The Anti-Cool Girl
The award-winning, bestselling brutal and hilarious memoir and the first Jennette McCurdy book club pick for 2023
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4.7 • 743 Ratings
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
Brutal, brave, hilarious -- a full-frontal memoir about surviving the very worst that life can throw at you.
Rosie Waterland has never been cool. Growing up in housing commission, Rosie was cursed with a near perfect, beautiful older sister who dressed like Mariah Carey on a Best & Less budget while Rosie was still struggling with various toilet mishaps. She soon realised that she was the Doug Pitt to her sister's Brad, and that cool was not going to be her currency in this life.
But that was only one of the problems Rosie faced. With two addicts for parents, she grew up amidst rehab stays, AA meetings, overdoses, narrow escapes from drug dealers and a merry-go-round of dodgy boyfriends in her mother's life. Rosie watched as her dad passed out/was arrested/vomited, and had to talk her mum out of killing herself.
As an adult, trying to come to grips with her less than conventional childhood, Rosie navigated her way through eating disorders, nude acting roles, mental health issues and awkward Tinder dates. Then she had an epiphany: to stop pretending to be who she wasn't and embrace her true self -- a girl who loved drinking wine in her underpants on Sunday nights -- and become an Anti-Cool Girl.
An irrepressible, blackly comic memoir, Rosie Waterland's story is a clarion call for Anti-Cool Girls everywhere.
'Individual, wounded, brilliant and hilarious' Sydney Morning Herald
'If Augusten Burroughs and Lena Dunham abandoned their child in an Australian housing estate, she'd write this heartbreaking, hilarious book. It made me laugh uproariously, then feel terrible for her, then laugh all over again. Sorry, Rosie.' Dominic Knight, The Chaser
'Hilarious, wise, gutsy, clear-eyed, devastating and uplifting. It's a marvel.' Richard Glover
The Anti Cool Girl was shortlisted for the 2016 Indie Book Awards and for the 2016 ABIA Awards for Biography of the Year, and in addition was the Winner of the 2016 ABIA Awards People's Choice for the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Blogger Rosie Waterland's memoir had us alternately shaking with laughter and gasping in shock. Overshadowed by her popular big sister and constantly yearning to be one of the “cool” kids, Waterland went through a staggeringly tumultuous coming of age. Her story includes trips to rehab with her mum, dodgy stepdads, abuse and violence, bullying, the death of her father, PTSD and eating disorders. We’ve long admired the popular Mamamia contributor’s subversive humour, but The Anti-Cool Girl also showcases her gift for powerful emotional insight. It’s a totally absorbing, wild ride.
Customer Reviews
The anti cool girl
I loved this book, I couldn’t stop reading it. Rosie is so right, we don’t have to conform to others expectations, we are enough.
The best laughs and tears for zonks
Rosie, you are my wonderland, my throat hurts from laughing and crying in the best possible way...
You’ve made me feel better about my own freaky self, thank you.
WOWWWWW what a read
I dont read very many books as i lose interest VERY quickly. I have not finished a book in over 10 years!! The Anti Cool girl had me totally captivated, i finished it in a day. I didnt want it to end. I was laughing my head off one minute and crying my eyes out the next. Such a beautiful but heartbreaking story. Rosie you are amazing, so strong and so talented. You will love this book!!