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The Space Between
There's this weird gap in life that's fuelled by cheap tacos and even cheaper tequila - also known as our twenties. It's a specific limbo of being suspended between being a teenager and a Proper Adult, and though it's wildly confusing, often lonely, sometimes embarrassing and frequently daunting, there's also a whole lot of magic to be found in the chaos. It's a time when we're finding our own voices, cementing our relationships and starting to fulfil our big ambitions (or simply just working out what they are).
Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald, creators of the award-winning pop culture podcast Shameless, are two of the many twentysomething women trying to make sense of it all. They definitely don't have all the answers but they know that mapping out our place in the world is a little bit easier when we do it together.
Brimming with wit and unflinching honesty, here are their stories and personal puzzles about life as from heartbreak and mental health challenges to overcoming career setbacks and letting go of fear. (Not forgetting the deeper meaning behind the state of their fridges and why it's so damn good to ghost out of a friend's party.)
Join Zara and Michelle as they navigate their journeys between the women they are now and who they want to be. You just might find tiny pieces of yourself in the space between the first page and the last.
Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald, creators of the award-winning pop culture podcast Shameless, are two of the many twentysomething women trying to make sense of it all. They definitely don't have all the answers but they know that mapping out our place in the world is a little bit easier when we do it together.
Brimming with wit and unflinching honesty, here are their stories and personal puzzles about life as from heartbreak and mental health challenges to overcoming career setbacks and letting go of fear. (Not forgetting the deeper meaning behind the state of their fridges and why it's so damn good to ghost out of a friend's party.)
Join Zara and Michelle as they navigate their journeys between the women they are now and who they want to be. You just might find tiny pieces of yourself in the space between the first page and the last.
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First published September 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 402 reviews
September 16, 2020
A bland, disappointing read with not much relatable content at all.
Targeted at directionless, insecure young girls who have a millennial complex that ‘adulting is hard’, this book offers no depth, insight or humour as to what your twenties is like. It glamourises being unkempt whilst simultaneously frowning upon people who have their shit together - god forbid you make appointments on your own, remember your green bags and clean out your fridge.
This book is a prime example of how having a few thousand social media followers seems to make people think they are qualified to give expert life advice to people who are realistically just their peers.
Having a section on career is almost laughable, with both authors only really having one previous job as a point of reference for every example. Whilst they have done well to be where they are at a young age, their industry experience is negligible and they fail to address that young women go into degrees that are not just arts/communication. Shocking, I know.
Finished off with a chapter on how to be a feminist when you have no backbone and need tips on how to ghost your friend’s birthday.
Pass.
Targeted at directionless, insecure young girls who have a millennial complex that ‘adulting is hard’, this book offers no depth, insight or humour as to what your twenties is like. It glamourises being unkempt whilst simultaneously frowning upon people who have their shit together - god forbid you make appointments on your own, remember your green bags and clean out your fridge.
This book is a prime example of how having a few thousand social media followers seems to make people think they are qualified to give expert life advice to people who are realistically just their peers.
Having a section on career is almost laughable, with both authors only really having one previous job as a point of reference for every example. Whilst they have done well to be where they are at a young age, their industry experience is negligible and they fail to address that young women go into degrees that are not just arts/communication. Shocking, I know.
Finished off with a chapter on how to be a feminist when you have no backbone and need tips on how to ghost your friend’s birthday.
Pass.
September 25, 2020
I love Shameless podcast and love Mich and Zara, have been listening & following them for over 2 years now. However this book really just wasn’t for me. I am 26 and I think this book would have been better aimed at late teenagers/early 20s- I think if I read this book at 17 I would have learned a lot and taken it into my 20s with me. I also couldn’t relate to a lot of the book that focused on career, I think it was very much aimed at women in the same industry (journalism/entrepreneurship). I appreciate the intent of the book however really think it would suit a younger audience rather than those in mid-late 20s.
September 28, 2020
Much like their podcast the authors failed to unpack anything in this book.
The book is a reflection of their thoughts and in no way a roadmap/guidance for your 20s.
This is a typical “influencer book” that is poorly written and difficult to get through (I skipped through so many chapters) with the authors attempting to stay relevant in the current climate.
Did not relate to this book in any way and I did not enjoy it.
The book is a reflection of their thoughts and in no way a roadmap/guidance for your 20s.
This is a typical “influencer book” that is poorly written and difficult to get through (I skipped through so many chapters) with the authors attempting to stay relevant in the current climate.
Did not relate to this book in any way and I did not enjoy it.
September 21, 2020
Disclaimer - I was asked to endorse this book prior to publication, and I received a free copy from the publisher afterward.
The Space Between is a fantastic resource for young people - a book I needed in my 20s. They’re smart, funny, relatable and reliable, and are always committed to using their platform to support and amplify diverse women.
I loved reading this. So many of the chapters are really brave (especially the ones about working at a women’s publication, anxiety and chronic pain), and I think that many readers will relate and feel empowered to speak up about about similar experiences.
