I love how unapologetic Anna Marie Tendler is with sharing her mental health story — her ruminations on her own history, her inner monologue, her self-doubt, her relationship with Petunia and her grief over the life she once knew. My heart breaks for her. I listen to the audiobook version, which is read by the author. I always enjoy it when the author narrates their own book — especially with memoirs — as it brings an added level of connection and intimacy.

The memoir takes place after the dissolution of Tendler's marriage. Anyone who pays attention to social media knows her ex-husband is comedian John Mulaney. Anna seems to know we know, but she won’t address it. Instead, we tiptoe around the identity of her husband and any details of their relationship. I understand her likely reasoning for making that choice, but the failure to acknowledge it becomes notable on its own. The exclusion feels significant here as Tendler delves into other influential relationships throughout the memoir. I'm not saying we needed all the dirty details, but I feel it would have been less obtrusive if the relationship had been addressed once in stride with the others and then we moved on. 

That aside, I sort of love the fact that she doesn't talk about it. This is her memoir and she gets to decide what is and isn't shared.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.