Be Awesome

Hadley Freeman is the author of The Meaning of Sunglasses and has been a columnist and staff writer for The Guardian since 2000, where she writes the popular ‘Ask Hadley’ fashion column. She also contributes to US Vogue. She lives in New York and London.

‘Freeman manages to be both scathing and serious about being awesome in a way no British writer could … The writing is fresh, original. It is tempting to gorge on this collection at breakneck speed. But it works better as a series of witty polemics on women’s place in society’ Observer‘Reading this memoir-cum-conversation is like sitting in a pub with a group of girlfriends, setting the world to rights and suddenly becoming aware of another group talking about the same issues — hair removal, abortion, the tyranny of tiny knickers, the state of female sexuality — only they are more raucous, cooler, ruder and more intellectually engaged’ Sunday Times‘Freeman writes with real passion and cold fury … and she writes warmly and kindly about dating, sex and how to cope when all your friends suddenly disappear into the baby-making void … it’s good to know you have someone that fearless, funny and – yes – awesome in your corner’ Stylist Magazine, Book Wars‘Though angry she is rueful, though witty she admits her complicity. Fiercely she recommends books, films, female role models, sexual attitudes and nutritional advice to women marching along the high road towards redemption’ The Times