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All I Know Now: Wonderings and Advice on Making Friends, Making Mistakes, Falling in (and out of) Love, and Other Adventures in Growing Up Hopefully
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Memoir & Autobiography (2015)Heartfelt advice for teens from Carrie Hope Fletcher—star of stage and computer screen, and honorary big sister to thousands of “Hopefuls”
The only thing bigger than Carrie Hope Fletcher’s hair is her heart. Eternally upbeat, this 22-year-old dynamo has sung her way to fame, both as Éponine in the London cast of Les Mis, and on her wildly popular YouTube channel, It’s Way Past My Bedtime. But here’s her not-so-secret: This rising star was once a high school misfit.
Carrie’s youthful fans come to YouTube to hear her talk music, books, and whatever comes to mind! But when they write to her, they want advice most of all. In All I Know Now, Carrie tackles every tough topic, from how to apologize (“Don’t make excuses but do explain.”) to how to handle bullies (“Punch them in the face. Kidding! Kidding!”).
Carrie grew up just one step ahead of her teen and tween fans. She can remember her own awkward phase (all too well!), so she never lectures her readers; she confides in them. Thanks to Carrie’s personal touch—plus 21 of her own illustrations—this generous guide to growing up is as one-of-a-kind as its author!
The only thing bigger than Carrie Hope Fletcher’s hair is her heart. Eternally upbeat, this 22-year-old dynamo has sung her way to fame, both as Éponine in the London cast of Les Mis, and on her wildly popular YouTube channel, It’s Way Past My Bedtime. But here’s her not-so-secret: This rising star was once a high school misfit.
Carrie’s youthful fans come to YouTube to hear her talk music, books, and whatever comes to mind! But when they write to her, they want advice most of all. In All I Know Now, Carrie tackles every tough topic, from how to apologize (“Don’t make excuses but do explain.”) to how to handle bullies (“Punch them in the face. Kidding! Kidding!”).
Carrie grew up just one step ahead of her teen and tween fans. She can remember her own awkward phase (all too well!), so she never lectures her readers; she confides in them. Thanks to Carrie’s personal touch—plus 21 of her own illustrations—this generous guide to growing up is as one-of-a-kind as its author!
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2015
460 people are currently reading
9942 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Hope Fletcher
20 books5,714 followersCarrie Hope Fletcher is an English actress, author and singer-songwriter.
She played Eponine in the West End production of Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre until February 13th 2016. She is the first actress to have played both young Eponine and older Eponine. In 2019, she returned to Les Miserables as Fantine.
Fletcher played Truly Scrumptious in the UK touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Wednesday Addams in the UK touring production of The Addams Family. She then starred as Veronica Sawyer in the UK production of Heathers: The Musical.
Her debut book, All I Know Now: Wonderings and Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully was published in May 2015. Her first fiction novel, On the Other Side was published in July 2016.
Fletcher is well known for her YouTube channel where she shares videos about her life and her work as an actress and author.
She played Eponine in the West End production of Les Miserables at the Queen's Theatre until February 13th 2016. She is the first actress to have played both young Eponine and older Eponine. In 2019, she returned to Les Miserables as Fantine.
Fletcher played Truly Scrumptious in the UK touring production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Wednesday Addams in the UK touring production of The Addams Family. She then starred as Veronica Sawyer in the UK production of Heathers: The Musical.
Her debut book, All I Know Now: Wonderings and Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully was published in May 2015. Her first fiction novel, On the Other Side was published in July 2016.
Fletcher is well known for her YouTube channel where she shares videos about her life and her work as an actress and author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 879 reviews
June 10, 2015
Carrie is one of my favorite YouTubers ever.. I truly believe we would be really good friends IRL. So naturally, since this book is all about her and all of her stories, I completely adored this book. Carrie and I are the same age, so (like her) I wish I'd had some of this advice when I was a bit younger. Don't think I didn't learn anything though! I think there were still a lot of stories and lessons that you can still enjoy at any age! It's nice to be reminded that you're NOT alone, and that others have gone/are going through the same things. Highly recommend!
April 25, 2015
This is my first non-fiction book, so I'm a little unsure of how to review it! It's Carrie's life after all! But, I did have a few thoughts while reading the book, so while this might not be the most conventional review, I thought, seeing as a lot of people will probably get this book, that it might be nice to hear some opinions from a slightly critical fan.
1. Carrie's book is divided into sections, called 'Acts', part of the extended theatre metaphor. If you're looking for advice on friendships, she's got it. If you're looking for advice on anything from romance to online safety, it's pretty much covered in 'All I Know Now'. I loved the range of topics and the different layouts within the book of numbered lists of tips, mixed with anecdote story-telling.
2. Carrie makes multiple references to how she isn't in any professional position to be giving advice. I think this was a very important point for her to make, and the 'Props' section at the back of the book, with a bunch of helpline numbers is bound to help someone! However, this non-professional stand point meant that a lot of the advice given about friendships and bullies and such was quite generic. She was trying to cater for a large audience, so couldn't get too specific, but a lot of what she was saying (take the chapter titled 'Onions') was all the type of stuff I'd heard before. It's great that people are probably more likely to listen to general life advice if it comes from Carrie, the 'honorary big sister', but I've heard a lot of it from my real life sister too, before I read Carrie's book.
3. I definitely think 'All I Know Now' is targeted to a younger audience, just because Carrie spends a lot of the book, giving advice about her teenage years. As a girl who's nearly 18, I was still able to get something out of it, especially in the body image/self-esteem part, but nearly, I'd say the advice was for fourteen year olds, on the majority. This is facilitated by the fact Carrie's anecdotes usually take place when she was eleven to fourteen.
4. Being that this book is marketed to Carrie's 'Hopefuls', I was surprised at how repetitive the content was with her videos! All the same stories were written about, like the inflatable penis prank, and the running from a bear. Surely, the 'Hopefuls' would be acquainted with these stories already? In that case, I'd recommend this book more to those who aren't familiar with Carrie's videos, as they're likely to get more out of the experience. Although, on the jacket sleeve, it does say that 'All I Know Now' is a culmination of videos and blog posts that already existed, I was expecting the repetition to that extent.
Overall, 'All I Know Now' was an interesting read. Carrie was very successful in creating a relationship with the reader and her colloquial style of writing was enjoyable. I think the recipe for Carrie's advice was to give a piece, then qualify it with the two different sides of the argument, so not to cause controversy. Sometimes this neutral way of giving advice would detract from its value. My favourite part was probably Act Three and Act Seven! I give 'All I Know Now' three stars, because I think it would have been better if I wasn't already familiar with the content: the advice and the anecdotes!
1. Carrie's book is divided into sections, called 'Acts', part of the extended theatre metaphor. If you're looking for advice on friendships, she's got it. If you're looking for advice on anything from romance to online safety, it's pretty much covered in 'All I Know Now'. I loved the range of topics and the different layouts within the book of numbered lists of tips, mixed with anecdote story-telling.
2. Carrie makes multiple references to how she isn't in any professional position to be giving advice. I think this was a very important point for her to make, and the 'Props' section at the back of the book, with a bunch of helpline numbers is bound to help someone! However, this non-professional stand point meant that a lot of the advice given about friendships and bullies and such was quite generic. She was trying to cater for a large audience, so couldn't get too specific, but a lot of what she was saying (take the chapter titled 'Onions') was all the type of stuff I'd heard before. It's great that people are probably more likely to listen to general life advice if it comes from Carrie, the 'honorary big sister', but I've heard a lot of it from my real life sister too, before I read Carrie's book.
3. I definitely think 'All I Know Now' is targeted to a younger audience, just because Carrie spends a lot of the book, giving advice about her teenage years. As a girl who's nearly 18, I was still able to get something out of it, especially in the body image/self-esteem part, but nearly, I'd say the advice was for fourteen year olds, on the majority. This is facilitated by the fact Carrie's anecdotes usually take place when she was eleven to fourteen.
4. Being that this book is marketed to Carrie's 'Hopefuls', I was surprised at how repetitive the content was with her videos! All the same stories were written about, like the inflatable penis prank, and the running from a bear. Surely, the 'Hopefuls' would be acquainted with these stories already? In that case, I'd recommend this book more to those who aren't familiar with Carrie's videos, as they're likely to get more out of the experience. Although, on the jacket sleeve, it does say that 'All I Know Now' is a culmination of videos and blog posts that already existed, I was expecting the repetition to that extent.