I think their podcast conversation style translated well into book form.
Michelle and Zara’s work ethic, honesty and success is admirable, and I am proud to know them.
The Space Between is a fantastic resource for young people - a book I needed in my 20s. They’re smart, funny, relatable and reliable, and are always committed to using their platform to support and amplify diverse women.
I loved reading this. So many of the chapters are really brave (especially the ones about working at a women’s publication, anxiety and chronic pain), and I think that many readers will relate and feel empowered to speak up about about similar experiences.
I think their podcast conversation style translated well into book form.
Michelle and Zara’s work ethic, honesty and success is admirable, and I am proud to know them.
April 4, 2021
Felt that this book really offered no depth and it was fairly bland. Although some sections funny, I felt bored and unproductive reading it. I felt there was no really knew insight into anything, but just a few shared experiences.
I felt that the podcast is goodg, however for the most part was somewhat not relatable and self indulgent. So I was disappointed. I felt like it should have been for a younger age group.
I did not have high expectations prior to reading this book and nor were they met. If you rated this anything above a 3 star - have you ever read a good book in your life?
I felt it was a platform to continue to grow their already high social media platform.
I felt that the chapter about overworking in your 20’s / jobs was really not felt by anyone else other than people in the media world. I actually felt as though it was a bit of a dig at all of those whom have careers in other areas (medicine) and how much we have studied (8 years + of uni) working overtime post uni and how much sacrifice is actually necessary. I felt as though this is the reality for a lot of doctors and to have someone say “don’t work overtime” isn’t really a choice for us.
Overall, the girls are well educated and knowledgeable and this comes across in their podcast. However couldn’t help but feel that it was very hollow. The popularity to purchase this book came at no surprise to me, similar to the book “the subtle art of not giving a f*ck”, I can’t really seem to understand why people enjoyed it so much.
On a positive note, I felt that it had a good use of language and the choice of words in the literature were very well established and thought out.
I felt that the podcast is goodg, however for the most part was somewhat not relatable and self indulgent. So I was disappointed. I felt like it should have been for a younger age group.
I did not have high expectations prior to reading this book and nor were they met. If you rated this anything above a 3 star - have you ever read a good book in your life?
I felt it was a platform to continue to grow their already high social media platform.
I felt that the chapter about overworking in your 20’s / jobs was really not felt by anyone else other than people in the media world. I actually felt as though it was a bit of a dig at all of those whom have careers in other areas (medicine) and how much we have studied (8 years + of uni) working overtime post uni and how much sacrifice is actually necessary. I felt as though this is the reality for a lot of doctors and to have someone say “don’t work overtime” isn’t really a choice for us.
Overall, the girls are well educated and knowledgeable and this comes across in their podcast. However couldn’t help but feel that it was very hollow. The popularity to purchase this book came at no surprise to me, similar to the book “the subtle art of not giving a f*ck”, I can’t really seem to understand why people enjoyed it so much.
On a positive note, I felt that it had a good use of language and the choice of words in the literature were very well established and thought out.
September 8, 2020
THIS BOOK WAS SO GREAT AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ IT ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN YOUR 20’S AND HAVE NO BLOODY IDEA WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE.
The girls have magically put all feelings, questions, moods and scary realities you have to face in your 20’s so perfectly, I honestly cannot put into words how beautiful it was.
Please, please, please do yourself a favour and buy this book, you’re not only helping out these wonderful humans but you’re helping out YOURSELF by reading it. I feel like a new person. I am obsessed.
So, this was my first attempt at an audiobook. I REALLY shouldn’t have picked this one as my first audiobook because it felt like I was just listening to an incredibly long Shameless podcast (but girls, if you want to do a 6 hour podcast in the future I would be down for that entirely). But also I am going to go buy the paperback version just so I can make notes and scribble in it and highlight and tab necessary pages because I need this book to be in my life for MANY years to come.
Mich and Zara, thank you.
The girls have magically put all feelings, questions, moods and scary realities you have to face in your 20’s so perfectly, I honestly cannot put into words how beautiful it was.
Please, please, please do yourself a favour and buy this book, you’re not only helping out these wonderful humans but you’re helping out YOURSELF by reading it. I feel like a new person. I am obsessed.
So, this was my first attempt at an audiobook. I REALLY shouldn’t have picked this one as my first audiobook because it felt like I was just listening to an incredibly long Shameless podcast (but girls, if you want to do a 6 hour podcast in the future I would be down for that entirely). But also I am going to go buy the paperback version just so I can make notes and scribble in it and highlight and tab necessary pages because I need this book to be in my life for MANY years to come.
Mich and Zara, thank you.
September 11, 2020
This was an incredibly relatable read, one where you find yourself nodding along with what Michelle & Zara are saying/writing. Some of the essays are wonderful and eloquent gems. Some of them felt similar to stories I have heard before - granted, I enjoy reading non fiction books written by women about their experiences. Flew through this read super quick - and would recommend to a friend who wants to spend an afternoon reading a book that makes them feel warm and seen.
