AM I UGLY

Michelle is a real life hero for all of us that struggle with body issues or health issues. This book is not cutesy. It is honest. It is raw. It is relatable. As someone who has struggled with an eating disorder for 28 years and am now dealing with autoimmune issues I could relate to so much of this book. So much. Buy it. Read it. You won't regret it.

Michelle endured life saving/altering surgeries with the bulk being before she was 13 years old leaving her uniquely and visibly scarred. This book is largely about those scars and how they helped make her the woman she is today. She is honest in her thoughts and feelings in a way not often encountered. Her story is not one to be missed. You will feel empowered with her.

I've followed Michelle on social media for a while so when I ordered her book I figured I already knew most of her story but I was happily wrong. This book was super easy to read and full of such personal details that engages you and takes you on her journey. This was truly an amazing book that makes you realize how much you are worth as an individual. Our society is programmed to keep us thinking we are not important unless we have the "ideal body", but Michelle makes you realize how important you really are regardless of what you look like. Highly, highly recommend.

This book is such an honestly good read. It provides insight from a group not all that commonly recognized when people from outside of the body positive community look in. This is a story of serious struggle, ups and downs, happiness, and tragedy. It’s unbelievably raw and powerful. I appreciate Michelle for putting her life out there. It’s inspired me now and will surely inspire me long into the future.

I didn't know I needed this book as badly as I did until after I finished it. I thought I was body positive until I developed chronic pain. I soon realized my love for my body was based on how well it treated me. I had two surgeries and ended up with PTSD from the year of constant pain and life-altering decisions. Michelle's book and her story of childhood illness, body positivity, and recovery from PTSD was soothing to my soul. Her story is unique to her and a very honest portrayal of sickness and finding your way back from it. It both gave me the sense that I wasn't alone and a goal to work towards.

Michelle has a story to tell that everyone would be better for hearing. We can always learn more and do better when it comes to acceptance, how we treat others no matter how different they are, and how we base our own self worth.Michelle has inspired me to start writing down my story, if for no other reason than to document it for myself.So thankful for her, her book, her social media presence and her willingness to be bold and tell the truth.

Rarely (if ever), am I brought to tears by a book. Michelle’s raw, soul-bearing, and frankly life-changing book, did it. While her story is one that makes her seem almost superhuman, she tells it in a way that allows anyone to relate and learn something (likely multiple things) from.I am going to purchase the audiobook now, since I know this is a book I will want to read again and again. No matter who you are, or what you like to read- THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.Thank you Michelle for your bravery, your honesty, and your courage in sharing your story with us.

Love, love, love

I’m not even sure where to start. Never in my 30 years of life has a book touched me and meant so much to me than this book has. I’ve savoured every chapter, page, every word and purposefully taken my time reading it and absorbing Michelle’s incredible writing. The story of her life and her journey to finding self confidence, body positivity and general happiness with herself is so truly amazing. Her writing feels so familiar and so well written that it felt like a friend telling you their story. I feel like I’ve known her all my life, even though we’ve never met.The book takes you through her whole life journey and all of her experiences in chronological order and at times I was so absorbed in it that I felt like I was in the room with her. I’ve laughed, cried (a lot) and got to know Michelle and myself more than I can describe.I am beyond happy that I discovered this sensational woman on Instagram and will continue to support absolutely everything I can, Michelle truly does have so much to give to the world and we are truly blessed to have the pleasure of reading, watching and crying, smiling and laughing over her words.Congratulations on a fantastic book, I hope there will be more to come!Thank You so much, from a fellow scarred person, who is no longer scared.

Michelle Elman came up on instagram after I searched "body positivity" after a hard day's self-hatred. I read her latest posts on her account @scarrednotscared, and was struck by her honest and funny posts. I saw she was promoting this book's release and to be honest I was sold by the title alone. "Am I ugly?" is a question I've been asking myself for over half of my life.Once I started to read I was hooked. Her writing is simple and unpretentious in its style and raw in its honesty. The book is written chronologically and in such as way as to be both easy to follow and to gain sympathy for the very real character of Michelle herself.I got that wonderful feeling of being completely absorbed in a remarkable story; the kind of absorption that leaves you feeling a bit weird when you resurface into the real world. I finished the book in a few hours. It left me feeling hopeful about not only my future relationship with my body but with society's future relationship with us. We are fed so many messages that play on our insecurities, and it is easy to forget that we are not alone in feeling the pressure to conform and to be "beautiful".I am so glad to hear a "beauty comes from accepting yourself as you are" message that actually resonates rather than making me want to break mirrors and/or vomit. This difference stems from the development of her story, and her blunt honesty throughout. Most refreshing.I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I read this book in two sittings, it is the definition of unputdownable. Beautifully written, emotional, uplifting, funny, and even though I already knew that Michelle survived it all, I was rooting for her on the edge of my seat throughout.This book deserves to sell millions, not just because of how well the author writes or how gripping the story, but because of the impact it would have on every person who has lived with chronic illness or impairments, knowing that they aren't alone. We don't get many stories like Michelle's told as truthfully as this. Buy the book, pass it along, talk about it. This woman is too important for people not to know about.

Such an inspiring read. I both empathise and look up to Michelle, after all she's gone through and to come out so powerful- a true Wonder Woman.The book is thought provoking and enlightening, but also I found it relatable to my traumas too - that feeling of not feeling alone anymore is indescribable. Michelle's journey has helped me to see my way as stepping stones and it warms my heart that you're doing better now eventhough I know these things will never go away - something else we have in common.And Michelle, if you're reading this - thank you so much for your kindness and wisdom, you're a treasure in this world. I'm so glad I found your journey on Instagram. With love and warm wishes, Sylvie xxx

I read this book within 24 hours. It was unbelievable. I literally couldn’t put it down. I’ve followed the author Michelle for a while & pieced together some parts of bits of her story based on Instagram and interview and podcasts. I’ve always loved her very direct, honest, yet vulnerable and engaging and positive view of the world and how we see things. She’s really helped me as I have faced many serious health issues and was at a juncture of wondering if I would ever be able to like myself again. It sounds ridiculous but when you have health issues you lose a lot of trust in your body ergo confidence and so reading someone else’s experience and not feeling like I was going crazy helped me tremendously.Health issues or not there are important messages for everyone to take away in how we relate to each other, our bodies and the world.It is a book about her own personal journey and experience and how she’s faced issues and overcome them. It’s not a “tips” book.