Tag Archives: Mental health

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

February 6, 2026Book Reviewpsychology, Memoirs, Mental health, Lori Gottliebskyebjenner

Title: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone
Author: Lori Gottlieb
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Memoirs, Mental health, Psychology
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

I’m writing this review a fair while after actually finishing the final page of this book (because adulting). But, honestly, even though it’s been a couple of weeks, I seriously can’t stop thinking about Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. I don’t know if it is how well written this book is, the relevance of the topic to my life at this point, or the unflinching honesty. But, regardless of the reason, I absolutely adored this memoir and will gladly read this again and again in the future.

Not only is Maybe You Should Talk to Someone a humorous memoir, it is also a great insight into one woman’s journey to becoming a therapist. As someone who is studying to become a counsellor, I can tell you that the majority of therapists and therapists-to-be that I spend my time with have entered the field in a somewhat convoluted manner. Gottlieb is no different, and I love how she is able to share those integral parts of her journey to working in mental health throughout the memoir. Then, she’s brutally honest about how she acted within her own therapy – and the pitfalls of ego that we all fall into. Sometimes to protect ourselves, but sometimes just because that’s what our brains do.

I really enjoyed how Gottlieb was able to intersperse the anecdotal tales she was sharing with actual therapeutic / psychological theory. It was great to read for anyone who is interested in mental health. But, as someone who wants to work more deeply in this field, it made me really question how I’m not only engaging with future clients, but how I’m engaging with my own therapist. I particularly loved how she talked about Unconditional Positive Regard and how challenging that could be in moments. Something that I will have to make sure I work towards myself in future endeavours.

My all time favourite aspect of this novel is how open and honest Gottlieb is about therapy and the therapeutic process. She doesn’t pretend that it is easy (on anyone), or that there are magical fixes. But she emphasises the growth and the change that people may experience, and shines a light on the fact that therapists of all calibres have their own challenges and sometimes are simply just humans who need a little bit of help too.

<- Bits and Pieces

Frog ->

Image source: Booktopia

I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokpokki by Baek Se-hee

February 5, 2026Book ReviewBaek Sehee, Memoirs, Mental healthskyebjenner

I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: The International bestseller: I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki Baek Sehee Bloomsbury Publishing - Bloomsbury

Title: I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki
Author: Baek Se-hee
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Memoirs, Mental health
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Reading this off of the back of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone made this a mental health memoir that had a lot to live up to. And, quite frankly, this did not live up to it. Honestly, this whole book for me was just a huge transcript of someone’s therapy. But, with all of the important parts pulled out. There was none of the honesty that a good mental health memoir should have. Rather, it felt kind of self-indulgent and as though the author still wasn’t actually ready to face up to her own shit.

Image source: Bloomsbury

Frog: The Secret Diary of a Paramedic by Sally Gould

February 4, 2026Book ReviewAustralian Authors, Medical, Memoirs, Mental health, Sally Gouldskyebjenner

Frog | Book by Sally Gould | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster AU

Title: Frog: The Secret Diary of a Paramedic
Author: Sally Gould
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Medical, Memoirs, Mental health
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2025

I absolutely adored this memoir, and it’s one that I actually can’t stop thinking about it. Even though it’s been a while since I turned that final page. It was intense, it was well written, and like all of the best memoirs, it was brutally honest. Honestly, I just couldn’t put this down and I love how honest Gould is not just about her journey into becoming a paramedic, but also her own mental health challenges and difficulties. One of the best medical memoirs I’ve read in a long while, and a reminder of why I like this subgenre.

In Frog, Gould talks about her first three years as a paramedic in Australia. She doesn’t give any specifics of where, but it felt like a lot of the suburban hubs that make up our wonderful country (I am intrigued as to where though, because I’m nosy). She’s honest about her drives and why she wanted to pursue this career path, but, most importantly, she’s honest about the challenges that she faced. Some of the anecdotes are kind of funny and a little bit quirky. Others, not so much. They run the gambit of difficult training officers, to somewhat insane patients and the tragic endings. If it was a pivotal moment for Gould, she has included it.

