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Pretty Weird: Overcoming Impostor Syndrome and Other Oddly Empowering Lessons
A series of true stories that are at once relatable, funny, and heart-wrenching, join lauded writer Marissa Miller on a journey of battling imposter syndrome and learning to be proud to stand out.
Acclaimed writer and editor Marissa Miller was born into what you would call a nice Jewish family. But she somehow grew into anything but a Nice Jewish Girl. From openly discussing any and all bodily functions with whoever would listen, to encouraging her peers to join her in undressing in the hallways at school for no reason other than to fight the oppressive institution of modern academia, she was continuously scolded by members of the Jewish community for exploring her identity and pushing the boundaries of what a “nice girl” is allowed to do. To make sense of being the odd one out, she did what any confused teenager would she wrote. She wrote poems on MySpace, articles for her school newspaper, extra credit English assignments to compensate for her complete and utter lack of math skills, and eventually, reported pieces for many of the world’s most prestigious media publications.
But the transition to a lucrative journalism career didn’t come without is growing pains. Getting anywhere past the school newspaper stage and being asked to provide journalism lectures around the city inspired a sense of panic, dread, and most notably, impostor syndrome—the sense that success is a product of coincidence and luck as opposed to hard work and talent. No fellow journalists she idolized growing up seemed to have had a history of behavior so crude it would make your Rabbi blush. Surely, the Universe was thisclose to taking everything away from her. And to some extent, it did.
In Pretty Weird —a series of true stories that are at once relatable, funny, and heart-wrenching—you’ll learn about why, like Miller, you’re worthy of success by virtue of you thinking you’re not, about why there’s no such thing as being “not sick enough” to deserve help, and that living in that liminal space of being too normal to stand out, yet too weird to fit in, is truly where all the magic happens.
Acclaimed writer and editor Marissa Miller was born into what you would call a nice Jewish family. But she somehow grew into anything but a Nice Jewish Girl. From openly discussing any and all bodily functions with whoever would listen, to encouraging her peers to join her in undressing in the hallways at school for no reason other than to fight the oppressive institution of modern academia, she was continuously scolded by members of the Jewish community for exploring her identity and pushing the boundaries of what a “nice girl” is allowed to do. To make sense of being the odd one out, she did what any confused teenager would she wrote. She wrote poems on MySpace, articles for her school newspaper, extra credit English assignments to compensate for her complete and utter lack of math skills, and eventually, reported pieces for many of the world’s most prestigious media publications.
But the transition to a lucrative journalism career didn’t come without is growing pains. Getting anywhere past the school newspaper stage and being asked to provide journalism lectures around the city inspired a sense of panic, dread, and most notably, impostor syndrome—the sense that success is a product of coincidence and luck as opposed to hard work and talent. No fellow journalists she idolized growing up seemed to have had a history of behavior so crude it would make your Rabbi blush. Surely, the Universe was thisclose to taking everything away from her. And to some extent, it did.
In Pretty Weird —a series of true stories that are at once relatable, funny, and heart-wrenching—you’ll learn about why, like Miller, you’re worthy of success by virtue of you thinking you’re not, about why there’s no such thing as being “not sick enough” to deserve help, and that living in that liminal space of being too normal to stand out, yet too weird to fit in, is truly where all the magic happens.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published May 25, 2021
2 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Marissa Miller
2 books6 followersMarissa Miller is a journalist and editor covering health, nutrition, fitness, style, beauty, travel, tech and mental health with work published in the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN Style, NBC News, the Wall Street Journal, Vogue, USA Today, BBC Travel, Cosmopolitan, Women's Health, GQ and more. Miller judges journalism and poetry contests across North America, and lectures at universities to aspiring writers. She holds a degree in journalism and creative writing from Concordia University, and a certificate in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies at Cornell University. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 11, 2021
I think this book is titled "Pretty Weird" because it is indeed pretty weird how addictive this poignant memoir was to read! With a great deal of wit and sincerity, Marissa Miller navigates readers through the growing pains of girlhood, such as summer camp mishaps, crushes, and first periods. I also really appreciated her openness and honesty in more serious topics, such as body image issues, sexual assault, and divorce.
I found many of Marissa's experiences deeply relatable, such as having a loved one, who truly has your best interests, inadvertently encourage toxic habits around eating and food. When she spoke of how her dad's weight loss inspired him to be extremely health-and-food-conscious, this really struck a chord with me. On a personal note, my mom, who struggled with her weight, would often scrutinize my eating habits and physique so that I would avoid the insecurities she had when she was younger, but this led me to have food and body-image-related issues as well, that I am still overcoming. I also love how Miller shed a light on "atypical anorexia"; how people may suffer from EDs, but not look medically underweight; they may range from slightly underweight to even obese. I find this is so important to address, as some people can silently suffer, but may not receive adequate support from loved ones or health professionals since "it can't be that bad if they don't look the part".
