God Bless This Mess

Am I proud that I read another book from the Bachelor franchise? No. Am I surprised that I liked it? Yes.

Let's get it straight: this is not an objectively good book. It reads like a cobbled-together blog. If you don't watch the show, and don't know who Hannah Brown is, then forget about it.

Not only did I watch her season, but I really liked her. She's got magnetic charisma (hence, why I bought this book) and I like that's she's unabashedly imperfect. This could have been a money-grab book about all the behind-the-scenes secrets, but really, it's about self-discovery and growth across her entire life, with only relevant bits from her time on TV. Reality TV is so reductive, so devoid of context, that it's nice to see a fuller, messier, more compassionate picture of someone (albeit, their crafted narrative, but still). Like all of us, she's been through a lot. This is a relatable book, and serves as a good reminder that someone who seems to have it all could be struggling immensely inside (and to not compare struggles – hurt is hurt).

Okay. Gonna go read some Tolstoy or Joyce or something.