Overall, 'All I Know Now' was an interesting read. Carrie was very successful in creating a relationship with the reader and her colloquial style of writing was enjoyable. I think the recipe for Carrie's advice was to give a piece, then qualify it with the two different sides of the argument, so not to cause controversy. Sometimes this neutral way of giving advice would detract from its value. My favourite part was probably Act Three and Act Seven! I give 'All I Know Now' three stars, because I think it would have been better if I wasn't already familiar with the content: the advice and the anecdotes!
September 1, 2017
Before I review All I Know Now, I'm really close to reaching 700 followers on my bookish Twitter so please follow me: www.Twitter.com/MarriedToBooks3 and now onto my review!
All I Know Now is written by Carrie Fletcher, the sister of Tom Fletcher from the band McFly which I grew up on and trying not to make a fool of myself singing Five Colours In Her Hair oh dear XD anyway, I am an active follower of Carrie on her YouTube ItsWayPastMyBedtime and I love watching her videos and seeing her perform in the West End. This non-fiction book is honestly full to the brim of advice from all hurdles in life and also shares experiences that Carrie herself has faced. I think the layout was clear and detailed and in particular, my favourite sections were on Love and Relationships as well as holding onto your dreams. There were some font changes throughout which were a little distracting at times. Although All I Know Now is a YA book, I'm 19 and I can truthfully say that adults will also relate to the advice that Carrie gives. The Harry Potter references were a lovely added touch.
I'm so excited to read Carrie's other books and review them at some point!
I own a physical copy of the book!
My social medias!:
Instagram- www.Instagram.com/alicetiedthebookish...
Book Blog 1- www.marriedtobooksreviewsandblog.word...
Book Blog 2- www.alicereadsclassics.wordpress.com
Wattpad- www.Wattpad.com/AliceTheWriter7
Twitter- www.Twitter.com/MarriedToBooks3
All I Know Now is written by Carrie Fletcher, the sister of Tom Fletcher from the band McFly which I grew up on and trying not to make a fool of myself singing Five Colours In Her Hair oh dear XD anyway, I am an active follower of Carrie on her YouTube ItsWayPastMyBedtime and I love watching her videos and seeing her perform in the West End. This non-fiction book is honestly full to the brim of advice from all hurdles in life and also shares experiences that Carrie herself has faced. I think the layout was clear and detailed and in particular, my favourite sections were on Love and Relationships as well as holding onto your dreams. There were some font changes throughout which were a little distracting at times. Although All I Know Now is a YA book, I'm 19 and I can truthfully say that adults will also relate to the advice that Carrie gives. The Harry Potter references were a lovely added touch.
I'm so excited to read Carrie's other books and review them at some point!
I own a physical copy of the book!
My social medias!:
Instagram- www.Instagram.com/alicetiedthebookish...
Book Blog 1- www.marriedtobooksreviewsandblog.word...
Book Blog 2- www.alicereadsclassics.wordpress.com
Wattpad- www.Wattpad.com/AliceTheWriter7
Twitter- www.Twitter.com/MarriedToBooks3
August 23, 2015
Carrie Hope Fletcher. The big sister you never had. The sunshine on a rainy day. The master. The 'Hope' to guide the Hopefuls. (that pun is always intended). If you dont love her you're doing something wrong.
This book is a gem. I'm not going to pretend that i didnt already know many of the advices she gave in this book,but come on (!) i'm 22 myself (and i have the most amazing mom to tell me these tricks). But i'm not a 'know it all' by a long shot, so i have to say that i didnt know them ALL! and that reading her way of dealing with life has really taught me a thing or two.
This book could be considered as a guideline. There are some really important advice for teens and even newly adults like me.
I've been watching Carrie's videos since the beginning of it all, and i also loved that little blond girl who was Tom's sister, since McFly were a thing, and me..well a stalker. So reading this book and knowing her achievements both in writing and in acting, just made me (though i have no reason to be) really proud of her!! She is rightly so- a great role model to lots of teens and this book shows exactly why.
Brilliant,funny,brave and heart-warming book... to help you see that you're not alone out there! :) ♥
This book is a gem. I'm not going to pretend that i didnt already know many of the advices she gave in this book,but come on (!) i'm 22 myself (and i have the most amazing mom to tell me these tricks). But i'm not a 'know it all' by a long shot, so i have to say that i didnt know them ALL! and that reading her way of dealing with life has really taught me a thing or two.
This book could be considered as a guideline. There are some really important advice for teens and even newly adults like me.
I've been watching Carrie's videos since the beginning of it all, and i also loved that little blond girl who was Tom's sister, since McFly were a thing, and me..well a stalker. So reading this book and knowing her achievements both in writing and in acting, just made me (though i have no reason to be) really proud of her!! She is rightly so- a great role model to lots of teens and this book shows exactly why.
Brilliant,funny,brave and heart-warming book... to help you see that you're not alone out there! :) ♥
February 18, 2015
Being a lucky lucky bookseller, the publisher kindly sent me a copy. It includes a stern warning not to publish any of the text or to put up any pictures of the contents, so no quotes here!
Being an oldish person (36) and very distracted by a toddler and World of Warcraft, I'd not really heard about Carrie before a lovely friend of mine happened to have her book reviewed by her. Then I watched some of her videos AND started selling books based on her recommendations (a vlog would go up, and the next day we'd get three people asking about the featured book).
So now I am a fan. Even more so after reading this very witty book. The perfect mix of humour and advice. And cake. And tea. And books.
Basically it's her vlog in book form and utterly delightful too.
Roll on April and selling copies of it to people!
Being an oldish person (36) and very distracted by a toddler and World of Warcraft, I'd not really heard about Carrie before a lovely friend of mine happened to have her book reviewed by her. Then I watched some of her videos AND started selling books based on her recommendations (a vlog would go up, and the next day we'd get three people asking about the featured book).
So now I am a fan. Even more so after reading this very witty book. The perfect mix of humour and advice. And cake. And tea. And books.
Basically it's her vlog in book form and utterly delightful too.
Roll on April and selling copies of it to people!
January 5, 2019
Full disclosure: I had no idea who Carrie Hope Fletcher was prior to reading this book. In truth, I can't recall ever hearing her name, even. I picked All I Know Now up from the library on a whim after seeing it, and thinking the cover was cute, and not much more. Here's what I thought this book would be: A woman (based on the cover), a celebrity of - to me unknown - some level of fame. She would most likely reflect on her youth and teens, offering up advice from it. Most importantly, I think, she would be grown up. Beginning the book, I found it filled with random questions she let her friends and family answer in the hopes of the reader getting to know her.
Uhm... okay?
That's when I searched her name, only to realize she's not exactly "grown up". When you can be considered grown up is subjective, but considering my expectation of a woman somewhere in her thirties, then early twenties isn't "grown up". (And I say this being in my early twenties myself. I'm ready to say I'm not "grown up", in the sense of not being done learning about myself and the world.) Still, I reevaluated my (unjustified) expectations and continued.
Carrie Hope Fletcher's thoughts on growing up gracefully are generic to the extreme. There's almost no original idea here; be yourself, talk to people, don't be rude, violence is never the answer, etc. All sound advice, for sure, but they are not new.
She offers stories from her youth and explains how she felt, and how she reacted. Some stories were enjoyable, funny, and cute. They are definitely stories her fans will love to hear. Hope Fletcher is quirky, but it's the kind of quirky that is fun if you know/feel connected to the person, and if you aren't, it's plain annoying. It's worth mentioning the quirkiness probably comes off as more genuine in the audiobook version. In pure written form it's just stressful.
This book will be loved by her fans; the stories will be better received from people already familiar with her, and the advice on growing up is not the selling point for this book, it's her personality. For me, a twenty-something year old woman, the advice is a little too late. For me, a person unaware of the author prior picking up the book, the personal stories could be fun and cute, but not much more. All in all, I am definitely not in the group this book is directed toward, but I could appreciate parts, and understand why other people will love this book.