Being someone who works in the “helping professions”, I understand that the risk to mental health is higher than in other areas. I really loved how honest Gould was in her memoir about the impact that her career has had on her mental health. And also the consequences of this. I absolutely adored this, although, I read Frog at a bit of a triggering time, so some of the passages were ones that I had to put down and aside. It was incredibly intense and potent, but, again, the ability of Gould to be open and honest about difficult to talk about topics made it so much more powerful.

Everything about Frog was fantastically written. It was a wonderfully insightful memoir, and was a reminder of why I really enjoy diving into this style of book every now and then. Plus, for me, it was all that much more potent because it was an Australian woman working in a “helping profession”. I really hope that Gould writes more books in the future, because I will definitely be keen to dive into them!

<- Bits and Pieces

We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families ->

Image source: Simon & Schuster

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

May 17, 2025Book ReviewBiographies, Britney Spears, Celebrity, Mental healthskyebjenner

Title: The Woman in Me
Author: Britney Spears
Rating Out of 5: (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Biographies, Celebrity, Mental health
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2023

Sometimes I read biographies to feel good about life, sometimes I read them to learn something new. And then there are times when I read them because I’m very familiar with the person and I’m absolutely fascinated about the nonsense in their lives. I knew that this wasn’t going to be one of those biographies that was ultimately feel good and made me have faith in humanity. But, I also wasn’t wrong when I thought that this was going to be seriously fascinating. There were moments throughout that were kind of hard to read, but overall, I had a lot of joy in learning more about Britney Spears’ viewpoint of her life and rise to fame. But, more importantly, there is so much hope there for the future too.

One of the parts of The Woman in Me that I found most difficult was Britney’s recollection of the early days of her career. She is adamant that many of the highly sexualised aspects of her career were her own choices. That she always wanted to dance and sing in that way. And even though this is probably true to a degree, I found it horrifying that her parents decided to, at the very least, passively stand by and let her be sexualised in such a way when she was a fifteen year old child. There was something horrifying and icky about it before (when I found out just how old she was), but now, as an adult, and reading about it. Yeah, it just becomes a hell of a lot more Nope.

Something I seriously loved about The Woman in Me is how honest Spears is about not only her depression, but also her many challenges and mental health issues. Her love for her children just jumps off the page. And honestly, all things aside, if I was threatened with never seeing my children again on a frequent basis, I would’ve done a whole lot worse than shaving my damn head. Throughout all of the battles that she faces, it’s really heartwarming to see that she places her love of her children above all else. I know that the use of children against a spouse is not an unknown story, but it’s still absolutely heart wrenching to read about children being used as pawns. No matter what the circumstances, it’s just unfathomable to me. But I guess when there is untold amounts of money to be made or had…

I’m not going to lie, when I heard bits in the media about #FreeBritney and the conservatorships, I really didn’t think much of it. I tend to find the media and all of the nonsense that surrounds celebrities to be a bit much at times. And I tend to ignore it. But, this is one of those few instances that I wish I had been more aware and alert. All I can hope is that in telling her story, Spears is able to not only set the record straight, but also that the legalities of conservatorships will be seriously overhauled. In telling such a disgusting narrative, hopefully there will be some positives and joy for others in the future.

<- Will

This Is Me ->

Image source: eBay

Joyful Courage by Dr. Casey O’Roarty

February 5, 2025Book ReviewDr. Casey O'Roarty, Mental healthskyebjenner

Title: Joyful Courage: Calming the Drama and Taking Control of Your Parenting Journey
Author: Dr. Casey O’Roarty
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Mental health
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

I picked this up because, as with everything, I’m trying to find ways to improve on my parenting skills. Particularly as I now have a Threenager on the loose. Whilst I don’t regret reading this, there weren’t necessarily any new ideas or wisdom imparted during this read. However, it was good to reflect on skill sets and emotional regulation that I know about, just haven’t necessarily been practicing lately. Rather than being a groundbreaking read for me, it was one in which I could use the words to reflect and remember some of the tactics that I’ve already been working on, but often forget about in the heat of the moment.