September 16, 2020
I have mixed feelings about this one. Some of the chapters/essays absolutely smashed it out of the park and left me feeling empowered and silently cheering. Other chapters felt somewhat irrelevant and self-indulgent. At times, it was clear to me that the authors have some serious growing up to do.
Having said this, I am not from the target demographic. I've happily gifted this to my 20 year-old sister and I would say this book is best suited to those aged under 25.
Having said this, I am not from the target demographic. I've happily gifted this to my 20 year-old sister and I would say this book is best suited to those aged under 25.
April 1, 2021
Okay so, I’m going through a pretty rough time at the moment. Some days ago, I went through something pretty traumatic and the aftermath has not been too great. They say there is light at the end of the tunnel but unfortunately this is one loooonnnggggg tunnel.
Mish and Zara made me feel less alone. I genuinely feel like I was in conversation with them while reading this. I felt like they were sitting right next to me, sharing stories, laughing, crying and reminiscing on what were the hard times. I always get this exact same feeling when listening to their podcast, so it came as no surprise to me that it would feel the exact same while I was reading their book.
Their views and some of the topics they talked about, really spoke to me. I learnt so much and I felt less alone doing so. This didn’t feel like a preachy ‘self-help’ book, this just felt like a couple friends telling stories of misfortune, love, ambition and most importantly, tales of coming into learning about where they fit into this catastrophic, weird world. I feel this is definitely what Mish and Zara aimed to do, and they really did succeed perfectly.
Mish and Zara made me feel less alone. I genuinely feel like I was in conversation with them while reading this. I felt like they were sitting right next to me, sharing stories, laughing, crying and reminiscing on what were the hard times. I always get this exact same feeling when listening to their podcast, so it came as no surprise to me that it would feel the exact same while I was reading their book.
Their views and some of the topics they talked about, really spoke to me. I learnt so much and I felt less alone doing so. This didn’t feel like a preachy ‘self-help’ book, this just felt like a couple friends telling stories of misfortune, love, ambition and most importantly, tales of coming into learning about where they fit into this catastrophic, weird world. I feel this is definitely what Mish and Zara aimed to do, and they really did succeed perfectly.
September 16, 2020
As a huge fan of their podcast, I was so excited for this book, and it didn’t disappoint! It is a collection of short essays and conversations where they (Michelle and Zara) discuss life in their twenties. The book is split into four section; love, ambition, mind and body and voice. Since I’m still a teenager, the first chapter on love was not very relevant, however I loved the rest of the book. I was particularly taken by their analysis on ambition and success. It is definitely a book which I will read again in the future, and one that I’ll be able to draw different insights from each time.
February 28, 2021
Bit sick of hearing how hard their life is to be honest
June 1, 2021
When I was eighteen, I remember thinking with remarkable conviction, that by 26 I would have every aspect of my life figured out. I craved the security that being "in my twenties" would give me. It turns out that being twenty-something is traumatising, if not more so, than being eighteen. Big people, big problems.
Reading this book was like finally exhaling. I felt like I was having a conversation with the older sister I have always craved the guidance of. I felt like my feelings and fears were being reflected in the voices of other women. It was so comforting to feel like one of millions, to feel normal.
While all four themes were articulate and empowering, I finished the sections about ambition and voice with tears in my eyes. It played on the universal understanding of what it feels like to be silenced or overlooked. In retaliation, the central message was that women deserve to use our voices, to enjoy our femininity, to demand whatever opportunities we crave, and to have courage to challenge and be challenged, or disliked even.
This book won't be for everyone, and I appreciate that wholeheartedly. But for me, this book was a bible, normalising everything I found deeply confusing and contrived and alienating about being a kind-of adult. I read most essays feeling relief, not just that Michelle and Zara had articulated what I felt, but that other women might read this and just feel really normal too.
I have enjoyed Michelle and Zara's voices in my ears every week since the beginning of their Shameless podcast, and I am so proud to see their determination. But more than anything, I am grateful that these women opened up their brains, their families, their relationships and their bodies to create a safe space for me with this book.
Reading this book was like finally exhaling. I felt like I was having a conversation with the older sister I have always craved the guidance of. I felt like my feelings and fears were being reflected in the voices of other women. It was so comforting to feel like one of millions, to feel normal.
While all four themes were articulate and empowering, I finished the sections about ambition and voice with tears in my eyes. It played on the universal understanding of what it feels like to be silenced or overlooked. In retaliation, the central message was that women deserve to use our voices, to enjoy our femininity, to demand whatever opportunities we crave, and to have courage to challenge and be challenged, or disliked even.
This book won't be for everyone, and I appreciate that wholeheartedly. But for me, this book was a bible, normalising everything I found deeply confusing and contrived and alienating about being a kind-of adult. I read most essays feeling relief, not just that Michelle and Zara had articulated what I felt, but that other women might read this and just feel really normal too.
