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No Shame: No Filter, No Bulls*it and How to Just Wing It
Brace yourself for lots of swearing, lots of humor and even more honesty - in this one-of-a-kind journal full of essays, personal stories and prompts for tackling shame
Shame, shame we know your name
Do we own it? Being a woman that is. Do we fuck! We live in fear of how we look, what we eat, how we age and what we do. Wow, it's 2022 and we're still churning out that same old shit.
I've been told as you get older you care less. Fucking great. I can't wait to be menopausal with skunk-like grey track lines in my hair, saggier tits, and miserable as shit. I don't know about you, but I'd quite like to have that experience - the no-fucks- experience that is - now, before that all happens. To have the confidence to believe in who I am.
It's a push we all have to make - whether it be in our confidence over our bodies, who we are as people, or what goes on inside our mind - and we all have to work at it. It's baby steps. So let's take it back to those tiny steps, because all mountains that are climbed don't happen without practice, perseverance, self-belief and a fuck ton of work.
Shame, shame we know your name
Do we own it? Being a woman that is. Do we fuck! We live in fear of how we look, what we eat, how we age and what we do. Wow, it's 2022 and we're still churning out that same old shit.
I've been told as you get older you care less. Fucking great. I can't wait to be menopausal with skunk-like grey track lines in my hair, saggier tits, and miserable as shit. I don't know about you, but I'd quite like to have that experience - the no-fucks- experience that is - now, before that all happens. To have the confidence to believe in who I am.
It's a push we all have to make - whether it be in our confidence over our bodies, who we are as people, or what goes on inside our mind - and we all have to work at it. It's baby steps. So let's take it back to those tiny steps, because all mountains that are climbed don't happen without practice, perseverance, self-belief and a fuck ton of work.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2022
10 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 30, 2022
No Shame by Laura Belpin
Do we own it? Being a woman that is. Do we fuck! We live in fear of how we look, what we eat, how we age and what we do. Wow, it's 2022 and we're still churning out that same old shit.I
I love , love , love Laura , I follow her on Knee Deep in Life and she always brings a smile to my face.
She gives us an insight to her struggles with mental health , and makes no excuse not shame for it which is absolutely correct 100%.
She's sweary but hilarious with it so don't read if easily offended . But long may she reign .
Thank you for showing us there is no such thing as normal , and thank f**k for that !
Do we own it? Being a woman that is. Do we fuck! We live in fear of how we look, what we eat, how we age and what we do. Wow, it's 2022 and we're still churning out that same old shit.I
I love , love , love Laura , I follow her on Knee Deep in Life and she always brings a smile to my face.
She gives us an insight to her struggles with mental health , and makes no excuse not shame for it which is absolutely correct 100%.
She's sweary but hilarious with it so don't read if easily offended . But long may she reign .
Thank you for showing us there is no such thing as normal , and thank f**k for that !
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December 30, 2022A chaotic book about the author how recently recovered from a breakdown which is something I think a lot of people especially women can relate to, even if they haven't had a breakdown. It's so easy in the modern world to feel left behind, out of touch and plain not good enough.
There is possibly one thing that might deter some readers from this book and that possibly could be the offensive tone/ swearing but to be honest, it doesn't bother me, I feel it as an expression and expression is only a good thing for me.
The book itself is a powerful book, it almost comes under the self help genre in a way as it will help plenty of people to learn, grow and improve themselves. It's quite a poignant piece and it's definitely beautiful.
I've learnt a lot from this book, she is brilliant for women who are anxious, quiet and need to learn to invest in themselves through the art of self loving. The author makes sure to let us know that people pleasing isn't something we should be focusing on, how it infects us to our very core and how it could start to affect children around us. It also touches on how we adapt people pleasing with our children and I can say this is something I've been guilty with my step children on several occasions! It's okay to say no to people pleasing, not to feel guilty and to have no shame. I find this very raw and honest because it's definitely not easy, it's hard and to be open with so many people must take real guts.
