Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir

Written by Dolly Alderton

Narrated by Dolly Alderton

New York Times Bestseller

""There is no writer quite like Dolly Alderton working today and very soon the world will know it.” —Lisa Taddeo, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Three Women

“Dolly Alderton has always been a sparkling Roman candle of talent. She is funny, smart, and explosively engaged in the wonders and weirdness of the world. But what makes this memoir more than mere entertainment is the mature and sophisticated evolution that Alderton describes in these pages. It’s a beautifully told journey and a thoughtful, important book. I loved it.” —Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love and City of Girls

The wildly funny, occasionally heartbreaking internationally bestselling memoir about growing up, growing older, and learning to navigate friendships, jobs, loss, and love along the ride

When it comes to the trials and triumphs of becoming an adult, journalist and former Sunday Times columnist Dolly Alderton has seen and tried it all. In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, finding a job, getting drunk, getting dumped, realizing that Ivan from the corner shop might just be the only reliable man in her life, and that absolutely no one can ever compare to her best girlfriends. Everything I Know About Love is about bad dates, good friends and—above all else— realizing that you are enough.

Glittering with wit and insight, heart and humor, Dolly Alderton’s unforgettable debut weaves together personal stories, satirical observations, a series of lists, recipes, and other vignettes that will strike a chord of recognition with women of every age—making you want to pick up the phone and tell your best friends all about it. Like Bridget Jones’ Diary but all true, Everything I Know About Love is about the struggles of early adulthood in all its terrifying and hopeful uncertainty.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Feb 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9780062989963

Dolly Alderton

Dolly Alderton is an award-winning author and journalist. She is a columnist for The Sunday Times Style and has also written for GQ, Red, Marie Claire and Grazia. From 2017 to 2020, she co-hosted the weekly pop-culture and current affairs podcast The High Low alongside journalist Pandora Sykes. Her first book Everything I Know About Love became a top five Sunday Times bestseller in its first week of publication and won a National Book Award (UK) for Autobiography of the Year. Her first novel Ghosts was published in October 2020 and was also a top five Sunday Times Bestseller.

Reviews for Everything I Know About Love

[Rodney · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I could not have loved it more! It was heartfelt and touched on so many different ways we as people are loved and don’t even realize it.

[Daylin Figueroa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My favorite part was her meeting (David/Daniel) that one night changed something in dolly. The moment she was able to stand up to her worth. Acknowledgment of what she deserved after opening herself to a complete stranger.

[Johanna · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was surprised with how deeply this book touched me. It was a beautiful opportunity to revisit my own roaring twenties in my head and make peace with them. Thank you Dolly for sharing your journey.

[emma · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

this was very reassuring to hear in my early 20’s! i bawled my eyes out during the bit about growing apart from friends. some parts felt millennial specific, but i’m sure i’ll relate more when i approach my 30’s.

[Ezioma Blog · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This memoir is a beautiful one. I enjoyed it. I love reading memoirs, especially women memoirs. I love learning about their experiences and how they navigate through life. And in this case, I enjoyed learning about the author's experience on love and what it means to her. It's a great book. And I'd recommend.

[jwaher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

annoyingly a much needed read, kinda wanna force everyone to read it but whatever

[Andreea Oproiu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the way this book is both self-deprecating and weirdly romantized.

[Jia Li Tan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Heartwarming and a really good laugh! I enjoy the read very much!

[kenia silva · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was amazing, so fun, intimate and accurate. I really didn’t think I would love it that much

[Ivana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Breathtaking written. In some ways it feel like peering into my own brain through a looking glass. Heart warmly endearing like putting on your best jumper and calling calling your best friend just for kicks.

[Robyn Albertyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Witty. Tender. An incredibly wholesome read! I laughed, I cried, I reflected.

[StefanieRogers · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Probably wasn’t the target demographic…ok but flighty and I didn’t love the characters

[whatdoreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book about life and the struggles within it! Definitely worth reading

[Maria Grzywacz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a frank, vivid and inspiring memoir! Dolly Alderton's story is very relatable - she does not only talk about romantic love, she touches upon love for one's friends and family, one's body, one's job... one's life, really.
Alderton doesn't simply write; she SHARES, and that's very precious.
Some things also triggered me in the book, like the random recipes. Also, towards the end, the chapters turn into lists, and there's much less storytelling. I missed the narrative towards the end!

[Jade Brandão · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amei cada segundo! Narrado pela autora, o que torna tudo melhor.

[valencia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The last half was sooo good and completely felt relatable even though i live in a small town of Texas!

