Book Review: Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

In recent months, in my free time, I have been trying to find more free time for reading. Growing up, I was an avid reader, devouring anything from the assigned novel in English and Language Arts class to the entire "Harry Potter" Series. A book I recently read and that has left a lasting impression on me is, "Everything I Know About Love" by Dolly Alderton. This book is a memoir, reflecting back on Alderton's her twenties and early thirties when she was learning to navigate through friendships, romantic relationships, grief and, self-discovery. 

While the title of the novel suggests that this story book revolves only around romantic love, of which there are some aspects, a central theme is the importance of cherishing platonic and female friendships. Alderton believes that these type of relationships are the most reliable and should be valued accordingly. I read and finished this book while I was studying abroad, far from family and old friends, but surrounded by a group of new female friends who were all experiencing life abroad with me. This made the book especially relatable during that chapter of my life. 

Dolly Alderton writes about the ups and downs of growing up, experiencing grief, the heartache of losing friends to romantic relationships, and just the concept of love in the form of self-love. Some of my favorite quotes from the book include: 

• "Be the person you wish you could be, not the person you were doomed to be." 
• "You are the sum total of everything that has happened to you" 
• "I gave almost all of my energy away to other people when no one had asked it of me." 

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those navigating the ups and downs of their twenties and thirties. As I was away from home while reading this book, it helped me realize the importance of strengthening my female friendships and relying on them in challenging times. As a result of this, I made some of my best friends while abroad. This book encourages reflection on both romantic and platonic relationships, making readers consider the process of maturing and how, in the end, romantic love is not the only fulfilling love out there.