Uhm... okay?
That's when I searched her name, only to realize she's not exactly "grown up". When you can be considered grown up is subjective, but considering my expectation of a woman somewhere in her thirties, then early twenties isn't "grown up". (And I say this being in my early twenties myself. I'm ready to say I'm not "grown up", in the sense of not being done learning about myself and the world.) Still, I reevaluated my (unjustified) expectations and continued.
Carrie Hope Fletcher's thoughts on growing up gracefully are generic to the extreme. There's almost no original idea here; be yourself, talk to people, don't be rude, violence is never the answer, etc. All sound advice, for sure, but they are not new.
She offers stories from her youth and explains how she felt, and how she reacted. Some stories were enjoyable, funny, and cute. They are definitely stories her fans will love to hear. Hope Fletcher is quirky, but it's the kind of quirky that is fun if you know/feel connected to the person, and if you aren't, it's plain annoying. It's worth mentioning the quirkiness probably comes off as more genuine in the audiobook version. In pure written form it's just stressful.
This book will be loved by her fans; the stories will be better received from people already familiar with her, and the advice on growing up is not the selling point for this book, it's her personality. For me, a twenty-something year old woman, the advice is a little too late. For me, a person unaware of the author prior picking up the book, the personal stories could be fun and cute, but not much more. All in all, I am definitely not in the group this book is directed toward, but I could appreciate parts, and understand why other people will love this book.
June 22, 2015
Carrie has done it: she has successfully written the unofficial guide on how to be a teenager. And not just a teenager: how to deal with people, dreams, aspirations and more, all in adorable Carrie fashion.
I would like to say that I am a decent teenager. Not trying to be a moralistic knight in disguise, but I tend to believe I am. I enjoy school (most of the time), being around my friends (which I am grateful to have) and usually get on quite well with my parents, whom I love.
I wasn't always that way, and I am happy that I feel so much better about myself than I used to in primary school. I am content.
And still, while i am trying my best: I worry. About what I should study at university, about what is the responsible thing to study at university, what I want to do with my life and what recently has been popping up: what makes me happy?
And for all worrying young people like myself, there's this amazing book called: All I Know Now. It made me giggle, chuckle, nod in agreement, and has inspired me and will for a while, I am certain.
It's about handling the people around you, about dreams and aspirations and making them come true. It's about boys, school, yourself and everything in between.
Carrie Hope Fletcher is an inspirational person, who gives this advice not sounding like a know-it-all, or with a distinctive look-how-amazing-I-am-and-you-aren't like tone between the lines. It's a book about all she knows now and how it can help others. Because if her dreams (playing Eponine in Les Mis, writing a book) came true, why shouldn't ours?
I recommend this book to every person I know, who worries, dreams, loves and hates for life can get confusing and the future can get quite intimidating.
But we just got to remind ourselves of our mistakes, our dreams and our friends because that can all help you get through it. And just to be sure: add faith, trust and a little pixie dust.
All the stars.
I would like to say that I am a decent teenager. Not trying to be a moralistic knight in disguise, but I tend to believe I am. I enjoy school (most of the time), being around my friends (which I am grateful to have) and usually get on quite well with my parents, whom I love.
I wasn't always that way, and I am happy that I feel so much better about myself than I used to in primary school. I am content.
And still, while i am trying my best: I worry. About what I should study at university, about what is the responsible thing to study at university, what I want to do with my life and what recently has been popping up: what makes me happy?
And for all worrying young people like myself, there's this amazing book called: All I Know Now. It made me giggle, chuckle, nod in agreement, and has inspired me and will for a while, I am certain.
It's about handling the people around you, about dreams and aspirations and making them come true. It's about boys, school, yourself and everything in between.
Carrie Hope Fletcher is an inspirational person, who gives this advice not sounding like a know-it-all, or with a distinctive look-how-amazing-I-am-and-you-aren't like tone between the lines. It's a book about all she knows now and how it can help others. Because if her dreams (playing Eponine in Les Mis, writing a book) came true, why shouldn't ours?
I recommend this book to every person I know, who worries, dreams, loves and hates for life can get confusing and the future can get quite intimidating.
But we just got to remind ourselves of our mistakes, our dreams and our friends because that can all help you get through it. And just to be sure: add faith, trust and a little pixie dust.
All the stars.
September 25, 2015
I've been watching Carrie's YouTube videos for a couple of years now and she's pretty much the ideal big sister that her viewers as well as me see her as.
This book doesn't just give fun anecdotes about Carrie but its one of the biggest comfort reads I've ever had the blessing to read. After finishing this book this evening I felt all warm and fuzzy with the sense that the world is my oyster or lobster whatever you want!
She made me acknowledge my past mistakes that I perhaps could have dealt with better and how to appreciate life to the full. I guess it was a kind of self help guide with relevant references to films and musicals like Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, The Sound of Music and of course Harry Potter! If you're not somehow familiar with these then perhaps you may not quite get Carrie's wonderful charm in this book. Not only quotes, but the way Carrie laid out the book with each section nicknamed an "Act" just like a theatre show was unique and brilliant- including the "Interval" page in the middle to let me know I was half way through- simply genius!
I would say due to Carrie's viewers being younger than me, the sort of fifteen year old age mark is perhaps the average and more suitable age to read this book. She discusses her luck and loss with love as well as her struggles in school with bullying and being accepted as someone who is different. If anything Carrie made me feel that I wasn't so different as I may have thought I was when I was in school, I felt with this book that I was the "normal" one. Despite me being twenty years old I found all of Carrie's advice and thoughts to be very useful to myself and later on in my life. It was bold of Carrie to take on sensitive topics such as body image and depression, it was tactfully done and with the "Props" section at the end giving helplines was a very thoughtful and clever idea!
Overall I don't have any hate towards this book at all, I'm not sure you could hate it at all. It holds so much hope and positive attitude towards life, she conveys that life isn't as bad as it can be made out to be. You just need to be brave and take life as it comes, treat others how you want to be treated and make every moment count- the good and the bad! A truly blissful read, I recommend this to anyone who needs an internet big sister to guide you through life's most challenging times. :-)
This book doesn't just give fun anecdotes about Carrie but its one of the biggest comfort reads I've ever had the blessing to read. After finishing this book this evening I felt all warm and fuzzy with the sense that the world is my oyster or lobster whatever you want!
She made me acknowledge my past mistakes that I perhaps could have dealt with better and how to appreciate life to the full. I guess it was a kind of self help guide with relevant references to films and musicals like Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, The Sound of Music and of course Harry Potter! If you're not somehow familiar with these then perhaps you may not quite get Carrie's wonderful charm in this book. Not only quotes, but the way Carrie laid out the book with each section nicknamed an "Act" just like a theatre show was unique and brilliant- including the "Interval" page in the middle to let me know I was half way through- simply genius!
I would say due to Carrie's viewers being younger than me, the sort of fifteen year old age mark is perhaps the average and more suitable age to read this book. She discusses her luck and loss with love as well as her struggles in school with bullying and being accepted as someone who is different. If anything Carrie made me feel that I wasn't so different as I may have thought I was when I was in school, I felt with this book that I was the "normal" one. Despite me being twenty years old I found all of Carrie's advice and thoughts to be very useful to myself and later on in my life. It was bold of Carrie to take on sensitive topics such as body image and depression, it was tactfully done and with the "Props" section at the end giving helplines was a very thoughtful and clever idea!
Overall I don't have any hate towards this book at all, I'm not sure you could hate it at all. It holds so much hope and positive attitude towards life, she conveys that life isn't as bad as it can be made out to be. You just need to be brave and take life as it comes, treat others how you want to be treated and make every moment count- the good and the bad! A truly blissful read, I recommend this to anyone who needs an internet big sister to guide you through life's most challenging times. :-)
January 18, 2018
It's not that this was a bad book. It was just okay and it mainly has to do with the fact that this doesn't necessarily apply to me any longer, but it is definitely something I would've appreciated in my younger years, going through college and university.
I can see myself giving this to my younger sisters and for those that are in their teenage years, they could possibly relate to this quite well.
I can see myself giving this to my younger sisters and for those that are in their teenage years, they could possibly relate to this quite well.
