This is the story of a young woman of 22, just beginning her teaching career, dealing with a brain hemorrhage. She has to learn to accept her new "normal" and help from those who love her as she recovers. Hayes tells her story with humor, even in tough situations. The humor does seem to be a defense mechanism, but completely understandable.

Thanks to Animal Media Group and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I always feel that memoirs are subjective, but Mimi's story was incredibly relatable to ME so I really enjoyed it. For many, though, the story of a 20 something ending up with an almost missed brain bleed is not relatable...for the rest of you out there, just know that she is beyond entertaining and strong.

Honestly, I was both intrigued and hesitant about reading this. I suffered a TIA at 25 that completely changed my life. I know that shock, anger, and need to deflect instead of directly deal with the pain and new challenges that have suddenly dropped into your lap. I could feel the emotions oozing off the page, but I can't be sure that it isn't my own personal experience with TBIs that made them more intense for me. An emotional read with a powerful message behind it.

This is so relatable. I liked this book a lot and find myself rereading it often. I highly recommend it. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for a review.

A memoir told with heart, humour and incredible strength. This is a striking reminder of just what the human body and mind is capable of.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sorry! I downloaded this book but then had exams and didn't have time to read and review this book...

I don't want to rate this book because I haven't finish it yet. I get to half way of this book but I couldn't get through this. There's nothing wrong with how the story is told. I think the story is a bit heavy for me. I am not in the right mood to read it and I don't want to push myself or else I'll be in a slump.

A big thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for giving me a copy of this book for an unbiased review.

4/5 - Really, really liked it!

Mimi Hayes is 22 years old when her brain suddenly hemorrhages. And so begins a beautifully vulnerable and playful memoir which relates Mimi's story. By the end of the book, I wanted to give Mimi a hug. Or be her friend. Or both. Strangely enough, despite the very specific and unusual topic of the book, I found it relatable. I, too, have met a "James." I haven't had a brain hemorrhage, but I've had a TBI thanks to a tram plowing me down while I was on vacation (long story that comes down to a bad intersection). There were so many moments in which reading Mimi's account of a hospital stay or the love/hate relationship one has with nurses who stab you with needles made me want to shout: "Oh my God, ME TOO!"

I found myself celebrating every victory that Mimi recounted. I fell in love with her amazing parents and her brain costume. My heart squeezed tight when she described the monster at the end of the book (Mimi, YOU'RE adorable!) and the whole time I felt like I was listening to the story of a dear friend, whom I understood better than perhaps I should have, and who probably would have understood me.

Aside from the nature of our injuries, there are two additional differences between Mimi and myself. One, she is funnier. I don't often laugh out loud while reading, but this book had me giggling like a maniac (on public transport). Two, she is wiser. Reading her account of her recovery made me see blindspots which have been preventing me from moving on. Her kindness to others shone a light on how my grumpiness and frustration in my recovery maybe warranted some overdue apologies to friends and family. And my absolute favorite insight came from her observation that recovering from a traumatic event didn't miraculously make you fixed in every area of your life - once the flowers stop coming and the get-well cards trickle out, you're still YOU. And this means that you still have all of your insecurities, your hopes, your fears, your walls, etc. I love how Mimi addresses not only her injury in this memoir, but ALL of the areas in which she was hurting or needed to heal. Quite frankly, reading this book was cathartic.

My only criticism is that sometimes I did feel that some chapters did veer off topic into tangents, but this is such a minor issue relative to how good the rest of the book was.

Overall, I would strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a laugh or an inspiring story. However, I would especially recommend this to survivors of physical trauma - especially those who had long hospital stays or arduous PT experiences. That stuff you didn't know about before you were injured, but now wish you could explain to others, but can't? Mimi does it! Read this book, feel better that someone can actually relate for once, and then pass it on to friends and family members who stood by your side in absolute confusion and misery. This book is a brilliant, hilarious, vulnerable roadmap to what physical and emotional recovery looks like.

In short, I am very happy that Mimi chose to write this and would be elated to read any of her future books.

Geesh! I was partly through with my review and while I was checking the spelling of hemorrhage for at least the second time I pressed the wrong button and my review disappeared and the website closed. Unfortunately this is not the first time this has happened to me. Goofy stuff like this happens to frequently, I guess it may be due to my much more minor brain injury. It is due to the fact that I was so interested in reading I'll Be OK, It's Just a Hole in My Head by Mimi Hayes. I found myself nodding in recognition at some things, smiling at the familiarity, and other times thanking God that my difficulties were not as, well, difficult. I was of a similar age and quite frankly, I found myself wondering if I would have been so brave if I were in her shoes. Ms. Hayes pooh-poohs (P.S. The stuff about poop is more than worth the price of admission! I laughed and cried, wet my pants!) the idea at times that she was brave before finally acknowledging that she was, in fact, brave. Often it can be hard to admit something positive about ourselves that we can readily point out in others and admire. I am glad she became brave enough to admit that she was brave, not only to others but more importantly to herself.

