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Radical Self Love: A Guide to Loving Yourself and Living Your Dream
Have you ever dreamed of a life full of laughter, love and sequins... But felt totally clueless about how to make it happen? You're not alone. I spent years in soul-sucking jobs, battling depression, an eating disorder, and a preference for chaos and disaster, simply because I didn't know how to create the life I dreamed about.
In RADICAL SELF LOVE, you'll begin to discover exactly what makes you so magnificent, and you'll uncover a litany of tools and techniques to help you manifest a life that bursts with magic, bliss and adventure.
When you love yourself, life is limitless. You can do anything you want. It's time to throw off the shackles of expectation, and start living from your heart. It's time to astound yourself with how beautiful your life can be. It's time to treat every single day like a celebration... Cake, candles and confetti very much included!
"Radical Self Love should be on every woman's bookshelf. Gala Darling is the fresh voice of a new generation, encouraging us to love ourselves and rediscover the most magical facets of who we are. This book will crack you open to the presence of your authentic power." -- Gabrielle Bernstein, New York Times best-selling author of Miracles Now
In RADICAL SELF LOVE, you'll begin to discover exactly what makes you so magnificent, and you'll uncover a litany of tools and techniques to help you manifest a life that bursts with magic, bliss and adventure.
When you love yourself, life is limitless. You can do anything you want. It's time to throw off the shackles of expectation, and start living from your heart. It's time to astound yourself with how beautiful your life can be. It's time to treat every single day like a celebration... Cake, candles and confetti very much included!
"Radical Self Love should be on every woman's bookshelf. Gala Darling is the fresh voice of a new generation, encouraging us to love ourselves and rediscover the most magical facets of who we are. This book will crack you open to the presence of your authentic power." -- Gabrielle Bernstein, New York Times best-selling author of Miracles Now
206 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2015
298 people are currently reading
3120 people want to read
About the author
Gala Darling
13 books110 followersGala Darling’s unrelenting devotion to positivity & magic has earned her cult celebrity status & rabid fans all over the globe, from India to Sweden.
From the massive number of hits her website garners on a monthly basis to her legendary Things I Love Thursday lists, this writer, nomad & international playgirl easily transfers her enthusiasm for life into the written word.
Described in the New York Times as “a Web-tethered gadabout”, she was recently named one of the 10 most influential style bloggers in the world (Fashionista). She has been described as “a tattooed Miss Manners” (The Bargain Queen), a “downtown Carrie Bradshaw” (Elle) & a “New York City society gal” (Filament). Celebrity stylist & icon Rachel Zoe says Gala & her site are “très chic”.
Gala has been featured prominently in The New York Times, New Zealand Herald, Teen Vogue, New York Post, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Time Out New York, Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, Next, Cleo, Girlfriend, The Age, Sunday Herald Sun, The Dominion Post, Inked magazine, Glasgow Guardian & on CBS & ABC News, among (many) others.
Gala is an accomplished & enthusiastic public speaker, having spoken to audiences of thousands at South By South West Interactive & Evolving Influence, & is frequently invited to make guest appearances on specialty panels about fashion & the internet. Her radical self love workshops are a runaway success. She has spoken to many audiences about entrepreneurship & making business out of the arts.
Gala believes in pink lingerie, sequins, stardust & candy-coloured Cadillacs. She believes in making mischief & the triumph of magic over the brute. She believes in short skirts & lip gloss & bringing about the radical self love revolution. She believes life doesn’t have to be serious, that you create your own reality & that beauty is all around us.
From the massive number of hits her website garners on a monthly basis to her legendary Things I Love Thursday lists, this writer, nomad & international playgirl easily transfers her enthusiasm for life into the written word.
Described in the New York Times as “a Web-tethered gadabout”, she was recently named one of the 10 most influential style bloggers in the world (Fashionista). She has been described as “a tattooed Miss Manners” (The Bargain Queen), a “downtown Carrie Bradshaw” (Elle) & a “New York City society gal” (Filament). Celebrity stylist & icon Rachel Zoe says Gala & her site are “très chic”.
Gala has been featured prominently in The New York Times, New Zealand Herald, Teen Vogue, New York Post, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Time Out New York, Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, Next, Cleo, Girlfriend, The Age, Sunday Herald Sun, The Dominion Post, Inked magazine, Glasgow Guardian & on CBS & ABC News, among (many) others.
Gala is an accomplished & enthusiastic public speaker, having spoken to audiences of thousands at South By South West Interactive & Evolving Influence, & is frequently invited to make guest appearances on specialty panels about fashion & the internet. Her radical self love workshops are a runaway success. She has spoken to many audiences about entrepreneurship & making business out of the arts.