One of the aspects of this novel that I enjoyed the most is that it gave me a name with which to refer to that out of control feeling. The moment before I become “Yelley Mum”, I know that I’m starting to let my emotions run away with me. I’ve boarded the “Emotional Freight Train”. And now, everytime I manage to hop off on time and not turn into out of control yelling mum, I smile to myself and wave goodbye to the train in my mind’s eye. I like that just being able to name the feeling that I know we all have has helped me to minimise the frequency with which it barrels through our lives.

Although there were no new techniques suggested in this for me, I’m also aware that I’ve been through a fair bit of therapy and I’m currently studying to become a therapist. Examining my responses, triggers and emotions is all part of the parcel. But, it still reminded me to do so in my own parenting journey as well as my personal life. And for someone who hasn’t necessarily had the opportunities to use these techniques, this would be a great and open way to start exploring some of these ideas.

Image source: bol.com

Unmoor by Mark Oshiro

December 31, 2023Book ReviewA Universe of Wishes, Contemporary, Mark Oshiro, Mental health, Romanceskyebjenner

A Universe of Wishes: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology by Dhonielle Clayton

Title: Unmoor
Author: Mark Oshiro
In: A Universe of Wishes (Dhonielle Clayton)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Mental health, Romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Crown
Year: 2020

This was such a bittersweet short story. I liked the premise, and I totally understand the need. But it was also kind of sad. I love the idea of having memories unmoored from a location. Rather than just obliterating the memory of someone, removing it from its attachment so that you can still enjoy a place is kind of beautiful. It turns the hurts of the past to something that can be recalled as needed.

The end of this short story makes this whole tale feel like a bit of a misunderstanding. I mean, Felix might be continuing to go ahead with his decision to become unmoored. But, there is a moment when you wonder if he really should carry through with his plans. And whether or not untethering yourself is really worth all of the pain.

Saying goodbye to someone you love is always difficult. Which left me feeling a little bit heartsick at the end of this story. It was painful and a reminder that its sometimes more difficult for us to say goodbye than we would otherwise like.

<- The Weight

The Coldest Spot in the Universe ->

Image source: Goodreads

Going Under by Sonia Henry

December 6, 2023Book ReviewAustralian Authors, Contemporary, Medical, Mental health, Sonia Henryskyebjenner

Title: Going Under
Author: Sonia Henry
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, Medical, Mental health
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

I bought this thinking that it was a memoir about a woman who worked as a doctor in Australia. Turns out it’s actually a fictional work. But it still had the tone that j was looking for. After all, it is incredibly obvious that Henry is a doctor and that the story line pulls from her own experiences. I should also mention that although I seriously enjoyed this book, it is NOT a happy story. You finish it feeling kind of content, but it’s not a roses and rainbows kind of finish…

I remember considering medicine when I finished up with high school, but ultimately decided that I didn’t have the patience with people required to do so. Reading this just made me all that much more certain that I made the right call there. Kitty (the lead character of this) sounds the entire story burnt out, exhausted and overwhelmed. She definitely enjoys her career to a degree, but that level of exhaustion and stress? Definitely not a career path I would ever be happy in.

The aspect of this story that strikes me the most is dealing with sex, and assault. There are some pretty hefty trigger warnings in this. And Henry quite bluntly talks about a broken system in which junior staff are constantly abused in a number of fashions. And the incredibly serious consequences that can be felt because of such abuse. It will break your heart, but it’s also worth really thinking about the price that some people pay for their profession. And why this should never be the case.

Although there is a lot of very serious messages in this novel, there is also a lot of humour. The day-to-day existence of these junior doctors may be difficult, but they manage to temper that with some kind of bizarre shenanigans. Plus, the tightness and love found in their relationships reminds you that even in the most adverse situations, things can turn out for the best. And sometimes all you need to stop from going under is a good friend by your side.

<- More Australian authors

More medical ->

Image source: Allen & Unwin

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy

August 31, 2023Book ReviewActors, Celebrity, Jeanette McCurdy, Memoirs, Mental healthskyebjenner

Title: I’m Glad My Mom Died
Author: Jeanette McCurdy
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Actors, Celebrity, Memoirs, Mental health
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

I’m not going to lie, this was an incredibly difficult book to read. Where I normally tend to just dive into a book of this quality and get really stuck into it, I definitely had to stop and start this one quite a few times. A lot of what McCurdy writes about it really hard to stomach. And heartbreaking. And difficult. But it was also written with a sense of humour and humility that left me smiling and wanting more, more, more.

