Review: Almost Adulting by Arden Rose

“We’re tough as shit and we’re going to make it.”

In Almost Adulting — perfect for budding adults, failing adults, and eaters of microwave mug brownies — Arden Rose tells you how to survive your future adulthood. Topics include:

• The importance of being your own best friend in life. And treating yourself with kindness.
• Dealing with trichotillomania and discussing mental health issues.
• Modern romance and her two-year relationship with Will Darbyshire, who’s book, This Modern Love, I coincidentally reviewed a few months back. Including discussions of their first encounter, their budding romance leading to something more, and all things in between.
• The perks and cons of online friendships and online dating, along with talks of long-distance platonic/romantic relationships.

“With the right level of judgment and discernment, you can find a best friend, or a boyfriend, without ever leaving your bedroom.”

• Adulthood and not fitting into said category just yet.
• Body image and body positivity.
• What Rose learned through all her crying jags, which lead us to the topic of emotions and mental-health well-being.
• Frankly discussing topics related to sex, from education, masturbation, birth-control, and practicing safe sex. I personally think this was one of the best pieces because of how open and heart-to-heart it felt.
• The author’s struggle with OCD and disordered eating, which she put in to remind us to take care of our physical and mental well-being.

But above all I cherished this book when Arden Rose talked candidly about her thoughts and feelings. Her honesty is inspiring. However, this lead me to having a bit of trouble with Almost Adulting in certain pieces when the writing leaned towards giving generic and nonspecific advice. That is to say, I appreciated this book more when it focused on being memoir-y and not advice-y.

On that positive note, I also loved the notable humor thrown in here, which I wasn’t expecting at all. Since I’m not that familiar with the author’s work on Youtube, I had no idea what to anticipate going into this book. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised when I got out more than a handful of laughs.

Like this moment where she had to decide the future of her relationship:

“I wanted to do more than text him occasionally about the new Game of Thrones episode. So we made a real date. I was going to be in London. He was picking me up at my rented apartment in West Hempstead. He had my address. This was the point of no return. Either I went on this date, or I would have to fake my own death.”

Or this comical paragraph on connecting with people online:

“I find it hard to make deep connections with people. I like meeting people casually at parties; I love a good party friend. But the moment someone gets out their Oprah face and tries to dig into my soul, I immediately scuttle into the corner of my brain far away from all in-depth conversations. The opposite is true when I’m chatting with someone online. I know that sounds crazy, but I find it easier to be honest and forthright with my opinions when I have a computer to hide behind. I’m like an emotional troll”

With all that I adored, however, I quickly came to notice how in certain essays Arden Rose’s thoughts are quite contradictory, which consequently made for an impassive read. The more rambling and jumbling pieces came across like the author couldn’t gather her opinion on a specific topic.

But to end this review on a positive note, I did appreciate the dandy illustrations scattered throughout:

3.5/5 stars 

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