[Madalena Afonso · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved every single thing about this book! The last few chapters made me constantly tear up or become emotional over how relatable they are. As someone who’s half’ a year away from turning 30 (and dreading every minute of it), Dolly Alderton’s words really inspired me and made me realize there’s nothing to be scared of, especially when you have people who love and support you, but most importantly, when you love and support yourself

[jessicadelellis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an ARC of the book for free from the publisher (Harper Books) in exchange for an honest review. Since I received an ARC, my quotes from the book are tentative. I found this to be a very relatable memoir. There were some passages that really spoke to me. For example, a paragraph from the chapter, Tottenham Court Road, perfectly describes me right now. She writes:“When you begin to wonder if life is really just waiting for buses. . . and ordering books you’ll never read off Amazon. . . You are realizing the mundanity of life, You are finally understanding how little point there is to anything. You are moving out of the realm of fantasy ‘when I grow up’ and adjusting to the reality that you’re there; it’s happening. And it wasn’t what you thought it might be. You are not who you thought you would be” (pg 167-168).That passage really hit home. I am definitely still coming to terms with the face that I am “grown up.” At another point she states, “Online dating is for the brave” (pg. 324). All I can say is amen to that! This book is not just relatable, it is also very humorous. There are some funny moments. I particularly liked the satirical emails she interspersed throughout the book. On the flip side, there are some more heartbreaking moments that added contrast. I liked the balance between the two because it really showcases the ups and downs of life.Lastly, I really liked the author’s writing style. It was very accessible and conversational, as if you were two friends catching up. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it. It isn’t just a book about love. It’s also about female friendship and growing older which will resonate with a lot of women.

[Mariana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The beginning was different than I was expecting, but it gets really really good, and as you least expect it it hits with something so relatable that you feel absolutely seen. Fantastic experience as an audiobook as well.

[Carlyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Didn’t realize it until it started, but everything Alderton said is exactly what I needed to hear. Beautifully harsh and brutally poetic. Recommending to every other 20-something I know.

[Laura Elksne · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Only the ending felt worth it. I was bored the whole book.

[amandanan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'd like to shove this book into the hands of every single 20-something female.

[sheila1957 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is Dolly's memoir of her life from her teen years through age 30. It started slow and whiny. I wanted to throw it against the wall but since I won it through the Goodreads Giveaway I felt obligated to finish it and give it a fair and honest review. It got better as she grew up and stopped using one-night stands and drink as crutches and started working and being an adult. She had some good things to say about growing up and some of it was funny. I could see some of it but it was a long time ago that I was that age and I did not use sex and alcohol to try to make me feel better. I think she began growing up when Florence, her friend's sister, started having problems. Florence's story was good. I loved the few letters about friends milestone events--engagement, marriage, birth. They were so snarky they were funny. This ends on a high note.

[oddandbookish · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an ARC of the book for free from the publisher (Harper Books) in exchange for an honest review. Since I received an ARC, my quotes from the book are tentative. I found this to be a very relatable memoir. There were some passages that really spoke to me. For example, a paragraph from the chapter, Tottenham Court Road, perfectly describes me right now. She writes:“When you begin to wonder if life is really just waiting for buses. . . and ordering books you’ll never read off Amazon. . . You are realizing the mundanity of life, You are finally understanding how little point there is to anything. You are moving out of the realm of fantasy ‘when I grow up’ and adjusting to the reality that you’re there; it’s happening. And it wasn’t what you thought it might be. You are not who you thought you would be” (pg 167-168).That passage really hit home. I am definitely still coming to terms with the face that I am “grown up.” At another point she states, “Online dating is for the brave” (pg. 324). All I can say is amen to that! This book is not just relatable, it is also very humorous. There are some funny moments. I particularly liked the satirical emails she interspersed throughout the book. On the flip side, there are some more heartbreaking moments that added contrast. I liked the balance between the two because it really showcases the ups and downs of life.Lastly, I really liked the author’s writing style. It was very accessible and conversational, as if you were two friends catching up. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it. It isn’t just a book about love. It’s also about female friendship and growing older which will resonate with a lot of women.

[lara335 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Searingly honest account of one woman’s dating experience in the internet age. In this autobiography Dolly recklessly lives life to be the centre-of-attention party animal, meets up with strangers on the internet, hoping they will be nice as she doesn’t have the money for a taxi home!As her friends fall in love & settle down, Dolly becomes infatuated with men on the internet, only to be bitterly hurt when an actual meeting takes place. Counselling seems to bring a little self-reflection. Ultimately this book is a celebration of lasting female friendships for a woman stuck in adolescence.