Of course, this book won't help everyone, and it won't have the answers for every person that reads it but it does remind us, to take a moment and think is this really worth it, is my time worth this, is my self worth worth it?
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and Laura Belbin for the chance to read this free ARC in return for my review. I've enjoyed it immensely!
There is possibly one thing that might deter some readers from this book and that possibly could be the offensive tone/ swearing but to be honest, it doesn't bother me, I feel it as an expression and expression is only a good thing for me.
The book itself is a powerful book, it almost comes under the self help genre in a way as it will help plenty of people to learn, grow and improve themselves. It's quite a poignant piece and it's definitely beautiful.
I've learnt a lot from this book, she is brilliant for women who are anxious, quiet and need to learn to invest in themselves through the art of self loving. The author makes sure to let us know that people pleasing isn't something we should be focusing on, how it infects us to our very core and how it could start to affect children around us. It also touches on how we adapt people pleasing with our children and I can say this is something I've been guilty with my step children on several occasions! It's okay to say no to people pleasing, not to feel guilty and to have no shame. I find this very raw and honest because it's definitely not easy, it's hard and to be open with so many people must take real guts.
Of course, this book won't help everyone, and it won't have the answers for every person that reads it but it does remind us, to take a moment and think is this really worth it, is my time worth this, is my self worth worth it?
Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and Laura Belbin for the chance to read this free ARC in return for my review. I've enjoyed it immensely!
July 10, 2022
I've followed Laura Belbin on Instagram for a long time and I've always appreciated how honest she is with her followers. I must admit that I haven't got around to reading her first book yet (it's on my shelf), but having followed Laura through the aftermath of her "breakdown" (this is the word she uses), I knew I needed to read No Shame.
Firstly, let me just say that if swearing easily offends you then I don't think this book is for you.
Laura is unwaveringly open and honest as she shares her traumas, her intrusive thoughts, her rock bottom, her therapy journey and the techniques she has found helpful to her. If you follow her on Instagram then, like me, I'm sure you'll read No Shame imagining Laura's voice (I believe she reads the audiobook actually). Her writing style is very much like the way she speaks. It feels like she could be sat right beside you on the sofa sharing her story.
In all honesty, I'm not sure how I would've got on with the book if I wasn't familiar with Laura's instagram account. I felt that background knowledge added to my experience of the book.
This book won't be for everyone (a fact that the author acknowledges herself), but I took a lot from this book - not least that I also have horrendously low self esteem!
I can't say I loved this book but I really appreciated Laura's no bullsh*t approach, her total honesty, and valued her sharing the tools that have helped her to get to where she is.
Firstly, let me just say that if swearing easily offends you then I don't think this book is for you.
Laura is unwaveringly open and honest as she shares her traumas, her intrusive thoughts, her rock bottom, her therapy journey and the techniques she has found helpful to her. If you follow her on Instagram then, like me, I'm sure you'll read No Shame imagining Laura's voice (I believe she reads the audiobook actually). Her writing style is very much like the way she speaks. It feels like she could be sat right beside you on the sofa sharing her story.
In all honesty, I'm not sure how I would've got on with the book if I wasn't familiar with Laura's instagram account. I felt that background knowledge added to my experience of the book.
This book won't be for everyone (a fact that the author acknowledges herself), but I took a lot from this book - not least that I also have horrendously low self esteem!
I can't say I loved this book but I really appreciated Laura's no bullsh*t approach, her total honesty, and valued her sharing the tools that have helped her to get to where she is.
September 21, 2022
An absolutely brilliant read! I first started following Laura a few years ago on Instagram because randomly I saw a video of this woman with hairy armpits and a big hairy bush openly displaying herself on the video, and I thought "Wow.... that woman is crazy brave! She's doing this all for our laughs and she feels good about herself regardless of her image!" I was so shocked that she had the bravery and confidence to do that I immediately followed her! I would imagine you already do follow her in order to read this book, but if you don't... go follow her now. I guarantee that if you're having a bad day, watching some of Laura's extremely hilarious videos will cheer you up no end! I just know as soon as I see Laura's posted a story I just know it will be hilarious in it's own way.
