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Thirty Things I Love About Myself - Radhika Sanghani

 

Genre: Adult Fiction 

Release Date: Expected 20th January 2022

Publisher: Headline | Headline Review 

"Nina did not want to spend her thirtieth birthday in a prison cell. But, unfortunately, it looked like that was exactly what was about to happen."

Thirty was meant to be her year - the year she came back from her devastating break-up, unstable journalism career and general chaos of her life. But instead, she's sitting in her PJ's at Leicestershire jail after an ill-fated attempt for a late night falafel. 

But as she's sitting there, alone, the only entertainment available is an old self-help book that she's sure will be so boring she'll be able to sleep - but instead she can't stop reading. And as a journalist, she can't help but wonder if something so simple as finding things you love about yourself could change the world so drastically. By the time her first morning as a thirty-year old woman arrives, she realises she doesn't love three things about herself, let alone thirty, so something needs to change.

Despite all the challenges, from her brothers severe mental illness, her cold and judgemental mother, her broken heart and her ex-fiancé moving on, she realises there's only one constant in her life - herself. And it's time she finally finds out if that's enough. 

"You have a very big heart, Nina, and it'll just get bigger the more it breaks. Remember that the cracks let the light in."

From the very moment we meet Nina, with her hummus-stained PJ's, she immediately became my friend with her wicked humour and unique voice even when faced with spending the night alone in jail for something she (technically) didn't do. She encapsulated a young lost soul, watching everyone put out their image of a perfect life and constantly wondering why their timelines don't match up. 

The story flowed seamlessly, luring us quickly into her life and quickly piecing together the different parts of her life and painting a beautiful picture. We learn about Nina, and so does she. Everything felt very natural, like a conversation rather than the info-dumping that can often happen when we learn a lot about a character in little time. This is kind of book that's so easy to read and you know that means it was masterfully written.

Each character was remarkable, full of life and vibrant - with a stunningly diverse and inclusive cast full of people I found different parts of myself in and I'm sure any reader will too. 

Even if like me, you don't believe in astrology or self-help books, you'll find behind all that it's a story about learning and self-love and all the many ways you can try and find it yourself. 

A heartbreaking story about love, loss and life, about the darkest and lightest parts of the human condition -full of feminine fury and totally unforgettable.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review. 

CW: Racism, prison, breakups, depression, suicide, sexual content. 



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