I went into this expecting something different. I love Cheryl Strayed’s Wild is an all-time favorite but I didn’t realize this was a collection of her advice columns. I gave it a real shot, making it to 85%, but eventually, I had to admit it just wasn’t for me.

That’s not to say it’s a bad book. There’s wisdom in these pages, and Strayed’s signature empathy and raw honesty shine through. But the format—question, answer, repeat—started to feel repetitive, and I struggled to stay engaged. Maybe I wasn’t in the right headspace, or maybe this kind of book just doesn’t click with me.

Either way, I’m still a fan of Strayed, and I’d read anything else she writes. This one just wasn’t what I was looking for.