If you’re looking for a non-technical read about anxiety and don’t mind swearing at all, this book is for you. I flew through it because of the fun, conversational way it was written. Thanks so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Wonderful guide to fighting anxiety. Not only dues it offer a wealth of practical advice and tips, it’s presented with pleasingly soothing colours of peaches and browns. It’s upbeat, and inspiring. And if that isn’t enough, what’s not to love about a book which finishes with some word searches snd colouring pages!
I would recommend a read if you’re feeling the burden of anxiety.
My thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for a digital copy in exchange for my review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I read it over five days, during which I was co-conscious with three different alters, which radically changed my experience of the book.

While I was Co-conscious With a Trans-Femme Alter
The read was enjoyable. Very personable, straight-forward. Lovely illustrations. Really loved the "I Spy Everything Green" activity (as found on page 25 in the e-ARC).

While I was Co-conscious With an androgynous Alter
Began to feel vaguely uncomfortable at times, but we weren't entirely sure why. We thought maybe it was because we were being slightly anxiety-triggered, but we didn't actually feel anxious so that couldn't have been it. We only read a couple of pages because of how disconcerting the text was making us feel.

While I was Co-conscious With a Trans-Masculine Alter
Oh boy, did my alter feel a lot of "Nope," about the text. The author's demographic is Very Clearly cis-gendered women. He did not feel welcomed into the space At All. This also explained the previous day's discomfort. The author keeps talking about "self-care" but never once mentions where that idea even originated (i.e. a Black Woman), which felt appropriative. It uses incredibly binary language. Whether it was intended or not, several of the comments felt anti-trans/TERF adjacent. Both of us were experiencing a lot of anger & hurt at being pushed out of the text, especially because the binary language wasn't at all necessary & easily could have been edited to be more inclusive.

Main Host's Experience
Outside of the binary language I have a couple other critiques. One is the language, and no, not the liberally scattered f*cks, which I think will work for quite a few people. I'm more concerned about the millenial/gen z slang. This book already feels dated, and it's not even published yet. Outside of my personal bias against words like 'stan,' I am also biased against this kind of slang for two reasons. One being that is feels like forcing an intimacy & personal connection that the author has done nothing to deserve (more on this later). Two, it quickly makes a book irrelevant to future readers, who will find some of the dialectical slang inaccessible.

Another critique is the author herself. Who is she? There is little biographical information about her in the book itself. Maybe the print edition is different, but most books end with a short bio on both the author and the illustrator/s, but my version did not. Which was extra annoying, because one of the things I liked best about the book was the illustrations & the formatting. Even if all the people depicted are women, they are diverse women, of different ehtnicities/races & body types, & I think the illustrators deserve credit for their work. Hopefully the print edition does this. That aside, the point is that I could not find any information about the author. I try to be as fair as I can be when critiquing an author, because I don't want someone to assume things about my internal biases, so I try not to do that to others, but I cannot find an author's website, instagram account, twitter page... Which is super bizarre considering how much the author relies on social media references & diction. She makes a lot of claims, some scientific, some not, but I find myself distrusting any of the scientific research, because outside of some internet articles it's not clear where she did her research - or if she did it at all. I don't trust the author & I don't feel welcomed into the book's space.

There are 2-3 people I might recommend this book to, as they are white & cis-gendered women who will appreciate the down-to-earth practicality of the advice & the language that the author uses. I think there are many people out there, predominantly cis-women, who will gain a lot of insights from this book. Based on the reviews already up on Goodreads & Instagram many people have felt seen & comforted by this book, which is all good things. I'm very glad that people will find this book a helpful addition on their healing journey. For me, personally, it missed the mark in several key ways. I was disappointed because there is a lot of good in this book. There was one key phrase that helped me notice one of my trauma responses & it did help me on my healing journey, but not enough for me to want to own this book or liberally declaim its worthiness to be read. I would love to read more reviews from trans/masculine/or BIPOC experiences to see if we're vibing in the same direction. I have very specific biases/prejudices/triggers so it's possible this book just hit me in several wrong ways. I cannot speak to the author's intentions because I have no idea who she is or what she believes, but I believe that she meant well.

