This was another book that I didn’t really get what I signed up for but I’m not complaining about it. I thought it was more like a self-help book and in some kind of way it was ? But it was more of a breakdown of how our minds work and why we are the way we are (I know, it’s in the title), but it was so much more than that!
Honestly, reading this book made me feel so much less alone. Because it’s one thing for someone to say “I know how you feel” and it’s another thing for someone to break it down scientifically and prove that we do all go through this. It was information overload sometimes but it dumbed everything down so to speak and was easy enough to comprehend.

I think I would have jived with this a lot more if Gemma had talked more about her lived-experience with neurodivergency, I appreciated her enthusiasm on how the brain works and scientific explanations behind feelings and such but I did feel it was lacking in narrative and we were just jumping from topic to topic (very ADHD-core in that sense to be fair). It was all quite technical and information-heavy, but the content just wasn't anything new for me.

And I'm mad because she's reminded me that I can't conjure an apple.

I was scrolling Netgalleys read now when I came across this. Of course the first thing that caught my eye was the name. As a big 1D fan and Harry fan, I knew who Gemma was. I think I might have seen the book on tiktok at some point aswell. Nonetheless the title was also so intriguing, Why am I like this? I ask myself all the time.

This book wasn’t what I thought it would be, it was so much better. I had understood that it was about social media, but I didn’t think it would be this much about the actual brain and its functions. I feel like I’ve learned so much by reading this book. And it is so approachable, the explanation are never too hard to grasp and it gives you a great insight into things that you might otherwise consider incredibly hard. Like imagine saying to myself a year ago I’m reading a book about my brain and I’m thoroughly enjoying it!

This book felt like an older sister explaining her uni thesis to you in the best way possible!
Gemma shares her own experience, that are very relevant and relatable. But she then dives into why the brain works like that.
Comparing it to the start of civilization and how our brain now has to adjust to the digital world and the things we call everyday life. The inserts she does when explaining makes you understand the information in a whole new way, aswell as take the pressure off.

Terms like “imposter syndrome” that you might have come across on tiktok or instagram, which I felt I had some sort of understanding of get explained in real terms and makes you truly understand what it is. And one of my favorite parts “what is anger” , what do our emotions mean? why do we feel a certain way? And why why Am I like this?

The reason I don’t pick up books about social media is because I feel most books are derogatory and have no actual understanding of what it’s like to grow up in the world today when everything is pushed on you to be online. I am 100% serious when I say I don’t know the pin to either of my bank cards because I only use Apple Pay, I don’t even carry a physical card🫣 Because this is the new world, this is technology.

I think this book can also be applied to the real life we are facing with the genocide taking place in Palestine. We feel helpless scrolling through photos upon photos of people being brutally murdered, and feel that whatever we do isn’t good enough. As someone who is very pro news being reported on social media from the people living this nightmare, because all other news outlets (despite claiming to be neutral, all take stances) these people who are risking their lives constantly to show us reality are the most important people on social media. The book also describes something I’ve felt this past year, where you become numb to the news. And it’s good to have it described, because I feel so guilty that at certain times I became numb or insensitive to the news. And it’s not because I don’t care it’s because my brain can’t comprehend and process everything that’s happening and does this to protect itself and me. It’s described in the book as “compassion fatigue” or “emotional burnout”.

When the attacks became more brutal and all over Lebanon, my body and brain couldn’t keep up. I got stress rashes, had to take time off school and work because every little notification felt like it would be the one to deliver the most horrible news about my family and my people. I would flinch and feel sick to my stomach every time I read about a new air strike. At one point the occupation air force threatened near my house, my family home was in the picture. And here I was miles and miles away unable to do anything to stop this from happening, I just had to be at work and continue being super happy because I work with children and they don’t understand.
And then a few weeks later my brain could no longer process this and I started becoming numb to the news. Understanding why my brain does this really helps. At times I felt that I was broken and had lost all my empathy for others. But it’s actually a scientific thing that can be explained. I am in no way trying to compare myself to those who actually lived and are living through the effect of the occupation army, this is just my experience. It’s also important to note that if your owne mental health is bad you can’t help anybody else, we have to care for ourselves to be able to care and help others!

