I am the perfect demographic for this book, subtitled “Essays From the Grown-Up Years”: I loved the “Cathy” comic strip, and found it so frequently absolutely NAILED situations/relationships/dilemmas in my own life as a woman who spent a boatload of time in the 70s-80s-90s reveling in the feminist energy I felt all around me while also struggling with issues related to self-esteem, body image, gender equality, etc.

Not being a mother, I haven’t really shared the mother-daughter experiences such as Cathy and her daughter share, so those who find themselves in what Guisewite calls the “panini generation” may more closely relate to some of the essays. But I still laughed frequently and choked back a few tears as I read about her experiences dealing with her aging parents and her adopted daughter as she watches her growing up.

I loved learning about the actual woman behind the comic strips that have given me so much enjoyment over the years, and I appreciate the emotion conveyed in the essays in this collection. I loved it and will likely gift it to more than a couple of women I know… those who share my feeling as I read Ms. Guisewite’s words: “My whole generation is reeling from the stunning truth – that we, who are way too young and hip to ever look or act old, are not too young to pass away.” 

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for this honest review. Five Stars.