BOOK REVIEW 30 Things I Love About Myself by Rahika Sanghani

When was the last time you really looked at yourself and listed everything you loved?

This was yet another one of my 12 books in 12 months. I really am trying to read a couple more before the end of the year, and figured that I was at a point that this book seemed to speak to me. Every now and then I feel we all need a reminder about all the things we love about ourselves. 

The book opens on Nina’s 30th birthday, while she sits in a jail cell after a random uneducated encounter with a protest and police. She is fresh off breaking off her engagement and struggling with friends who seem to be more theoretical friends than actual friends. During the night she spends in prison, she asks for a book to read. The officer, feeling sorry for her, finds a beat up copy of a self help book. Now that she leads a life of crime, she stashes the book and takes it with her when she is released. Thus setting into motion her journey to self love and completing her list of 30 things she loves about herself.

To start, I love the cultural and family aspects of the story. Nina is part of an Indian family, where how others perceive them is of the utmost importance. This adds to Nina’s challenges as she tries to be a good daughter and sister. Cal, her older brother, is also living at home as he is suffering from severe depression. We also learn that 15 years prior, Nina’s father committed suicide. This tragedy creates a greater sense of concern over Cal. This will be a trigger for some as it does play a decent role in the storyline.

I loved the banter between these three characters as they try to navigate their own paths under the same roof. There is a depth to their love for each other that is unquestionable, but it is hindered by years and years of expectations and the inability to truly talk to each other about their feelings because it’s all about ‘what will others say?’

But that was one of the best nights of my life, because it was the start of my self-love journey. It forced me to go inward, to make my peace with who I am, and ultimately, to fall in love. With myself.

Over the course of Nina’s self love journey she experiences several ups and downs. New love and heartbreak, new friendships, reestablishing old friendships, and so many opportunities for personal growth. One of my favorite parts of the book was how she had to deal with, overcome and move forward from the mistakes she makes along the way. The issue with the 21st century is that oftentimes those mistakes are way more public and viral than people may want them to be. However, she owns her choices and mistakes and it leads her to be even more resilient. It also shows the power and influence of social media.

The book overall wasn’t super amazing. I enjoyed it, but it was more that it had a few pockets, those scenes that really left an impact. The events with Cal in the last third of the book were so powerful. I loved how they finally came together as a family and finally started opening up about love and grief. I am, and always will be, a huge supporter of the arts and art therapy. Bringing others together to find comfort in arts also helps to not feel so alone in what can, at times, be a dark world. 

A first person point of view also made the journey a little more personal. This was just that, a very personal journey. If it had been written in third person, the separation would have created a barrier between Nina and the reader. There were already some points that it was a little slow and clunky, but it wasn’t horrible because we could always see how Nina was feeling.

The ending was a little weird, but it was fitting for the rest of the book, supporting the trajectory set in the beginning. The best was the recapping of the 30 things that she identified throughout. There are so many ideas that I feel are good reminders for anyone.

Where does this land on my bookshelf?

I’ll put it on my middle shelf. There were moments where Nina annoyed me; times when I thought she was just being a little bit of a brat. In the end, I 100% respected her desire to love herself and to create a tangible record of what makes her so special. It really did make me wonder if I could sit down and identify at least 30 things that I love about myself. I may have to give it a try at some point. If you are looking for a little something that has cultural flare and a whole lot of self-loving, then I definitely recommend this book. Beware, there are some heavy topics: depression/suicide, mental health, racism, and family dynamics.

Don’t forget to check out my other fun sites!

Website for book lovers: www.tinyurl.com/desertbookshelf It has links to my podcast Speaking LITerally, book reviews, breaking literary news, games, links to small business and more! I also have a lot of content on my Instagram! Check it out - @azdesert_bookworm

Speaking LITerally podcast! Our monthly misadventures into all things literary. Separated by the Atlantic, Liz and I come together in our love of reading!!! Find us wherever you listen to your other favorite podcasts! Click here to find us on iHeartRadio!

If you are really bored you can read about some of my personal adventures in life raising two teenagers, commentating on professional wrestling shows and loving a husband who is fighting Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and all the lesson I learn along the way. Educate This.