Not My Problem

Product Information

The friendship that we have in this book was authentic and it's the best thing here. I understood how painful it is to experience friendship break-ups, yet we shall move on from toxicity and go on. I couldn't help but sympathize with Aideen. Characters: Aideen's paying-it-forward scheme gets her in touch with a wide variety of characters who are all amazing in each their own way. There are some, that appear more frequently and that play bigger roles than others, but they each serve a purpose and represent a distinct lesson for Aideen to learn. My favourite characters were definitely Kavi (that boy is FUN!), Aideen and Maebh. They were each so relatable in their own way. I even loved to hate Holly. Unfortunately, this doesn’t change automatically as we age. Many people hold onto this philosophy of only helping others when it fits “what it is that we think we should be doing”. A “not my problem” mindset can become a significant issue for teams that are not working well together. Sometimes you’re right, it’s not your problem. I would love to but I’m afraid I’m in the brainstorming phase of what to do next so you’ll have to ask me again in a while! To wrap up, we’d love if you could recommend a couple of LGBTQ+ books you’ve really enjoyed lately!

i also liked the portrayal of toxic friendships in this one and the "life lesson" that there are people out there who will treat you with love and respect and that you don't have to put up with someone who is mean to you while pretending to care about you. Aideen is no model student, she’s cheeky to her teachers (which is super funny), skips school and has slipping grades, but she’s not a bad person. When she solves a problem for a classmate in a rather unconventional manner, more people come to her for “help” and before she knows it, she has a small operation running. The shenanigans solving all these problems are entertaining and they get her into trouble, but helping other people is one thing she can do since she can’t seem to improve her own life.As an author of LGBTQ+ fiction, did you ever face challenges or feel discouraged on your journey to publication? On the flip side, has there been anything really rewarding?

Your first novel was The Falling in Love Montage – what similarities can readers expect to find between your first novel and your second, and what’s entirely new? Characters: The characters are a major success and the more reasons for you to love this book. Aideen is entertaining, compassionate and overall just loveable. Her character is raw and I teared up for the emotional authenticity that runs throughout the novel. I don't think I am similar to Aideen (I'm more assertive) but I find her personality to be very relatable. Overall, It was sometime a hilarious and sometime emotional, but throughout an amazing read that I enjoyed immensely. This creates animosity between team members and creates hostile work environments. You’re showing unwillingness. It breeds contempt and reinforces the belief that you are not a team player and can’t be depended on. We also see the fmc be an absolute doormat when it comes to her best friend, but we have to assume that she's victim to it because the fmc is just 'too nice' and assumes the best of everyone 🥺🙄.

1. I’m Afraid This Does Not Affect Me

Ciara Smyth is now definitely on my automatic ‘to read’ list. Two 5-star books in a row, if that’s not a sign, then what is? The main characters in both books seem to possess exactly the type of sarcasm that I really like. Humor in books is a hit-or-miss for me, but these books nail it. But it’s not only the humor, there is also always a deeper emotional layer in her books. Like in the previous book “The Falling in Love Montage” Smyth has the ability to make me laugh out loud and cry five minutes later. i would like to begin by saying that both leads are lesbians, and identify as such (!!!), which we definitely need more of in books. ‘not my problem’ is more of a slow burn than ‘the falling in love montage,’ focused more on plot than romance, but it is definitely still worth a read. for one, each of the main characters are both flawed and lovable. they are full, well-rounded people, who are more charming because they are complete. the title of the book is actually a little misleading, because aideen attempts to fix every problem she comes across, both those that are her own (desperately trying to stop her mam from drinking again), and those that aren’t (helping meabh with her busy schedule despite the fact that they aren’t even on friendly terms). (by the way: meabh is pronounced ‘maeve.’ yes, i had to google it.) ciara smyth does something in her books which i’ve found is quite rare, and it is that she makes them truly, genuinely funny. not even just a ‘i let out a huff of air to show that i appreciated that sentence,’ but real laughter. i read this book when i was sad, and it was the perfect reprieve from the world: even as the main character, aideen’s, world is falling apart, she manages to be absolutely hilarious throughout. I’m afraid this does not affect me” is a great formal alternative. It is polite, as it shows that you are not interested in someone else’s problem without dismissing it.

the characters were once again just really charming. CS is just great at characterisation. a lot of the times in romance at least one of the love interests doesn't have... a personality, but CS's mains are always very unique and loveable and i just want to squish them both (affectionately). and the way the author writes male/female friendships??? unmatched. Kavi was a DELIGHT. Too busy? You can’t foresee there being time to help with other people‘s concerns or issues. You may have so much on your plate from your normal day that adding anything extra is impossible. You feel that it’s not your problem because you feel underappreciated or taken advantage of by your peers? This is common if you often help others but don’t ask for help in return. It can be painful to be always giving and never receiving. Writing Style: If you're on a reading slump, I think this book is great for you to read. It's written in simple prose, clear plot points with well-defined characters; making it easier to read. If I am not occupied with my internship, I'd have finished this in a sitting. I enjoyed Ciara Smyth's debut The Falling In Love Montage, but on a personal level I connected to this one much more and found it much funnier so it's by far my favourite of Smyth's two books so far. Definitely recommend.

Is It Rude to Say “That’s Not My Problem”?

It is rude to say “that’s not my problem.” It’s a very dismissive statement showing you do not care about someone or their problem. It’s most effective when you are leaving and do not want to associate yourself with petty drama. Generally, it’s best if you can refer them to “someone else” directly (like a mediator). Boundaries are a healthy thing. You cannot take the whole world onto your shoulders and expect to do everything well. When you reduce the amount of time you pursue individualism and focus on collective improvement, you produce great work. In high school, I had a great friend who was experiencing significant mental illness. She was committing self-harm and attempting suicide monthly. As a teenager, she relied on me to be there for her. I stopped sleeping, eating, and taking care of myself so that I could support her at any moment. I was pulled into a very stressful cycle that I didn’t know how to get out of.