I went into this book with such good intentions. I wanted to love it as I loved Bryony’s previous books. However I had to check multiple times that this was not a book I had already read. Many of the anecdotes and stories were repetitive and I found myself drawn away from it all. The humour felt misplaced. I wish I had enjoyed this more.

I love the books from Bryony. I’ve read quite a few now and this one is one that I think we should all read. It’s such an open and honest read through many issues like addiction, menopause and mental health. Thoroughly recommend.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I did - having read and enjoyed all of Bryony's past titles. Whilst I think it is admirable for the author to share her story and struggles so admirably to help others, in this instance, the format and humour were distracting rather than supporting the narrative. I also didn't feel like Mad Woman said anything new compared with the author's previous titles. Unfortunately, if you have read her previous titles, this one was repetitive and felt as though it were published to fulfil a contract rather than because she had something new to say.

I have always admired Bryony Gordon for her honest, raw, and blunt truths about her experiences with mental health. This follow-up to "Mad Girl" is another well-deserved five-star read. Gordon has the talent and creativity to make her books informative yet entertaining. Her ability to laugh at herself without playing down her diagnosis is genius, and I am in awe of her.

In this new release, she covers a lot of relatable topics, including the effects of the pandemic, menopause, eating disorders, addictions, dealing with new diagnoses, and more. It feels like a warm embrace from a close friend. Gordon narrates the audiobook herself, making it even more enjoyable. Only she can bring this book to life in the way it should be.

If you plan on reading just one non-fiction book in the future, make sure it's this one!

"Mad Woman" by Bryony Gordon is another raw and hilarious portrayal of womanhood from the author's candid perspective. Her trademark honesty and humour shine through, making it both challenging and relatable to read. In this exploration of the complexities of being female, as always Gordon's authenticity is refreshing and appreciated!

Account of Bryony Gordon's personal struggles with binge eating disorder, heading into the menopause and her fluctuating mental health following the COVID-19 lockdown. She had already successfully become sober following years of alcoholism and drug use, and was known for championing mental health causes and running marathons, becoming a heroine for those with bigger bodies who still want to break taboos and exercise in a healthy way. Her writing is amazingly candid and honest, and she is always no holds barred with her raw emotions but dogged in a determination to get answers, solutions and proper medical advice to deal with her myriad issues. She makes some great points about wider issues to do with the 'invisibility' and lack of resources for women entering menopause - for whom little real, concrete advice or assistance is provided and she rails against this in a very articulate way. This is the next of several memoirs that have dealt with various stages of her life - her style is always very readable & remarkably relatable and honest.

Mad Woman by Bryony Gordon
Published by Headline Books on 15/2/24

A raw and brutally honest description of the authors struggles with mental health issues. And, a timely reminder of the massive impact the pandemic had on people already dealing with these struggles
. Not always an easy read but you find yourself really willing her on the whole way. As she deals with all that life throws at her. Very relatable.

Thanks to the author, publisher and the Netgalley for providing me with this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This is such an interesting and relatable read for any woman, no matter what your circumstances you will find something that speaks to your soul in this book. It is a quick and funny read. I really enjoyed it

Bryony is brutally honest, and funny. It can be hard to read in places but also easy to read and relate to. Being female is hard! Thank you Bryony for being so honest.

I previously read Bryony Gordon's 'Glorious Rock Bottom' about her experience of addiction and how she got sober, which was excellent. Gordon is a writer who is able to write about difficult things in a highly relatable, accessible and yet real way. I really appreciate how much of herself she gives in her books and how she doesn't try to gloss over the horrible bits or make it seem like everything was easy for her. You can see the effort it costs her and because she is willing to be vulnerable, you believe her and feel that change might be possible for you, too. In this book, she talks about how her eating and OCD started going off the rails in lockdown and how she dealt with and is still dealing with the repercussions of that. I admire her enormously. When you front a mental health charity as she does, and have written books about recovery, it must be incredibly hard to have to admit that there are other problems that you are perhaps not dealing with as graciously as it might appear. It is to her credit that she doesn't flinch from baring her soul and brings the same honesty and vulnerability to bear in this book.

I was particularly interested and heartened to read about her relationship with PMDD. It's something I suffered with, undiagnosed for many years. Eventually I had surgery to 'cure' my issues, but I had to fight so hard to be heard and seen and diagnosed and it's brilliant that Bryony has begun to take that conversation out into the world.

I've not read one of Gordon's books before, so this was a very insightful introduction to her and her style. As someone who often feels like the world isn't designed for me, this book was refreshing, as well as being moving, and thought-provoking.

Bryony Gordon writes honestly and emotively about dealing with addiction and mental illness, as well as facing the struggles of the menopause in her eaarly forties. All of this whilst juggling numerous responsibilities. This book is a frank look at what it is to be a woman, particularly when faced with challenging circumstances like your own body and hormones conspiring against you.