For her to be so open and confident like that, you would never believe she has had such struggles in her life that she has, and I didn't realise that she was abused as a child, which makes it all the more remarkable she is so confident, outwardly. She has been on such a journey in the last few years, and she finally feels able to open up to us with this book and what an achievement. Yes she has had a bloody hard time, but she is open about it, and has written this book to give her story and also a little like a self help book to show you can do everything you set your mind to.
I loved this and whilst thankfully I have not experienced anything like what Laura has, I read her words of encouragement and will remember many of the sections in this book, for people struggling with their mental health, body image issues, anything you can think of she discusses in this book and how she handled negative and turned them into positive feelings. Absolutely fantastic. I am confident it will really help many people and I would say this is more aimed at women, as I would imagine women are predominantly her main followers, but I am sure men follow too! Her and her husband Steve are just made for each other, but poor Steve some of the stunts she has him helping with make me absolutely howl! Fair play to him for doing absolutely anything she asks! Couple goals!
For her to be so open and confident like that, you would never believe she has had such struggles in her life that she has, and I didn't realise that she was abused as a child, which makes it all the more remarkable she is so confident, outwardly. She has been on such a journey in the last few years, and she finally feels able to open up to us with this book and what an achievement. Yes she has had a bloody hard time, but she is open about it, and has written this book to give her story and also a little like a self help book to show you can do everything you set your mind to.
I loved this and whilst thankfully I have not experienced anything like what Laura has, I read her words of encouragement and will remember many of the sections in this book, for people struggling with their mental health, body image issues, anything you can think of she discusses in this book and how she handled negative and turned them into positive feelings. Absolutely fantastic. I am confident it will really help many people and I would say this is more aimed at women, as I would imagine women are predominantly her main followers, but I am sure men follow too! Her and her husband Steve are just made for each other, but poor Steve some of the stunts she has him helping with make me absolutely howl! Fair play to him for doing absolutely anything she asks! Couple goals!
December 21, 2022
I was gifted one of Laura's previous books based on her instagram persona, Knee Deep In Life. That was a brutally honest depiction of her life and journey to motherhood, so when I saw No Shame was available I immediatley requested it as I had enjoyed the other one so much.
Make no mistake, this book is not like the previous one I read - while the author's voice is the same, the tone is very raw and at times visceral in its depiction of the difficulties Laura has experienced over the last couple of years. She lays bare her breakdown and mental health struggles and what she has been doing to try to work through these, at times it can be a difficult read as she does not sugarcoat anything.
Shame is a big topic to tackle and yet not something that is really talked about or discussed in public, even in this day and age - there is a lot Laura talks about that I could empathise with or have felt/experienced myself. I found some parts of the book uncomfortable reading, but this is more a reflection of me than the author - and links back to the topic of shame and the root cause of a lot of mental health problems for a lot of people.
The author has written the book how she speaks, which is very sweary - this won't be for everyone, as she acknowledges herself. However, I do think a lot of people will get something from it - it is honest and open and more conversational in style than many other books that try to tackle or discuss mental health and all the myriad causes/effects/experiences that can create or influence.
Make no mistake, this book is not like the previous one I read - while the author's voice is the same, the tone is very raw and at times visceral in its depiction of the difficulties Laura has experienced over the last couple of years. She lays bare her breakdown and mental health struggles and what she has been doing to try to work through these, at times it can be a difficult read as she does not sugarcoat anything.
Shame is a big topic to tackle and yet not something that is really talked about or discussed in public, even in this day and age - there is a lot Laura talks about that I could empathise with or have felt/experienced myself. I found some parts of the book uncomfortable reading, but this is more a reflection of me than the author - and links back to the topic of shame and the root cause of a lot of mental health problems for a lot of people.
