Going into Eat Pray Love, I only knew the movie, so I was curious to see how the memoir compared. The book definitely offers a deeper, more introspective look at Elizabeth Gilbert’s emotional and spiritual transformation after divorce. Her voice is candid, often witty, and deeply personal, which made parts of her journey feel relatable, even if others felt overly indulgent.

The structure (Italy for pleasure, India for devotion, and Bali for balance) makes for an engaging mix of travel writing and self-discovery. Some sections dragged for me (especially in India), and her reflections occasionally veer into self-absorption, but there’s sincerity in her search that I appreciated.

If you’re in the mood for a soul-searching travel memoir with vivid settings and emotional vulnerability, this is a worthwhile read, especially if, like me, your only reference was Julia Roberts in a piazza.

Having read and really enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert’s The Signature of all Things I was looking forward to reading Eat Pray Love. A best seller in n 2006, made into a film I didn’t read it at the time it was published because I knew it was an autobiographical , self-improvement book, not something I enjoy reading usually. I would say that Eat Pray Love is of its time: the chatty American slang has definitely dated but it is also a slice of American culture and values in the early 2000s. Young Gilbert is an anxious young woman in her 30s, recently divorced and seemingly unable to move forwards despite her talent as a writer and having a strong network of friends and family. This reads like a personal diary of a depressed Gilbert taking a Gap Year where without the pressure of ‘normal life’ she discovers her inner peace and resilience. Eating pasta in Italy and praying in an Ashram in India and finally finding love in Bali, she rescues herself from misery, loneliness, shame and anger. And it is a repetitive and self absorbed read, just as you might expect from a diary. If you like travel writing, spiritual journeys and are in your 30s freshly single this book will resonate.

I really wanted to read this and understand what all the fuss was about. That did not happen. I did not CARE about anything in this book. The came across as incredibly privileged, selfish and arrogant. Her commentary was lacklustre and provided no real insight into her experiences. I felt like this entire book gave a vibe of “Oh I’m sad and rich and privileged so let me go live abroad for a year and comment on how much I hate cultures that do not fit into my narrative of how the world should work from my upper East Side New York apartment.” I could not relate to anything she felt or did and found this entire book so frustrating and empty of any real insight.

This book was humorous in places and mostly kept my interest throughout. I haven't seen the movie so I wasn't sure what to expect. Not my usual read but I enjoyed it overall. Thanks for the chance to try it.

This is such a hopeful book about reclaiming a part of yourself when it feels like everything is falling apart. It was so well written and kept me swept up in the story from the beginning until the end.

A classic of the memoir genre - Liz Gilbert never disappoints.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this reissue!