September 23, 2015
Being a long time follower of Carrie, when I found out she was writing a book I instantly wanted to read it. (I’m just sad it took me so long to finally get my grubby little hands on it!) Like many people around the world, I have turned to Carrie for entertainment as well as advice and wisdom. And boy let me tell you, this book is full of it! If I was to write a book about life (which I actually attempted last NaNoWriMo) this would be the exact kind of book I would (started to) write. It is very much a book about the ins and outs of life and telling you that you aren’t alone and that it’s okay not to always be okay.
While reading this book, I couldn’t help but think how helpful this book would have been to me while I was in high school. A lot of the topics and lessons would have meshed perfectly with my life. Now that I’m older and have figured all of these lessons out on my own, I just want to place my copy of All I Know Now in the hands of some random sixteen year old girl and tell her just to read. Being a youtuber, Carrie seems like a friend (or big sister) to thousands of people all across the world. Hearing these things from a person who seems so real despite being on a screen, I think, could really help people.
In this book, Carrie isn’t afraid to be honest and share her experiences and what she learned from them. I can see this book being a wonderful tool for any teenager who feels like they are just winging life and trying to go about doing their best. As for someone who has moved past being a teenager, I look at this book and feel happy that it is out in the world for people to read. She doesn’t sugar coat anything. She tells it how it is and always advises people not only to think about themselves, but to think about others and the impact we have on the people around us. Overall, All I Know Now is a wonderful book that I fully believe should be handed to everyone when they reach the age of fourteen. Even if you have never heard of Carrie before, that shouldn’t stop you from picking up this book and listening to what she has to say. And no, I’m not just saying that because I see her as somewhat of an inspiration. I’m saying that because I really do believe this is a wonderful book that deserves to be read.
While reading this book, I couldn’t help but think how helpful this book would have been to me while I was in high school. A lot of the topics and lessons would have meshed perfectly with my life. Now that I’m older and have figured all of these lessons out on my own, I just want to place my copy of All I Know Now in the hands of some random sixteen year old girl and tell her just to read. Being a youtuber, Carrie seems like a friend (or big sister) to thousands of people all across the world. Hearing these things from a person who seems so real despite being on a screen, I think, could really help people.
In this book, Carrie isn’t afraid to be honest and share her experiences and what she learned from them. I can see this book being a wonderful tool for any teenager who feels like they are just winging life and trying to go about doing their best. As for someone who has moved past being a teenager, I look at this book and feel happy that it is out in the world for people to read. She doesn’t sugar coat anything. She tells it how it is and always advises people not only to think about themselves, but to think about others and the impact we have on the people around us. Overall, All I Know Now is a wonderful book that I fully believe should be handed to everyone when they reach the age of fourteen. Even if you have never heard of Carrie before, that shouldn’t stop you from picking up this book and listening to what she has to say. And no, I’m not just saying that because I see her as somewhat of an inspiration. I’m saying that because I really do believe this is a wonderful book that deserves to be read.
May 27, 2017
You know when you've read something so terrible you wish you could gouge your eyes out??? Yeah that's how I feel.
Literally this whole book was just Carrie talking about how perfect she is, even when she's making mistakes, and "omG people bullied me in school because i read books and i had blonde hair and BROWN EYES I'M SO QU1RKY!!!!" like I cannot describe to you how irritating this book was. The more of it I read, the more pedantic I got. There was one chapter called "The Birds and the Bees" where she talks about how sex i between a man and a woman like sweetie pls I know this is a book for 12 year olds but you're having some laugh now saying stupid stuff like that. There's another point where somebody has asked her her opinion on girls asking guys out and her response was essentially "omg i forgot guys asking girls out was the tradition because i ask out sooooo many boys" :) My favourite thing she would do would be her constant reminder that just because she puts 3 kisses at the end of her tweets doesn't mean she is being passive aggressive when literally everyone knows she is ahahahahaha
I'm full of rage right now omfg. I know I'm not in the age bracket this book was intended for, but I can guarantee you that even as a 12 year old I would have hated this book. The advice is either generic or common sense and I refuse to believe that people don't have the cop on to realise half the things she's talking about in the book.
I really like Carrie, and I think she's an incredible performer, but this book made me so angry and I can't even begin to explain why. I just don't understand why this was published it's so stupid omfg
Here's hoping her debut fiction is better than this :)
Literally this whole book was just Carrie talking about how perfect she is, even when she's making mistakes, and "omG people bullied me in school because i read books and i had blonde hair and BROWN EYES I'M SO QU1RKY!!!!" like I cannot describe to you how irritating this book was. The more of it I read, the more pedantic I got. There was one chapter called "The Birds and the Bees" where she talks about how sex i between a man and a woman like sweetie pls I know this is a book for 12 year olds but you're having some laugh now saying stupid stuff like that. There's another point where somebody has asked her her opinion on girls asking guys out and her response was essentially "omg i forgot guys asking girls out was the tradition because i ask out sooooo many boys" :) My favourite thing she would do would be her constant reminder that just because she puts 3 kisses at the end of her tweets doesn't mean she is being passive aggressive when literally everyone knows she is ahahahahaha
I'm full of rage right now omfg. I know I'm not in the age bracket this book was intended for, but I can guarantee you that even as a 12 year old I would have hated this book. The advice is either generic or common sense and I refuse to believe that people don't have the cop on to realise half the things she's talking about in the book.
I really like Carrie, and I think she's an incredible performer, but this book made me so angry and I can't even begin to explain why. I just don't understand why this was published it's so stupid omfg
Here's hoping her debut fiction is better than this :)
January 4, 2016
This book could have changed my life I wonder what would have happened to me if I have read this book during my teenage years... Carrie made a great job on this one and I'm so excited to read her next book!
July 14, 2015
As a viewer of Carrie's videos for very many years, her voice seeped out on to these pages and gave me support in a really hard time.
With that said I did feel like some of the advice given was slightly too generic and I'd heard it before, however I do understand that Carrie is not a professional (as she mentions various times) and that she isn't experienced in all areas.
Even though this book is targeted at my age group (14), it was slightly patronising (especially when dealing with sex) and would recommend it to someone younger who can get more out of it then I did.
With that said I did feel like some of the advice given was slightly too generic and I'd heard it before, however I do understand that Carrie is not a professional (as she mentions various times) and that she isn't experienced in all areas.
Even though this book is targeted at my age group (14), it was slightly patronising (especially when dealing with sex) and would recommend it to someone younger who can get more out of it then I did.
January 10, 2016
I'd had this book on pre-order and was so, so excited for it to arrive to my house. When it finally arrived I wouldn't put it down and just had to be physically pulled away like
The cover is gorgeous, as well as the book itself when the dust jacket is taken off. I did find the little yellow dot slightly annoying, but I can see why she chose to keep it on there. The illustrations are also really sweet,some better than others but they help make it more personal and a little less daunting, considering some of the chapters.
When I saw the format of the book on the contents page I was so impressed, it's a really clever idea and ties in so well with her occupation in theatre. It made the reading experience that little bit different and theatrical :)
Some chapters were really beneficial to me, primarily the relationship chapters from Act 3, but some I do feel I am too old for and so weren't that applicable or relevant to my current life. This book is written for a female audience of all different ages, so the chapters that are a bit outdated for me personally, but will still be well received by a younger reader.
I think that this book equips young people with the knowledge and tact to behave responsibly and nicely, but then as you get older you form your own opinions and personality and you may look back on this book and think
That is what growing up is all about, so I think older readers are to take this book with a pinch of salt.
I don't know if it's Carrie's personality and genuinely things she says in real life, or things she has just added in for effect, but I really didn't like the little words or phrases included like "beef". I found them quite cringey in all honesty and although they're sometimes there to inject a bit of comic relief in such serious subject matter, they distracted me from the point she was making - instead of focusing on that, I was focusing on
I liked that Carrie did acknowledge that she is not an expert, and included the details of professionals should people need them, but that said I did get the impression that if you act differently/disagree with the points she is making then it's the wrong thing to do.
