Arc review. Okay I loved this book. I cried at the end because it’s one of those days and the ending was beautiful with the drawing from the author’s daughter.
I can relate in some ways to being in a middle place in my recovery. I’m not sure I feel quite as stable but I’m hopeful for my future. I loved the breaks her story and then to research and learning, there was hope in the research and in her story. After so long of struggling with an eating disorder sometimes I feel like I know everything, but there’s still many things I don’t know. Thanks to the author for sharing your story, showing there is hope even if you aren’t “recovered” and don’t know if you’ll ever move past the place of being in recovery. But being in recovery doesn’t have to define you,there’s still progress, but you realize there’s more about you, more about life than having an ED. I’m going to buy this book when it comes out for sure!

When Tarpley was eleven, her mother died—and Tarpley spiralled. What started as an effort to stop time turned into a long slog through anorexia, and even when she was well, "well" often felt tenuous.

"My recovery has been messy and maddening, and it is not redemptive in the ways our society hopes illness narratives will be. On one end of the spectrum of how we talk about this disease, there is sickness. On the other, full recovery. I live my life in the in-between, in what I've come to call the middle place. It's the liminal space that many of us inhabit as we work our way toward wellness. And it's an alternative to black-and-white thinking that bifurcates the world into two halves without exploring the beautify in between. In the middle place, hope and hardship coexist, slips are expected, and progress is possible." (loc. 67*)

Tarpley is a journalist, and here she blends her own story with research into eating disorders, recovery, and that slippery and little-studied middle place. I'd hazard a non-scientific guess that a significant majority of people with eating disorders end up in this middle place, sometimes (often?) for years if not decades: well enough to function; well enough to "pass"; knowing at the same time that a small slip could send it all tumbling back down. Or it might not, and there's no real way to know ahead of time.

I'm here for the mix. As much as I love memoir, there's a depth here that would be hard to achieve from a single person's story. Tarpley is good about avoiding problematic details, but more to the point, she highlights places where research and treatment are just...lacking. "In the eating-disorder field, there seem to be as many definitions of 'full recovery' as there are studies about it. [...] Recovery rates, for instance, are shown to be anywhere from 57 to 94 percent for anorexia and 13 to 74 percent for bulimia. (Yes, you read that right.)" (loc. 2426) There are a number of reasons for this, but if with just inconsistent definitions of recovery and wildly different study periods (can someone really be considered to have recovered from an eating disorder after just six months?), you lose the ability to effectively compare studies and treatments. Or consider this: "When Dr. Maine was doing her dissertation on anorexia in the 1980s, she said there were three comically shortsighted criteria for recovery: weight restoration, return of menstruation, and (believe it or not) marriage." (loc. 3132) We've come a long way, but there's a ways yet to go.

A thoughtful and incisive look, and an excellent addition to the genre.

*Quotes are from an ARC and may not be final.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

I've read basically every eating disorder memoir to ever exist. This is one of the best ones. Mallary manages to tell a compelling and devastating story of her illness, while avoiding the pitfalls of the "sick Olympics" - she avoids discussing specific behaviors and numbers to prevent triggering her readers. She also connects her individual narrative to the broader sociology and science behind EDs, creating a nuanced perspective that doesn't alienate those whose struggles look differently than her own. I especially appreciated the chapters on pregnancy and motherhood, since that is a topic that I haven't been able to find much insight on in other similar sources. This memoir is educational, emotional, and inspiring all at the same time. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have read it!

This is a beautifully written memoir. The first chapter made me cry. The author heartbreakingly describes the death of her mother. The way she talks about her mother just took my breath away. You can REALLY feel her raw emotions and heartache on the page. After her mom died of breast cancer, the author developed an eating disorder (anorexia) as a preteen. She was hospitalized multiple times throughout her adolescence. This book is part memoir and part investigative journalism. She talks about her experience dealing with the trauma of her mother's death and trying to heal emotionally and physically with the help of medical professionals. The chapters near the end of this book tended to drag here and there, but overall, I thought this is a very eye-opening and well-documented account of a woman overcoming her eating disorder and coming to terms with her repressed grief. The author is really brave to share such a personal and sensitive time in her life. I wish her nothing but the best. She seems like a really sweet and strong person.

Journalist Mallary Tenore Tarpley turns her lens on her own experience with anorexia nervosa, exploring "the middle place" between illness and full recovery in Slip. The book is deeply researched, following her experience of developing anorexia following her mother's death from cancer and her desire to find some kind of control. It's not only thoughtful, it's full of wise insights that apply to many human conditions. Now I have to go through my galley and capture everything I highighted, which is a LOT. Highly recommend.

The topic of Slip is an important one. So often books on eating disorder recovery end as if there isn't struggle while being in recovery. I don't think this is the case for anyone.

I liked the side-by-side of personal experience and research. More books like this should be put on in the world. I don't think this book will be for everyone, but we need more books like this.

Mallary Tarpley’s memoir, Slip, chronicles her profound journey through childhood trauma following the loss of her mother, culminating in a struggle with anorexia that necessitated her hospitalization. With candor and eloquence, she delves into her experiences with eating disorders, interweaving her narratives from childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as she navigates the intricate landscape of recovery. Her background as a journalist enriches her narrative, as she integrates interviews and research from diverse stakeholders, including patients, medical professionals, and scientists. She introduces the concept of a “middle place” in the recovery journey, underscoring the notion that setbacks are integral to healing and that progress remains attainable.

Her memoir extends beyond the personal to serve as a critical resource for comprehending eating disorders, making it indispensable for individuals grappling with these issues, as well as educators and healthcare providers. Her book not only engages readers but also offers a realistic depiction of the recovery process. Through poignant reflections and an inspiring message, she motivates readers to face their challenges with hope. This work represents a significant contribution to the literature on eating disorders, providing both personal insights and academic perspectives that resonate deeply with those who have encountered similar adversities.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for my review.

I really like how this book looks at the middle place of full recovery and recovering. It's such an interesting topic to learn about. Slip is a powerful account of the author's life with anorexia. I found the story to be written very well and commend Mallary for her authenticity and bravery. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was pretty good, I would definitely recommend

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

This is a phenomenal book and an essential addition to the literature on eating disorders. The author begins each chapter describing her own struggles with anorexia- as a child, a preteen, a teen, a young adult, a wife, a mother. After her own reminiscinces she includes reasearch and facts about anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating from both decades past and current studies. Very highly recommended to academics, physicians, and those struggling with eating disorders.