Gala believes in pink lingerie, sequins, stardust & candy-coloured Cadillacs. She believes in making mischief & the triumph of magic over the brute. She believes in short skirts & lip gloss & bringing about the radical self love revolution. She believes life doesn’t have to be serious, that you create your own reality & that beauty is all around us.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
June 16, 2016
This is a book for every woman. I read similar books by Melissa Ambrosini, Gabrielle Bernstein and the like but they all sounded disingenuous and cliched. I didn't - couldn't - relate to them at all. The only feeling I was left with after putting them down was nausea.
Gala is none of this.
I note that a lot of people in Goodreads have put her down. To be honest, given the lack of weight in their complaints, I view this whinging as backhanded compliments. Shots of jealousy if you will. After all, she's written a damn fine book that is easily digestible, offers some good advice and allows you to consider what I find to be a valuable perspective. She's not trying to get anything into schools, she's not fashioning herself as a guru, not telling you to do this or do that and, most importantly, unlike the Bernsteins and Ambrosinis of this world, she is not in your face.
I don't have the benefit of having followed her blog for years so I can appreciate the book on its own. And it stands up well on its own. Most bloggers find this transition difficult and their efforts bomb. Not so with Gala who manages to saddle both spheres with dexterity and aplomb. Sure, some of what she has to say might strike you as rewrapped wisdom but her voice is her own.
And it is for that very reason I need to look at why I was easily sucked in by her.
Gala Darling's representation of her alleged eating disorder and depression are quite damning as is her promotion of 'tapping' which absolutely has no evidence based reasoning attached to it at all. Her repeated assertions that her eating disorder disappeared overnight are worrying. Tapping does not fix psychiatric problems. And eating disorders have nothing to do with food. They are psychiatric disorders requiring serious, professional intervention. That she flips so blithely through this sets off more than a few red flags.
She also talks about radical self love as being a feminist issue, espousing the ideal that we all just be ourselves, that we don't need any materialistic things to make us happy within ourselves and yet when I look at Gala, I see her surgically altered face, breast implants, couture clothing, expensive handbags and all the trappings that come with money and I start to see the shallow cracks emerge in the whole radical self love facade.
This book is an entertaining read. Gala Darling is an excellent confidence woman. She crafts her writing carefully and her message is beautifully sculpted bullshit. But it's what we all long to hear. So we buy it. And we drown in it and lift her out of it with our collective worship.
This is a book for every woman. As a stark warning to them that there are some seriously deranged people out there who want you to believe their own rubbish so they can make money out of you. If radical self love means anything to you it must mean that you keep away from maniacs like Gala Darling.
Gala is none of this.
I note that a lot of people in Goodreads have put her down. To be honest, given the lack of weight in their complaints, I view this whinging as backhanded compliments. Shots of jealousy if you will. After all, she's written a damn fine book that is easily digestible, offers some good advice and allows you to consider what I find to be a valuable perspective. She's not trying to get anything into schools, she's not fashioning herself as a guru, not telling you to do this or do that and, most importantly, unlike the Bernsteins and Ambrosinis of this world, she is not in your face.
I don't have the benefit of having followed her blog for years so I can appreciate the book on its own. And it stands up well on its own. Most bloggers find this transition difficult and their efforts bomb. Not so with Gala who manages to saddle both spheres with dexterity and aplomb. Sure, some of what she has to say might strike you as rewrapped wisdom but her voice is her own.
And it is for that very reason I need to look at why I was easily sucked in by her.
Gala Darling's representation of her alleged eating disorder and depression are quite damning as is her promotion of 'tapping' which absolutely has no evidence based reasoning attached to it at all. Her repeated assertions that her eating disorder disappeared overnight are worrying. Tapping does not fix psychiatric problems. And eating disorders have nothing to do with food. They are psychiatric disorders requiring serious, professional intervention. That she flips so blithely through this sets off more than a few red flags.
She also talks about radical self love as being a feminist issue, espousing the ideal that we all just be ourselves, that we don't need any materialistic things to make us happy within ourselves and yet when I look at Gala, I see her surgically altered face, breast implants, couture clothing, expensive handbags and all the trappings that come with money and I start to see the shallow cracks emerge in the whole radical self love facade.
This book is an entertaining read. Gala Darling is an excellent confidence woman. She crafts her writing carefully and her message is beautifully sculpted bullshit. But it's what we all long to hear. So we buy it. And we drown in it and lift her out of it with our collective worship.
This is a book for every woman. As a stark warning to them that there are some seriously deranged people out there who want you to believe their own rubbish so they can make money out of you. If radical self love means anything to you it must mean that you keep away from maniacs like Gala Darling.