The author here understands and doesn’t judge rather tries to give perspective and advice so that we can have a better internet experience, both for our own mental health and others!
I certainly feel that I’ve learned so much about myself and during my reading of this have felt more in control and understanding of myself and emotions!
A huge recommend if any of these topics interest you at all!
Thank you Netgalley, for allowing me to read this!

Your brain and mental health is important! 🧠

When I heard that Gemma Styles had written a book, I knew I had to read it. I’ve listened to her podcast a few times, and I admire her openness and courage, especially when it comes to discussing mental health—something that’s still too often a taboo in our society.
In this book, she dives deeper into her experiences with depression, ADHD, and anxiety, drawing on both her personal journey and scientific insights. She shares a wealth of information, so I found myself needing to stay fully engaged as I read. Fortunately, her explanations are clear and accessible.
I found the book incredibly thought-provoking. The section on how our thoughts work left a lasting impression on me. It made me question, “How do I experience my own thoughts?” Do I hear them in my own voice, or in someone else’s? It’s a fascinating concept that kept circling in my mind. And yes, I kept picturing an apple—a detail that will resonate with others who have read the book!

Read this if you want to learn more about mental health.

Have you ever done or said something and your realize everyone around you has stopped speaking or doing whatever they were doing and are just looking at your? Have you been told your brain goes to weird places? I call these record scratch moments. You can hear the needle scratch across the record and the music in the soundtrack of your life come to an end for a moment while everyone pauses. If you are having trouble navigating life and figuring it all out Gemma Styles can help you stop and take a clear look at things. She will help you understand and dig into what is going on and fix things at the root cause.

Thank you Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC.

“Why Am I Like This?” by Gemma Styles is an incredibly interesting take on modern-day struggles in mental health. Although not an expert herself, Styles was clearly passionate about providing the clearest, most-honest, evidence-based research that she could. Unlike other self-help books, Styles made sure her message was clear in a way that’s easily understandable by a large majority. It was clear that she wanted to reach a large audience in a way that was impactful.

This book was incredibly relatable. It had my emotions all over the place. I really enjoyed reading it.

I did read and listen to this. The narration is done beautifully! I could listen to her read all day, I’m sure.

Why Am I Like This? by Gemma Styles is a deeply insightful and relatable exploration of self-discovery, mental health, and the complexities of modern life. Styles' writing is candid, humorous, and refreshingly honest as she reflects on her own personal experiences and the challenges of understanding why we are the way we are. What I appreciated most was her ability to blend humor with vulnerability, making it easy to connect with her stories while also offering valuable reflections on mental health, identity, and personal growth. Her unique perspective—being in the public eye yet still grappling with the same struggles many of us face—adds depth to her narrative. It’s a book that feels like a conversation with a close friend, one that encourages self-compassion and understanding.

Did I originally pick this up because Gemma is Harry's sister? Yes.
Took me a while to get into it, but then i discovered the audiobook and almost immediately I flew threw the book. I don't think there is a single person who wouldn't find this book relatable - or at the very least wouldn't benefit in reading this because they are bound to know someone who struggles with mental health. Gemma breaks down pretty complex topics in a very casual manor while still being able to provide a lot of data which made this enjoyable yet informational.

Great book! As a mental health advocate myself this book was really cientifically accurate but easy enough to read without any experience or knowledge on the field. A great way to educate people on such an important topic nowadays.

*Why Am I Like This?* is a clever, well-researched, and relatable exploration of how our brains work and why. Gemma combines her personal experiences with mental health issues with insightful explanations of brain function, making complex concepts easy to understand.

Her personal anecdotes add depth and authenticity, while her clear and accessible writing style makes learning about the brain both enjoyable and enlightening. There’s so much valuable information packed into this book that it’s hard to absorb it all in one read—I’m already looking forward to a second read to catch what I missed the first time!

This book is perfect for anyone interested in brain function, mental health, or understanding people in general. Beautifully written, thoughtfully researched, and delightfully relatable, *Why Am I Like This?* is an absolute gem. Thank you, Gemma, for sharing your insights—it’s fan-bloody-tastic!

