Book Review: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb is a deeply moving, insightful, and often humorous exploration of therapy from both sides of the couch.

Gottlieb, a psychotherapist and journalist, invites readers into her personal and professional world, offering a rare and compassionate look into the human experience, mental health, and the transformative power of therapy.

The book’s premise is simple yet profound: as a therapist, Gottlieb helps her clients navigate the complexities of their emotional lives, but when she faces her own personal crisis, she finds herself seeking therapy as well. This dual perspective—therapist and patient—forms the heart of the narrative, allowing readers to see both the challenges and healing potential of therapy from different angles.

Gottlieb masterfully intertwines her experiences with four of her clients and her sessions with her own therapist, Wendell. Each client represents a unique aspect of the human condition, from grief and regret to loneliness and fear of change. There's John, a self-absorbed Hollywood producer who seems to have everything except meaningful relationships; Julie, a newlywed grappling with a terminal illness; Charlotte, a young woman struggling with alcoholism and self-sabotage; and Rita, a senior approaching the end of her life and wondering if it has been worthwhile.

Through these clients, Gottlieb explores universal themes of love, loss, trauma, and personal growth. She handles their stories with great care, showing their complexities without judgment. As the book progresses, we see how therapy helps these individuals confront their fears, gain new perspectives, and ultimately move towards healing. But equally, we see how Gottlieb herself is transformed by her own journey through therapy, as she grapples with a breakup and other personal challenges.

One of the most engaging aspects of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is how it humanises therapists. Gottlieb dismantles the idea that therapists have it all figured out, showing how they, too, struggle with the same questions and emotions as their clients. By sharing her own vulnerability, she creates an empathetic connection with readers, demonstrating that seeking help is not a sign of weakness but a step towards understanding oneself better.

Gottlieb’s writing is warm, witty, and relatable. She has a gift for storytelling, weaving in psychological insights and therapeutic wisdom in a way that feels accessible to all readers, regardless of their familiarity with therapy. Her humour lightens the heavier moments, but she never shies away from the raw, uncomfortable truths that therapy can bring to the surface. It’s this balance between the light and the dark that makes the book so compelling—it’s as funny as it is heart-wrenching.

A key theme of the book is the idea that we all have stories we tell ourselves—about who we are, what we deserve, and how others perceive us. Therapy, Gottlieb suggests, helps us rewrite those narratives in a more truthful and self-compassionate way. Her clients, and she herself, learn to confront the parts of their stories that are no longer serving them and begin to reshape their lives with greater self-awareness and kindness.

Another important message in Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is that healing is not linear. Therapy, much like life, involves setbacks, breakthroughs, and periods of uncertainty. There is no quick fix or perfect solution, but through the therapeutic relationship, there is the possibility of growth, connection, and understanding. Gottlieb’s portrayal of this process is both realistic and hopeful, offering readers reassurance that it’s okay to be a work in progress.

The book also highlights the power of the therapeutic relationship itself. Gottlieb shows how trust, empathy, and even the therapist’s own imperfections can create a space where clients feel safe to explore their deepest fears and longings. This human connection is at the core of therapy, and through her writing, Gottlieb captures the beauty of this relational dynamic in a way that is both inspiring and comforting.

Overall, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is a deeply therapeutic read in itself. It offers readers not only a behind-the-scenes look at therapy but also invites them to reflect on their own emotional lives. Whether you’re someone who has been through therapy or simply curious about it, the book provides a compassionate, insightful, and often humorous look at what it means to be human—flawed, complex, and constantly evolving.

For anyone navigating difficult emotions, life transitions, or simply curious about therapy, Lori Gottlieb’s Maybe You Should Talk to Someone is a wonderful reminder that we all have the capacity for healing, growth, and connection. It’s a celebration of what it means to be human and the courage it takes to face ourselves honestly and with kindness.

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