I have enjoyed Michelle and Zara's voices in my ears every week since the beginning of their Shameless podcast, and I am so proud to see their determination. But more than anything, I am grateful that these women opened up their brains, their families, their relationships and their bodies to create a safe space for me with this book.
September 18, 2020
I couldn’t recommend this book more - for those in their twenties, late teens or even anybody above the age of 29! It’s filled with everything I could want and more, with so much wit, humour and relatable content! Now all I want to do is go out and buy it for ALL of my friends!! Well done Zara and Mich for another piece of amazing content, I absolutely adored it!
December 28, 2020
3.5 stars | From the creators of the hit Australian podcast ‘Shameless’, came this book where the hosts reflect on their experience as young women in their twenties, so far.
I’d like to note first and foremost that i’m not a listener of the podcast - hence i’m not familiar with the authors and the experiences that they talk about in the book. Split into 4 parts (Love, Ambition, Mind and Body & Voices), the book covers a wide range of content. Some of the chapters are much lighter and told in non-conventional or ‘fun’ forms like checklists, recipes and downsides / upsides list. On the other hand, you also have parts where both authors speak to more weighty topics like major break-ups, parental divorces, mental illnesses and sexual assaults.
The part that resonated with me the most is the chapters within ‘Ambition’. As a millennial who has the tendency to link her identity with her career path and forever chasing the notion of ‘success’, i found myself nodding along with a lot of the thoughts that Zara discusses.
However, i also think it’s important to realise that both Zara and Michelle speak to a lot of personal experiences. This means that a lot of it is coming from two white, straight, middle-class, and able-bodied cis women. They’ve acknowledged this and have interwoven these thoughts into their reflections. Their experiences are still valid, of course - but in light of the discussions around intersectionality, i felt like this book emphasised the lack of marginalised voices within this space for me. I was craving for more, and i knew i would have to seek out other accounts from BIPOC voices to get a more rounded view on some of these topics.
In saying that, i can see how the book and its content would resonate with a lot of young Australian women as so many of these experiences are universal. This was an enjoyable read overall and i can now see the hype! I also listened to most of it on audio, which makes it even more engaging.
I’d like to note first and foremost that i’m not a listener of the podcast - hence i’m not familiar with the authors and the experiences that they talk about in the book. Split into 4 parts (Love, Ambition, Mind and Body & Voices), the book covers a wide range of content. Some of the chapters are much lighter and told in non-conventional or ‘fun’ forms like checklists, recipes and downsides / upsides list. On the other hand, you also have parts where both authors speak to more weighty topics like major break-ups, parental divorces, mental illnesses and sexual assaults.
The part that resonated with me the most is the chapters within ‘Ambition’. As a millennial who has the tendency to link her identity with her career path and forever chasing the notion of ‘success’, i found myself nodding along with a lot of the thoughts that Zara discusses.
However, i also think it’s important to realise that both Zara and Michelle speak to a lot of personal experiences. This means that a lot of it is coming from two white, straight, middle-class, and able-bodied cis women. They’ve acknowledged this and have interwoven these thoughts into their reflections. Their experiences are still valid, of course - but in light of the discussions around intersectionality, i felt like this book emphasised the lack of marginalised voices within this space for me. I was craving for more, and i knew i would have to seek out other accounts from BIPOC voices to get a more rounded view on some of these topics.
In saying that, i can see how the book and its content would resonate with a lot of young Australian women as so many of these experiences are universal. This was an enjoyable read overall and i can now see the hype! I also listened to most of it on audio, which makes it even more engaging.
March 17, 2021
Enjoyable enough. These two women are successful in what they do and have inspired me but I almost feel like they tried to be too relatable and championed this lazy/lost millennial lifestyle (even though I doubt that’s how they got where they are??)
June 11, 2024
I'm so glad I read TSB now and not when it first came out. I suspect that at the time of release, it may have seemed like a book for women in their twenties as a how-to guide. But I approached it as a memoir of two women I just want to know more about, and I found what they offered about their lives, and advice to the lives of others, deeply interesting. Reading past reviews is like reading history that didn't age well. Some of the scathing remarks about how terrible and unhelpful this book is and by association, how dumb the authors are is laughable to read now, as it’s historically evident that’s not the case.
Now that Shameless is as big as it is, and Zara and Michelle are as successful as they are, I don’t think we’d get the raw and honest essays that we got here.
They have since discussed some regrets with writing this book and how they offered up more of themselves than they likely now would. They have (or at least, Michelle has) reflected that at the time, they thought TSB may not have been good enough or interesting enough on its own without them sharing some deeply personal information. While I think their writing is strong enough that anything they wrote would be engaging and interesting, I did also really appreciate their earnest reflections and how generous they were with their essays. As someone who loves and admires not just their work but them as business owners; I appreciated this book more as a memoir rather than a self help book with the motivation of wanting to learn and hear from the authors specifically, rather than have advice projected on to me in my life.