This book was perfect. I originally picked it up because as a Harry Styles fan, reading a book by Gemma Styles (Harry’s sister) was a must. Personal growth is a topic that I don’t read a lot of. When I do, it usually takes me a long time and I struggle with the material. “Why Am I Like This” was easy to read and understand, and it made me feel seen. I’ve already bought a physical copy to add to my tangible library, and I can’t wait to recommend this book to everyone I know.

It's a great mix of personal conversation and academic paper. It felt amazing to know I'm not alone in a lot of what's going on in my brain! I'd say at least half of the book will be highlighted when I purchase it.

This is such an interesting topic to me, and I decided to switch to listening once this came out. I didn’t want to rush it, and really absorb the information- ya know? Gemma narrates it and it was so so lovely- her voice is incredibly soothing. I felt like I was chatting with a friend about mental health, social media, and “why I’m like this”. It wasn’t overly long, was informative and delivered in a consumable way. I’ll definitely be recommending this one lots!

Wouldn’t let me download it I’m so sad:((( I’m gonna go get it and read it eventually! I don’t know why it wouldn’t let me download it. That has never happened before

Although I know who Gemma is due to her being the sister of one of my favourite people ever, Harry Styles - that wasn’t why I picked this book up. I have followed Gemma for years on instagram and have felt inspired, heard and supported through her posts talking/sharing about her personal experience with her mental health journey. And this book was no different. Titled “Why am I like this?” perfectly as this is a question I and a lot of people if not all of us ask ourselves when we “mess up” or have a particular reaction to something or compare ourselves and this book made me feel so incredibly seen. Although a lot of what was shared I have learnt over the course of my bachelors degree in psychology, I appreciated the personal experiences being shared and the inner thoughts of a real individual that has experienced mental health struggles that are so incredibly common amongst us yet there is still so much of a stigma. If I had of had a book like this when i was 13 years old I would have had a lot more self love and I’m so glad that this book is available for others to read now and not feel alone or question why am i like this. Gemma talked through important topics with a research based approach that you know she was becoming fluent in and the effort was clear that she had worked tirelessly to educate herself on these topics. I listened to the audiobook and not only was her accent just calming in itself but her eloquence when reading makes you feel comfortable and like you’re listening to your best friend chatting with you. I just really appreciated this book and needed it at this time. Thank you to NetGalley and Andrew’s McMeel Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book! 😊 This read as kind of one big information dump which I found interesting… But kind of repetitive at times. I appreciated learning about some topics I was interested (ex. Parasocial relationships, emotions, the brain etc.). This was well researched and interesting, but lost me at times and dragged in some places. I enjoyed returning to the mental health psychology genre after a long pause.

This book made so much sense to me. It felt like it was speaking to a part of my soul that needed to hear every word. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an E- Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading about 25 pages of this book, but unfortunately, I had to stop. I suffer from chronic migraines and eye migraines, and reading on my phone on the NetGalley app is not helpful for my health. I usually read on my Kindle because it's like reading a book page—there's no light.

Rating and reviewing what I read: I was very surprised by the knowledge base and information that Gemma Styles provided. I didn't expect this to be such a science-driven book, but it was wonderful! I have a lot of health problems, and I don't want someone just saying, "I suffer from this and do this, so you should, too." Styles backs up her health problems (and similar ones) with research, but it's not like reading a stuffy textbook. I feel like I'm talking to an intelligent friend who wants to help me or a doctor who listens to me and then explains the problem and how to solve it.

I look forward to purchasing this book and reading it in its entirety.

DNF @36% - Now I don’t want to put anyone of from reading this. It’s extremely clear from what I read that Gemma Styles is EXTREMELY passionate about this topic, and has researched the hell out of it. However, the way the information was presented was a bit hard to follow for me and therefore it just don’t work for me.

This book talks about mental health in such a light way, and I really enjoyed that. I'm not saying it trivialities these problems and health issues, as it's also backed up by research and scientific facts and insights, however it's not harsh but rather easy to read and comforting.