Finally – a self-help book that actually tells me how to fix my life! I read a lot of these types of books (because frankly, I’m a mess!), but it typically feels like the advice they offer is super generic and broad and incredibly hard to put into practice. That’s why I’m currently obsessed with “Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies.’ Tara Schuster has been where I’m at, struggling to master self-care and foster confidence to achieve life goals. It didn’t even deter me that Schuster is way funnier and wittier than I’ll ever be. Instead, her brutal honesty about how she turned her life around has inspired me to make changes in my own life.

One of the main reasons I think Schuster’s book is so successful is because she was willing to be open about her own life (including a pretty nasty childhood). Instead of vaguely mentioning how she got to the point in her life when she realized she needed to make a change, Schuster recounts some of the most painful events in her life (from frightening childhood memories to harsh breakups with guys who most certainly didn’t deserve her). Because of this honesty and the inclusion of real-life examples, Schuster made me feel like she had actual difficult experiences to get over (so maybe it’s possible for me too!).

But above all else, Schuster offered advice that I feel I can actually implement in my own life. For example, making a list of my “hype people” that I can go to when I need lifting up or encouragement is a perfect way for me to try out a concrete suggestion that might prove to be helpful in my day-to-day life. Plus, the title comes from Schuster’s suggestion to not deprive yourself of tiny joys in life (if lilies make you feel good, then buy them!)

All self-help books should be filled with this level of insightfulness and humor so that instead of walking away from it feeling like even more of a disaster, readers can feel like they just might stand the chance of making meaningful changes in order to achieve a fulfilling life. I’ll be recommending this read to everyone I know – and maybe now I’ll buy myself some lilies when I feel like it!

*5 stars*

*Free ARC provided by Netgalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review*