I think the one weakness of the book is the "listicles" which do act as a bit of corny self-help-ish writing, but the essays are such deep insight into the early minds of two business women still in the thick of building something amazing, and for that, I'm really grateful.
Zara and Michelle are beautiful writers. While at times (again, mainly the listicles) it felt like they hadn't quite shed their Mamamia-templated writing style; they both have such a beautiful way of making an ordinary experience something profound. Again, I think if I’d read this at the time of release as someone of the same age, I’d have thought there was nothing much to offer, and that it was the blind-leading the blind. In hindsight, as a 30 year old reading the thoughts of two business women in their 20s, still in the peak of their struggle, I found a huge amount of comfort, relatability, and guidance in their words. Many reviews suggested that this book would have been best for young adults 17-21; and yes, I agree that advice from 25 year olds is probably most helpful to that age demographic just behind them… but even as a 30 year old woman, there was so much of what they said which provided comfort and solace rather than guidance and advice.
I loved the theme of “The Space Between” and their choices of topics. Again, knowing that the authors wouldn’t be as open nowadays with their personal experiences, it really feels like a privilege to get to read these essays. The way they’ve linked each essay to the theme of the space between was really well done.
Some reviews have said that this was only relevant to people working in media, and I disagree. While as I said, I consider this book more of a memoir and yes, they can only really draw from their own personal experiences; hearing how they navigated toxic workplaces was relevant and the most helpful section to me regardless of the fact I work in an entirely different industry. I think it helps that prior to this, I’ve heard how they’ve reflected on the situation with Mammamia with maturity and a touch of regret in that they would have handled things differently nowadays. But again, the raw depiction of frustration documented in the book was so helpful to read. So often we hear people write about events well after the fact with a curated and measured level head that people just don’t have in the moment. To get to read the genuine sense of frustration, hurt and resentment over their rejection was refreshing and so reassuring and relatable.
Overall, I enjoyed this book so much and smashed through it. While the listicles made me cringe and I skimmed over those; overall I have the utmost respect for their writing and will no doubt re-listen to this audiobook next time I’m in a state of flux.
Now that Shameless is as big as it is, and Zara and Michelle are as successful as they are, I don’t think we’d get the raw and honest essays that we got here.
They have since discussed some regrets with writing this book and how they offered up more of themselves than they likely now would. They have (or at least, Michelle has) reflected that at the time, they thought TSB may not have been good enough or interesting enough on its own without them sharing some deeply personal information. While I think their writing is strong enough that anything they wrote would be engaging and interesting, I did also really appreciate their earnest reflections and how generous they were with their essays. As someone who loves and admires not just their work but them as business owners; I appreciated this book more as a memoir rather than a self help book with the motivation of wanting to learn and hear from the authors specifically, rather than have advice projected on to me in my life.
I think the one weakness of the book is the "listicles" which do act as a bit of corny self-help-ish writing, but the essays are such deep insight into the early minds of two business women still in the thick of building something amazing, and for that, I'm really grateful.
Zara and Michelle are beautiful writers. While at times (again, mainly the listicles) it felt like they hadn't quite shed their Mamamia-templated writing style; they both have such a beautiful way of making an ordinary experience something profound. Again, I think if I’d read this at the time of release as someone of the same age, I’d have thought there was nothing much to offer, and that it was the blind-leading the blind. In hindsight, as a 30 year old reading the thoughts of two business women in their 20s, still in the peak of their struggle, I found a huge amount of comfort, relatability, and guidance in their words. Many reviews suggested that this book would have been best for young adults 17-21; and yes, I agree that advice from 25 year olds is probably most helpful to that age demographic just behind them… but even as a 30 year old woman, there was so much of what they said which provided comfort and solace rather than guidance and advice.
I loved the theme of “The Space Between” and their choices of topics. Again, knowing that the authors wouldn’t be as open nowadays with their personal experiences, it really feels like a privilege to get to read these essays. The way they’ve linked each essay to the theme of the space between was really well done.
Some reviews have said that this was only relevant to people working in media, and I disagree. While as I said, I consider this book more of a memoir and yes, they can only really draw from their own personal experiences; hearing how they navigated toxic workplaces was relevant and the most helpful section to me regardless of the fact I work in an entirely different industry. I think it helps that prior to this, I’ve heard how they’ve reflected on the situation with Mammamia with maturity and a touch of regret in that they would have handled things differently nowadays. But again, the raw depiction of frustration documented in the book was so helpful to read. So often we hear people write about events well after the fact with a curated and measured level head that people just don’t have in the moment. To get to read the genuine sense of frustration, hurt and resentment over their rejection was refreshing and so reassuring and relatable.
Overall, I enjoyed this book so much and smashed through it. While the listicles made me cringe and I skimmed over those; overall I have the utmost respect for their writing and will no doubt re-listen to this audiobook next time I’m in a state of flux.
October 20, 2021
God this was SO good.
