An unconventional fashion blogger trying to find her place on the internet

Despite being quite the avid reader, I don’t usually post book reviews on my blog. Not for any particular reason, I just haven’t felt that I needed/wanted to. 
However, given this book was written by a blogger herself, I wanted to share the love and appreciation to an amazing role model to so many young people of today. 

Grace Victory has been someone I’ve followed for a number of years and although can be quite controversial at times with her opinions on politics (I love you Grace, but I can’t get on board with the Labour Party 😉), sex, mental health issues and body image – this book taught me so much and gave a really raw insight into a typical girl who comes from somewhere like me – albeit our circumstances were similar yet different in so many ways. 
So here’s a round up of the main things I learnt from this book;
1. The Introverted Extrovert
I related to this term more than anything in the entire book – I’m very loud and outgoing, yet will love to curl up at home with a series to binge watch and a curry rather than a night out on the piss. There were obviously a lot more things that stood out to me on this point, but I totally understood where she was coming from
2. Locking away memories and emotions might not be the best way of coping
A lot of my childhood is a blur/blank due to medications I took for my epilepsy and the seizures themselves, however there are a lot of points in my life where I have simply locked away a memory to never return to it again. 
Although people would never notice it on the surface, my mum leaving us had a huge impact on my life – like Grace I became a parent of sorts to my sister and this was a huge burden for me to carry, which I still do to an extent today. 
I think I need to speak to someone to address this part of my life to get myself into a better state mentally – don’t get me wrong I’m not suicidal or self-harming, but an anxiety hangs over my head a lot of the time and the fact that my epilepsy has returned is causing me a lot of issues with anxiety and panic. 
3. Body image affects everyone in different ways 
I love the whole body confidence movement, but ngl I did feel a bit put out by some of Grace’s descriptions of blonde skinny white girls. I’m naturally slim (and slimmer than usual having lost a stone after being very poorly with hepatitis E) and blonde so this description made me feel a bit put out. 
EDIT: Since this post went up, Grace tweeted me back and I don’t want it to come across as me being ignorant to the very blatant issues we have in society with WOC and plus size. I’m just a skinny white girl living on a council estate that took some comments to heart. I know that wasn’t Grace’s intention or what her mission is all about. 


However, the essence of what she was saying shone through and I love what she’s doing for the body confidence movement. Body shaming isn’t just about being bigger, but being slim/skinny (I hate that word!) too and I think this is as an important message to portray. 
4. Taking some ‘me’ time
This is something that really reasonated and it could well be because of the issues I’ve got going on health wise personally. I’m very ambitious and always have been – if someone says I can’t do something then I make a point of proving them wrong (more for myself than anything else), but right now I really need to reign myself in and take time out for me. 
I can’t conquer the world if my health isn’t in a great place and if I don’t take the time to look after myself then I won’t be able to give life my all. 
Everyone can’t be on top form all the time and people will admire you a lot more for being honest, putting your hands up and admitting you need support or time out.
5. And finally – make a 5 year plan! 
This is something I need to do professionally at work and personally for my blog – Grace’s book has just reiterated that message to me! 
Conclusion
Grace’s story is inspirational and I really think shows that you can overcome anything, achieve whatever you set out to and last of all – it’s not going to be an easy ride! 
Definitely a read I recommend and you can order a copy here
I hope you enjoyed this post and please let me know if you’d like to see more book review posts! 
Until next time… 
Gaby 

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