June 30, 2015
If you've been reading Gala Darling's advice for as long as I have, you have read this book before. I purchased the same chapters (she probably did some editing here and there) off of her website a few years back.
While I enjoy Gala's style most of the time (the overuse of exclamation points is distracting), the recycled material will definitely dissuade me from ever purchasing any of her advice materials again.
While I enjoy Gala's style most of the time (the overuse of exclamation points is distracting), the recycled material will definitely dissuade me from ever purchasing any of her advice materials again.
September 16, 2015
Awful. So self indulgent I couldn't even finish.
September 9, 2015
Awesome book! Full of great concepts and practical ways to put them into practice. I really like how each chapter is structured with "homework" assignments at the end. The only things I didn't like were the chapter on fashion (not my thing and it also seemed to deviate from the "there are no rules" theme of the rest of the book) and, as a few people mentioned, there is a chapter that sums up pretty much all of How to Win Friends and Influence People which was a bit excessive. But the rest of the book blew me away and provided me with a ton of great concepts that I'll be implementing in my own life starting now.
February 17, 2016
Radical Self Love is a super positive book. The positivity radiates right from the cheery pink cover. The book is filled to the brim with tips on how to cheer up your life, do more fun things and how to learn to love yourself. Each chapter opens with cute little drawings that match the theme of the chapter and it includes some homework as well. The tips and ideas the book gives are good, useful and easy to implement in your life.
So why only 2 stars? While the tips in the book are good and helpful there isn't anything in the book that I haven't read before. I read the book in just a few days, it's well written and I will use some of the tips but I felt like the book was reminding me of things I heard before instead of telling me something new. I also disliked the chapter on magic and asking the universe for things...I'm too skeptic for something like that.
Radical Self Love is a nice book, filled with useful tips and positive happy things but unfortunately it's also full of predictable things. I wouldn't advise against reading/buying it at all, it's not a bad book, and it can be useful to be reminded of the things that are mentioned, but it's just nothing new.
So why only 2 stars? While the tips in the book are good and helpful there isn't anything in the book that I haven't read before. I read the book in just a few days, it's well written and I will use some of the tips but I felt like the book was reminding me of things I heard before instead of telling me something new. I also disliked the chapter on magic and asking the universe for things...I'm too skeptic for something like that.
Radical Self Love is a nice book, filled with useful tips and positive happy things but unfortunately it's also full of predictable things. I wouldn't advise against reading/buying it at all, it's not a bad book, and it can be useful to be reminded of the things that are mentioned, but it's just nothing new.
February 7, 2018
Written by Gala Darling, this book is indeed about personal development. I know there are many books out there that cover topics shared by the author in this book. However, this one is unique. It is indeed one of its own kind because of the language and the way the author talks to her reader.
Life is limitless is the message of this book. This book is close to being the modern day How to Win Friends and Influence People in a sense that it talks about you rather than the people. It offers suggestion and the author's own life's anecdotes about how you must care for yourself in terms of job, money, life and executing those things you want to excel. The execution, any day, triumphs over the talent.
Written in a simple and easy to crisp language, one can finish this book in no time. I did feel connected to Gala's ideas and am trying to adapt to some of her suggestions as they seem, on reading the book those missing pieces of the puzzle of my life. Many believe that this book is written from a feminist point of view. I disagree with them. The core might seem like that, but things inside this one are intellectual and pragmatic.
Recommended, even if you are into self-help/personal development porn or have read quite some books on the subject matter. This one is definitely different and will boost you up from various angles.
Life is limitless is the message of this book. This book is close to being the modern day How to Win Friends and Influence People in a sense that it talks about you rather than the people. It offers suggestion and the author's own life's anecdotes about how you must care for yourself in terms of job, money, life and executing those things you want to excel. The execution, any day, triumphs over the talent.
Written in a simple and easy to crisp language, one can finish this book in no time. I did feel connected to Gala's ideas and am trying to adapt to some of her suggestions as they seem, on reading the book those missing pieces of the puzzle of my life. Many believe that this book is written from a feminist point of view. I disagree with them. The core might seem like that, but things inside this one are intellectual and pragmatic.
Recommended, even if you are into self-help/personal development porn or have read quite some books on the subject matter. This one is definitely different and will boost you up from various angles.
February 7, 2017
Okay, so I am a sucker for anything Self Love and I started this one last year but couldn't get around to finishing it. I decided to reread and complete it a couple of weeks back and boy, o boy, was it fun?! I think this is a very In-Your-Face book to everything rigidly religious because Gala talks about everything blasphemous (wickedly good in every sense of the word). What thoroughly got my brain corks working was amazingly creative and FUN, the whole process of loving yourself can be! I am still reeling from the happy consequences of what I've learned and relearned in here and I can't wait to begin by very own Radical Self Love Bible (aha, how's that for the Vatican? ;) )
February 7, 2016
I devoured this book. This is such an amazing book and I'm so glad I pre-ordered it. An absolute must for anyone suffering with social anxiety and low self esteem, and just people who need a bit of self lovin' in general.
