Book Review of
What Doesn’t Kill You

Lynn's Review

What Doesn’t Kill You by Tessa Miller is a memoir that was published in 2022.

This is a memoir of living with a chronic illness. The author, Tessa Miller, has suffered from Crohn’s disease for quite a few years. The disease changed her life and what she imagined her life to be like. 

I don’t have a problem giving honest reviews, but I always find it hard to give bad reviews on memoirs because a memoir is someone’s story. 

Tessa shared her story in a very honest and raw way. I appreciated that. She talked about her disease and how it has affected her life. She talked about the problems she has had with doctors, family, and insurance companies because of her disease. 

I like memoirs that keep it real, but I also enjoy memoirs with some hope. I want to know how the person’s experience made them a better person. How did the hard stuff make you stronger? 

I felt this book lacked hope. In many places, it seemed to me that the author was bitter and angry. Which is fine in small doses, but the whole book felt that way to me. 

I finished it because I wanted to hear Tessa’s story of living with Crohn’s disease, but I am not sure I would recommend it, unless you are living with Crohn’s disease. Tessa shares her story of different treatments and hospital stays, which might be helpful for someone with Crohn’s disease. 

The book also got very political in quite a few places. Again, I don’t mind some of that, but it was a lot in this book. I know people are divided on politics right now, but when I read a memoir, I don’t want all the politics unless it is a book about politics.  

I think this book was a two-and-a-half-star read for me. Which I feel bad saying because it is a memoir, but it just wasn’t the right book for me.