This book was just the perfect blend of comics and text. While it was a quick read I enjoyed every minute of it. The author reflecting on moments in her life to preface the topic she wanted to discuss was a perfect transition. I had never previously read anything by this author but I would consider starting to follow her on social media to get more content. Overall just a great read.

I have to be honest, I was very hesitant to read this book. I don’t really like books that are “self-help” or make me take a look at my own life. I don’t want to work hard when I read or be forced to do some sort of inner thinking. My goal of reading is always to just get completely lost in a story and enter another world entirely. Reading this synopsis, I assumed there was no way this book was going to be able to do that. But, I WAS WRONG.

I actually ended up totally loving this book and couldn’t have been more surprised. And, as a barely functioning adult myself, it couldn’t have been more relevant to me and my life. But, unlike other books of the same genre, I didn’t get stuck being lectured at for pages on end with never-ending paragraphs. I got hilarious comic strips and stories about fish and frogs. I got short but humorous stories that were somehow completely relevant to my life and the current stage I’m at (ex. barely functioning).

And can we talk about the cartoons and the comic strips? They are so cute and hilarious. They were simple, yet completely competent at getting the point across. They were also relevant for each section they were included with. I never felt confused by the cartoons and found they always fit perfectly where they had been placed.

If you’re looking for a short and humorous read (with pictures!) that will help you feel a little less alone in the hard world of being an adult, definitely give this one a try!

Thank you to Harper Perennial for an early and finished copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

DNF'd pretty early- not what I anticipated? Just the format immediately threw me off and then I was just bored.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and Amazon

I've never connected so much with a book before. Like this could be a memoir - that's how close I felt to the writing. The cartoons made me laugh out loud with the situations that were depicted and knowing that I too have gone through similar situations and had the same inner thoughts. What a cathartic book!

Some of the stories were cute but I lost interest partway and have not been able to finish it. I'd like more comics and less words.

I really enjoy this comic collection that sometimes reads as a memoir with comics thrown in. I'm sure I'm not the first or last person to compare it to the infamous Hyperbole And A Half, but it hit the same nerve while I was reading it. It was down to earth, laugh out loud funny in some spots, and endlessly charming. I'd read another by the author in a heartbeat.

An interesting autobiographical narrative of author Meichi Ng's life. A lot of the stories were relatable and there were both humorous moments and more serious and somber ones. I didn't enjoy it as much as I had anticipated, but I think I can chalk that up to my expectation of it being more of a comic rather than blocks of text punctuated with illustrations. If you're looking for a thoughtful, but humorous, read I recommend this book.

I picked out this title because I too believe myself to be a barely functional adult at times. This was a short, humorous, heartfelt graphic novel that hit just right. I wish more work would have been put into the illustrations, but they were still okay. Ng has some great perspective on being a not young, not old person in today's world just trying to tread water sometimes. Not really knowing where to go. In saying that, it did seem like some of the story transitions were a result of not knowing where to go. Some of the story transitions didn't seem to connect or were thinly connected. However, I did connect with most of the stories and most of them were quite humorous. I especially liked the segment on how we all have archives of ourselves like little nesting dolls built inside us. Which seems strange but is why this little book is refreshing at times. It explains in weird and random ways aspects in your life that you can't quite describe satisfyingly enough yourself. Then you read one of Ng's stories and you think, "Yep, oddly enough, that's kind of it in a nutshell."

Some fun, oddball stories that connect to your weird, oddball heart. I also liked the segment about the panic-inducing realization of paying to go to school for a career that you don't even end up employed in. Too real. But Ng humorously plays out the realization of it well. Odd, short little banter about barely functional adults in today's world. If you like Allie Brosh, you'd probably dig this one as well. 3 out of 5 stars. I liked it.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an eGalley of this title.

A big part of why I'm rating this book at 4-stars is because I kept thinking that I could totally understand and relate to Ng's feelings. I'm aware that part of that isn't fully about the content of the book itself, but the feeling of comradery I randomly found with another soul as confused with the whole adulting thing.
This book is a collection of personal essays that range from the endearing to the non-sequitur. All of them are that perfect level of weird that's relatable while also making you tilt your head with incomprehension.
My one complaint is that the strange arrangement and mix of illustration and text kept confusing me. I'm hoping that's something that gets fixed on the final printing (I read a review copy), but as I'm basing this on my actual reading experience, I feel obliged to mention that things sometimes didn't make much sense.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the early read.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was not at all what I expected. I was expecting straight up comics, and then when I started reading, my expectations changed to something along the lines of Hyperbole and a Half (I suspect this artist probably gets this a lot). So, I’m case anyone isn’t sure what to expect, here’s how I’m going to describe this book:

Imagine if Robert Fulghum’s essays were illustrated by Allie Brosh.

