Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton (Review by Stephanie Rowitz)

Rating: 3.5/5

Everything I Know About Love is a witty and relatable memoir about a young woman trying to find her place in the world.

Some of the stories are light and fun–filled with twenty-something shenanigans and alcohol-infused escapades, while other stories discuss the death of loved ones and how to deal with your friends growing up and leaving you behind. We see Dolly learn how to be at peace with where life has taken her so far, so that she can get to a better place in the future. Even if you haven’t lived a life quite like Dolly’s, you’ll definitely be able to relate to her in one story or another.

For example, her sarcastic musings on the real implications of dinner party invitations, Bachelorette itineraries, and wedding day programs will leave you nodding your head and wondering why we all go along with celebrating someone’s marriage or birth of a baby, while ignoring other milestones like a work promotion or getting your own apartment.

I like that this memoir showed her growing up. There are many stories in the beginning of the book about Dolly using alcohol to cope with her pain and insecurities, but she doesn’t dwell on them for too long. Instead, she uses those drunken tales as a guidepost to show the reader how much she grows along the way. We have to know where she started from to fully appreciate how far she’s come, and the author does a great job of illustrating that journey. Dolly isn’t perfect and she isn’t trying to be. She’s just doing the best she can with what she has, which is all any of us can do.

Dolly Alderton is unapologetically herself which is what you’ll love about her. You’ll laugh and maybe even cry at times, but you’ll definitely come away with a sense that someone else has been there, too, and that maybe we can all get through this wild and crazy life together.