Wow. All I can say is that I wish I’d read this book way before now. I’ve been struggling with my mental health this year and if I’d read this book in January/February, I may have had a much easier time of it.

Part an autobiography of Matt Haig’s own experiences. and part advice on how to cope with mental health problems like depression and anxiety, I genuinely think that everyone should read this book.

As well as a story of how the author learned to live with depression and anxiety, like the blurb says, it’s also “an upbeat, joyous and very funny exploration of how to live better, love better, read better and feel more. “

It made me realise that a lot of the things I’ve been feeling over the past year (and have felt embarassed to talk about) are not unique to myself and that talking shouldn’t be scary, but also that it could have been much much worse and I’ve been quite lucky.

I don’t really know how to say more about this, so I think I’ll just finish by sharing my favourite quotes and just urge you to read this book yourself, before you need to read it, or before it’s too late.

“You need to feel life’s terror to feel it’s wonder – would I change the way I am?”

“Understand, for instance, that having a sad thought, even having a continual succession of sad thoughts, is not the same as being a sad person. You can walk through a storm and feel the wind but you know you are not the wind.”

“Maybe love is just about finding the person you can be your weird self with.”

“You can be a depressive and be happy, just as you can be a sober alcoholic. It doesn’t always have an obvious cause.”

Seriously, pick up this book now. You won’t regret it.