Ms. Hayes has an easy conversational writing style. The reader feels that we're just a couple of friends sitting together talking about things over some tea or wine - whatever your poison or rather whatever your doctor lets you enjoy. I've got to say it, I've been holding it in, James is a &%##%&-' a-hole! He gives creeps a bad name, well maybe not creeps, that distinction may belong to Creepy Face-holding guy - [shudder], yuck! Honestly Mimi, gal-to-gal, don't you read or watch any crime books/shows/movies? That guy and many of your other dates post -a%&hole were straight up serial killers-in-training. I literally shuddered to read of him and his "brothers-in-spirit" as I was reading about them grateful that I came of age when we had to encounter and date our serial killers and ax murderers the old fashioned way. Online dating is not for the faint of heart. Your bravery medal is in the mail for trying online dating and is immediately revoked for those horrendous choices! Going to lonely parks, with a killer and not even telling anyone where you are going?! I'm almost surprised you made it in order to go through your whole brain hemorrhage ordeal. Please, I hope you no longer risk yourself like that, we need you and your voice in this world! You are quite talented and have a refreshing take on things serious and not so serious! Keep writing and keep sharing it with us.

You know as I was reading this book, certain phrases, etc were running through my head, things I was going to mention in my review. Some of it, let's face it, most of it, was genius level or close to it. Did I write it down, no, that would be smart. Remember, I said my comments were genius level, not me. In case in point, last night, quite late, I had what I thought was probably 2 or 3 pages left to read (I never know when reading on my Kindle, who does?). I made the mature decision to stop reading then just because I was tired and nodding off (absolutely no reflection on the text I had been up at least 18 hrs). I had my clever things to say in my review in my head but in my wisdom, decided not to write them down. How could I forget them? They were, well as I may mentioned before, genius! So I didn't, in fact, as I lay back to stare at the ceiling while I tried to sleep (no matter how tired I am, it can take up 2 hours to fall asleep once I dedicate myself to the task no matter how tired I may be), I came up with not only my beginning sentence but more and guess WHAT, it was even more genuis. It was witty and urbane, it was PERFECT! Not a single word of it is in this review. Not a single blessed thought made it. Story of my life. I understood everything Ms.. Hayes wrote about losing all that she wrote in her head at night because she didn't write it down. We both may have forgotten our Great American Novels in this way.

In case it went unnoticed, I highly recommend this memoir, it hits all the right notes. Ms. Hayes, you are a talented writer. You are also a big movie fan, I hope they (the ever elusive THEY) make a movie of your book and I hope they cast Bruce Willis as himself. He is perfect for the role.

My very hearty thanks to both NetGalley and Animal Media group for exposing me to this very wonderful book and writer. All opinions are my own. Animal Media Group ask her to write more, you have a winner here!

Humorous, touching, and relatable, Mimi wrote an incredible book. I'm still thinking about the implications of some of the things she talks about, and how it relates to my own brain unjurues. As I could empathise almost immediately with the anecdotes and information, I thought it was a very quick read. But I'm still thinking about it, days later. A good read, even if it did not very close to home at poibts, and I did cry at one or two bits. Then, found myself laughing later on.
Well worth the read - head injuries are a common thing, though, to the degree this book talks about is less common.

I really love the cover for this book. It drew me to it before I read the description.

I wasn't sure when starting this book if I was going to like it. I wasn't that interested in James or Mimi's heartbreak over him. It took a good 20% of the beginning of the book so I was worried that I wasn't going to enjoy any aspect of Mimi's life if James was apart of it. We've all dealt with a James...

James eventually goes away and Mimi moves forward with her life (new job, new dates, etc.) All through this, the more quippy and funny the book becomes. The movie references ramp up when Mimi gets sick and ends up in the hospital, which (to be fair) she did warn the reader she enjoys movie scenarios.

Using humor to deal with stressful and terrifying situations is normal, what's brave is to do it beyond the circle of family and friends. Hayes talks about her body changing and how terrifying it all was for her but mixes the seriousness of the issue with humor and movie quips. She went from running marathons to learning how to walk again without aides.

While Hayes explains her rehab in detail, shows her scars (and her awesome Halloween costumes) she does not go into detail about her surgery or what a cavernous angioma is beyond the basic description. So, if you're squeamish about surgery, this book is perfectly safe for reading.

I do wish the structure had been tighter, as sometimes the chapters were more like vignettes of her activities (dates, relationships, friendships, teaching) that somewhat related to her overall point but often felt like random asides. I enjoyed her humor and I loved her resilience in the face of a terrifying medical issue.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this book, I haven't read that many memoirs, but I was really looking forward to this one. It's about Mimi, who suffers from a brain hemorrhage at 22, and she talks about her recovery.