The author has written the book how she speaks, which is very sweary - this won't be for everyone, as she acknowledges herself. However, I do think a lot of people will get something from it - it is honest and open and more conversational in style than many other books that try to tackle or discuss mental health and all the myriad causes/effects/experiences that can create or influence.
January 28, 2023
I've been a follower of Laura a.k.a Knee Deep in Life on Instagram for years and have always been a massive fan of her total honesty on her mental health, parenting and marriage (I love Steve). She's always been completely blunt on just how life is and just how sh*t it can be at times.
Now I haven't read her first book (sorry Laura) but was super pleased to recieve this one, hoping and expecting àits as open and 'to the point' as her Instagram posts and stories are.
After watching her in the aftermath of her complete mental breakdown (as said by Laura herself) I really wanted to understand more.
Personally I think if you don't follow Laura's account you won't really 'get' this book as much as someone who understands some of her background that shes explained brutally and uncompromisingly honestly on her page.
Whilst I don't think this is a book for everyone and it's not a book I loved , I admire just how raw and open it is and Laura's no boll*x approach is.
Note: if you don't like swearing I'd give this one a miss!!
Thanks to netgalley and Ebury Publishing, Penguin Random House UK for the ARC.
Now I haven't read her first book (sorry Laura) but was super pleased to recieve this one, hoping and expecting àits as open and 'to the point' as her Instagram posts and stories are.
After watching her in the aftermath of her complete mental breakdown (as said by Laura herself) I really wanted to understand more.
Personally I think if you don't follow Laura's account you won't really 'get' this book as much as someone who understands some of her background that shes explained brutally and uncompromisingly honestly on her page.
Whilst I don't think this is a book for everyone and it's not a book I loved , I admire just how raw and open it is and Laura's no boll*x approach is.
Note: if you don't like swearing I'd give this one a miss!!
Thanks to netgalley and Ebury Publishing, Penguin Random House UK for the ARC.
April 4, 2023
Some parts of the book were really inspiring and made me do a little thinking of how I behave in certain situations, and maybe I shouldn't be so afraid of people's opinions si I could relate, however I didn't feel in a rush to get through the book and wasn't eager to pick it up again if I put it down. I'm not sure if that was due to the chapters seeming excessively long, and it felt a little repetitive in parts.
But as I said, it shows Laura's journey and how amazing she is doing and how she will continue to fight mental health all her life as it's not something that goes away overnight and it was nice to see that highlighted.
But as I said, it shows Laura's journey and how amazing she is doing and how she will continue to fight mental health all her life as it's not something that goes away overnight and it was nice to see that highlighted.
August 11, 2022
This book was fantastic as women we still worry contantly about what we look like, what we are wearing, what we are eating, what our body shapes are like and what other people think about all those things and it is exhausting.
This book shows everything that is real about being a woman and life and gives absolutely no f*cks about it, I wish I could be more like that, hell, after this book I may be more like that
This book shows everything that is real about being a woman and life and gives absolutely no f*cks about it, I wish I could be more like that, hell, after this book I may be more like that
October 26, 2022
2.5
I have no idea who the author is, I've never heard of them nor have I ever followed them. I was simply interested in a book that deals with shame, as shame is a very important topic that needs to be explored and talked about. Shame can cause a lot of mental hell and can cause serious damage. So I have no background knowledge on the author and I think I probably would've got more out of it if I was more familiar as it's written for people who follow her online, rather than for everyone as she writes about certain things as if you already have the background information. Which I don't. But the author was honest in her story. It was almost to that point of being too honest, but I liked that. Interesting but didn't do much for me nor it was what I was really looking for. It also focuses a lot on motherhood and the effects it can have on your psyche. Which isn't and will never be applicable to my situation. So just another book that wasn't written for me but I think it would be useful to the authors audience. I did get something out of it, but I think others will get so much more out of reading this.
