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Thin, and I
When Andrijka (An-dree-kah) Keller was just 15 years old, she was diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder. Her psychiatrist quickly prescribed her Prozac, to which she would eventually agree to. Shortly after, she was prescribed four more medications in hopes of 'curing' her. She believes it did the exact opposite. Andrijka's raw and edgy memoir takes the reader down a rabbit hole in a fast-paced, graphic, and darkly humorous depiction of recovery, self-acceptance, and what it means to be depressed as a modern teenager.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2018
140 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Andrijka Keller
1 book11 followersAndrijka Keller is a writer and award-winning author of her debut memoir Thin, and I. She won her first literary contest in 5th grade at her local library and has been writing ever since. Her conversational and relaxed approach to storytelling has made her writings unique and approachable.
Currently, Andrijka lives in Philadelphia, PA, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling. While writing is her first love, she does enjoy drinking black coffee, having lengthy discussions with her cat, yoga, and reading. She plans on eventually writing a novel.
Currently, Andrijka lives in Philadelphia, PA, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Counseling. While writing is her first love, she does enjoy drinking black coffee, having lengthy discussions with her cat, yoga, and reading. She plans on eventually writing a novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 20, 2020
I am totally floored by this book. It amazes me that something as sensitive as the plot of this memoir can be written in such a positive light. I have never met anyone that suffers from bulimia nor have I ever read about it before, so I had no idea about the challenges that accompany eating-disorder and addiction. I cannot even imagine how difficult it must be to deal with this and that too in the teenage years when life already feels so messed up and it seems like the world is against us. This book has been like an eye-opener and I was completely invested in it from the very beginning. The writing is both enchanting and flawless. The way Andrijka has written her personal-growth story is truly commendable and reflects on her exquisite capacity as an author. She has gracefully talked about everything she suffered from and had to endure as a result of being bulimic. Reading about her journey made me aware of eating disorder and everything that comes along with it. I’m not saying that I understand what she went through, nobody can say that unless they have been on the same journey, but from her story I can definitely say that I understand her thought process and the reasoning behind the decisions she took during that time. She did not shy away from relaying her sarcasm as a teenager which in my opinion is the crowning glory of her satirical writing and made her book that much more intriguing. A serious issue has been given a refreshing twist and made the reading experience extra-ordinary. I cannot recommend this beautifully scripted memoir enough!! Must read!
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Connect with me on:
Instagram | Twitter | Blog
June 13, 2020
Thin, and I is a moving memoir of author Andrijka Keller where she shares her experience with bulimia, depression and anxiety as a teenager. She vividly explores accounts of bullying and highlights the role society plays in pushing you over the edge to these illness. She also dives deep and instigates us to introspect our lack of comprehension and understanding of the subject and the sufferer through her story. The writing is extremely honest and raw but nonetheless incorporates elements of humour along with it. This is such an exquisite combination to master and than the author had an impeccable hold over it. My cousin suffered from an eating disorder and the narrative helped me reflect back and give structure to my understanding. It also validated many of my personal past experiences with bullying. The pace was good and I honestly enjoyed reading this book very much. I will recommend everyone to read it.
August 23, 2020
Fiiiiiinallly, an ED book where the author has a biting sense of humor, which pervades that population. Deserves a better editor though.
September 26, 2020
Ugh, felt like reading a stereotypical teenage angst book. Sorry to say, there was nothing unique or different. I felt like the author was either really shallow or not very smart. No depth to this book at all.
October 1, 2020
Don’t give this to your teen daughter
I enjoyed reading this book, but it’s problematic. It’s an account of the author’s years in junior high and high school where she suffered from an eating disorder and, arguably, other mental health disorders. There’s also a small portion from her “adult” life which appears to be right after high school.
The problem - the author would admit to having an eating disorder, but has a huge problem with her other mental health care professionals, all of them, who diagnosed her with depression.
Obviously I don’t know whether she had depression or not but it seems interesting that any number of professionals felt she did but she vehemently denies it, based on the idea that psychiatry and psychiatric medication is all a scam. She simply stops her medication or sells it to her classmates. And since it appears she may have written the book just after high school, or, if not, at whatever age she wrote it she felt no need to sound a cautionary note about the opinions of a sixteen year old — there’s nothing to counteract the idea that perhaps the authors advice is neither good nor safe.
So, I don’t know about this. I wouldn’t be encouraging any teens to read it. Children making adult decisions sounds really good, to the children, but doesn’t always work out that well. Available on Kindle Unlimited.
