Solutions and Other Problems

With her webcomic Hyperbole and a Half, based on her award-winning blog of the same name, cartoonist Brosh shared snapshots of her life, including her struggles with depression. In this long-awaited follow-up, complete with her signature illustrations, she reflects on her childhood along with the challenges of adulthood. From moving in with roommates after the end of her marriage to reflecting on the death of her younger sister to contemplating the meaning of friendship, the author brings readers alongside as life doesn’t always go according to plan. Similar to her blog and previous book, Brosh is relatable and often humorous, whether discussing loneliness; navigating health issues; or trying too hard to either interact with or avoid neighbors, depending on the day. She also shares memories about the pets that have brought comfort and companionship throughout her life, from a dog who would collect horse poop and leave it around the house to an elderly dog who loved carrots to a cat disinterested in cat toys. Through it all, she is refreshingly vulnerable and honest. In trying to overcome her weaknesses, by spending a night alone in the woods, she reminds us that it’s okay not to be okay.