It Was Me All Along (A Memoir)
By Andie Mitchell
(Clarkson Potter, Hardcover, 9780770433246, January 6, 2015, 240pp.)
The Short of It:
A warm, sometimes funny, often heartbreaking novel about a young girl trying to find herself.
The Rest of It:
Yes, folks! It’s a memoir. I know I don’t read them often but this was written by a blogger I’ve been following for the better part of a year and a half. Andie Mitchell’s blog, Can You Stay For Dinner? chronicles her weight loss journey, which truly began when she was in college, but it’s really about so much more than that and although the blog alludes to certain periods in her life, the book goes into them in detail.
Raised in a loving family but one battling the effects of alcoholism, Andie learned at a very young age that food could be comforting. Her love of food is both a blessing and a curse, and all the while her story is told with the utmost honesty, tinged with a great deal of shame.
There was a decade, back in the 90’s I want to say, where weight loss memoirs were a dime a dozen. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve read one, but this one really has a different tone to it. Yes, it focuses on food and weight loss but it’s more about a young woman trying to find her place in the world. Mitchell’s struggle for acceptance, her bouts of isolation and shame, are things that we can all relate to, regardless of weight.
On her blog, she writes as if she’s talking to a close friend. The book has that same tone. It’s warm and inviting and even though I don’t know her personally, I feel as if I do. Plus, her story is inspirational. She lost over 135 lbs and at no point was it easy.
The other thing I really enjoyed is the way she writes about food. She’s a foodie, no doubt about it and any foodie will be drooling over her take of a perfect cupcake or pizza pie. Clearly, her love of food is still present but the way she views food is what’s changed.
I really enjoyed this one. If you’re looking for something different to break up your fiction pile, give this book a try.
Source: Sent to me by the publisher via Edelweiss.
Disclosure: This post contains Indiebound affiliate links.
Book Chatter 
I love to hear about bloggers that make it as published writers of novels. Very inspirational, especially this one, when she has had such struggles. I’m definitely going to check out her blog!
She just has this super honest way of saying what she feels. Plus, she worked on the set of some movies and has some good stories to tell about them. Once, having to do with Leo and Shutter Island. Oh la la!
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This isn’t something I would normally pick, but this book sounds very inviting! I love it when a blogger publishes a book. I need to check out her blog.
‘Inviting’ is a good word. Her writing is quite engaging. I really like her blog too. She’s slowed down on the blog to promote the book but I hope she keeps the blog going.
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I bet this will be out in audio. Think I will look for it that way. I’m finding that I can listen to a lot of non-fiction better than I do when reading in the regular way. Thanks for the info!
I don’t know if it’s out on audio but if it is, it’s worth a listen.
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Sounds like this was a winner for you. I tend not to read memoirs too much. I generally rely on Beth Kephart’s recommendation, but I might pick this up next time I’m looking for one.
I love her blog too. I’m happy that the book contains the same, friendly style that her blog does.
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I love memoirs but haven’t read too many lately. This one sounds terrific!
I think you would enjoy this one.
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I love the sound of this one…thanks to you! I follow her blog, too!
She’s been quiet on the blog since she is busy promoting the book but her back log of posts should keep you busy. I hope she picks up regular posts again soon.
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I’m not familiar with this, but it sounds terrific. Anyone who can lose that much weight is definitely inspirational. I love your review. I’m adding this to my reading list!
I think what makes the book so readable is that she is not perfect and struggles, lots, to lose that weight. I’ve hit my Weight Watcher goal twice so I know I can do it, but keeping it off is another story. I can relate to the struggle. But even if weight is not a thing for you, we all have dealt with self esteem or acceptance issues at one point in our lives.
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This sounds good. I love good food writing, too and it’s very inspiring that she’s lost so much weight but is still on good terms with food. I’ll have to check out her blog, too.
I’ve seen this one floating around a little bit and now I’m even more interested. I remember reading a number of weight loss memoirs back in the day too, but it’s been a while!
As someone who has long struggled with weight issues, I have mixed feelings about memoirs like this, but it really sounds like this one is worth reading. I am glad you liked it, Ti. I will have to add it to my wish list.
I’ve been on a memoir tear lately, so I’m not certain if I am up to reading it. However, I do want to check out her blog now. I definitely need some inspiration in my own weight loss journey.
I love memoirs, but I wasn’t crazy about this one for some reason — but I’m in the minority because my colleagues at the bookstore all loved it. I love her blog though and have discovered some great recipes! I’m reading a food-related memoir now that I am loving — Life From Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness by Sasha Martin. It releases on March 3.
I hope she continues with the blog. I really enjoy reading it but the updates haven’t been coming all that often since the book came out. I suspect she’s busy promoting the book.
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