I loved this second book by Baek Sehee which is essentially a follow on with the same theme from book one, which explores mental health experiences and each chapter focuses on a particular subject which feels more focused than book one. I think the idea behind the book and the way it is written is really thought provoking and such an inspirational text that I would encourage people to read it (as a self help manual but also to raise awareness and open-mindedness for people around them).

I love these books. It's like seeing a recording of my own brain, my won therapy, on page. The way the author talks about emotions and how therapy, her friendships and her mental illnesses make her feel is beautiful in its simplicity. This is the kind of book anyone could read, understand and enjoy.

4 stars.

I really enjoyed the first of these books and I enjoyed this one just as much. I love that the author just focuses on feeling bad and how they are feeling, and not writing the book, or presenting the conversations in a way that shows "everything is going to be okay at the end".

This second book felt like a natural continuation of the first, with more therapy sessions and deep reflections. I really appreciate how these books make therapy sessions so accessible, helping to raise awareness about mental health. While opinions on the series may vary, I find it refreshing to see such an honest and open portrayal of depression. It’s an insightful and important read for anyone interested in understanding mental health more deeply.

The follow up book to I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, with further conversations between the author and her psychiatrist. Sehee, a young Korean woman, has changed jobs within the publishing house she works for and despite wanting this change, it is causing her a lot of stress. Her depression and other mental health ailements return and we get snippets from her conversations with her psychiastrist, as well as short paragraphs of Sehee's general musings.

Book one had some focus on her childhood and her traumas from that, which are not really mentioned much in this book. I do think you need to have read book one in order to understand Sehee more and so you can compare and contrast her ups and downs. Especially because she does talk about book one being published in this new book. And while book one had a timeframe of 10 years, making it a bit difficult and frustrating to know where in those 10 years any particular conversation was from (and therefore making it harder to see any progress), because this is set after the publishing of book 1, it is much clear to see this progression on Sehee's journey.

I do think this book will be a marmite book, just like book one. I can see why both would frustate people but I can easily see why it resonates with a lot of people. It is very frank and honest. If you liked book 1 and are curious to see what happened next to Sehee, I recommend picking this one up.

I did find this collection a lot more intense than her first book, but the format feels very unique and it was great to see Baek making progress with her therapy sessions.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.

I absolutely loved this book, I knew i had to read it after absolutely loving the first book. I read it within a day as I could not put it down.

A deeply emotive and insightful read - this honest memoir is one for your reading pile. I can't wait to read what Baek Sehee writes next!

A great continuation after the first book of the series- it's always refreshing to read about another person's struggles with mental illness. I feel that these book open up a conversation that is much needed as always. Even in the point where people cannot relate to it opens up the possibility for empathy and understanding- a book I will always recommend.

Once again, I felt so seen within these pages. Baek Sehee showcases such raw and unfiltered feelings that I can’t help but relate to. I reread book 1 and then read this and I found myself highlighting so many passages and quotes. These books feel like a diary to me and it puts things I don’t know how to explain into words. These books are so important for mental health advocates and those who struggle with it.
Thank you so much for an eARC and also a physical ARC. I will treasure it always!

Another beautiful and emotive autobiography following on the heels of the huge success of the first book. Highly recommended!

A touching, insightful, raw memoir based on the transcripts of the author's meetings with her psychiatrist during some intense mental health struggles. Very vulnerable & compelling, & demonstrates the struggles of being a young woman in today's society, trying to juggle health, a career, a direction in life, & feeling like things are out of your control. I read this in just a few days & when it had finished I was keen to know more about how the author is getting on now.

this is a really good novel for anyone who likes to gain something real and something that can you also apply to your life. I love the way the author writes this book.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC!

I've read both of Baek Se-hee's very vulnerable, open and honest memoirs about her battles with mental health in quite close succession. Having struggled with my own depression and anxiety over the last however many years, I'm grateful these books exist, even if they do not resonate with me massively. They are important as they show that no two people's mental health journeys are the same, but all are valid. Your pain is valid, your suffering is valid, and the comparison game will serve no one.

My main issue remained the same as the first book - I would have preferred a reflection on her sessions with her psychologist as opposed to just the unedited transcripts of their sessions.

However, I had another issue with this one, namely their psychologist's actions. I'm in no way qualified to even speak on mental health care in the form of psychologists in the UK, never mind South Korea, but I don't think offering to prescribe someone clearly struggling with body image and disordered eating appetite suppressants... That was a sizeable red flag to me. Se-hee also talks positively about a 'diet camp' she attended for three weeks where you basically exercise for hours a day? Again, no idea what the norm is in South Korea for this type of thing, but it seems like nothing but body dysmorphia could come out of such a 'camp'.

That made it a difficult read for me personally, but I must reiterate that I'm extremely glad Se-hee has had the courage to make her story public. I'm sure it will give many people the courage they need to seek help with their mental health.

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I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee

The second installment of Baek Sehees memoir /self help novel/ transcripts follows a very similar pattern to the first one. Sehee explains a problem and then we read the transcript with her therapist.

I absolutely loved the first instalment, it was such an honest portrayal of depression and anxiety that really pulled you into the life and issues Sehee was experiencing. This continues with the second book. I especially enjoyed the therapy sessions after she has released book one and the almost imposter syndrome she experienced after the success of it.

Another great but hard-hitting read.

The follow up to the super successful I want to die but I want to eat tteokbokki, the second book carries on Baek Sehee's journey, her struggles with recovery and carried on therapy with her psychiatrist. Sehee's reflections resonate a lot with I imagine a lot of women of similar age to the author in regards to the social pressures in regards to weight, and for others depression and how it can feel incredibly overwhelming to the point of not wanting to do say your day job.

If you enjoyed the first book, then this is definitely going to hit the sweet spot, as personally I feel this book offers more insight on how things are still an uphill battle even though you've admitted you need some help.

Thank you Netgalley & Bloomsbury Publishing for the e-ARC.

It's been a while since I read the first book in this series so it's hard to compare the two. I felt the topics of disuccion in this book were universally female, struggling with body image and weight. I liked that in this book it felt there was improvement int he state of the author and that things were getting better, leading to a nice conclusion of the book. I did find some reflective moment poignant and gave me pause to think. But I don't think this edition hit me as hard as the first book.

It has been heartbreaking and hopeful in equal parts. I connected much more with the writer in this book, there was more that resonated with me.
It's amazing how someone can open up so much with strangers to write a book like this, it takes real courage.
One of my favourite quotes was:
"Even if I haven't been born with the kindest of hearts, I can at least try to expirience and learn and change myself accordingly as I grow".
Please, before reading this book check the trigger warnings.

I quite enjoyed the first book but there was something about this - the reflections, the depth of what was being dealt with, the candour - that takes this to another level. In opening up like this there's so many moments where you sit back and go, "Wow. I never thought of it that way before..." and carry forward with you.

An interesting therapy transcript and essay collection exploring part of Baek Sehee journey into mental health, medication, therapy, and self-acceptance. I haven’t read her first novel, so wasn’t sure what to expect with this, but I thought the concept sounded fascinating. It starts pretty intensely and Seehee certainly doesn’t hold back in her honesty and insight. The very topic of this book makes it incredibly difficult to review, it is a personal story, which I imagine many people would find very relatable, but it goes without saying that mental health is an important topic to discuss, and the author is brave in her openness and vulnerability.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.