March 22, 2017
Bei diesem Buch schwanke ich zwischen vier und fünf Sternen, denn für seinen Inhalt hätte es eigentlich fünf verdient. Deswegen werde ich es eventuell noch auf fünf hochschrauben, auch wenn es mich nach der langen Zeit, die ich mit dem Buch verbracht habe, nicht total flasht. Liegt vielleicht daran, dass ich wirklich schon monatelang an dem Buch lese und es immer mal wieder hervorgeholt habe. Jetzt habe ich es endlich beendet und muss sagen: In den Momenten, in denen ich es gebraucht habe, hat es seinen Zweck erfüllt und mir sehr gut getan. Der Inhalt ist sehr motivierend, ehrlich und authentisch und wenn das Buch zur richtigen Zeit kommt, wird es im Kopf des Leser explodieren. Es wird das Leben verändern, wenn man es zulässt und die Tipps anwendet, die Gala Darling gibt.
Ich habe viel von diesem Buch gelernt und hatte ein paar tolle Momente damit. Ich kann es jedem weiterempfehlen, der lernen will, sich selbst mehr wertzuschätzen, der aus seinem Leben mehr machen will, der sich als FRAU neu erfinden will, seinen Style optimieren will und alles andere, was zur Selbstliebe dazu gehört. Es ist alles vertreten und es gibt viele Tipps und sogenannte 'Hausaufgaben', die es in jedem Kapitel bzw. in jeder großen Rubrik zu erledigen gibt. Wundervoll, denn so wird man sofort motiviert, diese Dinge auszuprobieren und sie auch tatsächlich anzuwenden. Denn das theoretische Wissen allein wird niemanden von uns weiterbringen. Ich würde empfehlen, diese Aufgaben der einzelnen Rubriken wöchentlich zu behandeln. Sprich die ersten fünf Aufgaben eine Woche lang täglich durchziehen und gucken, was passiert, aufschreiben, was sich verändert und was nicht. Rumprobieren, einfach mal machen und begeistert sein. (: Arbeitet an eurem Mindset und macht euer leben bunter und schöner und vielfältiger. Geht raus und erlebt etwas! <3 Dieses Buch macht es möglich, den ersten Schritt zu gehen. Es öffnet neue Türen.
Ich habe viel von diesem Buch gelernt und hatte ein paar tolle Momente damit. Ich kann es jedem weiterempfehlen, der lernen will, sich selbst mehr wertzuschätzen, der aus seinem Leben mehr machen will, der sich als FRAU neu erfinden will, seinen Style optimieren will und alles andere, was zur Selbstliebe dazu gehört. Es ist alles vertreten und es gibt viele Tipps und sogenannte 'Hausaufgaben', die es in jedem Kapitel bzw. in jeder großen Rubrik zu erledigen gibt. Wundervoll, denn so wird man sofort motiviert, diese Dinge auszuprobieren und sie auch tatsächlich anzuwenden. Denn das theoretische Wissen allein wird niemanden von uns weiterbringen. Ich würde empfehlen, diese Aufgaben der einzelnen Rubriken wöchentlich zu behandeln. Sprich die ersten fünf Aufgaben eine Woche lang täglich durchziehen und gucken, was passiert, aufschreiben, was sich verändert und was nicht. Rumprobieren, einfach mal machen und begeistert sein. (: Arbeitet an eurem Mindset und macht euer leben bunter und schöner und vielfältiger. Geht raus und erlebt etwas! <3 Dieses Buch macht es möglich, den ersten Schritt zu gehen. Es öffnet neue Türen.
January 8, 2018
This book was a great way to start my year!
If, like me, you feel stuck, boring and generally aren’t liking who you are or where you’re at in your life, AND you’re ready to do something about all that, then this book is a great way to start.
It isn’t an instructional step-by-step guide, but rather an inspirational choose-your-own-Adventure guide to kicking negativity in the ass and living the life you want.
Gala Darling provides countless ideas, advice, opinions and even homework to help you get better at loving yourself for who you really are and helping others feel the same.
I felt I could really connect what I was feeling and what I had experienced with what Gala was describing in the book and I want to try pretty much all of her suggestions. But the great thing about the book is that I can choose bits and pieces to do at a time and just start. I don’t have to do it all at once or have done things by a deadline. I have the information now and can consult it whenever I like.
