I have to disagree with the review from wanderingjew- who saw no parallels within her own family. She criticized Kelly for being self absorbed and only interested in drinking/hooking up while in her early 20's. She totally missed the point. I LOVED this memoir! While my mom wasn't very much like Kelly's...I recognized her- in some of my neighborhood friends' mothers..in some of my aunts' behaviors. And I was much like kelly in my early 20's- all about myself. It took many years (and two daughters) before realizing all the gifts my mom had given me. Now that I have an almost 27 year old daughter who is married- I'm happily anticipating the arrival of grandchildren. Perhaps that girl who has been fighting to be nothing like me since she arrived on this planet- will find we are more similar than she believes :)