Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
This is the first book I have read by this author but it wont be my last it was such a nostalgic and poignant read that was more moving than I expected it to be, but that also had me laughing out loud at times. The long-awaited second instalment in Samantha Shannon's Sunday Times and New York Times-bestselling series Tunuva Melim is a sister of the Priory. I wasn't sure about the first two-thirds of the book - although very funny, and I liked the mixed approach of poetry, prose and pages for writing your own thoughts - it occasionally felt quite surface-level and didn't necessarily give much new insight into being young, queer and working class in Manchester. With frequent chuckles throughout it did keep me reading but I was increasingly frustrated with Charlotte, possibly unfairly, as I’m sure there are plenty of women around sadly who feel this way.
It's not the type of book I usually reach for but as a people pleaser at heart, I couldn't help but pick up a book titled with a phrase I catch myself saying far too often. She was witty, funny and painfully aware of her own compliance in keeping her stuck in a misogynistic world that makes her feel guilty for taking space — leading to her snapping in the most fantastic ways and going on a heartfelt and slightly chaotic journey of self love and reflection. Soph Galustian] expertly balances humour with tragedy, taking you through the ups and downs of life with a raw honesty that tugs at your heartstrings.In this book Soph offers up her experiences and a space to reminisce and laugh at life’s misfortunes. That’s all well and good, but how can we resist the urge to make ourselves smaller and assert our needs IRL? The story is about Charlotte who is constantly saying sorry for everything that happens, even if it’s not her fault. No Worries if Not is a funny, relatable coming-of-age story, that explores Soph Galustian's experiences of poverty, queerness, mental health, grief and community. She has has had enough of people taking advantage of her and decides that she is going to stop saying sorry for a year and see what happens.
She has also worked on behalf of Mind and Recovery Connections providing script advice for TV soaps and dramas regarding mental health (including addiction) portrayals. The pace of the book was mainly just right, however I found the flashback chapters interrupted the story unnecessarily. I’m currently holding on for dear life and surely moments away from a gruesome death, so I will need confirmation on this ASAP as my demise is imminent.Almost always the tweets are self-deprecating: Everyone’s making fun of themselves for being so accommodating , so socially anxious , so unable to ask for what they need . It's hard to give a rating when a book is so personal and when emotions, in places, are so raw - and especially when my reactions varied throughout the reading experience. All in all, not my cup of tea, if the author concentrated more on the story and less time ‘trying’ to be funny, I would probably enjoyed it.
This makes her a model subject of the “no worries if not” meme—a running joke on Twitter that pokes fun at people who use the verbal tick in inappropriate situations and a phenomenon I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.We all know we shouldn’t say it, that our requests are valid and don’t need to be tempered, but we can’t help ourselves. But I think it’s also useful to understand how guessing can be a buffer against vulnerability, infringing on human connection and understanding, infantilizing us. Mikaela tells me that breaking down self-limiting beliefs isn’t straightforward, but there is hope: "Question your thoughts with evidence, while changing the narrative around them. Manners cost nothing, her mother always said … yet there’s a fine line between diplomat and doormat. Sometimes to ensure we give people an opt out, to avoid feeling like we are making unwelcome demands, and out of worry that our needs may be a burden on those we make requests of.
Yet sitting and watching my phone blow up, I realised that I wasn’t unique; this lack of confidence in our own worth and ideas extends to most women, especially professionally. I hope it is, because I don’t want to be 10 years older with the meek desperation of a teenager asking for a lift.
Namely, to us, that we were guessers (mostly), which was making communication more complicated than it needed to be. Think about it, if you’re apologising for things that aren’t your fault, how are people meant to know when actually you are, truly, very sorry?
Great Deal 
New Comment