If you need a boost, want to cleanse your life and start feeling like the bad-ass babe you are, this is a book you definitely need on your shelf.
If, like me, you feel stuck, boring and generally aren’t liking who you are or where you’re at in your life, AND you’re ready to do something about all that, then this book is a great way to start.
It isn’t an instructional step-by-step guide, but rather an inspirational choose-your-own-Adventure guide to kicking negativity in the ass and living the life you want.
Gala Darling provides countless ideas, advice, opinions and even homework to help you get better at loving yourself for who you really are and helping others feel the same.
I felt I could really connect what I was feeling and what I had experienced with what Gala was describing in the book and I want to try pretty much all of her suggestions. But the great thing about the book is that I can choose bits and pieces to do at a time and just start. I don’t have to do it all at once or have done things by a deadline. I have the information now and can consult it whenever I like.
If you need a boost, want to cleanse your life and start feeling like the bad-ass babe you are, this is a book you definitely need on your shelf.
July 12, 2017
I like reading this kind of crap at work because I know it won't require much thought or focus and in that sense, this did not disappoint. There was nothing new here, just fluffy pink bullshit, part of the trend of "making your dreams come true and improving your life!!!" by making empty promises to people in exchange for their $ (see: pretty much any "entrepreneur" on the internet). I'm all for blogging and self-expression, I'm also all for being positive and acknowledging that wishing for something isn't enough. As Gala stresses, you have to actually take action. Unfortunately, her "actions" are making vision boards and visualizing in your head what you want to accomplish. She never touches upon any REAL way to take action (aside from, I guess, "ask for what you want").
July 6, 2015
i never heard of gala or her blog and stumbled into a book reading and discussion with her a few days ago. got the book and really enjoyed the direct, easy to digest advice on relationships, forgiveness, inspiration, and acceptance. the homework page at the end of each section was a good breakdown of what was discussed, with action steps. she was a joy to meet and im looking forward to reading her blog as well.
February 7, 2025
This was a great book and a great reminder how to love myself and be honest with myself and others. Having strong relationships, and actually putting in the effort to make them strong. there are going to be compromises but we have to remember to be honest and open. I loved how the author gave us companion aids and other resources.
June 29, 2015
If there was an option of ten stars this book would get them!
Really lovely and inspiring read.
Fun, fabulous and flamboyant! <3
Really lovely and inspiring read.
Fun, fabulous and flamboyant! <3
July 14, 2017
Could not have loved this more - will recommend to all my friends.
I already follow Gala on instagram and her blog, but there was so much new amazing content that I didn't expect.
Seriously - everybody needs to read this - this is what all my friends are getting for their birthday!
I already follow Gala on instagram and her blog, but there was so much new amazing content that I didn't expect.
Seriously - everybody needs to read this - this is what all my friends are getting for their birthday!
November 8, 2019
(In)felizmente uma literatura ruim, mas necessária. Contraditório, né? Admiro e respeito a autora, mas o conteúdo desse livro deveria estar num e-book de cinco reais.
March 13, 2023
Although this book is dated and reads like a conversation with a rich, white, toxicly positive (I know that's not a word, but it should be) 19-year-old there are definitely some pearls of wisdom sprinkled throughout, especially in the final two chapters.
January 5, 2018
pretty standard but I don't usually read books like this so perhaps others will find it more/less useful. She mentioned the tapping thing once but will little actual science to back it up probably would've been better to recommend people seek professional help. But again it was mentioned only once or twice so It was an easy thing to ignore.
August 2, 2015
The book is essentially a collection of giant blog posts. It started off feeling like an autobiography but then turned into a series of bullet points.
Theres nothing particularly new in this book that you wont have heard of before if you've been a long time reader (and fan) of her blog like I have. Thats not to say its not interesting content though, I enjoy having the homework sections as I will be referring back to them as my goals and tasks over the next year and I definitely found one or two new things in there the five love languages for one.
If your new to the 'self help' scene its a very good introduction and I would definitely recommend it but if you've read any other books in the genre you're probably not going to get much out of it.
I know the new age sections probably don't appeal to some but I quite enjoyed reading about them as its not something you will find in most other books unless you buy specific books on those topics.
The size of the book was a bit awkward, not A5 and not A4 sort of a floppy in between, I would have preferred an A5 size simply because it didn't fit in my bag so I was only really able to read it at home! Also the print quality on the cover was dreadful, washed out and grainy, but I think this is because its one of amazons print on demand jobs so there wouldn't have been as strict quality control as I imagine gala probably would have liked!
Theres nothing particularly new in this book that you wont have heard of before if you've been a long time reader (and fan) of her blog like I have. Thats not to say its not interesting content though, I enjoy having the homework sections as I will be referring back to them as my goals and tasks over the next year and I definitely found one or two new things in there the five love languages for one.
