Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE by Lori Gottlieb is a work of non-friction which was recommended by my cousin and which received a starred review from Kirkus who called it “A vivacious portrait of a therapist from both sides of the couch.” The author is a mid-40s single mother who also writes a column for The Atlantic called “Dear Therapist.” She shares anonymous stories from some of her patients as well as her own struggles with a breakup when The Boyfriend decides he does not want to live with her young son. There are many poignant moments as she counsels others (like Julie, the young woman who recieves a devastating cancer diagnosis) and narrates her internal thoughts during her own sessions with a therapist. Did you ever see Shrinking (on Apple TV) with Harrison Ford? This is not as hilarious, but it also takes you into the real lives of a therapist with her own issues and wry sense of humor. MAYBE YOU SHOULD TALK TO SOMEONE deals with feelings, parenting, and other relationships, as Kirkus (again) says: “Saturated with self-awareness and compassion, this is an irresistibly addictive tour of the human condition.” One of my favorite sections mentions “Welcome to Holland” and notes that “Julie started to see that we're all in Holland, because most people don't have lives that go exactly as planned. Even if you're lucky enough to be traveling to Italy, you might experience canceled flights and horrible weather.”