This book reads like a frank conversation with a good friend, offering advice and experience, along with a dose of humour. Challenging the way we view women as 'mad' and questioning the patriarchal society that originated the label, I feel like this should be required reading, especially for women of a certain age!

I read "Mad Girl" as a confused twenty something getting to grips with my own mental health problems. Bryony's voice was, and still is, a balm to my woes in this area. “Mad Woman'' is part pandemic diary, part sequel to "Mad Girl", following Bryony as she deals with her illness post-fame, success and becoming a spokesperson for mental heath. The book details her struggles with perimenopause and binge eating disorder, her continued battles with addiction and OCD, through the lens of someone who some may feel "has it all". Bryony faces her own privilege in the book, and is honest about how she squares debilitating mental illness with being a mental heath "expert" and having money and resources to help her face them. This isn't a mental heath advice book, but a memoir of a time where most people's mental heath suffered, with Bryony's experience being an extreme case. It's also really funny, self-deprecating and an optimistic quick read for anyone interested in how people navigate mental illness.

With thanks to NetGalley and Headline Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publsiher and NetGalley for the e-arc. Powerful, poignant and raw writing which both raises awareness of the reality of mental illnes and provides hope - a must read.

Another great installment from Bryony Gordon. I've read all of her other books, so it's great to continue learning about her journey since sobriety.

This book mainly focuses on BED (binge eating disorder) and menopause. As with all her books, the writing is very honest and relatable. I have suffered with BED myself so it was good to hear about someeone else's experience with this, although it could be a trigger for many. The chapters on menopause were interesting and I felt like I learnt a lot as this topic doesn't seem to be discussed often.

On holiday in Thailand with her husband and daughter, Bryony Gordon thinks she has her life set. She has battled OCD and various addictions, and now she is ready to embrace the next decade. In 2020, the pandemic comes and Bryony’s life is turned upside down. She faces both familiar and new challenges, and realises she has a lot more to learn about herself.

This book made me sad, mad and laugh out loud. The writing is honest and relatable, not just for those who have overcome what the author has, but for any woman who has had her feelings overlooked, and concerns about her own mental and physical health dismissed.

Ten years after the release of her debut book, mental health advocate Bryony Gordon’s continues to offer us a raw and unfiltered glimpse into her ongoing battles with mental illness, in her latest book ‘Mad Woman’.

In this unique blend of autobiography and self-help, Bryony delves into her recent experiences of menopause, binge eating and the continuous battle she faces with OCD, personified as the notorious Jareth the Goblin King. Through her candid storytelling, she invites us as readers to emphasise with the challenges she faces each day as someone living with mental health illnesses including her recovery from alcoholism - has she broken her sobriety by taking cough medicine?

In addition to sharing the experiences she faced throughout the years of the pandemic, Bryony also reflects on many broader societal issues, including the dismissal of women’s health concerns, and damaging assumptions about body weight and fitness. Most groundbreakingly she reflects on what she has learnt about mental health illnesses throughout her journey - perhaps we aren’t the problem but existing in a world where we are constantly in a state of perma-crisis is, offering a poignant realisation that perhaps our brains are simply trying to keep us safe (the unveil of which is emotional).

What sets Bryony a part from other mental health advocates is that she tackles difficult subjects and infuses her narrative with a touch of humility and wit. Through moments of raw honesty and humour, she takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster, offering hope and most importantly making them feel less alone and united in mental illness struggles.

Raw, honest and hilarious, Bryony is the mental health bestie we all need. 5 stars.

I have read/listened to the audio for most of Bryony Gordon's books.
I really like Gordon and her honesty. I usually get a lot out of her books - specifically her personal thoughts and experience with mental health and addiction.
I just don't really understand why she has written this book.
It didn't add anything to what she has previously spoken about in her books.
Just didn't get anything new from this and found it repetitive to whats been said before.

If I could give this book more stars, I would!

Bryony is an absolutely amazing writer, but what I love and admire most about her books is her honesty. She doesn't hold back. She doesn't sugarcoat things. She tells it like it is, raw cooking chorizo and all!

I always get really emotional reading her books, but this one got me. It really got me. I sobbed so much. I can't put into words how incredibly brilliant Mad Woman is. It's genuinely life changing, lifesaving even.

No words I could string together would ever do this book justice, so I'm going to stop trying now. Just read it. Now.

I cannot put into words how much I loved this book! I have read Gordon's previous books and thoroughly enjoyed them, and this book was no exception. I found this book profoundly moving and relatable as someone with OCD, there were so many experiences and feelings I'd had throughout the COVID pandemic and since which I'd not been able to describe or hadn't fully been able to articulate that Gordon does with ease. I laughed, I cried, I felt overwhelming relief that I am not, in fact, going insane. This book felt like a big hug from and old friend and a heartwarming conversation with someone who just 'gets it'.

Bryony Gordon is so good at making the unbearable readable. If you liked Mad Girl you will like this.