It was amazing, I was so moved by her story and I was so amazing that she was still able to crack jokes about such a heartbreaking time. She did go off topic sometimes, but I didn't really mind that honestly.

She's just so honest and really conveys not just her feelings and worries, but also her families. I was really surprised by how much I liked the book and I don't think I'll even forget it.

An engaging read, giving a real insight into the life of someone living with and recovering from a brain injury. The author’s amusing style of writing makes this enjoyable whilst at the same time getting over the point that it is hard - you need to be determined and boy does it help if you have support from friends and family! Mimi’s parents are stars ( as is Mimi herself) and I’m so glad that she has come through this life changing event with humour and determination to show what can be achieved.
I work in physical therapy and I’ll definitely recommend this book to colleagues to get another perspective on living with the devastating change brain injury brings to your life. Well done Mimi!

This is an amazing story. Mimi Hayes has written her memoirs of her brain hemorrhage, her surgery, and her recovery. Non-fiction story of Mimi’s journey with brain injury. While writing down her experience, she managed to stay calm and tease about her condition. She did a great job of writing a story of hope.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.


i love how brave and comical Mimi Hayes is. She told her story with grit and humor. definitely read this!

Ms. Hayes went through hell and I can't imagine what she went through, because you know not everything is in the book, and I give her props for all of that. I wish it would have been more serious than comedy. I hope she is on the road to recovery and helps others with her book.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mimi took us on a great adventure! While the subject matter was very serious, it was treated in such a lighthearted and entertaining manner.

We learned about the treatment for the hole in her head but also how she managed the hole in her heart.

I enjoyed this book - lots of fun.

I got this book as an ARC from Netgalley. Honestly, I chose to read it as much for the description as the fact that the cover had pretty colors. I wasn't expecting too much (I've read some pretty terrible memoirs on Netgalley recently), and was therefore pleasantly surprised to find that this book rocked! The author, even though she went through a horrendous experience, was funny, and talked about her experience with aplomb.

For example, after her bad breakup with her long term boyfriend, James, she goes out on another date. Hayes writes "our first kiss happened on the second date. We continued to walk around parks and drink coffee, which gave me plenty of opportunity to make a fool of myself. I wore heels on one date and had to take them off because my feet hurt so badly. But what did I say to explain this behavior? 'Sorry, I need to air out my fee.'" -- Ouch (and I am not only talking about feet).

Other times Hayes let us know exactly what she was thinking, and she didn't let a little thing like being on the toilet stop her! "About eight o'clock that night, I went to the bathroom to sit on the toilet and think about my life choices. And also to take a poop, as one does." She writes that in these moments, when she had time to contemplate and to think about her life, she was scared. She "had a google-able disease", and she writes, "this time I could be dying. On a toilet. My last moments could be spent going poop. I was embarrassed. And I was really, really scared. I'd just found out I'd be having brain surgery on Friday. What if my brain and I didn't have a second date? Was I going to die then? Or what if I die now, three days from the finish line and shitting on this toilet?"

Putting being on the toilet aside, I cannot imagine how scary having a brain tumor must be.

Hayes was brave. Super brave. And I think she was even more brave for having written this story about her experience afterward, and deciding to publish it for people like me to read.

If you decide to give this book a try, you will not regret it.

Title: I’ll Be OK, It’s Just a Hole in My Head.

Author: Mimi Hayes

Publisher: Animal Media Group

Genre: entertainment, humor

Downloaded from Netgalley, auto-approved for Animal Media Group books there. Honest reviews as always.
Description

Don’t Worry, I Have a Hole in My Head: A Memoir on Heartache and Head Injury is a humorous and thoughtful cross between Jill Bolte Taylor’s My Stoke of Insight and Jenny Lawson’s Furiously Happy. Shocking and funny, Hayes’ memoir shares the true story of a sudden brain hemorrhage at the age of twenty-two – and the heartache and strength that it took to overcome it.

…There I go again. Trying to turn my life into a Hollywood blockbuster. It’s a very bad habit I’ve developed, you guys.
from this book by Mimi Hayes

For the topic it is a very easy read. You feel like she’s sitting next to you and telling you every word.

This is a thoughtful, humorous memoir of the before, during, and after of Mimi's life when she experienced a sudden brain hemorrhage at 22. Sometimes a bit too light for my tastes for such a serious subject, I can appreciate that she was able to maintain her sense of humor. The writing is a straightforward and simple style, and the author veers off topic at times, which interrupts the flow of her story. Otherwise it's a touching account of what happens after tragedy, when one is faced with finding a new normal in order to move forward.