I will admit I have not listened to a single episode of Shameless but this book was outstanding. I resonated with every chapter and really really enjoyed their writing. I went in expecting a ‘how to guide to your twenties’ and I think that’s why I avoided reading it for so long - I don’t want a guide I’ll work it out myself, thanks. The Space Between defied my expectations, Zara and Michelle weren’t trying to encapsulate a universal experience.
Michelle’s last essay blew me away. Both her and Zara’s generosity in sharing intimate details of their life doesn’t go unappreciated it.
Easy 5 stars.
I will admit I have not listened to a single episode of Shameless but this book was outstanding. I resonated with every chapter and really really enjoyed their writing. I went in expecting a ‘how to guide to your twenties’ and I think that’s why I avoided reading it for so long - I don’t want a guide I’ll work it out myself, thanks. The Space Between defied my expectations, Zara and Michelle weren’t trying to encapsulate a universal experience.
Michelle’s last essay blew me away. Both her and Zara’s generosity in sharing intimate details of their life doesn’t go unappreciated it.
Easy 5 stars.
June 27, 2021
I can appreciate the author’s honesty about their experiences and I can see how this can be a quick light read. This book doesn’t offer too much for those already in their twenties (even if early twenties) - and I think it is probably best suited to teens who are about to enter adulthood, or those who find themselves saying phrases like “adulting is hard”
September 26, 2020
I’ve never read a book I’ve related to more. All the things I’ve said to my friends as we’ve gone through our twenties and more so all the things we haven’t said, but have definitely experienced quietly and alone.
I wish I read this years ago, especially about finding your voice and sticking by it
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I wish I read this years ago, especially about finding your voice and sticking by it
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
September 12, 2020
I am in awe of Michelle and Zara. This book is the necessary big hug everyone in their twenties so desperately needs, to feel a little less alone. I love love love this book!
September 15, 2020
Most of those essays were so amazingly written, heartfelt, relatable and just purely brave. I found myself taking pictures of certain passages just to re read again later.
May 12, 2021
A witty book that has essays on a variety of topics; this book was a good time.
September 4, 2020
Like most 20 something year old Australians, I listen to the Shameless podcast weekly. I look forward to the friendly and familiar voices of Michelle and Zara in my ears, while I catch up on all things pop culture.
Michelle and Zara have such a special way of making sure every voice is heard throughout their podcast episodes, and in conversation episodes. The ability to do this is rare, especially in the Australian media. This amazing talent of theirs was transferable to their debut book 'The Space Between'.
The Space Between is written about living through the confusion of your twenties. They explain it as the weird gap in your life where you are not quite sure what is going on while you are 'weirdly suspended between being a teenager and a Proper Adult'.
I was so excited about the release of this book, I pre-ordered a copy and then on release day had extreme FOMO of the people who already had the book, that I did an online order to my local bookshop who I knew would deliver it on the same day (Thank you local book shop, I love you always).
The book is written in four parts - Love, Ambition, Mind and Body, and Voice. Michelle and Zara write about heartbreak, friendship, being in love, careers, being lonely, not enjoying university, not making your bed, mental health, sex, shame, feminism and trauma.
There is not a moment in this book where I thought, "this does not apply to me", or "I never experienced that in my early twenties". Unlike their podcast which focuses on the latest in pop culture and the news cycle, the girls share a lot of their personal selves in this book. They are incredibly generous in their story telling, which makes the content so relatable.
The entirety of this book is witty and charming. I loved the use of playful lists, including '29 things we wish we could have told ourselves on the final day of university' and 'Am I still immature as fuck, or am I a boring adult now? A checklist'. In the chapters that speak of mental health and anxiety, I felt I was not alone and I know that this would have been a collective feeling across the board.
There are some incredibly deep and complex essays that speak of the shame felt when you are unable to have sex, and an essay that discusses a personal experience of sexual assault. These chapters were so personal and I felt so grateful that Michelle and Zara were able to trust their community in sharing this part of themselves. The way in which the girls write about these tough subjects were so articulate and shared with such fragility and empathy to people who may also share these experiences.
There were certainly standouts for me. My favourite part of the book was Part 4: Voice. 'A letter to my future daughter' had me in tears as I was reminded about how our parents can be such a big influence on how we hold and accept ourselves.
I loved being reminded of the dangers of Instagram and influencer culture, while being reminded that as long as I am growing and learning every day, who I am is enough. The whole book was flared with feminism, but the essays on influence, mind and body, and voice were what really made myself think about my own feminist practices and how I could do better. This quote really stood out to me:
"... social media flattens conversations. It removes nuance and detail, and encourages us to talk in absolutes. On Instagram, feminism has been diluted to mean 'women supporting women', when in reality, feminism doesn't mean blindly supporting women, particularly the ones inflicting harm on young girls"
This book came at the perfect time. It may not seem that releasing a book during a global pandemic was 'good timing', but reading The Space Between whilst stuck in Stage 4 lockdown made me feel comfort in such a confusing time. It reminded me that it is absolutely okay to not know what the hell you want to do.
Thank you Michelle and Zara for writing a book that I will return to time and time again.
