Publisher: Harper Collins
Page Count: 208
I haven’t done a book review in quite a while, so it’s been a bit of a surprise to myself that I practically flew through this one. Arden Rose is one of the few YouTubers outside of Buzzfeed and booktube that I watch on a regular basis – you can visit her channel here. There is this trend where everyone on Youtube seems to currently either write a book or already have one in stores. Mostly I am not curious about them at all, but I’ve faced some challenges lately and I had to deal with them myself. Adulting is difficult and it’s something I doubt anyone really ever has down, so I suddenly became curious and there I was – book in hand and flying through every single page.
I want to say that, despite my mediocre rating, I like this book a lot. It felt like a conversation, a friend telling you a story. Arden’s style of writing is very direct and while I could see some people having a problem with her choice of language sometimes, however, I didn’t really mind it that much. It’s how people talk and that’s just the way I read it. BUT I don’t think this book is what it advertised to be.
While I learned a lot about Arden, her parents, her journey to discovering her sexuality and body, her adorable boyfriend Will (love his videos too, click here to get to his channel) and how she handled living by herself, this read much more like an autobiography than a book that’s supposed to help you to adult. Don’t get me wrong, I get that Arden used her own experiences as an example only and I could see that she tried to turn her sample situations into a more general life hack, but it still felt very tailored to her only. She had some great points and I agreed with her stand on things a lot, but I didn’t really find anything new in it. Maybe I am just too old, maybe I’ve been adulting for far longer than I realised and that’s why the advice parts didn’t resonate with me as much – everything’s possible! To me, it just seemed like there were very detailed accounts of her life and then far too short and generalised portions for everyone else.
Nonetheless, as I said before, I really enjoyed the book. I had fun reading it and I was done with it in record time. The illustrations are quirky and cute and the topics relatable. If you are a fan of Arden (or Will for that matter), I’d definitely think you would enjoy this book as well. As for me, I still have no idea what I am doing, but apparently, so has nobody else.
Fazit: 3.5/5 stars! While I really liked the book, it’s just not exactly what they advertised.
Do you watch Arden’s YouTube videos? Are you as exhausted by adulting as me?
Life and Other Disasters 
Almost Adulting…that’s what I should call it whenever I use my hard-earned money to buy a new doll/figurine for my collection, LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha
LikeLike
I love Arden’s videos as well! (And Will too) But I don’t think I’m going to pick this up because the books I’ve read by Youtubers have all been quite disappointing. 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely hear you! Most books by youtubers I’ve read or seen so far lacked a bit of substance. I am pretty sure Arden has talked about some of the things she mentioned before in her videos and such, but it was cute to read about her and Will’s first attempts at dating or her struggles with mental health and such. I feel like I know more about her now then I did when coming into the book, but in terms of adulting … meh, not so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I know enough about her from her videos haha. And I hope to figure out how to Adult when I actually become one (just a month to go!)
LikeLike
hahaha you can’t put an age on being adult! Best of luck though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you still had a good time reading this book, Kat. It is a bit frustrating though, whenever the book doesn’t end up being what you thought it’d be. Misleading blurbs are always a bit annoying
I still need to watch Arden and Will’s videos soon! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is s a bit frustrating. I would have still bought the book if it had been advertised as a mini memoir or series of essays by Arden about her own life. The advice-part didn’t really work for me here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know Arden (or her boyfriend) so I don’t know if this book is for me if there isn’t much advice in it. Definitely could use some though 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha not sure this book is helpful then. I feel like it’s better suited for people who know her. (I like Will a bit more than Arden, so if you are ever bored, check out his vids! They calm me down like nothing else.)
LikeLike
I don’t really go in for youtuber books (I never seem to get past the samples) but I feel like checking out her youtube for sure! Great review- shame it wasn’t really what was advertised
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I totally get that! I feel like I shouldn’t say this on a review for her book, but I actually like her boyfriend’s videos better hahaha Will’s vlogs just weirdly calm me down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hahahaah that’s good to know LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! I have never read a book written by any of the you tubers that I regularly watch but I might now after reading your review. (I haven’t watched Arden or her boyfriend but do enjoy watching other you tubers.)
LikeLike
I am a little prejudiced towards books youtubers write, because they all seem to do it these days and it just doesn’t feel very original. This was fun, even if it wasn’t groundbreaking 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person