For instance, I don't agree with the chapter "The Art of Biting Your Tongue"; I don't think that you should act courteous to someone regardless of "who they are or what has happened in the past" because if someone has hurt me that badly they do not deserve recognition from me or pleasantries. From experience I've learnt that this seems to be a green card for people to treat you badly with no consequences. If someone isn't my friend, I want them to be aware that they are not my friend. Admittedly, this doesn't have to be achieved by being mean, but I definitely don't have to be nice to them. Ignoring someone does not mean that I am not "the bigger person".
I guess that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, which is basically what this book is - a big compilation of Carrie's opinions.
One thing that I didn't really like was that several of the chapters were simply recaps/slightly developed points that Carrie has made in previous vlogs. I understand why she has done this and admittedly they do tie in well with the overall theme of the book, but I do wish that she had either not made the vlogs and kept these points exclusively just for her book, or had not put quite so many of these chapters in the book and made different points in their place. Although, that said, I have watched all of her vlogs to this date and I suppose she did not expect her book to be read by that many people who have literally watched all of her videos.
I felt that this book was a chance for Carrie to branch out and almost prove that her success in down to her own hard work rather than luck and I am so pleased for her. It's a combination of new ideas and common sense, and articulates a lot of points that I have felt and thought of in the past but not quite been able to put across eloquently. There were some real pearls of wisdom in places, though the majority of it I felt didn't impact me too greatly. It deserves the praise it's received, I just feel that it would have been of more benefit to me if I'd read it earlier on in my life, but I am glad that I have this book to turn to whenever I need it.
The cover is gorgeous, as well as the book itself when the dust jacket is taken off. I did find the little yellow dot slightly annoying, but I can see why she chose to keep it on there. The illustrations are also really sweet,some better than others but they help make it more personal and a little less daunting, considering some of the chapters.
When I saw the format of the book on the contents page I was so impressed, it's a really clever idea and ties in so well with her occupation in theatre. It made the reading experience that little bit different and theatrical :)
Some chapters were really beneficial to me, primarily the relationship chapters from Act 3, but some I do feel I am too old for and so weren't that applicable or relevant to my current life. This book is written for a female audience of all different ages, so the chapters that are a bit outdated for me personally, but will still be well received by a younger reader.
I think that this book equips young people with the knowledge and tact to behave responsibly and nicely, but then as you get older you form your own opinions and personality and you may look back on this book and think
"Actually, I disagree with that point and I think it would be more beneficial to me to act differently than Carrie is telling me because of the difference in my life and me as a person"
That is what growing up is all about, so I think older readers are to take this book with a pinch of salt.
I don't know if it's Carrie's personality and genuinely things she says in real life, or things she has just added in for effect, but I really didn't like the little words or phrases included like "beef". I found them quite cringey in all honesty and although they're sometimes there to inject a bit of comic relief in such serious subject matter, they distracted me from the point she was making - instead of focusing on that, I was focusing on
"Oh my God, I can't believe she just said(wrote)that!Ewwww".
I liked that Carrie did acknowledge that she is not an expert, and included the details of professionals should people need them, but that said I did get the impression that if you act differently/disagree with the points she is making then it's the wrong thing to do.
For instance, I don't agree with the chapter "The Art of Biting Your Tongue"; I don't think that you should act courteous to someone regardless of "who they are or what has happened in the past" because if someone has hurt me that badly they do not deserve recognition from me or pleasantries. From experience I've learnt that this seems to be a green card for people to treat you badly with no consequences. If someone isn't my friend, I want them to be aware that they are not my friend. Admittedly, this doesn't have to be achieved by being mean, but I definitely don't have to be nice to them. Ignoring someone does not mean that I am not "the bigger person".
I guess that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, which is basically what this book is - a big compilation of Carrie's opinions.
One thing that I didn't really like was that several of the chapters were simply recaps/slightly developed points that Carrie has made in previous vlogs. I understand why she has done this and admittedly they do tie in well with the overall theme of the book, but I do wish that she had either not made the vlogs and kept these points exclusively just for her book, or had not put quite so many of these chapters in the book and made different points in their place. Although, that said, I have watched all of her vlogs to this date and I suppose she did not expect her book to be read by that many people who have literally watched all of her videos.
I felt that this book was a chance for Carrie to branch out and almost prove that her success in down to her own hard work rather than luck and I am so pleased for her. It's a combination of new ideas and common sense, and articulates a lot of points that I have felt and thought of in the past but not quite been able to put across eloquently. There were some real pearls of wisdom in places, though the majority of it I felt didn't impact me too greatly. It deserves the praise it's received, I just feel that it would have been of more benefit to me if I'd read it earlier on in my life, but I am glad that I have this book to turn to whenever I need it.
June 23, 2016
Ordinarily I don't read books like this, but I really love Carrie so I really wanted to support her.
Being 23 years of age, I'm definitely not the right age group for this book, but I think there are certain points in it that can help someone no matter what age. For example, dealing with social media and the kind of anonymous bullying that can happen - this is a problem that anyone of any age could have to deal with so any kind of advice on it is helpful.
The chapters about friends, school bullying and not being afraid of being your own individual person (and that means being on your own and 'dating' yourself) could all be very helpful to young girls growing up. The whole book is written in a way that makes you feel like you're having a conversation with a friend and sharing experiences which is great. If there was anyone feeling alone and reading this, I think that it could really help them. While there are some complaints about the standard of writing, I do feel that we have to remember that this book started as a blog by a twenty-something-year-old girl.
This is a must-read for anyone who is feeling a bit awkward in their teen years, or someone who feels like they need a friend. If anyone has little sisters (or indeed a little brother) this book should definitely be passed on.
Being 23 years of age, I'm definitely not the right age group for this book, but I think there are certain points in it that can help someone no matter what age. For example, dealing with social media and the kind of anonymous bullying that can happen - this is a problem that anyone of any age could have to deal with so any kind of advice on it is helpful.
The chapters about friends, school bullying and not being afraid of being your own individual person (and that means being on your own and 'dating' yourself) could all be very helpful to young girls growing up. The whole book is written in a way that makes you feel like you're having a conversation with a friend and sharing experiences which is great. If there was anyone feeling alone and reading this, I think that it could really help them. While there are some complaints about the standard of writing, I do feel that we have to remember that this book started as a blog by a twenty-something-year-old girl.
This is a must-read for anyone who is feeling a bit awkward in their teen years, or someone who feels like they need a friend. If anyone has little sisters (or indeed a little brother) this book should definitely be passed on.
May 7, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this, it was absolutely brilliant and filled with both humour and seriousness. The book is very well written and it's obvious that every detail is important and thought through. I really do wish I had this book when I were 13-14, maybe I would've felt better. It is pretty obvious that the book is mainly written for people around the age of 14, but even though I'm almost 20 I felt I could get a lot of advice from it. She writes about how to deal with "firsts", for example "first day in new school", and I feel like I can use and apply the advice on situations I will be dealing with in the future, like "first day on new job" or "first day at university". Just because it's mainly for younger people, the advice can also be used by older people because the things we deal with are pretty much the same.
The reason I don't give the book five stars is because I felt a few times that the same advice or the same situations were mentioned a little too much. For example breakups were being mentioned in almost every chapter. I get that it's a huge thing to deal with, but I still felt that it was mentioned maybe a bit too much. This is just a tiny tiny thing, but I still feel like it's a four star from me.
I enjoyed reading All I Know Now, I think it's brilliant and I want to encourage all of you to read it!! Good job Carrie! Xxx
The reason I don't give the book five stars is because I felt a few times that the same advice or the same situations were mentioned a little too much. For example breakups were being mentioned in almost every chapter. I get that it's a huge thing to deal with, but I still felt that it was mentioned maybe a bit too much. This is just a tiny tiny thing, but I still feel like it's a four star from me.
I enjoyed reading All I Know Now, I think it's brilliant and I want to encourage all of you to read it!! Good job Carrie! Xxx
May 10, 2015
I really liked this book, it was helpful to know that everyone else goes through the same things as you do, especially from Carrie's perspective.(because I really like her and her videos.)However I did find it a little repetitive and a lot of the things Carrie would talk about I already have been told before. Saying that I think people of a younger age ranging from 11-14 would really appreciate this book. I did still appreciate this book It's just If I was a little younger I think I would of enjoyed and learnt a lot more then I did.