Michelle and Zara have such a special way of making sure every voice is heard throughout their podcast episodes, and in conversation episodes. The ability to do this is rare, especially in the Australian media. This amazing talent of theirs was transferable to their debut book 'The Space Between'.
The Space Between is written about living through the confusion of your twenties. They explain it as the weird gap in your life where you are not quite sure what is going on while you are 'weirdly suspended between being a teenager and a Proper Adult'.
I was so excited about the release of this book, I pre-ordered a copy and then on release day had extreme FOMO of the people who already had the book, that I did an online order to my local bookshop who I knew would deliver it on the same day (Thank you local book shop, I love you always).
The book is written in four parts - Love, Ambition, Mind and Body, and Voice. Michelle and Zara write about heartbreak, friendship, being in love, careers, being lonely, not enjoying university, not making your bed, mental health, sex, shame, feminism and trauma.
There is not a moment in this book where I thought, "this does not apply to me", or "I never experienced that in my early twenties". Unlike their podcast which focuses on the latest in pop culture and the news cycle, the girls share a lot of their personal selves in this book. They are incredibly generous in their story telling, which makes the content so relatable.
The entirety of this book is witty and charming. I loved the use of playful lists, including '29 things we wish we could have told ourselves on the final day of university' and 'Am I still immature as fuck, or am I a boring adult now? A checklist'. In the chapters that speak of mental health and anxiety, I felt I was not alone and I know that this would have been a collective feeling across the board.
There are some incredibly deep and complex essays that speak of the shame felt when you are unable to have sex, and an essay that discusses a personal experience of sexual assault. These chapters were so personal and I felt so grateful that Michelle and Zara were able to trust their community in sharing this part of themselves. The way in which the girls write about these tough subjects were so articulate and shared with such fragility and empathy to people who may also share these experiences.
There were certainly standouts for me. My favourite part of the book was Part 4: Voice. 'A letter to my future daughter' had me in tears as I was reminded about how our parents can be such a big influence on how we hold and accept ourselves.
I loved being reminded of the dangers of Instagram and influencer culture, while being reminded that as long as I am growing and learning every day, who I am is enough. The whole book was flared with feminism, but the essays on influence, mind and body, and voice were what really made myself think about my own feminist practices and how I could do better. This quote really stood out to me:
"... social media flattens conversations. It removes nuance and detail, and encourages us to talk in absolutes. On Instagram, feminism has been diluted to mean 'women supporting women', when in reality, feminism doesn't mean blindly supporting women, particularly the ones inflicting harm on young girls"
This book came at the perfect time. It may not seem that releasing a book during a global pandemic was 'good timing', but reading The Space Between whilst stuck in Stage 4 lockdown made me feel comfort in such a confusing time. It reminded me that it is absolutely okay to not know what the hell you want to do.
Thank you Michelle and Zara for writing a book that I will return to time and time again.
February 16, 2025
I laughed, I cried, I sobbed and I learnt that I’m not the only one who struggles to navigate life in their 20’s. The most beautifully written book showcasing how beautiful and precious life is
September 7, 2020
What an incredibly joyful experience. I’ve just devoured this book in less than twenty four hours and I feel cleverer, braver and happier for it (I’m absolutely not being hyperbolic 😉). I had pretty high expectations going in and oh my were they met and then some, this book is so well written. It is a warm and heartful view on the Millennial experience. I felt the structure was successful with nods to the Shameless Podcast that felt spot on. The topics covered were nuanced and right on the money for me personally, touching on events that I’ve grappled with during my 20’s. This is an incredibly witty, wise and personal series of essays that will fill you with a sigh of relief that you’re not alone in feeling like you don’t have all the answers. I laughed, I cried, ACTUALLY, I was weepy throughout the whole thing because how amazing is reading a book and feeling UNDERSTOOD. Pick this one up for a fierce dose of empowerment and reliability ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
May 30, 2021
i liked this book it was sweet!!!! i loved the genuinely helpful advice and how as a self help book it didn’t feel aggressive at all, it actually felt caring and kind. there was one chapter about zara’s experience with anxiety that i found incredibly touching and relatable and the first time it had been put into words that i can understand and relate to.
July 8, 2021
3.75
To be frank, when I first skimmed through the titles of the chapters and listened to the first few, I really wasn’t sure if this book was for me. But as the content delved deeper, beyond just sex and romantic relationships, I grew more engaged. I found the essays on friendship (and heartbreak), family/parents, and mind and body solid and moving. As I’ve just started a ‘proper job’, I found the workplace/ambition chapters really relatable; they made me reflect on my own experiences and whether I should simply accept them as ‘normal’ or if change is needed.
I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed it as much just reading the paperback (though I intend on buying it and going back through it to underline my favourite sections) because hearing Michelle and Zara’s stories from their own mouths added a lot to the through-line of ‘finding your voice in your 20s’. I really appreciated the two chapters on vaginismus and dealing with sexual assault confronting and emotional (the depth and rawness in the narration was damn moving) but also educational and important. The former is especially under-discussed in the public sphere so I was honestly taken aback when Zara opened up about her own personal experience. I really appreciated her vulnerability.