Ok, now that you know what you’re going to be reading, know that this is a solid book. It’s not a knockout, but it’s solid. Some chapters hit me pretty hard—the author is clearly working through some of the same existential questions that I (and many others) work on—and others made me laugh out loud (hello, frog chapter). I would give it a 3.5, but I’m subtracting a half star because the author sometimes lost me on the way to the point (relatable, honestly), though I eventually caught up again by the end of each chapter. I think maybe a little extra editing could have helped, though admittedly this could be a personal preference.

Overall, nice book and I’m glad I read it.

The simple cartoons and universal sentiments of this book are a delight. I think we can all identify with the worries and sense of being overwhelmed on display here. In spite of these feelings the volume is hopeful throughout and leaves the ready with a feeling of having met a kindred soul.

I was provided a copy of this books as an eArc by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This is more of a 3.5, but I couldn't find any good reason to round down to a 3. This isn't what I expected at all, but it's a nice little nonfiction collection of comics and essays. I thought it was going to be exclusively comics and more humor-based, but it's about half comics and half text, and it's a lot more serious than I was anticipating! That said, there are some fun conversations to be had here and a few chapters offer extremely helpful perspectives on things like therapy, mental illness, impostor syndrome, and even simply not knowing what you want to do with your life when you feel like you've reached an age where you should have it all together.

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Meichi Ng has a hilarious take on what it’s like to be an adult and have anxiety. Adulting can be hard! If you like Hyperbole and a Half, you’ll like Barely Functional Adult.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning of this book didn't really reach my expectations but I kept reading and it definitely got better. Overall, I enjoyed it. While the illustrations were not wonderful, they were okay. I especially liked the chapter on therapy and that this author, like me, does not conform to societal ideas of what successful adulthood is.

This is not written for me, well past my 20s, but I get it, though seen through a hazy past, so the humor is more, oh that is funny rather than laughing out loud at it.

What Meichi writes about work being boring, and repetitive, and how you should do what you love, and balance that with money, is very true, and has been something I have said quite a lot. Never good to hate your work. I did for about six months and it was miserable.

She covers work, mental healthy, getting older, the glory of being able to quit a job any time you want, among other things.

Life is new for her, and she explores it with gusto.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really hated the art. And did not think she was funny or nice

Barely Functional Adult is a quirky read with comic strips scattered into the mix. I have to say that the title is what initially drew me into wanting to read this book. I am someone who is technically an adult, but don’t usually feel that way; When someone asks for an adult I turn to someone who I feel is much more adult-y than myself. I connected with this book immediately- an introvert who is also a Hufflepuff that hates driving, and is confused why everyone wants to go hiking? Yup, that is pretty much me. Also, this feeling of being lost and not really having life figured out which is expressed throughout the book is commonplace for myself. I have to ask myself though, does anyone really have it figured out? I guess maybe some people do, but I am definitely not one of those people and it is good to know that there are others who feel the same. I loved that this book talked about depression and social anxiety, which need to be talked about and normalized. I thought the comics were delightful and really added to the text often adding humor. I think that the message I got from the book is that maybe when it comes down to it some people do just feel a little broken and lost inside, but maybe that is okay. You can still be successful and strive for more, it is possible those feelings are what keep driving us to move forward. I’m so glad I picked up this book and I really think it was something that I needed to read at this moment in my life; it has given me a sense of hope. ARC provided by Publisher via Netgalley.

I didn't think this book was very funny. The stories aren't that interesting and the drawings aren't anything special. I think she tries too hard to convey that she's a special unique weirdo but it feels very forced. I couldn't finish it.

This book is my first exposure to Barely Functional Adult and I can now say that I'm a fan. This book is funny, has very emotive art, and has a way of getting right to the point while pairing insight with anecdote. I love the blend of comic and memoir! Right after finishing this I followed the author on Instagram so I can continue to enjoy the artwork and humor shown in this book.