This is a very difficult book to listen to/read, though one that it still rewarding. I knew it was about the author's boyfriend taking his own life, but I didn't expect how frank and detailed the author would be in narrating the self-destructive spiral of her life afterwards. I was tempted at times to stop, but I was desperate to know if things would get any better for her (I assumed they would, given that she's managed to write a memoir).

I do applaud the author for her honesty, and the very end when she addresses her boyfriend pretty much directly was heart-wrenching and beautiful. I also recognise that she needed to tell the full story, including her career in start-ups, which on the surface didn't seem all that relevant but of course related deeply to her sense of shame and the way her trauma helped steer her life decisions.

Oddly, I didn't like the author's narration of her own audiobook, even though normally I prefer to listen to memoirs in the author's own voice - but I found her voice and way of speaking robotic. Still, I'm glad I listened to the book.

(With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review)

Totally Fine (And Other Lies I've Told Myself) by Tiffany Philippou is a memoir chronologizing Tiffany in the aftermath of the tragic passing of her boyfriend, Richard.
This book talks about many topics that could be triggering, such as suicide, drinking, elements of self-harm.
During the memoir, we get some scenes of Tiffany and her late boyfriend's relationship prior to the tragedy. The memoir doesn't just focus on the grief of the loss. We are exposed to much of Tiffany's life, no matter how uncomfortable, personal, and difficult. We are shown how flawed and human Tiffany is with mistakes made, and some decisions she went with.

Not everyone handles grief and loss the same way. Having gone through grief, and having lost someone to suicide, I could understand elements of her response, even if I didn't always agree with some of the things she's done. Grief takes many different faces, changes into many different forms, and this book simply details the faces grief took for her.

**Listened to audiobook and also read via kindle**

Based on the title, I was expecting a book that focussed on grief and getting past it. The first third of the book is definitely this, but then the book is more about Tiffany and her business. I lost interest when it went towards this topic.
The audio book is narrated by Tiffany Philippou herself, something that I really like in a non fiction audio book. I think she narrates the book really well I preferred listening to the audio than reading the kindle book.

Overall I did like the book, but it doesn't just focus on grief - it's so much more than that. Due to my own personal reasons, I wanted it to be more about grief and less about the other things. I enjoyed the first sections of the book more than the later parts.
Doesn't do what 'it says on the tin' for me.

*Book trigger warning and review: suicide*

This book did a fantastic job of showing what happens when you allow grief to take over your life. Tiffany Philippou, in this groundbreaking memoir on loss and accountability, takes her readers on a journey through her early to late twenties as she navigates life after her partner commits suicide. While this specific instance may not be relatable, the reader can trace the themes Philippou addresses back to the universal desire to feel worthy and loved.
By the time you finish this book, you'll laugh, you'll cry, and above all else, you'll want to reach out to your loved ones and seize the day.