I enjoyed reading this book, but it’s problematic. It’s an account of the author’s years in junior high and high school where she suffered from an eating disorder and, arguably, other mental health disorders. There’s also a small portion from her “adult” life which appears to be right after high school.
The problem - the author would admit to having an eating disorder, but has a huge problem with her other mental health care professionals, all of them, who diagnosed her with depression.
Obviously I don’t know whether she had depression or not but it seems interesting that any number of professionals felt she did but she vehemently denies it, based on the idea that psychiatry and psychiatric medication is all a scam. She simply stops her medication or sells it to her classmates. And since it appears she may have written the book just after high school, or, if not, at whatever age she wrote it she felt no need to sound a cautionary note about the opinions of a sixteen year old — there’s nothing to counteract the idea that perhaps the authors advice is neither good nor safe.
So, I don’t know about this. I wouldn’t be encouraging any teens to read it. Children making adult decisions sounds really good, to the children, but doesn’t always work out that well. Available on Kindle Unlimited.
February 13, 2020
Author, Andrijka Keller shares her experience of struggling with bulimia, depression, and anxiety throughout her teen years. As a parent of two teenagers struggling with similar issues, I found myself comparing the similarities of her attitudes and experiences with theirs. I wanted to know if she found a magic solution that made it all go away. In the end, I was left wondering. Did she overcome it with the decision to control her own life, or does she still struggle?
This book is a real eye-opener to those unfamiliar with this world. So many teens struggle with this, and not much seems to help. Its an endless cycle of lapse, relapse, and collapse. What this book does is reveal what it's like to have these problems and how society's messed-up attitudes of what constitutes beauty can really mess someone up.
This book is a real eye-opener to those unfamiliar with this world. So many teens struggle with this, and not much seems to help. Its an endless cycle of lapse, relapse, and collapse. What this book does is reveal what it's like to have these problems and how society's messed-up attitudes of what constitutes beauty can really mess someone up.
January 29, 2021
More like James St James "Party Monster" and not like Marya Hornbacher's "Wasted".
Both are great books, but this one is light yet caustic. I read it in less than a week. It goes from really funny to really dark in less than a page. The author's inner monologue vs what she saw in the real world was the most interesting part. I definitely recommend it for people that want to know more about eating disorders as the topic presented in a real, raw, unfiltered way. The author has a sense of humor about her experience is which refreshing and didn't make the book too preachy. Definitely needs a trigger warning.
Both are great books, but this one is light yet caustic. I read it in less than a week. It goes from really funny to really dark in less than a page. The author's inner monologue vs what she saw in the real world was the most interesting part. I definitely recommend it for people that want to know more about eating disorders as the topic presented in a real, raw, unfiltered way. The author has a sense of humor about her experience is which refreshing and didn't make the book too preachy. Definitely needs a trigger warning.
January 28, 2022
You never know what goes on in a persons head. you don't see what they struggle with or how they come out of it.
I knew Andi. I met her back in 2013 working as a host while she was a server at the same restaurant. I met her in the after. the only glimpse of her before was once when i was talking to another server about how I wanted to lose some weight, she turned to Andi and asked her how she did it. "by smoking and drinking" she had said. I was 16 and never fully understood what she meant until I read this creative memoir. it steps into the mind of Andi as a teen, struggling with her demons that a lot of other teen-aged girls face in life.
I knew Andi. I met her back in 2013 working as a host while she was a server at the same restaurant. I met her in the after. the only glimpse of her before was once when i was talking to another server about how I wanted to lose some weight, she turned to Andi and asked her how she did it. "by smoking and drinking" she had said. I was 16 and never fully understood what she meant until I read this creative memoir. it steps into the mind of Andi as a teen, struggling with her demons that a lot of other teen-aged girls face in life.
November 9, 2021
What happened? Spoiler alert!
I'm not sure if this character grew or merely circled around to find other ways of harming herself. It could really benefit from a lot of discussion to see others opinions of exactly what was going on. I don't think the main character beat anorexia, but she might have beaten bulimia. I think her confidence may have grown by the end it she was still eating in an unhealthy manner and at a weight that was below where she had ever been. Is that success?
I'm not sure if this character grew or merely circled around to find other ways of harming herself. It could really benefit from a lot of discussion to see others opinions of exactly what was going on. I don't think the main character beat anorexia, but she might have beaten bulimia. I think her confidence may have grown by the end it she was still eating in an unhealthy manner and at a weight that was below where she had ever been. Is that success?
November 15, 2022
This would have been halfway decent, except for the continuous implication that the author's particular personal story is "unique," that she's somehow "edgy" and her experiences are so much more profound than other people with the same problems.
This book is really the exact same as every other eating disorder memoir, with the exception of the author's general attitude of superiority. And she really needs a better editor to proofread; her grammar is atrocious.
(Also, the whole "Alice in Wonderland as a metaphor for mental illness/addiction" concept is completely over-done and trite.)
This book is really the exact same as every other eating disorder memoir, with the exception of the author's general attitude of superiority. And she really needs a better editor to proofread; her grammar is atrocious.
(Also, the whole "Alice in Wonderland as a metaphor for mental illness/addiction" concept is completely over-done and trite.)
August 5, 2018
Raw and difficult
The story is the author's story, her experiences as a teenager with more than the usual teen-angst. The story is raw and gritty, as well as thought-provoking. It teeters on the edge of emotional, mental and physical issues that she needs to endure and survive. The author is brave for sharing her story, and it touches on a lot of issues that overwhelm even the strongest people. It takes courage to survive. I look forward to more stories from this new author.
The story is the author's story, her experiences as a teenager with more than the usual teen-angst. The story is raw and gritty, as well as thought-provoking. It teeters on the edge of emotional, mental and physical issues that she needs to endure and survive. The author is brave for sharing her story, and it touches on a lot of issues that overwhelm even the strongest people. It takes courage to survive. I look forward to more stories from this new author.
May 22, 2021
I thought this book was amazing. I had anorexia all 4 years of high school and relapsed in 2016. It has kinda mutated into bingeing at times, but I don't purge. I couldn't put this book down. I think there are a lot of underlying takeaways from it that aren't related to eating disorders, like people taking medication because they're told they need it when, really, they probably don't and that it just makes big pharma bigger ($). The ending was quite interesting, too. Very unique book!
January 6, 2021
I enjoyed the sarcasm. The voice and tone of this book is on point with my personality.
This could be triggering for people who are just beginning their struggle with ED or mental health issues.
Having been in treatment during the same years at around the same age it was a good reflection and pretty accurate in describing providers and treatment at that time.
This could be triggering for people who are just beginning their struggle with ED or mental health issues.
Having been in treatment during the same years at around the same age it was a good reflection and pretty accurate in describing providers and treatment at that time.
July 10, 2020
One of the most light hearted books about a serious topic - I was laughing hysterically at points. Definitely think this should have some type of trigger warning though - for people who may be bothered.
August 15, 2021
The author comes off as a very unpleasant person in this book, but then at the end admits that she was very young when she wrote it. I liked her skepticism of and rejection of psychiatrist doling out medication‘s, but then she rejects what she did at the end of the book. Not one I would read again.
August 10, 2024
A memoir about a teen who develops an eating disorder. She describes her experience in treatment as well as a behavioral health facility when she attempts to end her life. It is told in a compelling story format. I could picture everything she wrote as if I were there. Highly recommend.
January 29, 2020
So much truth!
I really didn’t want this book to end. The story hits so close to home. I think I have pages in one of my journals with the exact words.
I really didn’t want this book to end. The story hits so close to home. I think I have pages in one of my journals with the exact words.
September 9, 2020
Great read
Such a great read. I wasn't expecting it to be such a page turner but I absolutely loved it. You'll enjoy every page
Such a great read. I wasn't expecting it to be such a page turner but I absolutely loved it. You'll enjoy every page
October 9, 2020
I enjoyed the first two thirds a lot. However the last third i found almost like it was being written by someone else.. to me the entire pace of the story was different... this is why only 4stars.
July 9, 2021
Loved this book. Appreciated the humor. The author was very honest and raw in her writing. I recommend this book for anyone suffering with anorexia or bulimia and is ok with the triggering parts.
October 29, 2021
Good overall
The story is told very well. She is funny and heartbreaking at the same time. However, it could use a good edit. Lots of typos and grammer errors.
The story is told very well. She is funny and heartbreaking at the same time. However, it could use a good edit. Lots of typos and grammer errors.
November 5, 2023
Get an editor. Not good.
November 23, 2022
Raw Truth!
This book is probably one of the finest auto-biography I have ever read. This book is a genuine, raw, gripping story of what it feels like to suffer from an eating disorder. I found myself experiencing every emotion with the writer, Andrijka Keller as she shares her journey of struggling with bulimia, anxiety, and depression throughout her teen years.
The book starts off by sharing the story of how it all began. Andrijka weighed 200 pounds in elementary school and because of that, her peers bullied her. She slowly started dieting with her mom, but that wasn’t making her lose weight fast enough. She started restricting her diet, eating fewer calories every day. Eventually, she lost sixty pounds, and she started getting compliments from other girls at school. The compliments she received pushed her to aim for a lower weight and so she continued eating less, along with following advice she received online. Eventually, she got caught and was sent to rehab when she was fifteen. However, even after rehab, her struggle continued years later.
I really don’t want to get into the story beyond this point because it’s not fair to you or the author and I want this fascinating piece of literature to reach your heart, as it did mine. Just read the book and enjoy the story for yourself. I will add that Andrijka’s story pulled at my heartstrings....to say I shed a few tears is an understatement. After reading this book, I finally understand the struggles that many people face because of bullying or peer pressure. What I loved about this book is that I felt like she truly tapped into what was driving her to do the things she did, and she was brutally honest with everything she said. There aren't many people who are brave enough to openly discuss their disorders in such a way and with such candor. I appreciate her willingness to show the bald face of Eating Disorders.
It was an amazing journey to read as it unfolded through the challenges of Andrijka and of thousands of others around the world. If you’re looking for a book that will help you identify the signs of EDs and help you understand it better, then this is the book for you. It doesn't get better than this.
Thank you Andrijka for sharing your life with the world and allowing us to understand what it’s like to be in the show of someone who suffers from EDs. You are AMAZING! I am so proud of you and the way you have conquered life thus far.
This book is probably one of the finest auto-biography I have ever read. This book is a genuine, raw, gripping story of what it feels like to suffer from an eating disorder. I found myself experiencing every emotion with the writer, Andrijka Keller as she shares her journey of struggling with bulimia, anxiety, and depression throughout her teen years.
The book starts off by sharing the story of how it all began. Andrijka weighed 200 pounds in elementary school and because of that, her peers bullied her. She slowly started dieting with her mom, but that wasn’t making her lose weight fast enough. She started restricting her diet, eating fewer calories every day. Eventually, she lost sixty pounds, and she started getting compliments from other girls at school. The compliments she received pushed her to aim for a lower weight and so she continued eating less, along with following advice she received online. Eventually, she got caught and was sent to rehab when she was fifteen. However, even after rehab, her struggle continued years later.
I really don’t want to get into the story beyond this point because it’s not fair to you or the author and I want this fascinating piece of literature to reach your heart, as it did mine. Just read the book and enjoy the story for yourself. I will add that Andrijka’s story pulled at my heartstrings....to say I shed a few tears is an understatement. After reading this book, I finally understand the struggles that many people face because of bullying or peer pressure. What I loved about this book is that I felt like she truly tapped into what was driving her to do the things she did, and she was brutally honest with everything she said. There aren't many people who are brave enough to openly discuss their disorders in such a way and with such candor. I appreciate her willingness to show the bald face of Eating Disorders.
It was an amazing journey to read as it unfolded through the challenges of Andrijka and of thousands of others around the world. If you’re looking for a book that will help you identify the signs of EDs and help you understand it better, then this is the book for you. It doesn't get better than this.
Thank you Andrijka for sharing your life with the world and allowing us to understand what it’s like to be in the show of someone who suffers from EDs. You are AMAZING! I am so proud of you and the way you have conquered life thus far.
May 10, 2024
This one was definitely outside of my normal reading list. Part 1 I thought was very well done & I found myself not struggling to read through it all. It’s a deep topic, but the way she gave life & explanations to ED & her other disorders was unlike anything I’d ever read. It’s also a great way to show people what they’re like & I found that I was cruising through as my attention was captured. However, I struggled through Parts 2 & 3. This book is a memoir & so I feel bad thinking this way as the author was dealing with 5 diagnosed disorders on top of being a high schooler… but, I found it hard by the end to root for her. She lies the entire book & is never honest with her doctors or anyone really. Even at the end she is still living an incredibly unhealthy lifestyle & after condemning big pharma pays a coworker for adderall. She just doesn’t do anything to help herself & it got incredibly hard to continue to read about. I did learn a lot about different eating disorders & ways that disorders morph into one another, which I found helpful to understand. I just don’t think this is a read for everyone & I would proceed with caution. It is very dark & there is no happy ending.
July 28, 2018
"I couldn't put it down" feels like such a cliché statement until we find the books that are hard to put down... the books that leave you wanting to read more... the books that leave you thinking about that last chapter you read. This is most definitely one of those books.
