I was very familiar with Jen Gotch before writing this book, having been a fan of hers and ban.do for many years, so this review may be slightly biased. I've been excited to read this memoir since she first mentioned it. I highlighted so many passages in this book to go back and read, because a lot of them hit home.

This book would be good for fans of ban.do OR women starting businesses or wanting to start businesses. I'm an entrepreneur, woman, and deal with mental health issues., so lots of what Gotch was talking about fit right into my universe.

The mental health aspects of the book are woven throughout, but I'm not positive you would like this book if you don't care about entrepreneurship or cute headbands/lifestyle life. Basically -- if you are looking for purely a self help book, this ain't it....which is why I liked it.

I'm glad she talks about how she got where she is, mistakes along the way, and what threads led her there without affectation. Gotch makes sure to acknowledge her privilege, though I do think there was more that could have been said for that. It's somewhat tough to take advice from someone who staunchly says "I would not have gotten through the first three decades of my life without my parents bankrolling me." -- But I do like that she SAYS that and doesn't just not mention it, as a LOT of people do.

This book made me feel human and like my people are out there.

I was not very familiar with Jen Gotch prior to reading her new book which is cheerful, honest, and sure to be popular with fans old and new.

When you lose your memory as the sole survivor of a plane crash., the need to find or reinvent oneself becomes vital. Finding love and friendship in the process leaves you wondering what will happen when you remember? This book explores those questions and makes an excellent read with a surprising twist at the end.

The Upside of Being Down is likened to #GirlBoss and Furiously Happy, but it's honestly better than both of those books combined. Jen Gotch is an appealing and funny narrator who admits to her flaws and failed memory as she talks about her path from shy grade schooler to head of the multimillion-dollar lifestyle brand ban.do. Her path to ban.do was long, winding, sometimes messy, and complicated by her struggles with bipolar disorder, but through it all, Gotch has come to a point in her life where she is not only able to look on the bright side and be empowered by it, but help other people do it too.