The theme of not meeting the "ideal standard"; of a "nice Jewish girl", bride, or person with a mental illness was also deeply relatable. Miller has a talent for sharing her story in an entertaining and compelling way while also addressing important issues as well concerning binding gender roles. I appreciate how she acknowledges herself as a work-in-progress essentially and didn't wrap up her journey in a neat little bow, claiming to be cured of all insecurities. As cheesy as this sounds, I think every one of us is constantly on our journey, and there is never one endpoint *insert Miley Cyrus lyrics circa 2009*. There is so much I can touch on that I enjoyed in this book, and I'm frankly tipsy and incoherent while writing this, haha. Simply put, I had a blast reading this book, and many passages made me laugh and reflect. I would highly recommend this book :)
I found many of Marissa's experiences deeply relatable, such as having a loved one, who truly has your best interests, inadvertently encourage toxic habits around eating and food. When she spoke of how her dad's weight loss inspired him to be extremely health-and-food-conscious, this really struck a chord with me. On a personal note, my mom, who struggled with her weight, would often scrutinize my eating habits and physique so that I would avoid the insecurities she had when she was younger, but this led me to have food and body-image-related issues as well, that I am still overcoming. I also love how Miller shed a light on "atypical anorexia"; how people may suffer from EDs, but not look medically underweight; they may range from slightly underweight to even obese. I find this is so important to address, as some people can silently suffer, but may not receive adequate support from loved ones or health professionals since "it can't be that bad if they don't look the part".
The theme of not meeting the "ideal standard"; of a "nice Jewish girl", bride, or person with a mental illness was also deeply relatable. Miller has a talent for sharing her story in an entertaining and compelling way while also addressing important issues as well concerning binding gender roles. I appreciate how she acknowledges herself as a work-in-progress essentially and didn't wrap up her journey in a neat little bow, claiming to be cured of all insecurities. As cheesy as this sounds, I think every one of us is constantly on our journey, and there is never one endpoint *insert Miley Cyrus lyrics circa 2009*. There is so much I can touch on that I enjoyed in this book, and I'm frankly tipsy and incoherent while writing this, haha. Simply put, I had a blast reading this book, and many passages made me laugh and reflect. I would highly recommend this book :)
May 30, 2022
Hilarious and poignant read. Loved all the references to growing up in Cote Saint Luc, going to Y Country Camp and Bialik High School and finding a path to journalism.
August 3, 2021
I couldn't put this down, finished it in 2 days! Funny, real and heartfelt, you'll be feeling all sorts of emotions all at once. Can't wait to read her next book!
May 5, 2022
📚 𝑳𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕, 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏, 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔.
Pretty weird by author Marissa Miller is a memoir, a collection of essays inspired from her life.
Life is lived in the small moments. Memoir is best written from those.
Divided into 13 chapters, the author talks about teenage problems, eating disorders and most importantly about 'Imposter syndrome.'
Have you ever felt like you don't deserve this accomplishment❓ Do you feel like you are not worthy enough to have it❓ Repeated feelings like this is what known as Imposter syndrome.
In her book, she writes about the beginning of her syndrome, the eating syndrome she had and sexual assault she underwent and a lot more and how she bounce back to life.
The author pens down her experiences so as to show readers that they're not alone. Every chapter has its own story about life and teaching to ponder upon. It's a book about self-acceptance and a fight against your own self to win. The book gives us glimpses of unexpected hard to accept events of life ; depression, drugs, love, heartbreak, marriage and divorce and a lot more.
I liked the way she writes her experiences candidly and her vulnerability. I was spellbound when I read Mr. He poem and no doubt it was a wonderpiece. The humor in her writing will surely make you laugh your heart out. Besides that, the ironic question she asks in between lines makes one dig deeper in self. They make you think in a way you never have imagined.
The book is best suited for one in their late teens and early twenties. But again some parts of book contains adult content that many won't be comfortable with. So choose the book according to your comfort.
For a wonderful dramatic read that teaches you a lot, pick this book.
Pretty weird by author Marissa Miller is a memoir, a collection of essays inspired from her life.
Life is lived in the small moments. Memoir is best written from those.
Divided into 13 chapters, the author talks about teenage problems, eating disorders and most importantly about 'Imposter syndrome.'