If you are more on the femme side of the gender experience I think this book will be quite comforting/helpful. If you are not, this may not be the book for you.

this review based on the e-book ARC made available through NetGalley & Andrews McMeel Publishing, with thanks & gratitude

What a helpful guide for moments of anxiety. I appreciated how quickly the information got to the point which is what is needed in moments of anxiety. The activities and information are practical and useful tools ranging from motivational, positive talks, breathing exercises and mindfulness activities. I’d definitely recommend this to those who suffer with symptoms of anxiety or even those who just want to learn some great stress relieving techniques.

I absolutely loved everything about this book! From the breathing exercises, to the coloring pages, to the language that is exactly how I feel all the time! I will absolutely use all of it, pretty much every day. I'm also going to discuss it with my therapist, I think she would absolutely approve.

This is a book of tips, ideas, and pep talks about how to deal with anxiety. Something that makes F*ck Anxiety different than most other self-help books I've read is that Lauren Douglas mentions actual science without using so many scientific terms that most people don't know what they are without looking them up. I also appreciated that the book isn't entirely monotone and that the author added jokes and funny comments which is something that a lot of self-help books don't have. Overall I would highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with anxiety.

I really enjoyed the time reading this. The illustrations are the best and it inspired me to keep reading. I loved the content. I rate this 5/5 since it exceeded my expectations. This is the type of book that is worth recommending.

Where has this book been my whole life?? These are real and practical ways to fight anxiety both in the moment or paralyzing anxiety to feelings looming within to ways to work on your brain to stave off self-doubt and self sabotage that leads us to that crippling anxiety. It’s well-researched without a “one size fits all” approach which I so appreciated. The layout is with different fonts and spacing which drew me in to read more. This is a keeper-one where you’ll want a highlighter handy to save approaches that will work for you or ones you want to try. I’ve been in therapy for anxiety for years and this gave me ideas to assuage it that I had not heard of before. How great is that? Heartfelt thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for not only giving me an advanced copy for review but also for publishing this gem.

F*uck Anxiety is a book written by Lauren Douglas with 101 ways to… “f*uck anxiety” or at least to be less anxious.
Remind this, and it’s written several times in the book too, ok to suggestions but a therapist is way more better!
I read the book on the NetGalley Shelf app on my phone and I had few problems, because I could not figure out the actual size of pages and I just had to scroll up and down to continue reading the book, this is not something against the book I think that the format in NetGalley Shelf app was not so correct for the book.
As for the book I had a couple of situations when I really had an anxiety attack and naturally I did all the things listed but I am really considering if another one occurs, anytime, I’ll go to a therapist I can’t do it on my own.
In the book there are 101 suggestions, as written before, to… make activities, to eat properly, to set the mood for relaxing and I think they are really useful to be creative in your life, and actually they are useful for anyone.
I also discovered I can buy the book, when available, on Amazon… yesterday I really wanted to color things and do writing activities at the end of the book.
I enjoyed how the book is written: serious suggestions in a funny tone makes everything more ”real” and I did right away activities written down, because… why not?! I knew they were useful and they are.
I also enjoyed the graphics.
I highly highly recommend it.
Thanks to Net Galley for having given me the possibility to read and give a comment!

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't personally suffer from anxiety but after the last few difficult years dealing with covid and its effect on the world, I have a lot of friends who do, and I thought this book would give me a better understanding or how to deal with some of their issues and hopefully how to help them and be more understanding. This is a non fiction self help book and really informative. I am not really one for self help books in general but this book was done with lots of humour and day to day practices that I didn't feel like I was being lectured, but more enlightened.

There are various exercises throughout the book of what people can do to feel less anxious and how to get yourself out of certain situations that cause anxiety. I am sure that a lot of people will find this book really helpful and can re-read time and time again. It isn't a patronising book at all it is done in a really modern and cheeky way. I am sure if will become a resource for many people. Love the title and the message that you don't have to be weighed down by anxiety and can find a way to fight back.

