Am I There Yet?
The Loop-de-loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood
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5.0 • 12 Ratings
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This on-point guide to growing up by Instagram sensation Mari Andrew features “achingly vulnerable and completely relatable watercolor illustrations about relationships, heartbreak and the struggles of urban life” (The Washington Post).
In the journey toward adulthood, it is easy to find yourself treading the path of those who came before you; the path often appears straight and narrow, with a few bumps in the road and a little scenery to keep you inspired. But what if you don’t want to walk a worn path? What if you want to wander? What if there is no map to guide you through the detours life throws your way?
From creating a home in a new city to understanding the link between a good hair dryer and good self-esteem to dealing with the depths of heartache and loss, these tales of the twentysomething document a road less traveled—a road that sometimes is just the way you’re meant to go.
Praise for Am I There Yet?
“Equal parts memoir and illustrated guidebook, it chronicles Andrew’s journey through adulthood as she navigates love and heartbreak, professional indecision and success, and personal struggles.”—Refinery29
“Using her artistic skills to illustrate thought-provoking essays, Andrew inspires readers to take the path less traveled in life.”—CNN
“The illustrations . . . are often packed with truths about dating, self-care, careers, and all the secret thoughts you never say out loud.”—Elle
“This uplifting book is filled with essays and illustrations that will fill you with so much hope as you move forward with any big life change.”—Bustle
“Her illustrations will resonate with anyone who has ever had a crush, went on a date, or felt the sting of heartbreak.”—The Independent
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In a market flush with self-help books, Andrew's illustrated debut stands out for its candidness. Through simple doodle drawings, with a watercolor wash, interspersed with poignant essays both handwritten and typed, Andrew depicts herself wandering through the dark map of her 20s in search of purpose. Reeling from a breakup and the death of her father in 2015, Andrew decided to make a drawing each day and post it online. Three years later, her sketches have gained her more than 700,000 Instagram followers, and the best are culled for this volume to complement mostly original work. ("Choose one," says a caption over pretty little tombstones, each bearing a possible inscription: "She Was Too Afraid To Start. She Explored. She Spent 5 Decades Comparing Herself to Others.") Most of Andrew's drawings offer heartfelt insights (a tiny circular diagram depicts the two stages of grief: "Feel Crazy Feel Less Crazy"), but a deliciously snide humor colors her reflections on dating like depicting her exes as different cups of coffee ("Diner Coffee at 2AM: Cheap + Lukewarm, Got the Job Done"). On the cusp of 30, her compass points to a truism: "What I love most about living isn't accomplishing things, but experiencing them." So what does Andrew imagine her ideal tombstone will say? "Here lies Mari. She enjoyed herself." As Andrew heals from rejection and loss, her drawings capture how she learns to love herself, encouraging readers to approach life challenges with the same generous spirit.
