As someone who got diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 30, this was painfully relatable! I loved this book! It’s funny, relatable and brings awareness to something many women don’t know they may be suffering from. Thank you Emily.!

My husband was diagnosed with ADHD in his 40s so I understood a lot about this book! I think how it presents in women and the world's expectations of women is very different and it was nice to have a peek at how she managed that and what finding out her diagnosis meant to her.

I’ll Be Five More Minutes is an endearing, relatable memoir about a woman who was diagnosed at 35 with ADHD and reflects on how it showed up in her life all along. As someone who has a similar story, I definitely found myself in the pages here. Emily treats her diagnosis and neurodivergence with humor and is able to reflect on positive aspects to both ADHD and her struggles. It is an ultimately uplifting book, and a great one for people to read if they are thinking they might be in a similar situation. If you are, you will know it by the middle of the book. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

DNF'ed at 61%

As someone who's also been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, I thought this book sounded great. While I did find some parts relatable and interesting, mostly I was frustrated by the essays in this book. The author often seemed to use her diagnosis as an excuse for less than ideal behaviour and a lot of the time it came off as her trying to be quirky? I'm not sure these are all "quirks" that can be blamed on ADHD or just someone who thinks they're always the protagonist and everyone else is just a supporting character.

Deeply identified with quest to make new sense of herself after being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. My own adult diagnosis has given me words, clarity, and validation to understand the many, exhausting ways I have tried (and often failed) to contain the chaos of ordinary life and planning over the years. I applaud her capacity for humour in situations that can easily feel overwhelming and hopeless; her persistence; her willingness to keep returning to the choppy waters of relationships and marriage even when it's hard sailing; and the ways she models compassion to herself and others whose brains do not function optimally sometimes.

What was less relatable was the continuous underbelly of what felt like harsh anger or unresolved resentment that cropped up often without warning in the book. Several chapters were stand-alone social or political rants, for example, that had little to no connection to the memoir arc or the topic at hand. Other times, the prose just felt vaguely tinted by a subtle edge of anger or blaming others that I found off-putting and distracting. This may be part of the author's unique voice and spice profile as a well-known internet writer. (I was not familiar with her until reading this book, so was only going off of the book itself, and I'm not a huge fan of ranty, anger-infused writing.)

Nonetheless, _I'll Just be Five More Minutes_ is a welcome addition to the growing conversation around women and adult ADHD.

"I'll Just Be Five More Minutes" is a relatable and eye-opening essay collection that offers a candid glimpse into the life of Emily Farris, who was diagnosed with ADHD at age 35. Her hilarious yet heartwarming stories about navigating relationships, money troubles, and hyperfixations are both entertaining and enlightening. While the book is an engaging read, the only downside I found was that some essays felt a bit repetitive in highlighting the challenges of living with ADHD, making the overall narrative slightly uneven. Nonetheless, it's a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and the quest for self-acceptance.

As someone who was finally diagnosed with ADHD at the ripe ol' age of 43, there are parts of this book that are extremely … I dunno, validating? When the author mentioned having “a severe aversion to all fruit in its solid form” due to sensory issues, I decided she was probably my spirit animal.* And there are plenty of these essays that I can relate to in one way or another – I am quite familiar with the woes of serious executive dysfunction. But, at the same time, parts of this book slightly annoyed me.

So first, the good. As I've already mentioned, I can really relate to a lot of this book. After reading the chapter where the author is dumped by a boyfriend because she's “intense” (and because she makes casseroles), I asked my husband if he'd consider me intense, he replied with “Well, I wouldn't say intense because that has a negative connotation. But, yeah, for lack of a better word, I guess you're intense.” So there you have it. (And I also make casseroles.) I also get the whole hyper-focusing thing, and the executive dysfunction thing, and the I'd-rather-throw-myself-off-a-cliff-than-stand-in-a-line thing (this might be a slight exaggeration, but not by much). And, let me tell you, if I had a nickel for every time I was told that I wasn't “living up to my potential” as a child, I'd have, well, a whole lot of nickels.

A lot of the essays were also pretty funny and I enjoyed most of her anecdotes. I also appreciated her honesty about her abortion, and her hatred for Donald Trump (how is that orange turd not in jail yet?!).

But, seriously, an ADHD diagnosis is not a get out of jail free card when it comes to repeatedly making poor financial decisions that affect your entire family. I honestly feel kind of bad for her husband Kyle, and I feel like if you looked up the phrase “long-suffering” in a dictionary, you'd probably find his photo. Don't just take my word for it, though. “Kyle regularly tells me that I'm bad at presenting ideas to him, mostly because I skip the part where I acknowledge his wants and needs – or my own history of what he calls 'acting unilaterally' – before detailing my nonnegotiable plans for an often elaborate or expensive project.” (page 140)

Also, her essay on impulsively quitting her job and what “could have happened” on 9/11 is slightly cringeworthy. As someone who lived three blocks from the World Trade Center, come on now. No, you totally would not have died just because you got off the subway at the WTC station every morning. They were diverting trains from the area long before the towers fell. And even if you had already arrived at the office, Rector Street isn't *that* close to the WTC (I mean, it's close, but not “I'm going to be flattened by the falling towers” close). So just stop it.

