate_kathleen's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

4.5

YIKES!! This is one gut punch of a memoir. Like most of Broder's books it's visceral and cuts deep. Part of me scoffs at her seemingly immature logic, but most of me relates to the intense pressure, self-loathing and self-sabotage that comes with trying to be a person in the world, with trying to figure out life, with trying to be loved by yourself and others.

Content Warnings

deadegg1's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.0

there were some essays that i rlly liked and some essays i didnt but overall it was very relatable and good writing. i honestly admire her ability to (over)share all her thoughts like this bc i would neverrrr. but it made me feel less alone in a way? some parts were def unnecessary imo though. what i didn't like was the way she talked about gay people (even though shes bi herself). and that whole sexual predator thing???? wtf. she also fetishizes fat women. btw DON'T read if u have emetophobia bc theres an essay about vomit 😬

Content Warnings

afternoonlight's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny sad

4.5

blunt, funny, and surprisingly tender.
made for the weird sad girls <3

Content Warnings

mmadill227's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective

3.25

Content Warnings

More...