If your new to the 'self help' scene its a very good introduction and I would definitely recommend it but if you've read any other books in the genre you're probably not going to get much out of it.
I know the new age sections probably don't appeal to some but I quite enjoyed reading about them as its not something you will find in most other books unless you buy specific books on those topics.
The size of the book was a bit awkward, not A5 and not A4 sort of a floppy in between, I would have preferred an A5 size simply because it didn't fit in my bag so I was only really able to read it at home! Also the print quality on the cover was dreadful, washed out and grainy, but I think this is because its one of amazons print on demand jobs so there wouldn't have been as strict quality control as I imagine gala probably would have liked!
July 3, 2022
Written by Gala Darling, this book is indeed about personal development. I know there are many books out there that cover topics shared by the author in this book. However, this one is unique. It is indeed one of its own kind because of the language and the way the author talks to her reader.
Life is limitless is the message of this book. This book is close to being the modern day How to Win Friends and Influence People in a sense that it talks about you rather than the people. It offers suggestion and the author's own life's anecdotes about how you must care for yourself in terms of job, money, life and executing those things you want to excel. The execution, any day, triumphs over the talent.
Written in a simple and easy to crisp language, one can finish this book in no time. I did feel connected to Gala's ideas and am trying to adapt to some of her suggestions as they seem, on reading the book those missing pieces of the puzzle of my life. Many believe that this book is written from a feminist point of view. I disagree with them. The core might seem like that, but things inside this one are intellectual and pragmatic.
Recommended, even if you are into self-help/personal development porn or have read quite some books on the subject matter. This one is definitely different and will boost you up from various angles.
Life is limitless is the message of this book. This book is close to being the modern day How to Win Friends and Influence People in a sense that it talks about you rather than the people. It offers suggestion and the author's own life's anecdotes about how you must care for yourself in terms of job, money, life and executing those things you want to excel. The execution, any day, triumphs over the talent.
Written in a simple and easy to crisp language, one can finish this book in no time. I did feel connected to Gala's ideas and am trying to adapt to some of her suggestions as they seem, on reading the book those missing pieces of the puzzle of my life. Many believe that this book is written from a feminist point of view. I disagree with them. The core might seem like that, but things inside this one are intellectual and pragmatic.
Recommended, even if you are into self-help/personal development porn or have read quite some books on the subject matter. This one is definitely different and will boost you up from various angles.
January 14, 2021
I enjoyed her fresh perspective on creating a life you love and this book introduced me to tapping. In doing so, I was inspired to do more research on EFT tapping and found a lot of validity to the practice in a tool to help mood, depression and anxiety. However, I want to warn readers that (as I understood it) she writes that she cured herself of an eating disorder exclusively with tapping. I wish she had made more explicit statements about how EFT tapping is only one tool to be used in combination with other resources like therapy, the help of a physician and so on to battle an eating disorder. She also writes she cured her asthma with tapping. I never wish to diminish anyone’s experiences but I don’t believe that is really possible from a physiological standpoint. I would disregard any medical advice but keep the the safe, practical self-care tips and positive messages.
This book was written some years ago, and as I follow her on Instagram, I can see more growth in her self-help practice. This was a good place to start and I can see how many people will vibe with her positive energy and unique brand.
This book was written some years ago, and as I follow her on Instagram, I can see more growth in her self-help practice. This was a good place to start and I can see how many people will vibe with her positive energy and unique brand.
July 13, 2015
I love Gala and have loved her work for quite some time. I'm so proud of her for publishing a book. A lot of the material from the book were things from the Love & Sequins series which is why this is a 4 star review. Radical Self Love definitely gave me a lot to think about and has guided me to a more positive love-filled road.
July 4, 2016
This book is exactly the same information that Gala gives on her blog - basic, fun, and great reminders at how to make the most out of life. Although, the reading is redundant I am happy to support someone that I agree with and am proud that her hard work paid off in a book.
April 19, 2016
Ugh so amazing! This books hits so many points that women can take and grow from. Stuff we have heard before but told in a better way and stuff we may have never heard before. This book finally gives us permission to not give a damn and be who we want to be. Such a wonderful read :)
May 28, 2020
I give it 5 Stars for I applaud her for her endeavor to help women love themselves more! It was often a bit cheesy but actually it did help me realize some very important lessons which led me to get out of a funk that I was in for some time. It's a good "Me Date" bathtub read. Lol.
April 18, 2017
THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD BOOK. I appreciated the concepts around Radical Self-Love even if some chapters didn't relate to me 100%.
May 24, 2017
A little simplistic but a sweet read, very optimistic
July 12, 2019
Book #19of 2019 is Radical Self-Love by Gala Darling.
Where do I start? I tried. I really tried. I feel like I could be friends with Gala but that she isn't the most helpful. The book could be condensed into. Three page list and it would be more helpful. In some of her ways of trying to help she actually says some things that will not only trigger but shame some people. For example, her proclivity to continually talk about eating healthy. While I understand that the idea is to care for yourself, it comes off as very judgemental. And again, I think in person she would maybe not come off this way but in the book, with how condensed and rushed it is, it feels matter of fact, like "Do this. K? Easy enough!" I also despise her chapter on style because she talks about things and colors that flatter us. Honestly, if you want to learn to love yourself, go all in. This is some half version where you learn to love the you that is half you and half what is expected of you. In other words, love the compromised version of you but believe it's fully you. There are books that NAIL the self love things. Things You Don't tell Fat Girls is one. Shrill is one. ANYTHING by Brene Brown. They give you the components and you use them. So much of this book is rooted in being happy (which I find to be the dumbest goal because happiness is absolutely NOT sustainable, contentment it) that a lot of the advice feels superficial. I found myself thinking "you can run from the issues. You can cover the issues in lipgloss. The issues don't disappear because of those things though." To me, the advice feels a bit juvenile. I'd be interested in hearing her advice after having kids or if she had to be part of a minority sect of humans and how it changed. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the message. We should arrive to love ourselves and care for ourselves and fill the holes we have in our hearts ourselves as well as learn to validate ourselves...I just don't think she quite grasps that wholeheartedly. I feel like she maybe needs another decade to really pin these ideas down and sort through the rubbish ideas. That being said, she seems like a genuinely sweet person and I am happy for her. Maybe to someone who hasn't been on this journey for a decade and who hasn't read a bunch from body positive activists and intersectional activists, they would take more from this.
Where do I start? I tried. I really tried. I feel like I could be friends with Gala but that she isn't the most helpful. The book could be condensed into. Three page list and it would be more helpful. In some of her ways of trying to help she actually says some things that will not only trigger but shame some people. For example, her proclivity to continually talk about eating healthy. While I understand that the idea is to care for yourself, it comes off as very judgemental. And again, I think in person she would maybe not come off this way but in the book, with how condensed and rushed it is, it feels matter of fact, like "Do this. K? Easy enough!" I also despise her chapter on style because she talks about things and colors that flatter us. Honestly, if you want to learn to love yourself, go all in. This is some half version where you learn to love the you that is half you and half what is expected of you. In other words, love the compromised version of you but believe it's fully you. There are books that NAIL the self love things. Things You Don't tell Fat Girls is one. Shrill is one. ANYTHING by Brene Brown. They give you the components and you use them. So much of this book is rooted in being happy (which I find to be the dumbest goal because happiness is absolutely NOT sustainable, contentment it) that a lot of the advice feels superficial. I found myself thinking "you can run from the issues. You can cover the issues in lipgloss. The issues don't disappear because of those things though." To me, the advice feels a bit juvenile. I'd be interested in hearing her advice after having kids or if she had to be part of a minority sect of humans and how it changed. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the message. We should arrive to love ourselves and care for ourselves and fill the holes we have in our hearts ourselves as well as learn to validate ourselves...I just don't think she quite grasps that wholeheartedly. I feel like she maybe needs another decade to really pin these ideas down and sort through the rubbish ideas. That being said, she seems like a genuinely sweet person and I am happy for her. Maybe to someone who hasn't been on this journey for a decade and who hasn't read a bunch from body positive activists and intersectional activists, they would take more from this.
July 11, 2018
Have you read a self help book before? Then you pretty much know what’s in this one – affirmations, you are in charge of your own life, set goals, be kind to yourself, etc. A solid 75% are platitudes that you’ve seen in fancy typography on Pinterest (“life is not about finding yourself; it’s about creating yourself!”)
But you’re not reading this because you’re looking for stunning psychological insights, right? You’re also there because you follow this lady and her ridiculous style on Insta and you’re curious about the real live book that she’s published?
Turns out she’s a capable but by no means inventive or poetic writer. Tbh I prefer her chatty social media voice because spun out into book length, her writing can get pretty repetitive, especially on a sentence & thematic level.
There’s a lot that feels bs (that story about tapping curing her eating disorder after one session made me almost physically ill, if you’re battling an eating disorder please see a psychologist as well as tapping on it) (and also, this is very much geared for people with a certain amount of privilege, sometimes I would cycle between this book & the news and it felt wholly ridiculous to read “each happy thought brings something good to you, while each negative one pushes good things away” when reading about the shit that’s going on with Trump, but I guess class and xenophobia and intersectional feminism aren’t really the point with a book like this) (also, you can absolutely love yourself and get plastic surgery, but I would’ve appreciated an acknowledgement of, like, “sometimes manifesting shit involves vision boards and sometimes it involves a shit ton of money and silicon.”)
Honestly, I’m embarrassed to even have something like this on my goodreads shelf, but I trust Gala Darling’s sequinned, perfectly toned ass, so maybe that makes me more liable to take her advice, too. Three stars for a frothy, lightweight advice book that veers towards the superficial (like her favourite writer Francesca Lia Block, Gala Darling is a great stylist, but doesn’t offer much depth or vulnerability once you peer past the sparkle) which nonetheless got me to take a look at my trainwreck life and go, “oh god she’s right I gotta get it together.”
But you’re not reading this because you’re looking for stunning psychological insights, right? You’re also there because you follow this lady and her ridiculous style on Insta and you’re curious about the real live book that she’s published?
Turns out she’s a capable but by no means inventive or poetic writer. Tbh I prefer her chatty social media voice because spun out into book length, her writing can get pretty repetitive, especially on a sentence & thematic level.
There’s a lot that feels bs (that story about tapping curing her eating disorder after one session made me almost physically ill, if you’re battling an eating disorder please see a psychologist as well as tapping on it) (and also, this is very much geared for people with a certain amount of privilege, sometimes I would cycle between this book & the news and it felt wholly ridiculous to read “each happy thought brings something good to you, while each negative one pushes good things away” when reading about the shit that’s going on with Trump, but I guess class and xenophobia and intersectional feminism aren’t really the point with a book like this) (also, you can absolutely love yourself and get plastic surgery, but I would’ve appreciated an acknowledgement of, like, “sometimes manifesting shit involves vision boards and sometimes it involves a shit ton of money and silicon.”)
Honestly, I’m embarrassed to even have something like this on my goodreads shelf, but I trust Gala Darling’s sequinned, perfectly toned ass, so maybe that makes me more liable to take her advice, too. Three stars for a frothy, lightweight advice book that veers towards the superficial (like her favourite writer Francesca Lia Block, Gala Darling is a great stylist, but doesn’t offer much depth or vulnerability once you peer past the sparkle) which nonetheless got me to take a look at my trainwreck life and go, “oh god she’s right I gotta get it together.”
November 16, 2025
This book is just alright. Nothing super wrong with it, just basic & meant more towards teens to young adults. Mainly for a younger girl’s audience although it does try to be inclusive. It’s not too trendy for my taste at the moment reading this. I want more knowledge to a self help book now. I guess I’ve already read up on the basics & so I like more science backed ones or ones that go deeper into solutions.
This is a good start to something. At times it gets a bit woowoo. It’s more about having fun. It talks about party situations or dating. Hence it’s for a younger audience. It does have some backbone to it, but again I find there are better books out there. This is cute for a little guide to get for a newly teen girl as a gift.
There’s also a hashtag & some self plugs by the author that I have no idea if are still a thing. She also mentions other resources & good ones too. This isn’t a fully woowoo book. In fact I would t describe it as one. It’s more about having fun, getting to know yourself, guiding people to be their best self & be their own true selves out in the world. It gets them to want to experiment without being afraid to get themselves out there to try new things. It emphasizes very much on being unique. I feel the trends mentioned are very of its time though, but the knowledge still holds up.
I’ve had this book on my shelf for years & probably would have liked it better if I read it back when I first got it. I finished this book & so I will now be passing it along. It’s not one worth keeping in my opinion, but it’s not a bad start at all. I did almost dnf but wanted something easy nonfiction to read at the moment, so I picked it up again. It’s a quick easy read.
This is a good start to something. At times it gets a bit woowoo. It’s more about having fun. It talks about party situations or dating. Hence it’s for a younger audience. It does have some backbone to it, but again I find there are better books out there. This is cute for a little guide to get for a newly teen girl as a gift.
There’s also a hashtag & some self plugs by the author that I have no idea if are still a thing. She also mentions other resources & good ones too. This isn’t a fully woowoo book. In fact I would t describe it as one. It’s more about having fun, getting to know yourself, guiding people to be their best self & be their own true selves out in the world. It gets them to want to experiment without being afraid to get themselves out there to try new things. It emphasizes very much on being unique. I feel the trends mentioned are very of its time though, but the knowledge still holds up.
I’ve had this book on my shelf for years & probably would have liked it better if I read it back when I first got it. I finished this book & so I will now be passing it along. It’s not one worth keeping in my opinion, but it’s not a bad start at all. I did almost dnf but wanted something easy nonfiction to read at the moment, so I picked it up again. It’s a quick easy read.
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