August 4, 2016
My Blog
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
This was a great little advice book with many a word of wisdom in it. I always enjoy reading and listening to Carrie's advice because she's really got her head screwed on straight. The only downside was perhaps that I wasn't the right audience for this book, it's definitely aimed at girls in high school going through difficult times. Nonetheless it was still really enjoyable!
All I Know Now
This book is essentially the memoirs of Carrie Hope Fletcher intended as advice for younger people about to experience those same things. It’s almost like hindsight decided to be kind and write a book. I really enjoyed reading this because I absolutely love Carrie. I love the videos she makes and if I’m being honest quite a number of her videos have made me stop and think. Really stop and think. And even change some of my ways.
I’d been meaning to pick up this book for such a long time because regardless of what was actually in it I wanted to read what she had to say. This is by no means a cop-out YouTuber novel - Carrie really does have some good things to say . . . but perhaps not that much for me, personally (but more on that in a bit).
The book is divided up like a play (very apt) with a “Props” section at the back - which is essentially a list of places and people and whatnot that you can turn to for help for various issues. I think that this is an incredibly clever book for the message is gives and the help that it provides for those who need it. It’s definitely worth a read, especially if you are a Hopeful (someone who’s a “fan” of Carrie) and like to hear what Carrie has to say.
Target Audience?
The main downside to this book for me is that unlike her videos this reads as though she’s talking to a much younger audience. Which I found really interesting. I never feel like I’m being talked down to or that I’m too old for her videos, but there were many times throughout reading this that I thought, this just doesn’t apply to me at all.
This is probably because I’m 20 and therefore not at school anymore and therefore the advice she can offer through her hindsight is much more applicable to a younger, teenage audience. Which made me a little sad because I wanted to lap it up thinking that every line was gold dust, but I’d also like to like in a castle made of chocolate so you know.
I still think that everyone can read this because it’s nice to climb into someone else’s head and have a look around sometimes - and there’s definitely plenty of things that anyone can apply to their life in it.
Why Carrie Is Such a Beautiful Person
Carrie is practically my idol - everything she says and does is inspiring regardless of whether she thinks it or not. She makes life look like so much fun - as though it’s this irresistible thing that you can’t not get involved with. She’s been dubbed as the big sister of the internet and I really think she deserves that title. If you need encouraging words or something to smile at then she’s definitely your person.
All of that really shines through in this book and is what makes it enjoyable and useful to me as someone who isn’t quite the target audience.
Summary
This was a really good book and I can’t really fault it. It was a worthwhile read and definitely a fantastic read for someone who likes Carrie and even more so if they’re a bit younger than I am. It’s like binge watching a bunch of her videos all in one go, and things don’t get much better than that.
Happy reading!
Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing
This was a great little advice book with many a word of wisdom in it. I always enjoy reading and listening to Carrie's advice because she's really got her head screwed on straight. The only downside was perhaps that I wasn't the right audience for this book, it's definitely aimed at girls in high school going through difficult times. Nonetheless it was still really enjoyable!
All I Know Now
This book is essentially the memoirs of Carrie Hope Fletcher intended as advice for younger people about to experience those same things. It’s almost like hindsight decided to be kind and write a book. I really enjoyed reading this because I absolutely love Carrie. I love the videos she makes and if I’m being honest quite a number of her videos have made me stop and think. Really stop and think. And even change some of my ways.
I’d been meaning to pick up this book for such a long time because regardless of what was actually in it I wanted to read what she had to say. This is by no means a cop-out YouTuber novel - Carrie really does have some good things to say . . . but perhaps not that much for me, personally (but more on that in a bit).
The book is divided up like a play (very apt) with a “Props” section at the back - which is essentially a list of places and people and whatnot that you can turn to for help for various issues. I think that this is an incredibly clever book for the message is gives and the help that it provides for those who need it. It’s definitely worth a read, especially if you are a Hopeful (someone who’s a “fan” of Carrie) and like to hear what Carrie has to say.
Target Audience?
The main downside to this book for me is that unlike her videos this reads as though she’s talking to a much younger audience. Which I found really interesting. I never feel like I’m being talked down to or that I’m too old for her videos, but there were many times throughout reading this that I thought, this just doesn’t apply to me at all.
This is probably because I’m 20 and therefore not at school anymore and therefore the advice she can offer through her hindsight is much more applicable to a younger, teenage audience. Which made me a little sad because I wanted to lap it up thinking that every line was gold dust, but I’d also like to like in a castle made of chocolate so you know.
I still think that everyone can read this because it’s nice to climb into someone else’s head and have a look around sometimes - and there’s definitely plenty of things that anyone can apply to their life in it.
Why Carrie Is Such a Beautiful Person
Carrie is practically my idol - everything she says and does is inspiring regardless of whether she thinks it or not. She makes life look like so much fun - as though it’s this irresistible thing that you can’t not get involved with. She’s been dubbed as the big sister of the internet and I really think she deserves that title. If you need encouraging words or something to smile at then she’s definitely your person.
All of that really shines through in this book and is what makes it enjoyable and useful to me as someone who isn’t quite the target audience.
Summary
This was a really good book and I can’t really fault it. It was a worthwhile read and definitely a fantastic read for someone who likes Carrie and even more so if they’re a bit younger than I am. It’s like binge watching a bunch of her videos all in one go, and things don’t get much better than that.
Happy reading!
August 9, 2015
You may know Carrie Hope Fletcher from her YouTube channel, It’sWayPastMyBedTime. Or you might know her from her portrayal of Eponine in the West End’s production of Les Miserables. Or perhaps you know her brother, Tom Fletcher, from the bands McFly/McBusted. Or even her sister-in-law, Giovanna Fletcher, author of British chick lit such as Billy and Me. However you know her, if you do, you know Carrie is a phenomenal person with a good heart, values, and a “big sister” to many. If you don’t know her, you should.
All I Know Now started as Carrie’s blog, where she gave advice to teens about growing up, boys, bullies, friends, and following your dreams. Just out of the teenage years herself, at 22, Carrie still remembers her own teenage struggles with clarity, but has enough hindsight to have learned a thing or two. She’s not perfect, and she doesn’t claim to be, but she offers what teens need: a “handbook” of sorts about growing up gracefully written by someone who isn’t an “adult”.
There are sections dealing with a majority of the things you deal with when growing up, and answers all the questions you were too afraid to ask your parents: how to deal with bullies and recognize if you are one; what to do if your boyfriend wants to have sex and you’re not ready; how to make friends and realize it’s not all about you; how to “properly” use the Internet; and so on.
The writing style is easy and conversational; it reads with Carrie’s voice and is almost like an extended vlog from her channel. She uses easy examples and references Harry Potter and pop culture frequently, something I love.
As a 28-year-old female who has successfully navigated adolescence into adulthood (that’s a scary thought), I can agree with Carrie on many points. She and I have similar values, and I could directly relate with many of the experiences she recognized. The only difference is it took me a LOT longer to realize a lot of her points than she did.
That being said, the book doesn’t really help me anymore. Sure, it makes some good points that I still am too shy to deal with myself, but at least I’m aware of them. And while certain sections had me like “YES!”, a majority of the book, to me, wasn’t helpful anymore, simply because I’ve already navigated those waters and come out alright. I know how to deal with bullies (ignore/agree with/walk away/tell someone if it gets too bad), and seeing as how I’m engaged and not in an abusive relationship, I don’t need to be told what it’s like to kiss someone.
When I was a teenager, however, this book would have been incredibly helpful. It would’ve helped me feel less alone, and I think that’s the magic of this book. Carrie is truly a good role model for young girls to look up to, and her honorary title of “Big Sister” is well deserved and fitting. I plan to not only use the section on social media as additional content in my social media unit in school, but will keep a copy in my classroom library, on hand for any student who needs it.
Well done, Carrie.
All I Know Now started as Carrie’s blog, where she gave advice to teens about growing up, boys, bullies, friends, and following your dreams. Just out of the teenage years herself, at 22, Carrie still remembers her own teenage struggles with clarity, but has enough hindsight to have learned a thing or two. She’s not perfect, and she doesn’t claim to be, but she offers what teens need: a “handbook” of sorts about growing up gracefully written by someone who isn’t an “adult”.
