Five books that taught me to love myself first 💗

Dear reader,

I wanted to write this blog post in time for Valentine’s Day but as I am only getting back to blogging I am only posting it now.

Books and literature have brought me so much in my life. They taught me a lot, made me dream a lot but also showed me what was good about myself, that I wasn’t abnormal and that I deserved to feel loved. That’s why today I want to present you five books that me to love myself first.

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❥ AM I NORMAL YET? BY HOLLY BOURNE

I read this book last summer after spending a month at the hospital for my eating disorder and after they diagnosed me with OCD. As soon as I learned about it I knew I wanted to read all the books I could which dealt with OCD. Obviously this one was the first on the list and it didn’t disappoint me. If some things bugged me off in it (you can read my review) the OCD representation really changed me. It made me feel so much better about who I was and what I was struggling with. It made me want to keep fighting and to find a way to live with all those things. It really helped me and I’m thankful for it.

❥ THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER BY STEPHEN CHBOSKY

I first read this book when I was in highschool the minute I knew Emma Watson would play in the movie adaptation. Little did I knew it would change me for the better. The main character Charlie isn’t diagnosed with any mental health issues with this book but I know it helped a lot of people suffering from depression, including myself. It helped me see that I could do it, that I could asked for help and that I definitely wasn’t alone. Others were also struggling with the same things I was struggling with and I could always find something or someone to help me. I loved how it opened my eyes on how powerful friendship can be, as I met my first friend a few months after reading this book. I’ll love it forever and ever.

❥ TASH HEARTS TOLSTOY BY KATHRYN ORMSBEE

I read this book because my friend Lucie recommended it to me and because it had an asexual rep in it. Again, you can find my review on my blog and here is what I wrote at the end of it : “So thank you Tash for taking the time to chat with me and making me feel loved, welcomed and normal.” And I guess it sums it all up, right?

❥ THE AFTERLIFE OF HOLLY CHASE BY CYNTHIA HAND

It was one of the first books I read this year and I know it’ll stick with me for a long time. Even though I disliked it at first I slowly started to understanding the point of the story and it moved me. Reading about Holly made me realise how we can still change who we are to become a better person and do better things. We all make mistakes, we all get angry and more, but we can also decide to try to do better. This book really made me feel good about myself as I often think I’m a bad person. Now I know that as long as I try to be a better version of myself, then it’s okay. We are all human, we aren’t perfect but we can work on it.

❥ THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELLING PANTS BY ANN BASHARES

I read those books when I was between 10 and 14 years old, and I know I still love them just as much today. I even reread them three years ago and realised how good they really are. There’s something about it: how it deals with love, friendship, relationships in general, body image, family issues and more. It really opened my eyes on so many things and I will never thank this series enough for it. Those girls have my heart forever.

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And here we are! Obviously many other books helped me see through myself and really understand me, pushing me to love who I was. But those were the five ones I know I’ll always be thankful for.

What book or book character taught you to love yourself first?

Love always,

Clara