And, so, yeah. This book was funny and relatable, right up until it wasn't. I both loved it and was annoyed by it. Should you read it? Sure, especially if you're someone who was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, or care about someone who was. Should you read it thinking that everyone with ADHD is running around maxing out their credit cards on decorative plants? Absolutely not.

Overall rating: 3.45 stars, rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hatchette Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

*With the exception of maybe three kinds of apple, the texture of fruit is totally gag-worthy if it's not mushed up into a smoothie. I sometimes force myself to eat it because I'm an adult and, you know, nutrition is a thing, but it takes pretty much my entire allotment of willpower for the day.

I could not put this book down! I loved Emily Farris’s collection of funny short stories detailing her life with ADHD. She writes personal essays in an honest yet lighthearted way that’s connects with readers. There were a lot of moments where I laughed out loud at tales that resonated so well with my own experiences.

Emily’s book also brings to light the many untold complexities of living with ADHD, providing a deeper understanding of neurodivergence.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I'm stuck between a 3.5 and a 4 for this.

As someone who has navigated a life full of my own mental health struggles and diagnoses (or lack thereof), this was VERY relatable. some of the essays in this book felt like they came straight from my brain. the author's ability to take on the topic of ADHD while still being light and funny made this a very easy read and honestly, I think more women than expected would be able to empathize with her struggles.

I found at times that I was reading a bit of repetitive content where some of the essays did blur into one another. but otherwise, I found myself smiling a lot through out the book.

thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

“I’ll Just Be 5 More Minutes: and Other Tales From My ADHD Brain” is a collection of personal essays by Emily Farris about her life experiences before and after her diagnosis. She examines her past with a fresh perspective now knowing she is neurodivergent, and also shares very relatable stories about the ways in which she still struggles in her everyday life after learning she has ADHD.

Farris is a very humorous writer who holds nothing back when it comes to the ways in which she has struggled, and continues to struggle, with ordinary things like checking in with her spouse, paying bills, and focusing on one thing far too much or not focusing on anything at all when she knows she should.

The essays and lists contained in this book are definitely worth a read, whether you are neurodivergent or neurotypical. If you also struggle with ADHD, I am sure there is much to be found in Farris’s writing to make you feel you are not alone. If you know, or live with, someone with ADHD the same applies, and if you are in neither of these situations in your own life, this essay collection is still readable and engaging.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Such a funny collection of essays. Loved the honesty about how her ADHD has affected her life both positives and negatives. Helps show others that you can always investigate your mental health and obtain a later in life diagnosis, even it is just to get answers as to why you are the way you are. I wish mental health care was more readily available to all and spoken about more publicly! Appreciate Emily sharing her experiences so others have someone to connect to.

Emily Farris felt like she had been white-knuckling her way through life for as long as she could remember. From her humble beginnings growing up in the meth capital of the United States, Emily always felt like she had to work twice as hard to get half as far as her peers. Her entire life, she had been told repeatedly that she was destined for greatness if she could just focus and get her act together.  After a lifetime of feeling like there was something wrong with her, Farris finally received a diagnosis of ADHD at the age of 35 and at last had the words to explain the behaviors that had vexed her and her loved ones for so long. In this rip-roaring and hilarious collection of essays, Farris recounts her journey to understanding what it means to live with ADHD, the many ways that the medical community fails women, and how she has learned to harness her ADHD superpowers. As a fellow woman living with ADHD, I found myself reading passages aloud to my husband, who couldn't help but chuckle at the similarities between myself and Farris. I can't explain how much I loved this quick read other than I finished the whole thing in one day. Was that hyperfixation? Probably. But was it worth it? Totally!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary ARC of this title through netgalley in exchange for my review. This review is my honest opinion.

Book available February 06, 2024 from Hachette Books

Emily Farris's funny essay collection illustrates what it is to live with ADHD. Farris, a writer and copyeditor, takes an honest look at her impulsive behavior and how it impacts her husband, Kyle. The beauty of the collection is that Farris, who was not given her ADHD diagnosis until she was 35 years old, knows that her two sons will be supported whole-heartedly if they are also diagnosed with ADHD. Readers have to sympathize with Kyle who accepts Farris's need to change room colors on a whim, spend money they don't have, and accept her huge debt to the IRS and student loan lenders. The book is recommended for readers who know people who experience ADHD. Overall, it is an eye-opening read.

I have a friend that thinks she has ADHD at 43! I didn’t totally think it was possible but now I do. This book taught me so much about the diagnosis later in life vs as a child. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

"I'll Just Be 5 More Minutes" by Emily Farris offers an intimate and deeply personal look into the author's life with ADHD, which resonates profoundly with those who have experienced the challenges and quirks of this condition. As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD at a later age, I found the content to be incredibly relatable, and it provided a unique perspective on the daily struggles and triumphs that come with this condition.

One of the strengths of the book is its ability to dismantle the common misconceptions surrounding ADHD. Farris adeptly sheds light on how ADHD is not just about "being easily distracted" but is a complex and multifaceted condition that affects every aspect of life. Her personal accounts effectively underline this, bringing empathy and understanding to the forefront.

However, the book's content can be a bit overwhelming at times, mirroring the very nature of ADHD itself. Farris's narrative often jumps from one topic to another, and some readers may find it challenging to keep up with the rapid pace. While this might be an intentional choice to illustrate the scattered thoughts and impulsivity that ADHD individuals face, it occasionally feels like the book could have benefited from a more structured approach.