Have you ever felt like you don't deserve this accomplishment❓ Do you feel like you are not worthy enough to have it❓ Repeated feelings like this is what known as Imposter syndrome.
In her book, she writes about the beginning of her syndrome, the eating syndrome she had and sexual assault she underwent and a lot more and how she bounce back to life.
The author pens down her experiences so as to show readers that they're not alone. Every chapter has its own story about life and teaching to ponder upon. It's a book about self-acceptance and a fight against your own self to win. The book gives us glimpses of unexpected hard to accept events of life ; depression, drugs, love, heartbreak, marriage and divorce and a lot more.
I liked the way she writes her experiences candidly and her vulnerability. I was spellbound when I read Mr. He poem and no doubt it was a wonderpiece. The humor in her writing will surely make you laugh your heart out. Besides that, the ironic question she asks in between lines makes one dig deeper in self. They make you think in a way you never have imagined.
The book is best suited for one in their late teens and early twenties. But again some parts of book contains adult content that many won't be comfortable with. So choose the book according to your comfort.
For a wonderful dramatic read that teaches you a lot, pick this book.
September 13, 2021
Author is "not like other girls", as she mentions in the book more than once. This pick-me attitude got pretty annoying to read over and over again. However, there is an authenticity to it all. Marissa shows that we don't have to be perfect, or be done healing, to be worthy of the good things that come our way. She explores this idea in depth, and I suppose the the cringy-ness of her narrative is part of the bigger picture - that we are all a work in progress, and every part of this journey is just as important as the next. I admire Marissa's authenticity and willingness to bear it all.
The book is easy to read. The author certainly has a gift with words. It felt like sitting down with an old high school friend and catching up without having ever missed a beat. I'm excited for Marissa to write more books - I think she'd really excel at writing YA fiction. Pretty Wierd might be a useful read for younger readers who find themselves struggling with identity and belonging.
The book is easy to read. The author certainly has a gift with words. It felt like sitting down with an old high school friend and catching up without having ever missed a beat. I'm excited for Marissa to write more books - I think she'd really excel at writing YA fiction. Pretty Wierd might be a useful read for younger readers who find themselves struggling with identity and belonging.
July 20, 2022
I received this book as a gift from someone in the publishing industry. I found Marissa's voice to be very strong and her stories wonderfully weird. Each chapter is a quick vignette into the author's life and experiences that occasionally cross paths but can be enjoyed individually as well. I found her experiences to be very familiar to my own--the fear that you're not good enough, the anxiety of trying to become a mature adult when you have the humor of a ten year old, and having to face past and present traumas to find peace and happiness in yourself.
Overall, I found the book to an enjoyable read, even for someone who doesn't particularly care for memoirs or nonfiction. My main critique is that the title is slightly misleading: there's no lesson here or helpful hints on how to deal with your own imposter syndrome. Instead, you learn through Marissas's own experiences just how chaotic and messy it is growing up in the modern world.
Overall, I found the book to an enjoyable read, even for someone who doesn't particularly care for memoirs or nonfiction. My main critique is that the title is slightly misleading: there's no lesson here or helpful hints on how to deal with your own imposter syndrome. Instead, you learn through Marissas's own experiences just how chaotic and messy it is growing up in the modern world.
December 7, 2022
I think everybody should read this book, since it highlights a lot of fundamental human experiences. Reading it certainly made me realize that I'm not alone and that many people around me have the same feelings as me. The way Marissa wrote this book makes it feel as though I'm having a conversation with a friend. The writing is very casual and fluid, which makes for a fun and familiar reading experience. Marissa's personality explodes out of the page, as I felt like I knew her so well simply from reading Pretty Weird. Some moments in the book are heavier than others, but I was never intimidated because the quality of writing was so excellent that it overshadowed any discomfort that I felt. The discomfort is important, too, as it's part of the human experience, which is what Marissa attempts to convey. I would definitely would read it again!
February 15, 2022
I was asked to read Marissa’s book and write about it for work (at a newspaper) and what I thought was just a really cool assignment ended up being an immensely validating and comforting experience, because I realized I’m not alone in having incessant feelings of inadequacy both in terms of work & appearance. Knowing that someone I look up to feels the same way put those feelings into context — if we all feel like this, is there really anything wrong with us as individuals or is it just the impossible standards we see around us every day?
Marissa tells it like it is and I love her for it. I’ve never read such a candid memoir. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions and definitely worth your time!!!
Marissa tells it like it is and I love her for it. I’ve never read such a candid memoir. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions and definitely worth your time!!!