The writing within this memoir is witty, captivating, and (while dark,) has moments of humor. While we can't all fully understand what the author has been through unless we have experienced similar trials, Andrijka uses such vivid imagery that captivates her audience and allows them to feel they are viewing a flashback sequence of sorts.
The reader will chuckle at the clever one-liners, empathize with the pain and struggles of the author (and maybe shed some tears,) and quickly turn the pages to see what happens next.
What a strong person to have survived such arduous times... how brave to share her story with the world.
Definitely not for the faint of heart but most certainly worth the read.
Congratulations to the author!
The writing within this memoir is witty, captivating, and (while dark,) has moments of humor. While we can't all fully understand what the author has been through unless we have experienced similar trials, Andrijka uses such vivid imagery that captivates her audience and allows them to feel they are viewing a flashback sequence of sorts.
The reader will chuckle at the clever one-liners, empathize with the pain and struggles of the author (and maybe shed some tears,) and quickly turn the pages to see what happens next.
What a strong person to have survived such arduous times... how brave to share her story with the world.
Definitely not for the faint of heart but most certainly worth the read.
Congratulations to the author!
May 27, 2024
This was the absolute worst memoir I've ever read. The fact that it wasn't very well written and needed an editor is the least of my worries. Especially because the author claims to have written it as a teenager. The author was so gross and pretentious about her views on taking medications for mental health. If more than three therapists diagnosed her with depression, there is probably something to it. The narration was unbearably smug and unlikable. She seems to think girls were mean to her in school because they were jealous that she was pretty. I'm sure it had more to do with her horrible attitude and bad personality. Don't even get me started on how she would diagnose her classmates and sell them her prescriptions or over the counter medicine disguised as the real thing. Or worse, how she would shoplift, lie, and manipulate the people around her, not because she's a bad person, but because her prescription medications made her not care. So disgusting.
June 2, 2023
One of the best ED memoirs I have yet to read.
This was my fifth recommended read of 2023.
It was like who recommended this to me, couldn't have understood my reading taste more. Andrijka was amazing with conveying emotion into words. As well as keeping it all so real and raw. She kept a humor and lightness to her words that made it all flow great too.
This memoir was relatable and it pains me that she had to suffer with so much of this too. For me it is heartbreaking to read about others struggling. But for myself struggling with this type of thing really is no big deal. This could be extremely triggering of a memoir to some. But for me this was absolutely everything and so well written. Thank you for sharing your story with us all. Keep thriving in your health/mental health. Please keep writing as well as it is your passion.
This was my fifth recommended read of 2023.
It was like who recommended this to me, couldn't have understood my reading taste more. Andrijka was amazing with conveying emotion into words. As well as keeping it all so real and raw. She kept a humor and lightness to her words that made it all flow great too.
This memoir was relatable and it pains me that she had to suffer with so much of this too. For me it is heartbreaking to read about others struggling. But for myself struggling with this type of thing really is no big deal. This could be extremely triggering of a memoir to some. But for me this was absolutely everything and so well written. Thank you for sharing your story with us all. Keep thriving in your health/mental health. Please keep writing as well as it is your passion.
May 26, 2024
One of the best books I ever read, truthfully written, lots of full real life situations. Very interesting book. I identify myself with her since she and I have same age. But also due pretty much all what she went through I did. I was not mia though I was Ana. And I also did modeling and went through same things.
Thank you for writing the book. Forever grateful to you to read as well my own story. Blessings! ❤️
Thank you for writing the book. Forever grateful to you to read as well my own story. Blessings! ❤️
April 12, 2023
Read. The. Trigger. Warnings.
TWs: eating disorders, drug use, forced institutionalization, suicide, anxiety, depression
I appreciate that this is a memoir, but I thought this book was extremely problematic. There were a few sections that read like “how tos”
Definitely be aware of any triggers this could bring up.
TWs: eating disorders, drug use, forced institutionalization, suicide, anxiety, depression
I appreciate that this is a memoir, but I thought this book was extremely problematic. There were a few sections that read like “how tos”
Definitely be aware of any triggers this could bring up.
December 17, 2024
Author was unlikable. She came off arrogant and entitled, so it was difficult for me to enjoy it. (Perhaps I would have been less critical if I had known beforehand that she wrote it when she was 20)
Also, can someone get this girl an editor? So many typos.
Also, can someone get this girl an editor? So many typos.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews