Group

Christie Tate's metaphoric storytelling reads better than 90% of the fiction I've read this year. That being said, this book is weird af. I was into it for the first 100ish pages, but the fervid intensity of her self involvement and creepy questionable “prescriptions” given by her therapist left me wanting in the end. It didn't help that I googled her halfway through the book and discovered her lack of respect for her child's boundaries.

Christie Tate is in pain; Christie Tate doesn't want to live. A friend suggests joining group therapy, and Tate feels like she ought to give it a try.

And that's the beginning of Tate's time in one, then two, and finally three groups for therapy. The pain gets worse before it gets better, but Tate does learn how to change and grow and become a healthier, happier person.

I loved this memoir!

Christie was vulnerable and memorable. Her plight, to find love, was universal in its appeal, but her manner to find it was unconventional. The author uses her group therapy to help her find a life partner. I've been in group therapy and it was nothing like this! So funny and engaging. I loved her self-deprecating way of approaching her inner dialogue too. I swear she was in my head!

Full disclosure: I'm using this book as a comp to my own memoir which should go out for query in September :)