An autobiographical tale of one girl's rise to and fall from popularity, which is much more interesting than that makes it sound. Funny, touching, and quite the story! The blurb made it sound like some sort of cautionary tale, but the author is actually quite refreshingly unabashed and honest, which really adds to it all. ( )

This is one of the most brutally honest memoirs I've read. We all know that High School sucks, and Hannah really tells it like it is. I loved the fact how honest this book was. Hannah has a wonderful writing voice. She is honest, funny and holds nothing back. She talks about everything she went through from Drugs, her eating disorder to having to deal with a monkey for a sister. I look forward to read more of her writing. ( )

excellent memoir--the title says it all.

I am beginning to question whether I should give up on memoirs altogether. It seems that almost every one that I read lately has not really grabbed me. Maybe my issue is the fact that I had such high expectations for Everything Sucks. The title alone gave me hope - that and the fact that a fellow blogger recommended this book earlier this year. Unfortunately, I am left feeling rather meh about it, and I am not happy with that.

At first, I found this book painful in a good way. It made me look back upon my own teenage years, which I feel is in keeping with this year of personal development and reflection. I realized that everyone experiences the same doubt, pain, and suffering while in high school. Then, I started to reflect. Here's my problems with Ms. Friedman's story:

First of all, the synopsis makes it seem as if her extreme behavior is just that - extreme. However, I found the problems were not as obvious or extreme as they were made to appear. I never got the impression that Hannah ever truly fit in to the popular crowd; she makes mention of the fact that she cannot afford the same designer clothes that her friends purchase, and she also discusses the backstabbing ways of her closest "friends". Her food issues are understated, as are the drug problems. So, I went in expecting this major drama and extremist behavior and just was not satisfied on that end.

Then, I realized that yes, high school does suck. There is tremendous pressure to fit in, get good grades, but millions of people don't turn to drugs or bulimia to fit in. We all contemplate the idea of a fresh start during high school; Ms. Friedman gets that chance and almost ruins her life during it. This got me thinking - what gives her the right to complain about this? She made her choices all on her own. No one forced her to start taking drugs or binge and purge. So life sucks in high school. So what? It sucks because she made the wrong choices. The self-righteous tone adopted throughout the book as Ms. Friedman tries to justify her high school behavior to her readers really began to bother me.

Also, I do recognize that Ms. Friedman overcame some major issues. However, how exactly did she recover? At one point in time in the book, she has a major drug problem and is severely bulimic. Then, she is in college with no problems. At no point in time, she makes no mention of rehab or how she recovered. This is a major failing given the target audience. I do recognize the fact that Everything Sucks would be powerful reading for teens, which concerns me about the lack of discussion regarding resolutions to her problems. The drug and eating problems were severe enough to require medical attention of some sort, and to avoid discussing this part of the story may give those same teen readers the idea that they too can miraculously resolve their issues without any outside help. It is extremely misleading, in my opinion, and also quite a dangerous omission.

As I mentioned, I imagine this memoir to be quite popular among teenagers, but I found it whiny and pretentious as an adult. Then again, I am more than convinced that memoirs are not for me. Honestly, I start thinking about why publishers/ people feel their stories are better than others, and it bothers me. If I could relate more to Ms. Friedman, I might have felt differently about this particular book, but her whining grated on my nerves and her life choices caused me to shake my head in frustration. I am glad that I read the book, if only to be more aware of the pressures my own children may face when they get to high school.

Free spirit parents, a live in monkey 'sister', touring Ireland in a band bus while being home schooled, overweight, unpopular, reinventing yourself in a private school, exploring drinking, drugs and sex, losing and finding yourself. Sounds like a great premise for a fiction novel or even a TV pilot doesn't it?

Yes, except that it happens to be the real thing. This is Hannah Friedman's life. And all of the above? All true.

I love this quote from her mother when Hannah objects to going on tour in Ireland.

We have fed you and clothed you and paid for piano lessons and glitter rainbow shoes, and I spent sixteen hours in labour with you, and now we've finally found a competent monkey-sitter after twenty-seven interviews, so you. Are. Going."

Definitely not your typical suburban upbringing. Hannah yearns to be popular and fit in. Academically gifted, she wins a scholarship to a prestigious private school and is able to reinvent herself. Hannah finds herself in THE popular clique. Happy at last. But is she? She begins to experiment with drinking, drugs and sex.

What struck me the most was the brutal honesty in Everything Sucks. Friedman puts it all out there, the disappointment, the anger, the shame, the wondering, the search and the journey to find her place in life. No subject is sacrosanct.

A fantastic read, one I couldn't put down. Hannah's journey to find what's really cool was addicting. I think the book's dedication speaks volumes -

" For everyone who is sure they will never fit in. And for my parents, who taught me that it's just more fun not to."

Friedman is an amazing young woman. She was the youngest person to have an article published in Newsweek magazine - ironically about the battle to get into a 'good' school. Her voice is fresh, funny and real. I hope she continues to write - I'd love to hear about her next 20 years. ( )