I have no idea who the author is, I've never heard of them nor have I ever followed them. I was simply interested in a book that deals with shame, as shame is a very important topic that needs to be explored and talked about. Shame can cause a lot of mental hell and can cause serious damage. So I have no background knowledge on the author and I think I probably would've got more out of it if I was more familiar as it's written for people who follow her online, rather than for everyone as she writes about certain things as if you already have the background information. Which I don't. But the author was honest in her story. It was almost to that point of being too honest, but I liked that. Interesting but didn't do much for me nor it was what I was really looking for. It also focuses a lot on motherhood and the effects it can have on your psyche. Which isn't and will never be applicable to my situation. So just another book that wasn't written for me but I think it would be useful to the authors audience. I did get something out of it, but I think others will get so much more out of reading this.
January 12, 2023
Absolutely amazing read
Wow just wow this book made me laugh but also made me cry I could agree with majority of this book Laura wrote it so well and it took me back to my lowest points of my life, I'm also a survivor of abuse sexual mental and physical so could understand everything she is saying and I'm also on a journey to self love ❤️ Laura you are beautiful inside and out huni just Keep being you xxx
Wow just wow this book made me laugh but also made me cry I could agree with majority of this book Laura wrote it so well and it took me back to my lowest points of my life, I'm also a survivor of abuse sexual mental and physical so could understand everything she is saying and I'm also on a journey to self love ❤️ Laura you are beautiful inside and out huni just Keep being you xxx
November 25, 2022
I appreciated Laura’s candour over her struggles with mental health and coming to terms with seeking help. It felt like reading somebody’s diary, which isn’t exactly a criticism but some parts did feel a bit too jumbled. The constant swearing felt forced to be #realatable and #kooky. The overall narrative of Laura seeking to overcome shame was very passionate.
thanks netgalley for the arc!
thanks netgalley for the arc!
January 28, 2024
A raw, honest book exploring mental health and Lauren’s journey on the path to recovery!
Some great tips for relieving anxiety / dealing leith mental health struggles based on her own personal experiences.
A great read for anyone who struggles with people pleasing, self-doubt and self-esteem issues.
Some great tips for relieving anxiety / dealing leith mental health struggles based on her own personal experiences.
A great read for anyone who struggles with people pleasing, self-doubt and self-esteem issues.
August 21, 2022
Absolutely incredible book by Laura!
I love following her, she makes me laugh out loud and I always appreciate her opinions around women and shame etc.
It took so much courage to write this book and I love her even more for her honesty 💗
I love following her, she makes me laugh out loud and I always appreciate her opinions around women and shame etc.
It took so much courage to write this book and I love her even more for her honesty 💗
August 29, 2022
A very refreshingly honest book, I follow Laura on social media, so it was good to read about her and an insight into her life.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
September 25, 2022
What a brutally honest, inspirational book written by a kick ass woman who tells it how it is. So many things written in this book resonate with me in many different ways. I hope I can take some of her advice to help change the way I see myself and live my life. Laura Belbin you rock!
September 11, 2022
Have alot of respect for the author, there is something raw and real about her writing. Not an easy subject to write about
September 17, 2022
Love Laura, followed her for so long. Very deep and emotional triggering book but enjoyed it.
Would not be for everyone, full of swearing, rudeness and adult humour but I really enjoyed it!!
Would not be for everyone, full of swearing, rudeness and adult humour but I really enjoyed it!!
September 21, 2022
Awful book, full of swearing
October 26, 2022
This is an excellent book.
October 27, 2022
Absolute perfection! I love Laura so much! Amazing podcast too
January 6, 2023
Brilliant. Painfully truthful and think we can all learn something from this book. Love Laura ❤️
November 21, 2023
Raw, heartbreaking, and funny.
November 28, 2024
I rate this 3.5 stars ⭐️.
Readers note: I read the audiobook, 6 hrs 14 mins.
Readers note: I read the audiobook, 6 hrs 14 mins.
November 11, 2024
An excellent, honest look into the challenges that women face on a daily basis. This book hits some brutal depths and asks the reader to work towards healing themselves, but even more so the world.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews