MEMOIR

Unhappy Achiever: Rejecting the Good Girl Image and Reclaiming the Joy of Inner Fulfillment

by Ashley Jordan
Wonderwell. Apr. 2024. 288p. ISBN 9781637560433. $26.99. MEMOIR
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In this memoir, journalist Jordan chronicles years of striving toward impossible ideals, which ultimately resulted in her realization that people—especially women—might never attain happiness or life satisfaction if they insist on chasing societal expectations for success. Her book is not about giving up or letting go of focused, intentional goals. Instead, it’s a gentle reminder that one’s dreams and needs can tell a person more about their worth and own definition of “success” than external sources, such as a job, salary, or neighborhood. Jordan delivers a deeply personal work, but she includes enough cultural touchstones to make it feel relatable to most readers who are ready to loosen the girdle of traditions and expectations that keep so many women from living bigger, bolder lives.
VERDICT Readers will gravitate toward this book, which emphasizes that people shouldn’t be judged by a list of achievements. Perfect for fans of Elise Loehnen’s On Our Best Behavior or Katherine Morgan Schafler’s The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control.
Reviewed by Emily Bowles , Feb 23, 2024
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