Let me start by saying, this book is absolutely beautiful. The style of artwork was perfect for the message that the book was trying to convey.
As someone who struggles with anxiety, I found myself thinking of the things that I have already incorporated into my life, as well as finding some new tricks to keep up my sleeve. Lauren makes the beast of anxiety approachable and feel manageable (even when that feels out of reach).

Thank you to Netgally and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing a copy of F*ck Anxiety by Lauren Douglas for an honest review.

F*ck Anxiety by Lauren Douglas is one of the most relatable, thorough books on anxiety that I've read in quite a while! I've read so many anxiety help books and none have the badass, honest energy of this book. It's stuffed full of tried and true anti-anxiety techniques coupled with amazingly positive pep talks. The author did a great job of compiling a large assortment of tools, devices, and methods to working through anxiety. I was especially excited to see how interactive this book was. There are charts, logs, puzzles, coloring pages, and plenty of question and answer sections to keep the reader engaged in the content instead of in their stress reactions. I pre-ordered a copy for myself and several family and friends. The book seems to primarily be targeted towards women but I believe that it is helpful for anyone who struggles with anxiety and has a good sense of humor.

Five Stars for this book! And the author Lauren Douglas! And anyone who struggles with anxiety but is determined to this life to the fullest!

#LaurenDouglas #FckAnxiety #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this book, I found it really helpful and I absolutely love the fact it has the word searches and colouring in, I find that so useful. I just wish I'd found this book sooner.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

As someone who struggles with anxiety, this really did give me some pointers. It was helpful also in the sense that I didn't feel alone. I felt like someone on the paper actually understood my whiplash of emotions and overthinking mind. Will definingly be going back to read if I ever need some help.

Was given an advanced copy, but all opinions are my own

Oh my, what can I say about this book? First of all, a solid 5/5 stars. This is truly the best book I've read regarding anxiety. It gives a lot of advice, such as controlling your breath, setting boundaries, prioritising yourself, daily habits, among others. The book is planned out very well -- it has beautiful illustrations and there are a few pages with blank spaces where you can write your thoughts and feelings.

I loved this book! So many different strategies for approaching anxiety. I bookmarked the pages I want to return to on an as needed basis when I need to be aware and conscious of my anxiety. The humor and comfortable, informal language kept me engaged. I feel like it even took away from the mental health stigma.

Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review

A non-fiction self-help guide to anxiety was one of my 2022 selections because I have a parent, a number of friends and quite a few friends with anxiety. So, I wanted to know a little bit more and this book was informative, held a welcoming tone, and was nonjudgmental in offering tips. I felt like the author was sitting across from me sipping a cup of their favourite hot beverage.




Expected Publication Date 05/04/22
Goodreads review published 11/03/22
#FckAnxiety #NetGalley

I loved how informal the tone was, like I was talking to a friend (who knew what they were doing!) I used a lot of the breathing and stretching techniques already. I can't wait to use the coloring pages soon!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. Simply- I loved this book! I am definitely going to buy a copy to keep on my shelf. The artwork/presentation of this book is beautiful, and the artwork seemed fairly inclusive. The prose of this book is sassy- which I love. But if you are someone that is sensitive to swearing, that may bother you with this book. The actual suggestions in this book are easy to do, practical, and something most anyone could do. I would recommend this to anyone!

F*ck Anxiety made me laugh, soothed my soul, and gave me practical tools for overcoming challenging thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I'm planning to buy one for myself and a few more to give as gifts. The writing is accessible, warm, and kind, the advice is clear, easy to follow, and useful.

Beyond the words, I loved the look and feel of the book. The color palette is muted and fresh, the illustrations are beautiful and inclusive, and the fonts are appealing.

If anything at all is weighing on you, get this book!

Reviewing an ARC of F*ck Anxiety by Lauren Douglas from NetGalley (thank you!)
Note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted in whole or in part without explicit consent from the author.