I really wanted to love this one. Chelsea Devantez is funny and sharp, and there are definitely moments in I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This that made me laugh or nod along. Her take on friendship, growing up, and navigating messy life stuff is super relatable, and there’s something comforting in how candid she is.

That said, the book felt a bit uneven. Some essays really clicked, others felt like they were trying a little too hard to be deep or funny, and the tone bounced around more than I expected. It’s one of those reads where you can see the potential, but it didn’t quite hit the emotional or comedic highs I was hoping for.

Still, if you’re into memoirs by women who tell it like it is—with some solid girlhood nostalgia thrown in—it might be worth checking out. Just don’t go in expecting every essay to be a slam dunk.

I loved the title of this book and needless to say I wasn’t disappointed. This anecdotal yet fully realized memoir is one that is perfect foil to good girl ones by celebs, coming out every day.

What a fun memoir this was and a fun tour of eclectic and fun bunch of women that came into Chelsea’s life. Life lessons to be learnt and even though it discusses serious issues like abuse and homelessness, there is a certain humor that keeps Chelsea and us as readers going throughout the book. The brilliant thing is that the humor translates throughout the pages. Chelsea is raw, judgy and expository but also smart and funny in her telling of these stories. It is a love letter to the women in her life and it was so good to see female relationships told in a real and honest way but also with a certain reverence.

Thank you Harlequin Australia, MIRA and NetGalley for eARC in exchange of honest review