There are sections dealing with a majority of the things you deal with when growing up, and answers all the questions you were too afraid to ask your parents: how to deal with bullies and recognize if you are one; what to do if your boyfriend wants to have sex and you’re not ready; how to make friends and realize it’s not all about you; how to “properly” use the Internet; and so on.
The writing style is easy and conversational; it reads with Carrie’s voice and is almost like an extended vlog from her channel. She uses easy examples and references Harry Potter and pop culture frequently, something I love.
As a 28-year-old female who has successfully navigated adolescence into adulthood (that’s a scary thought), I can agree with Carrie on many points. She and I have similar values, and I could directly relate with many of the experiences she recognized. The only difference is it took me a LOT longer to realize a lot of her points than she did.
That being said, the book doesn’t really help me anymore. Sure, it makes some good points that I still am too shy to deal with myself, but at least I’m aware of them. And while certain sections had me like “YES!”, a majority of the book, to me, wasn’t helpful anymore, simply because I’ve already navigated those waters and come out alright. I know how to deal with bullies (ignore/agree with/walk away/tell someone if it gets too bad), and seeing as how I’m engaged and not in an abusive relationship, I don’t need to be told what it’s like to kiss someone.
When I was a teenager, however, this book would have been incredibly helpful. It would’ve helped me feel less alone, and I think that’s the magic of this book. Carrie is truly a good role model for young girls to look up to, and her honorary title of “Big Sister” is well deserved and fitting. I plan to not only use the section on social media as additional content in my social media unit in school, but will keep a copy in my classroom library, on hand for any student who needs it.
Well done, Carrie.
May 22, 2015
Devo confessar que não sei bem quais eram as minhas expectativas para este livro, mas fiquei surpreendida.
Tenho vindo a ouvir falar sobre este livro e a ideia que criei dele foi a de um "manual de sobrevivência para a adolescência", mas, agora que o acabei de ler, parece-me mais um amigo do que propriamente um manual. O que está dentro deste livro é de facto a Carrie (aquela miúda gira, querida e super feliz que se vê no youtube) a falar com quem lê o livro sobre temas que afectam qualquer pessoa em diversas alturas da sua vida, e não só na adolescência, apesar de ela se focar nesta fase.
O que torna este livro tão bom de se ler é que quase pude vê-la sentada à minha frente a dizer-me aquilo que estava escrito no livro, e os exemplos que fornece em cada secção além de tornarem tudo muito mais verdadeiro e credível (porque dizer que vai correr tudo bem em situação x não é lá muito eficiente sem um exemplo que o comprove) tornam a mensagem muito mais eficiente. Para mim, pelo menos, que em muitas situações não sou uma pessoa de fé, um exemplo ou caso real que ajudem a fortalecer alguns argumentos são sempre bem-vindos e eficazes!
Tenho poucas coisas menos positivas a apontar acerca do livro. Ocasionalmente senti a falta de algum desenvolvimento em relação a alguns assuntos que considerei importantes, e em alguns casos sei que o meu "eu" de 13 anos (o público alvo, penso eu) não teria ficado satisfeito também. Além disto, alguns capítulos deram-me a sensação de dejá-vu, porque alguns aspectos estão expostos exactamente como em alguns vídeos que ela já pôs no youtube. Compreendo perfeitamente que o tenha feito, porque no lugar dela também usaria algo em que já me tinha esforçado anteriormente e completado com relativo sucesso! Por outras palavras, se já o tinha dito antes e o disse bem e eficazmente, para quê encontrar uma maneira diferente de o expôr?
Ao ler este livro não pude evitar surpreender-me com a pessoa enorme que é a Carrie. Várias vezes já a tinha ouvido dizer que tenta sempre ser a melhor versão dela própria e acho isso inspirador. Este livro mostra-nos como é possível sermos a melhor versão de nós próprios, deixando muito claro que não é algo fácil de fazer, mas que vale imenso a pena! Além disso, é de enorme ajuda para lidar com alguns problemas que possam surgir no nosso caminho.
Eu gostei muito. Ler este livro foi como sentir um abraço forte e caloroso.
Já deixei post-its nas secções a que sei que vou voltar, eventualmente.
Tenho vindo a ouvir falar sobre este livro e a ideia que criei dele foi a de um "manual de sobrevivência para a adolescência", mas, agora que o acabei de ler, parece-me mais um amigo do que propriamente um manual. O que está dentro deste livro é de facto a Carrie (aquela miúda gira, querida e super feliz que se vê no youtube) a falar com quem lê o livro sobre temas que afectam qualquer pessoa em diversas alturas da sua vida, e não só na adolescência, apesar de ela se focar nesta fase.
O que torna este livro tão bom de se ler é que quase pude vê-la sentada à minha frente a dizer-me aquilo que estava escrito no livro, e os exemplos que fornece em cada secção além de tornarem tudo muito mais verdadeiro e credível (porque dizer que vai correr tudo bem em situação x não é lá muito eficiente sem um exemplo que o comprove) tornam a mensagem muito mais eficiente. Para mim, pelo menos, que em muitas situações não sou uma pessoa de fé, um exemplo ou caso real que ajudem a fortalecer alguns argumentos são sempre bem-vindos e eficazes!
Tenho poucas coisas menos positivas a apontar acerca do livro. Ocasionalmente senti a falta de algum desenvolvimento em relação a alguns assuntos que considerei importantes, e em alguns casos sei que o meu "eu" de 13 anos (o público alvo, penso eu) não teria ficado satisfeito também. Além disto, alguns capítulos deram-me a sensação de dejá-vu, porque alguns aspectos estão expostos exactamente como em alguns vídeos que ela já pôs no youtube. Compreendo perfeitamente que o tenha feito, porque no lugar dela também usaria algo em que já me tinha esforçado anteriormente e completado com relativo sucesso! Por outras palavras, se já o tinha dito antes e o disse bem e eficazmente, para quê encontrar uma maneira diferente de o expôr?
Ao ler este livro não pude evitar surpreender-me com a pessoa enorme que é a Carrie. Várias vezes já a tinha ouvido dizer que tenta sempre ser a melhor versão dela própria e acho isso inspirador. Este livro mostra-nos como é possível sermos a melhor versão de nós próprios, deixando muito claro que não é algo fácil de fazer, mas que vale imenso a pena! Além disso, é de enorme ajuda para lidar com alguns problemas que possam surgir no nosso caminho.
Eu gostei muito. Ler este livro foi como sentir um abraço forte e caloroso.
Já deixei post-its nas secções a que sei que vou voltar, eventualmente.
March 16, 2016
Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars
I was so sure I would absolutely love this book - and don't get me wrong, there were some bits that made me smile, laugh and feel all fuzzy on the inside or fill me with so much sympathy and gratefulness for Carrie because she'd expressed exactly what I've felt. It just wasn't the case for the overwhelming majority of the book, sadly. By all means, I don't think it's a bad book, I think it's wonderful and does what is sets out to do, there were just many sections that didn't really feel relevant to me. Maybe I'm too old, too young or it's my stubborn teenage mind that is shouting "don't tell me what to do!!!", but I seem to feel more connected to Carrie when I'm watching her videos (it also slightly annoyed me that some of the points made in the book were pretty much the written form of some of her videos, but oh well!). However, over all I think there will be thousands of people devouring this book and feeling better from reading it, so Carrie, your mission has been accomplished! Well done! :)
I was so sure I would absolutely love this book - and don't get me wrong, there were some bits that made me smile, laugh and feel all fuzzy on the inside or fill me with so much sympathy and gratefulness for Carrie because she'd expressed exactly what I've felt. It just wasn't the case for the overwhelming majority of the book, sadly. By all means, I don't think it's a bad book, I think it's wonderful and does what is sets out to do, there were just many sections that didn't really feel relevant to me. Maybe I'm too old, too young or it's my stubborn teenage mind that is shouting "don't tell me what to do!!!", but I seem to feel more connected to Carrie when I'm watching her videos (it also slightly annoyed me that some of the points made in the book were pretty much the written form of some of her videos, but oh well!). However, over all I think there will be thousands of people devouring this book and feeling better from reading it, so Carrie, your mission has been accomplished! Well done! :)
May 1, 2015
Ahhh, Carrie. How do I even begin to express my admiration for you, you wonderful human being?
