I Really Didn't Think This Through: Tales from My So-Called Adult Life

Like Mindy Kaling meets Hyperbole and a Half, I Really Didn’t Think This Through gets at the heart of what makes life both so challenging and so joyful—figuring out how to be a person in the world. 

Did you ever wish your best friend—the person you would trust with your innermost secrets, the person whose wisdom and comfort you seek in times of stress or self-doubt—could draw?Armed with her beloved illustrations, popular Instagram artist Beth Evans tackles a range of issues—from whimsical musings to deeply personal struggles—in this imaginative anti-guide to being your own person.

This book is a compendium of Beth’s collected wisdom and stories, interwoven with her tremendously popular and loveable illustrations. The book is a wonderful mix of fun (playful meditations on the band Rush and international pen-pals) and thoughtful (Beth delves into her personal history with obsessive compulsive disorder and depression while commiserating on topics like dating and credit card shame) all with a simple candor that anyone from a teen to their grandparent can relate to. Through all of her experiences, Beth manages to extract valuable lessons, and the book is replete with friendly advice about caring for yourself, getting help no matter what your problems are, and embracing what makes you happy. Beth is a compelling storyteller, her drawings picking up where her words leave off, creating an approachable and immersive experience for the reader. Beth’s work feels like a hug from your best friend. And like a best friend, she’s here to say “You got this!”

HI THERE

Maybe you’re looking at this in a bookstore and wondering if you’re inconveniencing everyone by standing in the aisle and reading. Or maybe you’re looking at this in the comfort of your own home, free from the stressors that come with the horrors of venturing outside.

Either way, you might be a little bit like me. You’re kind of nervous around people, anxiety seems to be on speed dial, and you’re handling adulthood with all the grace of a bull in a china shop.

Hey, it’s okay. A lot of us feel this way. I might not have all the answers on how to become a confident adult who definitely does not cry in the bathroom at parties, but I have learned some things along the way that might make the process less hellish. Also, I have some embarrassing stories to share, which provide that weird “well, at least I didn’t do THAT” feeling of satisfaction.

It’s okay.

You’re okay.

We’re all going to be okay, or something.

“Beth’s message about embracing our imperfections is wonderfully situated at an intersection of uncomfortable truths and uproarious levity. Her ability to articulate our private self-doubts provides reassurance that we are not alone as we journey through the awkwardness of adult life.” - Ty Tashiro, author of Awkward

“This beautiful compilation of Beth’s words and artwork will be a useful companion for anyone who is muddling through the early bits of adulthood…It will leave you feeling heard, comforted and with a wonderfully smiley feeling somewhere between your head and your heart.” - Ruby Elliot (@rubyetc._)

“Beth Evans’ delightful drawings and insightful words find the universal in the personal and the personal in the universal, allowing all of us to read her dispatches and, through her humor, feel warmly welcomed into intimate experiences we all share.” - Jonny Sun, author & illustrator of everyone's a aliebn when ur a aliebn too

“This nifty little book provides the perfect blend of comedy and camaraderie.” - BookPage