The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: A powerful memoir of overcoming an eating disorder

This book was recommended by a book tuber who said it was a great book, and I cannot disagree.Evanna Lynch is the young actress who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter film series. I am always rather reluctant to read a young person's memoir, as I feel often it won't have much to say or any great substance. This i9 definitely not the case with this memoir.Evanna was chosen from hundreds of girls who auditioned for the part of Luna, bur before all this happened Evanna had major body image issues and a lack of self esteem which resulted in serious health issues caused by anorexia.Evanna tells her experiences with eloquence and provides an insightful account of a young girl fighting an eating disorder. The reader is shocked that this slip of a girl looked in the mirror and thought she was fat, ugly, and without any pisirive attributes or any pleasant idiosyncracies.The last couple of chapters also reveal the up to date issues and the way in which this 31 year old actress faces up to her struggles.The lighter part of the book concern Evanna's relationship with J. K. Rowling, her experiences meeting the cast after being such a 'fangirl', and also her triumph on American tvs 'Dancing With The Stars', which is the American equivalent of 'Strictly Come Dancing''.I do love a good biography, and this is the best one I've read in a while.The explanation of the title '' The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting'' is at the end of the book. Personally, I think it would have beeb more beneficial at the beginning.This book should be read by anyone suffering from an eating disorder, or someone with body image anxieties, or by anyone else who is going through difficult circumstances.This is an informative, well written memoir and I rate it a five star read.

This book gives a great insight into a world many don’t understand. This was my first time really learning about eating disorders in any kind of depth and gave me a much greater understanding of what people go through. Evanna is such a strong person and a beautiful soul and I’m so grateful she has shared her story with us all. It is a hard but compelling read, thank you Evanna.

It took me quite a long time to go through it because is not an easy one to read. I didn't know much about her until I read this book. She talks about her eating disorder while growing up and how being a part of the Harry Potter franchise helped her.At the beginning of the book there is a disclaimer about being a book that can be triggering for some people... so please if this is something that might trigger you, do your research before reading it!

An accurate and poignant depiction of what it can be like to overcome an eating disorder. A truly intimate and beautiful read. As someone who was also treated in the farm years ago, it’s touching to read a memoir which speaks about the reality of treatment and how it can impact you later in life even post recovery. Would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading a truly powerful memoir.

I purchased this for my daughter (19). She has mentioned wanting it as she loves the actress and Harry Potter, as well as having to fight her own anxiety/OCD demons.She has not put it down. For all the money I spent on self help books etc., this is the one that has worked - a realisation that she is not alone in some of her struggles.She describes the book as something she can relate to, sad, funny and seemingly honest. Her respect for the actress has grown immensely and it was pretty high up to start!Highly recommended.

I'm a 50 year old man, who (fortunately), has never had an eating disorder, but found this book something of an emotional spotlight that was relevant on so many levels.The main feeling I personally came away with after reading is that most people have moments of low self esteem and unworthiness. Whether or not those feelings manifest in self destructive urges, I guess depends on the individual, but something I really feel everyone encounters in life at some point is a feeling of taking the safe option to avoid putting yourself in a high risk situation that would potentially expose the things you feel you may lack. So it's safer and easier to not go there at all. But how do you experience a full life without taking these risks? I feel this is the question the book raises.If you or anyone you know has ever experienced any feelings of low self esteem or unworthiness, on any level, this book will shed some sort of light on those feelings. You don't have to have an eating disorder to relate to this book.It's beautifully written, 100% engaging, soul-baringly brave, harrowing, funny and crushingly sad at times, but never without hope. Although it can seem impossible at times, trying to think positively and look forward will always be the way to tackle so many difficult situations. But Evanna's account also shows how difficult it can be to adopt that mind-set when you most need to.Ultimately, it's a book about being human. I absolutely loved every page of it. The best book I've ever read.

An extraordinary book. A beautifully written journey, told with remarkable honesty, clarity and elegance. I really hope Evanna births many more books, she’s a wonderful and magical Storyteller.

Evanna has written such a powerful, thought provoking raw book around her eating disorder journey & journey to Harry Potter. It has a brilliant pre chapter to decide if it's apporporiate for you to read, which I think is appropriate. It really goes into the darkness of mental thoughts as well as the possibilities, courage and hope for life. Its a powerful, inspiring book if you are drawn to read.