It's really great to know I'm not alone in my struggle with people pleasing and prioritizing others over myself. I constantly have to fight my urge to say "Are you mad at me?" and this book opened my eyes about why I do it. I will definitely be purchasing for the library's collection and look forward to recommending it to patrons.

I enjoyed ARE YOU MAD AT ME? and it's very relatable for people pleasers.

The book spends a good bit of time on the action of "fawning." Those chapters were helpful.

I already know I fawn - a lot - and the book helped me recognize a few more details about that.

My issue was there were not a lot of practical NEW solutions. A lot of what was suggested rehashes what has been written before in most self-help books.

Perhaps I'm looking for the magical answer to all of this. The author alluded to that exact thinking in this book. Unfortunately, this book didn't give any new advice.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for an e-copy of ARE YOU MAD AT ME? to review.

I rate ARE YOU MAD AT ME? three out of five stars.

Reading Meg Josephson's "Are You Mad at Me?" felt less like consuming another self-help guide and more like receiving a crucial update for my internal operating system – the one that often defaults to prioritizing everyone else's comfort. Josephson skillfully unpacks how that relentless drive to please isn't just 'being nice'; it's often an outdated survival program (fawning) running in the background. What elevates this book is that it doesn't just diagnose the pattern; it offers the tools for reprogramming. Through relatable stories and thoughtful exercises, Josephson provides a practical pathway to understanding the roles we play and gently dismantling them. I found the perspective shift on boundaries – viewing them not as fortifications but as necessary structures for authentic connection – particularly transformative. The book feels like a wise, empathetic friend guiding you back to your own center. Thank you for this ARC!

Fantastic, great material! Looking forwarding to using this to help future clients and support my work as a therapist.

This book explores people-pleasing behaviors, better interpreting them as survival mechanism rather than personality traits. The author is able to demonstrate this concept through various examples including their personal experiences, discussions with clients, and through providing tools and exercises for the reader to think through. These examples helped illustrate the concepts, but also help the reader feel seen and not alone. I appreciated both the layout, utilizing different chapters to dive into different points, which helped the concepts and book flow from beginning to end. I think this is an extremely validating reminder and guide for those also struggling to heal and create boundaries.

Thank you so much to Galley Books and author Meg Josephson for an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who recently started going back to school to work toward my MSW, I found this book both incredibly informative and validating. It’s a great refresher for those of us already in or entering the social work field or any helping profession, really. I also think it would be a valuable and accessible read for anyone looking to better understand their own mental health.

The book covers some heavier topics, so I definitely recommend taking your time and reading at your own pace. Take care of yourself while diving into it - it’s worth it! ❤️

damn this book felt like someone reached into my chest, gently untangled all the invisible threads of anxiety, and whispered, “YOU'RE NOT BROKEN YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO FEEL SAFE!" I flew through this book in one sitting.

if you’ve ever spent hours spiraling over a short text, if “did I do something wrong?” is a question that lives rent-free in your head, or if you constantly overextend yourself to make sure everyone else is okay this book is for you. It helped me name things I’ve struggled with forever, especially the way I silence my own needs to avoid conflict, disappointment, or just the feeling of being “too much.”

the doesn’t just explain why we fall into people-pleasing or perfectionism, she shows how these are often trauma responses, specifically fawning. but instead of making me feel ashamed for these patterns, she gave me language, tools, and compassion. her insights into the roles we play (like caretaker, peacekeeper, performer) made me feel so seen. And the way she redefines boundaries not as walls, but as bridges to real connection shifted something in me. this book felt like a warm hand on your back, a guide to finally letting yourself be you, without apology. I know I’ll carry the lessons from this for a long time.

if you’re someone who’s always felt like you’re walking on eggshells, trying not to disappoint, always wondering, “Are you mad at me?” this will feel like coming up for air. Read it. Let it soften you. Let it set you free.

4.5 ⭐️❤️
Thank you so much Gallery Books for my personal arc!