Read This If: A Collection of Essays That Prove Someone Else Gets It, Too Review

I picked this book up on a quest for finding books on grief. I started dealing with my grief (and all the stress it caused) about fifteen years since it began. Which is a long time. Society doesn't always give room for grief and sometimes when the situations are all wrong, it can be a rough solo go of it.

This was in the linkages from a grief book so I chucked it in the cart and bought it. As the title states, it's a collection of essays from various authors that covers broken relationships, hurt friendships and feeling stuck, mental disorders and career issues. 

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Title: Read This If: A Collection of Essays that Prove Someone Else Gets It, Too
Author: Various
Page Number: 164 pages (paperback)
Genre: non-fiction, self-help
Publisher: Thought Catalog, an imprint of the Thought and Expression Company
Year: 2016

You are an individual-your very own set of specific characteristics and experiences and emotions. And yet, so much of what you're going through is relatable to so many others. This book will show you that you are never alone. Read this book if nobody texted you good morning. Read this book if you're worried that you'll never find the one. Read this book if there's something you can't forgive yourself for. Whatever you're feeling, this book will help you to feel understood.

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I wasn't entirely moved by the essays, but I did think that most of them were quite nice. A few were a but shallow. It's hard to recommend or not recommend as I think sometimes you can read an essay and go "yes, that's written for me!" and other times you're like, "why is someone struggling with this?" 

The length of the essays are fairly short, most only a few pages in length. I think you can get a vague idea of interest by the chapter headings (essay titles):
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1. Read This If Nobody Texted You This Morning
2. Read This If It Feels Like Your Depression Is Getting The Best Of You
3. Read This If You're 23 And Lost
4. Read This If You Stopped Believing In Love
5. Read This If You Think You're Finally Getting Your Sh*t Together
6. Read This If You've Ever Wanted To Die
7. Read This If You Are Fiercely Independent But Also Ridiculously Emotional
8. Read This If You Think You'd Be Further Along In Life By Now
9. Read This If You Don't Really Have An Eating Disorder But Kinda Do
10. Read This If You're 25 And Have Nothing To Show For It
11. Read This If You're Having Doubts About Your Relationship
12. Read This If There's Someone You Can't Forgive
13. Read This If You're Worried That You'll Never Find "The One"
14. Read This If You're Debating Whether Or Not To Go Out Tonight
15. Read This If You're Trying To Decide Whether Or Not They're Right For You
16. Read This If Your Relationship Has An Expiration Date
17. Read This If You've Never Been In Love
18. Read This If You're Disappointed By The People Around You
19. Read This If You Feel You're Unworthy of Being In Love
20. Read This If You're Hopelessly Attracted To The Guy Who Treats You Like Shit
21. Read This If You're Friends Are All Moving On Without You
22. Read This If You're Struggling To Love Your Body
23. Read This If You're An Empowered Woman Who Has A Lot Of (Bad) Sex
24. Read This If You Feel Like It's Taking You Too Long To Move On
25. Read This If There's Something You Can't Forgive Yourself For
26. Read This If You Never Know How To Say Goodbye
27. Read This If You Feel Like You're Going To Be Single Forever
28. Read This If You Have Embarrassed Yourself Recently
29. Read This If You're Dating A Workaholic And It (Kind Of) Sucks 
30. Read This If You're Feeling Betrayed By Your Boyfriend Or Girlfriend
31. Read This If You Grew Up Always Wanting To Be Older
32. Read This If You're Keeping A Secret That You're Ashamed Of
33. Read This If You're Unsure Whether Or Not You Can Trust Them, Read This
34. Read This If You've Ever Lived In A Small Town
35. Read This If You Are Still In The Closet And Struggling To Come Out
36. Read This If You're A High School Girl, And You Kind Of Hate Life Right Now 
37. Read This If You're Not Going To Be Home For The Holidays

There were some authors that I preferred over others, which is normal. I felt in some ways that this book has some content that is for every age but overall trends towards 25 and younger. Granted, some of these issues pop up all through life, but the first time people start dealing with this stuff is in high school and in their twenties. 

I rated it three stars (okay, I liked it) because I did like it! It was okay. I think the essays were shorter than I would have liked...and perhaps I would have cut some in order to maintain length as there are some that are strangely included (to me). I think they were trying to be overly inclusive with ages (23, high school girl and 25) but I would have preferred something more intense, longer and not so ... segmented. I don't know. It also didn't really have anything to do with death (this is fine) but since I've had friend and relationship troubles in my life, I enjoyed those essays. 

The first chapter is actually on the Thought Catalog website, "Read This If No One Texted You Good Morning." It does set the tone for the rest of the book, which is good. Although if you're snarky you'd be like, "why yes, I got several texts from my work colleagues...all who are having a small panic attack over something insignificant!" Obviously that's not what is meant. 

The cover for the book is really pretty though isn't it?