I really wish I had this book while growing up! All the answers, the tips, the "try to see the bright side" and the "try to be the best version of yourself", the awareness that I wasn't the only one going through certain things.
It felt so unreal reading this book and realising that I am actually very similar to the person who wrote this book and I really look up to. It felt like I was reading a book from my own past and part of my present (except for getting your dream job... but I'm getting there!)
And if that wasn't enough, all the Doctor Who and Harry Potter references really tickled my geeky side and put a smile on my face.
I have nothing bad to say about this book. Well done Carrie on being the Big Sister anyone would want to have! I wish you all the best and I can't wait to read more from you.
I really wish I had this book while growing up! All the answers, the tips, the "try to see the bright side" and the "try to be the best version of yourself", the awareness that I wasn't the only one going through certain things.
It felt so unreal reading this book and realising that I am actually very similar to the person who wrote this book and I really look up to. It felt like I was reading a book from my own past and part of my present (except for getting your dream job... but I'm getting there!)
And if that wasn't enough, all the Doctor Who and Harry Potter references really tickled my geeky side and put a smile on my face.
I have nothing bad to say about this book. Well done Carrie on being the Big Sister anyone would want to have! I wish you all the best and I can't wait to read more from you.
March 16, 2015
Loved it.
Review on release date as I promised the publisher not to share until then =)
Review on release date as I promised the publisher not to share until then =)
July 15, 2016
I absolutely adore Carrie! I have two older sisters that I'm incredibly close to so I've never needed to think of her as my honorary big sister but as we're the same age (I'm only a few weeks younger than her) instead I've always viewed her as the kind of person that I would just love to be friends with. We share most of our outlooks on life and we share a lot of tastes which makes watching her videos all the more enjoyable for me. I've always found her incredibly easy to relate to and in this book I found it more so. The only reason that for me, personally, this book didn't get 5 stars is because the book is quite clearly aimed for a younger audience than myself. That's definitely not a bad thing and I think this book will be absolutely perfect for teenagers but as I'm already past my teen years and I've already learnt these things and made my mistakes, the advice in the book just generally didn't resonate with me as much as it would've done had I read this book when I was younger.
I found the honesty throughout this book to be incredibly refreshing as she makes sure to reveal the mistakes she's made and she tells some of the stories of things that she's not proud that she's done and that made the book feel more truthful and I think teenagers will find that easier to relate to and it will remind them that even if they do something wrong or make a mistake, that doesn't make them a bad person! I can certainly relate to times when I was in school where I would make jokes to my friends at the expense of another student (luckily never in front of them or in earshot) just because I wanted people to think I was better or funnier but then I just ended up feeling worse about myself. I was never popular in school and spent most of my life in school as an 'Inbetweener' (as in, my group of friends and I were never cool or uncool we were just kind of there and didn't really fit into any 'cliques' plus that show basically summed up my school experience except we were a group of girls instead of guys). I would recommend this book to any and all teenagers though as I know from experience that these things happen to everyone and this book will help some people through their more difficult times. She also included numbers, websites and contact details in the back of the book for people that may need some professional help or help from outside sources on delicate matters in their lives and I think that's incredibly thoughtful and respectful as I don't know many biographies and autobiographies that include these and I feel that they're very important!
I found the honesty throughout this book to be incredibly refreshing as she makes sure to reveal the mistakes she's made and she tells some of the stories of things that she's not proud that she's done and that made the book feel more truthful and I think teenagers will find that easier to relate to and it will remind them that even if they do something wrong or make a mistake, that doesn't make them a bad person! I can certainly relate to times when I was in school where I would make jokes to my friends at the expense of another student (luckily never in front of them or in earshot) just because I wanted people to think I was better or funnier but then I just ended up feeling worse about myself. I was never popular in school and spent most of my life in school as an 'Inbetweener' (as in, my group of friends and I were never cool or uncool we were just kind of there and didn't really fit into any 'cliques' plus that show basically summed up my school experience except we were a group of girls instead of guys). I would recommend this book to any and all teenagers though as I know from experience that these things happen to everyone and this book will help some people through their more difficult times. She also included numbers, websites and contact details in the back of the book for people that may need some professional help or help from outside sources on delicate matters in their lives and I think that's incredibly thoughtful and respectful as I don't know many biographies and autobiographies that include these and I feel that they're very important!
March 12, 2015
Carrie, you wonderful human. I am a fan of Carrie's youtube channel and have been following her on Twitter for a while so I was rather excited when I heard about this book & couldn't believe my luck when an advanced reading copy turned up at the bookshop I work at.
I went in not knowing much about the concept behind the book, assuming that it was just a bio (which quite a few youtube stars have started to bring out lately) but I was greeted by something vastly different. This book an essential guide surviving the 'Teen Age' as Carrie puts it. It felt a little strange, getting advice about my (past) teen years by someone who is about a year younger than me.
The book was not made for my at the time of my reading, but I can say that if this book existed 5-7 years ago, when I would have been in the target market, I would have been engrossed. I gave my rating as I believe I would have at that age.
I hear that Carrie might also be putting together a novel in the near future which excites me greatly. Although this book wasn't the greatest fit for 23 year old me I'm definitely looking forward to anything else Carrie produces in the future.
I went in not knowing much about the concept behind the book, assuming that it was just a bio (which quite a few youtube stars have started to bring out lately) but I was greeted by something vastly different. This book an essential guide surviving the 'Teen Age' as Carrie puts it. It felt a little strange, getting advice about my (past) teen years by someone who is about a year younger than me.
The book was not made for my at the time of my reading, but I can say that if this book existed 5-7 years ago, when I would have been in the target market, I would have been engrossed. I gave my rating as I believe I would have at that age.
I hear that Carrie might also be putting together a novel in the near future which excites me greatly. Although this book wasn't the greatest fit for 23 year old me I'm definitely looking forward to anything else Carrie produces in the future.
September 29, 2015
OK, so I only bought this book because I think Carrie Fletcher's video's are awesome.
Despite being too old for this book, I loved it all the same and found it enjoyable and in some places very funny (i.e Harry Potter/Doctor Who punsy things).
For example I think the birds and the bee's part was hilarious. For example: "Don't you think 'the birds and the bee's' sounds like the name of a pub?"
The only problem that I had was me. I am too old for it and have made all of the mistakes and figured life out for myself, unlike some younger reader may not have.
I loved the book overall and can recommend regardless of how old you are.
Despite being too old for this book, I loved it all the same and found it enjoyable and in some places very funny (i.e Harry Potter/Doctor Who punsy things).
For example I think the birds and the bee's part was hilarious. For example: "Don't you think 'the birds and the bee's' sounds like the name of a pub?"
The only problem that I had was me. I am too old for it and have made all of the mistakes and figured life out for myself, unlike some younger reader may not have.
I loved the book overall and can recommend regardless of how old you are.
October 5, 2015
Carrie Congrats!!! Oh my gosh I am so excited!!!
May 20, 2015
I really like Carrie Hope Fletcher. I just wanted to put that out there before I reason with my 3 star rating. I initially bought the book because I've been watching her YouTube video's for quite a while now and I really wanted to support her. Having said that, I found that this book was missing something for me personally. I think that my age (19)could have become a barrier taking away messages and advice from Carrie, because I've already experienced such things. The topics which I haven't yet experienced however, I did find helpful to learn her advice and her way of thinking, e.g. how to handle losing someone. And I found comfort in the messages Carrie did portray, such as her honesty of having found her best friends at the age of 22. Overall I did enjoy this book and can see how it would benefit younger readers who are new into the teenage world, but I unfortunately didn't find it applicable to me. I vow to still support and love Carrie. :)
April 12, 2018
The layout and the writing is slightly all over the place, but overall it was a nice read. I do recommend it for teens, it might be really helpful to go through some of the messiest situations with as much calm and grace as possible.
September 22, 2018
3.5 stars. Carrie was 22 when this book was written and I found loads of relatable little anecdotes in this cosy, relaxing and light read, having turned 23 last week.
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