Book Review – Fully Functioning Human (Almost) by Melanie Murphy

Paperback, 310 pages
Published August 24th, 2017 by Hachette Ireland

Genre: Advice, Memoir, YouTuber.
My Rating: 4/5

Summary
“I’m just a nitwit girl who’s sort-of stumbling through life learning that we all have our own roads to walk – but that it’s still valuable, and rather lovely, to hear about other people’s journeys…”

My thoughts

If you don’t know who or what Melanie Murphy does, the one way to describe her is like the eldest sister of the online world. She is one of Ireland’s leading YouTubers in which she makes videos on a wide range of topics including body positivity, eating disorder recovery, relationships and mental health but to name a few, she normalises and de stigmatises the ‘taboo’ topics in life reassuring thousands of teens and young adults about what they maybe going through. She remains upbeat and boasts a great sense of humour and she is one of those YouTubers/influencers that leaves you feeling inspired, not deflated.

Melanie’s book is no different from her YouTube channel, it’s part memoir (of her life so far) and part life guide or as aforementioned reassurance. The book spans just over 300 pages and is split into five categories covering all the topics she is known for talking about. It is full of warmth and character and genuinely feels like your sitting down to listen to a friend.

I get the sense that Melanie doesn’t want her book to be taken as gospel, rather just a boost to get you through the difficult times and that’s exactly what I like to see from a book such as this.

In a world where the majority of us live online, subject to an altered approach to reality and the glorious Insta showreels, Melanie Murphy is one positive influence to follow.