The lists were fun (though probably didn’t translate as well narrated as it was harder to follow/more repetitive without the visuals) but not groundbreaking.
Overall, it was a solid read and cool to read the thoughts of two women not too far removed from myself (as young Aussies but also aware of their privilege as educated, white, cisgender and straight). I liked that it covered a lot of ground, all drawn together by the experiences of being a twenty something, I won’t reread in full and the writing itself wasn’t spectacular but there were some real treasures and I think it did what it sought to do. (I appreciated that it was such a quick and easy read too, very accessible!)
To be frank, when I first skimmed through the titles of the chapters and listened to the first few, I really wasn’t sure if this book was for me. But as the content delved deeper, beyond just sex and romantic relationships, I grew more engaged. I found the essays on friendship (and heartbreak), family/parents, and mind and body solid and moving. As I’ve just started a ‘proper job’, I found the workplace/ambition chapters really relatable; they made me reflect on my own experiences and whether I should simply accept them as ‘normal’ or if change is needed.
I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed it as much just reading the paperback (though I intend on buying it and going back through it to underline my favourite sections) because hearing Michelle and Zara’s stories from their own mouths added a lot to the through-line of ‘finding your voice in your 20s’. I really appreciated the two chapters on vaginismus and dealing with sexual assault confronting and emotional (the depth and rawness in the narration was damn moving) but also educational and important. The former is especially under-discussed in the public sphere so I was honestly taken aback when Zara opened up about her own personal experience. I really appreciated her vulnerability.
The lists were fun (though probably didn’t translate as well narrated as it was harder to follow/more repetitive without the visuals) but not groundbreaking.
Overall, it was a solid read and cool to read the thoughts of two women not too far removed from myself (as young Aussies but also aware of their privilege as educated, white, cisgender and straight). I liked that it covered a lot of ground, all drawn together by the experiences of being a twenty something, I won’t reread in full and the writing itself wasn’t spectacular but there were some real treasures and I think it did what it sought to do. (I appreciated that it was such a quick and easy read too, very accessible!)
August 25, 2021
I’ve loved riding the wave of this novel, through the poignant and honest stories of Michelle & Zara. It is clear that they have placed parts of their hearts & souls into this book, and for that, I am grateful - as I imagine putting this much of yourself out into the world is not easy.
My review comes with 3.5 stars, purely due to the relate-ability of some of these essays - which felt, in the light-hearted stories, that they were romanticising the notorious decade of your ‘twenties’. Easy to do on retrospect, but took away an element of relate ability, I think?
Not to mention I believe that some of the essays skimmed over the reality and depth of situations that come with being in your twenties - resulting in ‘surface level’ reflections. Often described as a ‘roadmap to your twenties’, I found little practical advice throughout this book.
Overall a good and easy read that makes you feel things and reflect on your own experiences, however did not hold the depth I was expecting.
My review comes with 3.5 stars, purely due to the relate-ability of some of these essays - which felt, in the light-hearted stories, that they were romanticising the notorious decade of your ‘twenties’. Easy to do on retrospect, but took away an element of relate ability, I think?
Not to mention I believe that some of the essays skimmed over the reality and depth of situations that come with being in your twenties - resulting in ‘surface level’ reflections. Often described as a ‘roadmap to your twenties’, I found little practical advice throughout this book.
Overall a good and easy read that makes you feel things and reflect on your own experiences, however did not hold the depth I was expecting.
June 3, 2024
THE LAST CHAPTER!!!!! i won’t spoil it but wowwwww. i cried through the entire thing. My biggest takeaway from this book is to be loud and take up space and stand up for what you believe, but also lean on those you love and allow your relationships to be a two way street. You can be there for everyone but if you don’t let people be there for you your relationships will lack depth, love and trust. Share your experiences because you never know who else has felt or been through something similar. a great read if your wanting to widen your perspective of feminism or are grappling with the fears of being a twenty something woman who doesn’t know if she’s a good person. spoiler you are a good person! good people arnt worried about being bad!
August 1, 2021
I decided to read this book just before I turned thirty to try and squeeze to the “chaos. Questions. Magic. Welcome to your twenties” attitude of the book into my final months of my twenty somethings.
The book is divided into four sections; love, ambition, mind and body, and voice. It started slow for me, and the love chapters seemed like things I needed to read at twenty one rather than twenty nine, but I persisted and I’m glad that I did. I related to so many of the chapters on Ambition and was really moved by the penultimate chapter on voice.
This book has left me with a lot to think about.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The book is divided into four sections; love, ambition, mind and body, and voice. It started slow for me, and the love chapters seemed like things I needed to read at twenty one rather than twenty nine, but I persisted and I’m glad that I did. I related to so many of the chapters on Ambition and was really moved by the penultimate chapter on voice.
This book has left me with a lot to think about.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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