Book Review | How To Be A Grown Up!

When I was younger, I thought I had it all figured out. I had a five year plan, you see. Boyfriend at 18. Engaged by 21. Land myself a successful, well paid job at 22 that would fund the wedding of my dreams. I would then fall pregnant on our honeymoon in Mauritius (apparently 16 year old Beth thought she could control science as well as the entirety of her life) and live happily ever after with my perfect, nuclear family. As it stands, at the age of 21 - I’m currently single, get paid to scan through M&S cashmere jumpers for the rich ladies of Harrogate and, to top it all off, as of yet, never made cheese on toast without burning the shit out of it. Now that's what you call ladies and gents, 'making it'...

How many of us, at some point, have wished life came with an instruction manual? A book that was able to guide us through and give us a quick heads up before we do something we later on regret. It's been a wish of mine ever since I left school, when I quickly realised that adulthood wasn't going to be all vacays to tropical islands and boutique designer shops. If you are also daunted by the idea of 'the future' like me or worried you're wasting precious time doing everything wrong, I would really recommend giving 'How To Be A Grown Up' by Daisy Buchanan a read... It's the nearest to that instruction manual you are ever going to find!

My sister gifted me this book for my birthday and I finished it in just two days (I'm no book worm so that's an indication of how much I enjoyed it). Every time I turned a page I felt myself taking a massive, internal sigh of relief - 'Thank the lord above, i'm not the only one!'. I've never read something that's resonated with me so much before. So much so, I felt like screaming 'AMEN SISTA, PREACH IT!' at the top of my lungs when the last paragraph of the book came to a close. Daisy shares the actual, not so lavish reality of what it's like entering adulthood and getting through your twenties. This book aint no sugar coater that's for sure, but somehow the most sweetest, most comforting reads I am yet to find.

Life's not a race that should ever include some ludicrous five year plan. I definitely realise that now. Life's not about torturing yourself for messing up. Life's not about comparing yourself to a blogger on Instagram or someone who was in your form at school. Life's not about wallowing in your own self pity when you once again burn your flippin cheese on toast. We hear it time and time again but it really is so true - nothing will ruin your 20's more than thinking you're supposed to have your life together already.

YOU'RE YOUNG! Now go out and be young! Take pictures in fun, wacky clothes that will one day make you think 'what the bloomin heck was I wearing'. Drink too many g&t's and get thrown out of a bar for dancing on the tables. Don't feel embarrassed to admit you work in retail or any other job that is not deemed as successful when someone asks you 'what you do' on Tinder...for now Beth, it pays the bills, funds your expensive taste in fashion and allows you to be able to afford Hendricks (WINNING).

Thanks Daisy Buchanan for your priceless honesty and your laugh out loud humour. Most importantly though, thank you for making me feel like I'm not the only one who feels a little lost from time to time.

You can purchase Daisy's book here!

Lots of love as always,

Beth x