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.

Why Am I Like This?: My Brain Isn't Broken (and Neither Is Yours) is a friendly guide to mental health issues and neuroscience aimed at women. Writer and podcaster Gemma Styles explains things in a simplistic way based on her own research after struggling with neurodivergence and mental health issues. This book provides a lot of encouragement to women struggling in social and workplace settings and will make them feel like they’re not alone. It’s an excellent introduction to women’s mental health issues, and will provide readers with tools and background information if they need more help.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was thought provoking and very helpful!

4.5 stars!

I desperately need everyone to read this book immediately!! What an incredibly thought-provoking masterpiece this is. I've followed Gemma for about 12 years (I don't even want to speak on how old that makes me feel), and have always almost viewed her as somewhat of a parasocial older sister. This book was a perfect cultivation of that energy, and almost felt like I was just sitting down and having a conversation about the inner workings of our brains over a cup of coffee.
As someone who has also struggled with anxiety and depression, as well as just recently been diagnosed with ADHD, there were so many thoughts that I've had and never been able to verbalize that she put into words on these pages. A lot of this book made me feel so seen and understood on a level I didn't think to be possible, and brings up the question- if we're all so different, how do we also find people that feel exactly the same way that we do? And while this book is incredibly well-researched and fact-driven, I appreciate the effort she made to make sure that everything was easy to understand. I feel like so many "self-help" (for lack of a better word) books make my brain hurt to read because there is so much information thrown at you, but Gemma breaks it down to make things easier to understand, interspersing some light humor and sarcasm throughout to keep things interesting.
I do recommend reading this in small doses (my approach was a chapter a day) to give yourself time to think about the questions that this book brings up and your own opinion on these topics, as this book encourages you to do.
Thank you to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and of course Gemma Styles for this ARC!

There were so many relatable elements that I noticed when reading this, I took away so much information that will help when I am struggling to face the day.

While this book reads like a college research paper at times, it’s an honest and open look at mental health and neurodivergence in an era of technological co-dependence. It came at the right time for me as my non-fiction November pick in the wake of a contentious Presidential election. Gemma’s thoughts on parasocial relationships and slacktivism in particular resonated with me. The book was relatable and reassuring, even as an adult (I’m around the same age as the author). I’d recommend this book to any young adult struggling to fit in as an introduction to how the brain, our feelings, and emotions work.

5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and of course, Gemma Styles for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

When I saw the title of this book, I immediately requested. I came around to it after encountering a difficult time in the middle of October as a fan, therefore reading self-help books was needed. As someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression for years, I always wondered why my brain works the way it does and why I don’t tend to have the same reaction as others do to certain things. It truly helped me learn a lot about how my brain works throughout this book and it really provides good insight. Gemma did such an incredible job at breaking things down into ways that are easy to understand and providing examples that help bring another level of clarity. One thing I wasn’t expecting much of was science but it really goes to show how fascinating our brains truly are!

Thank you Gemma! Sending all my love to everyone who is struggling 🫂

Full review and links to social will be posted as soon as possible.

I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a scientist, I appreciated the thoroughness and the wealth of detail; it’s well-written and clearly well-researched. However, at times it felt more like a lengthy article than a narrative, which occasionally made it feel less engaging. I would have loved a bit more of a narrative drive or some additional elements to break up the more technical parts, making it easier to stay immersed.

What a lovely little book. I am generally quite sceptical of so called self-help books particular regarding mental health because it is quite a saturated market with unresearched opinions. BUT, this book was such a joy to read. It was well researched, uncomplicated and easy to read.
I could certainly relate to a lot of the discussion in this book and it is helping me to shift my thinking from “why am I like this” to “how can I understand why I’m like this”.

<i><b> "think about the people around you. look at yourself and the things you battle every day-then look at the people you love or admire and realize that they're dealing with those things too. isn't that remarkable? in a world where we try every day to honor and celebrate our differences, we still have so much more in common than there is that divide us. we are bloody miracles.</i></b>

as the only one in my family of four with ADHD, anxiety & depression, this helped me not only to recognize and better understand some of the behaviors I do, but also made me feel seen when hearing Gemma's perspective. i wouldn't call this a self help book but rather a best friend or a therapist that you can consult to on why you think the way you think and feel the way you feel. it was well researched and all the resources she had was written down as well.

this book was very comforting and serves as a gentle reminder that we're all a work in progress;

—and that's okay!

thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing! i loved this book so much.

This was like someone read my thoughts and feelings and put them in a book. This book made me feel really seen and validated and I appreciate it being written so much!

*Why Am I Like This?* by Gemma Styles dives into how our minds are influenced by social media, screen time, and the relentless news cycle. From the impacts of burnout and bias to questions around authenticity, algorithms, imposter syndrome, and empathy, Styles unpacks the fascinating workings of the human brain and mental health.

With her sharp wit and accessible writing, she transforms complex scientific ideas into clear, relatable concepts. Her tone is compassionate and down-to-earth, making this book feel more like a conversation with a wise friend than a traditional, dry psychology text. Combining personal anecdotes with well-researched insights, Styles makes self-discovery and mental health approachable—even for readers without a background in psychology.

For those navigating anxiety, depression, or simply looking to understand themselves better, *Why Am I Like This?* offers a refreshingly honest and uplifting perspective. It’s a gentle reminder that self-understanding is a journey, and that it’s okay to still be finding your way.