May 26, 2021
*I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own*
First I want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Marissa Miller's voice. And as a memoir/anthology of short stories, "Pretty Weird" works. I didn't really get where the self help came in though. It was just a good memoir about the author's journey to self acceptance, and probably should have been marketed that way. All in all the stories were entertaining if not embarrassing, and this was a pretty speedy read.
*Pretty Weird came out on 5/25/2021 and is available for purchase.
First I want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed Marissa Miller's voice. And as a memoir/anthology of short stories, "Pretty Weird" works. I didn't really get where the self help came in though. It was just a good memoir about the author's journey to self acceptance, and probably should have been marketed that way. All in all the stories were entertaining if not embarrassing, and this was a pretty speedy read.
*Pretty Weird came out on 5/25/2021 and is available for purchase.
May 27, 2021
I couldn’t put this book down! Marissa does such an excellent job talking about what are normally considered heavy subjects with such humour and class that it will literally make you LOL! It was so relatable to hear about her struggles with imposter syndrome, it very quickly revealed to me similar issues I deal with in my career. I’d think it’s Pretty Weird if anyone says this is not their type of content. Excellent 10/10!!!
June 7, 2021
Extremely well written and beyond relatable! Found myself laughing out loud throughout the entirety of the book while relating to the struggles spoken about in a meaningful way. This book reminded me that no one is facing their challenges alone. Highly recommend to anyone who has struggled with their self esteem and is still learning to celebrate their victories!! A must read!!
January 14, 2022
Marissa's book is refreshingly honest. Her book reads like a diary as she takes her reader through years of heartbreak, struggle for self acceptance, love and lessons learned. Marissa had be laughing and crying throughout the book. I liked how she makes her reader connect with and root for her. This book was beautifully written and I definitely recommend it!
March 20, 2021
This book takes an empathetic approach and gives bite size approaches and allows you to have kindness and patience with yourself when dealing with life. This is so necessary for everyone to read in life. Highly recommend. Especially loved the reflection to true life to humanize my feelings and relate. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 9, 2021
This book revealed Marissa’s soul to me. I couldn’t put it down. Her journey is so relatable. It will resonate with so many people who have undergone similar struggles and they will know they are not alone. The book was funny, moving and will stay with me for a long time.
May 9, 2021
An excellent inspiring read that has you hooked from the first page to the last. Marissa is able to portray her message in such an honest, relatable and empathetic way. Highly recommended for everyone!
June 16, 2021
Very entertaining! Easy read! Loved it!
As parents, it gave us insight into the challenges and pressures this generation faces.
Clever writing with just the right amount of humour and seriousness to make it interesting. You laugh and cringe on the same
Paragraph.
As parents, it gave us insight into the challenges and pressures this generation faces.
Clever writing with just the right amount of humour and seriousness to make it interesting. You laugh and cringe on the same
Paragraph.
September 9, 2021
Pretty Weird is one of the most honest, unapologetic and deeply relatable books I’ve ever read. The stories and insights Miller shares in this memoir will make you laugh, cry and above all, feel seen. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to read and re-read—I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend!
October 12, 2021
Great book, it is written in such way that you really keep reading it non stop. The book is also fairly relatable and feels like the proof for our awkwardness and being outcasts. Really enjoyed it and waiting for the next one
May 9, 2021
Very well written. Heartfelt memoir of life experiences. Funny, heartwarming, with Many life lessons as a result. Recommended for teenage to seniors.
June 6, 2021
Interesting insights into younger generation. So much of it is very different from the boomer generation ,yet some themes are consistent.
August 13, 2021
Absolutely great book!! Touches on everything! Very serious and deep at times and then dark humor and blunt at times as well! Marissa is an amazing writer and this is a must read!!
August 20, 2021
I seriously could not put this book down!! I read it in three days (and I’m not a quick reader). The stories were super relatable and engaging. Highly recommend!
January 3, 2022
Great book! Definitely recommend!
12/10
12/10
January 14, 2022
Pretty Weird is an incredibly honest, hilarious, and inspiring book. It is a life changing MUST read that anyone can relate to.
March 23, 2023
Marissa’s writing is at once poignant, relatable, and witty. You won’t regret picking this one up.
April 18, 2022
Marissa’s writing style is so unique and captivating that you find yourself continuing to read well beyond the time you planned to. Or, as the cliche goes, it’s tough to put down. While I may not be the target audience for many of the essays she writes, the way she tells the stories (all from her life, all apparently true) makes that irrelevant. She could make a phone book interesting. Or those dumb life stories people love to fill the page with on recipe websites. The point is, it’s good.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews