I Thought There Would Be Cake

by Katharine Welby-Roberts

EVER THOUGHT LIFE ISN’T TURNING OUT QUITE AS YOU EXPECTED?

Growing up, Katharine Welby-Roberts imagined that being an adult was one big party. But depression, anxiety and crippling self-doubt led her to alienate herself from others. To replay events and encounters as nightmares. Occasionally, to be unable to leave the house.

Aware of the cacophony of voices in her head, Katharine invites us to join her as she journeys to the depths of her soul. Here, with instinctive honesty and humour, she confronts the parts of her story that hinder her most.

As she charts a course that offers ways of coping with everyday issues, we are encouraged to embrace our own self-worth. To recognize the value of our existence. To let ourselves be loved. Exactly as we are.

‘Brilliantly honest, often funny and wonderfully readable’
Martin Saunders, Youthscape

‘Wholly authentic in the face of suffering and struggle’
Will van der Hart, The Mind and Soul Foundation

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

128 pages, Paperback

Published August 17, 2017

Reviews

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this review and others on my blog: https://thriftybibliophile.com

I Thought There Would Be Cake is a journey of self-reflection written by Katharine Welby-Roberts.

Have you ever met someone who can’t process their thoughts without talking (or writing) their way through them? This is this book! Katharine Welby-Roberts battles with mental health issues, and this book is a way of processing her thoughts.

Throughout the book, Welby-Roberts describes different destructive ways of thinking and how the destructive thinking holds her back. As she provides examples, she also gives tips on how to turn the corner on destructive thinking. This isn’t a self-help book, but it certainly provides enough useful tips to give it a self-help feel.

Welby-Roberts is courageous in sharing her stories and laying bare some of the mental health issues that plague her. This takes guts, and she does it with humility.

The author has a strong Christian faith that plays a big role in this book. While at times it felt somewhat preachy, this is obviously a big influence in her life.

The book is what I would term a “quick read.” It takes little time to get through; however, as I finished the book, I was left feeling shortchanged. It seemed as though Welby-Roberts had barely scratched the surface before ending the book. Because of this, I’m feeling somewhat lukewarm about the entire thing.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the Kindle version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tanya Marlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Katharine and the excellent work she’s done in highlighting mental illness nationwide. If you read her memoir expecting her life story and looking for tasty titbits of gossip about her father, the Archbishop of Canterbury, you’ll be disappointed. This is more like sitting down with a friend who talks honestly and straightforwardly about what it’s like to have anxiety and depression. It feels like you pull up a chair and get a guided tour round her brain.

It’s very relatable, and she has great nuggets of wisdom of how to handle a brain who won’t behave. I love the fact that this isn’t written from an ‘I used to be ill but now I’m all fixed’ standpoint – she lives through the struggle now. It’s sassy and upbeat, and because it’s such an easy read it’s the book I’d recommend for young people who are just coming to terms with the concept of mental illness – there aren’t really any other books like it out there. Highly recommended, especially for millennials.

[Hannah Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a helpful book. I have been longing to find a mental health book with a Christian perspective (though you don’t have to be a Christian to read this). Sometimes I felt like I was reading my own thoughts. Katharine has pinpointed some of my patterns of thinking that I have never been able to fully realise or articulate. I’m definitely going to read it again to understand myself better and put some of the helpful pointers into practice. Hoping for more books and chat like this in the church.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who suffers from a chronic illness, I could relate to a lot of what was being discussed in this book. What I liked about this book is that it shared helpful tips, without coming off as forceful and it handled difficult subjects with honesty, grace and even a little humor.
I enjoyed sitting down and reading this one.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely hysterical! The wedding chapter was worth reading and belly laughing!

[Joshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was okay. I wish there was more Christianity teaching in the book. It was more so a book complaining about how she is with no real resolutions which I found abit frustrating to read.

[Bethany]

Insightful and explorative. So relatable, and helpful without just offering "answers".

[Sheila · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whereas I do realise that Katharine Welby-Roberts does have mental health issues I felt that this book only served to encourage those issues by dwelling on herself. I have read other books on this subject and I feel the way to healing and wholeness is to focus on God and others, not on self. On the whole, because of this 'me' emphasis, I found the book rather boring and am relieved to have finished it! On the positive side, however, I felt that the chapter entitled 'numbers' which deals with the Internet, especially Facebook, Twitter and other posts, did have something useful to say about not taking the number of 'likes' or positive posts we receive as an indication of our popularity.

[Iona Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is very much a personal response, and I think people will think and review differently according to where they/their friends are on this sort of journey.

This book made me both laugh, and cry. It was well written, engaging, a book I could both learn from and relax with.
This book is helpful, giving you tools to deal with things that you might find difficult. It also encourages you to be graceful and gentle with yourself, which is so important.

And lastly. It reminds you that you are not alone... I felt known. It was beautiful.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some really good points in this. It really wasn't what I expected, which maybe influenced my review a bit! I don't think it really "navigates the ups and downs of adult life", more explores the author's personal experiences without really trying to present this as advice to others. I just thought there would be a bit more to it, and I feel that it really was marketed in the wrong way. It really should have been presented as one person's exploration of how religion helps them with their personal issues, rather than offering ways of coping for others.

[Ibtissam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Easy read, but was a privileged and racist perspective. Though the author probably thinks she's anti racist. Assuming that a half black/half white person isn't told the don't look black is hella ignorant. Comparing being vegetarian to being gay casually is hella negligent of the fact that you can be killed for one and it was illegal and the other is just slightly annoying. And there was more but I'm okay with forgetting.

[Drkmac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe this would have been funnier to me if I hung out with art history and English majors instead of science majors, but I just couldn’t relate.
Her one comment about the only people who buy stamps before they are needed are Midwesterners who shop at Target sure hit it on the head. I currently have a roll of stamps and my Christmas stamps for cards since they were easier to order together. I do so love Target.😁 Signed, a lifelong Hoosier.

[El · Rating 5 out of 5]

At parts of this book, I well and truly thought the author was inside my head. I may not be walking away 'cured' of my illnesses after reading the brief yet explorative 134 pages, but this book has certainly offered a constructive start to truly thinking about my self-destructive thought patterns & behaviour. I now plan to keep heading towards finding the elusive feeling of self-worth and value!

[Cynthia Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some people just won’t “get” this book. It’s a very honest inside view of the author’s struggle with mental illness that is ongoing. Surprisingly, she is a Christian who doesn’t have all the answers! For those struggling themselves, they will find someone who FINALLY understands them, a co-traveler through this often difficult journey we call life.

[Amy Bayliss-Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s challenged me and I related so much to Katharine Welby-Roberts. Not only as someone who gets anxious and in my own head a lot, self doubts, has chronic pain and fatigue but also trying to navigate faith through all of that.

Would highly recommend this book. It’s one of my new favourites!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book, but was disappointed. Good points, she was honest in her experiences and I could related to so much, but overall , I felt the author is still young- so maybe good for younger audience.

[Shelly Dennison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brave and compelling personal account of living with faith and anxiety. One I expect to be returning to in the future.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book would be better. Had some funny moments, but overall could not identify with the writers over privileged New York lifestyle.

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read, although it was tricky to follow in places. Having read this I can relate to parts of it and also relate bits to my husband who has imposter syndrome.

[Ali Angus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm account of some everyday challenges to our sense of self and mind. It’s like reading your inner thoughts on paper.

[Izzy Dye · Rating 4 out of 5]

sooo good! this book just spoke into my life so much. found it so relatable and literally related to everything i struggle with. well written, so raw and just refreshing to read!

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this sounded like an interesting book, but it is very religious and that is not what I am looking for in a book.

[Nienke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not finish this; I thought this was another kind of book - the self-help genre is not my cup of tea (with or without cake). It must have been the title that confused me, because I had the essays of Sloane Crosley in mind. Entiterely my fault, I guess. Even so, I’m rating this with three stars, because I can see it’ll be an interesting and helpful book to another reader than me.