Well, This Is Exhausting

Essays

By: Sophia Benoit

Narrated by: Sophia Benoit

From Bustle columnist and Twitter sensation Sophia Benoit, this “charming and often laugh-out-loud funny” (Vogue) memoir-in-essays explores the ins and outs of modern womanhood - from finding feminism, the power of pop culture, and how to navigate life’s constant double standards - perfect for fans of Shrill and PEN15.

Like so many women, Sophia spent her formative years struggling to do the “right” thing - to make others comfortable, to take minimal and calculated risks, to live up to society’s expectations - only to realize that there was so little payoff to this tiresome balancing act. Tired of trying so hard, Sophia finally let go of the crushing pressure to be perfect.

She navigates the highs and lows of the dating world (high: being a beta tester for Bumble; low: hastily shaving her legs before a hotel hookup and getting blood all over the sheets), and walks the line between being a “chill” girl and making sure her boyfriend’s nonchalance about altitude sickness doesn’t get him killed. She learns what it means to be a feminist, how to embrace her own voice, and when to listen to women who have been through more and have been doing the work longer.

With topics ranging from how to be the life of the party (even when you have crippling anxiety), to an ill-fated consultation with a dietician who deemed Sophia’s overindulgence in ketchup a serious health risk, to a masterful argument for why no one should judge you for having an encyclopedic knowledge of reality TV, Well, This Is Exhausting is not only “one of the funniest books you’ll read this year, but it’s also one of the most important” (Shondaland).

©2021 Sophia Benoit. All rights reserved. (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Sophia is inspiring

Sophia’s story is inspiring for women everywhere. As a perfectionistic, queer young adult woman, I feel everyday that everyone else has got it figured out. That everyone else is thriving in their jobs, schoolwork, friendships, and romantic relationships. Sophia destroys that thinking with her raw vulnerability with everything from eating disorders, to hookups, to battling negative self talk. If you’re looking for validation and comfort that you’re not alone, you’ve come to the right place.

Loved it!

This book was an excellent mix of personal essays, memoir, and a splash of life lessons learned. It’s funny and entertaining with the right amount of depth and insights.

Could live without it

this book was fine. The first few essays are better then it goes off the rails. It’s more of an autobiography for an author in a hurry than it is anything else. The listical chapters are really annoying and the constant mention of cis white men (pronounced cizz for some reason) got really old and was too repetitive.

Very entertaining

Loved it! Litterally LOL'd many times! Which I'm sure was entertaining for the drivers around me.

love her vocabulary

I love her expanded vocabulary which is the reason I bought the book. she is funny and inspiring

Refreshing

Was… needed. Appreciated the humor and the heartbreak and everything in between. Thank you, Sophia.

Not captivating

I suppose I hold GREENLIGHTS as the bar everyone needs to get to but this book just wasn’t captivating at all. Too much woe is me and putting her fat self down. Not enough inflection by the author/reader either.

Couldn’t finish this

I really thought this might be enjoyable and fun, but I’m 3 chapters in and I feel like I’m listening to a one sided conversation with a high schooler, despite she is an adult as a writer.

Get Over Yourself

This was one of the most disturbing books i have ever read - narcissistic person writing about her poor choices and how she is a victim.