There would have been so many nuances throughout McCurdy’s life and experiences that she could have written about. But, as the title indicates, this story really focuses on her mother and the lasting impressions that she has left upon her daughter. Where it would be easy to just write this with anger and hurt (I mean, the woman did a number on her), McCurdy is able to write with humour and love. The realism of the fact that you can both hate and love a person. That you can be aware of their bullshit, but also still want their approval. McCurdy was able to indicate this complex mix of emotions beautifully.

I think what I found the most confronting about this story was the amount of love that is there. It is so easy to be angry and hateful. It is hard to heal when you are stuck in that negative. I can’t imagine having the strength of personality and kindness to not be angry and hateful to be completely frank. I mean, there is a whole lot of other stuff throughout this to be angry at too. But in particular, the relationship with family and the different influences that have been around since childhood – it was hard.

I’ve never had an eating disorder, but I know plenty who have. And, more than that, I completely understand the work and difficulties that come with overcoming your mental health nonsense. The fact that McCurdy has been able to do this is honestly inspiring. The fact that she is able to be open about her struggles even more so. I absolutely loved this memoir and it is definitely one I would probably enjoy reading again in the future.

<- Twelve Patients

Black Saturday ->

Image source: Amazon

Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

March 21, 2022Book ReviewContemporary, Humour, Maria Semple, Mental healthskyebjenner

Title: Where’d You Go, Bernadette
Author: Maria Semple
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Humour, Mental health
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Year: 2012

I know that this book has a lot of strong recommendations and reviews. But I honestly wasn’t expecting too much from it. Probably because I don’t often love the books that get such rave reviews. Sometimes I think that people give said reviews because they feel that they SHOULD, not because it was actually enjoyable.

Having said that. I will most definitely rave about this book. It was nothing that I expected and it drew me in from the very first moment. After all, there is a mystery to solve from the very beginning. Combine that with the ways in which Bee is able to structure and tell the story, the larger than life characters… I was completely enmeshed.

I love that this is a story about the love between a mother and daughter. It’s a reminder that real love doesn’t come with conditions, but is about accepting and loving someone for exactly who they are. Or at least, that’s how I took this story. That Bee is able to find out more and more about her mother’s flaws. But still love her.

Underlying all of this is the question of mental health. What makes someone sane? What makes them “normal”? And where is the damn line between the two? I still have no answers, and it seems that Semple doesn’t either. A perfect approach as far as I’m concerned.

<- Today Will be Different

More Maria Semple ->

Image source: Goodreads

Blackout by Sarah Hepola

March 5, 2022Book ReviewAlcohol, Biographies, Memoirs, Mental health, Sarah Hepolaskyebjenner

Title: Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget
Author: Sarah Hepola
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Alcohol, Biographies, Memoirs, Mental health
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Year: 2015

As someone who has had a few years of drinking too heavily and experiencing blackouts… this hit a bit too close to home. But in a good way. Because rather than being judgemental and harsh, Hepola talks about her journey with acceptance, honesty and a good dose of humour. Brutally honest and wonderfully open, this book was definitely well worth the read.

Not only does this memoir delve into issues with alcohol, but also talks about what its like to be a woman. We’re in a world where being a drinker as a woman is impressive in your late teens and early twenties. But by the time you start edging towards the thirties? Expectations change. Its a hard reality to walk and Hepola did such justice to highlighting how difficult it is to navigate.

One of the many aspects of this memoir that I loved is that Hepola doesn’t blame her insecurities and reliance on alcohol on anyone or anything. In fact, she mentions friends having concerns about their kids following the same route she did and pointing out that there’s nothing that can be done. There is no blame or fault throughout this, and its… a refreshing way to talk about an issue that affects a lot of people.

Once I opened the first one of Blackout, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. There is something intense and honest about this. And a little too relatable. It’s definitely a journey that I look forward to taking again and again. I reminder of the line that we all need to draw, and how some people have more difficulties with that than others.

<- The Truths We Hold

A Cup of Water Under My Bed ->