Books like Perfect by Emily Halban


In *Perfect*, Emily Halban recounts the onset of anorexia nervosa during her final years of school and its escalation while she attended Oxford University. By her final year she was so debilitated that she had to sit her exams in a separate room where she could be fed continuously. Through heartfelt candour and intimate detail, Halban traces her disease from its elusive origins through its darkest moments of deprivation, guilt and self‑loathing, and follows her path toward recovery. The memoir offers insight into the complexities of living with anorexia, dispels myths, and provides perspective and hope for readers facing the illness and for those seeking to understand it.
First publish date: 2008
Genre: Biography & Autobiography/Autobiography
Authors: Emily Halban
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3.0 (1 community ratings)

Perfect by Emily Halban

How are these books recommended?

The books recommended for Perfect by Emily Halban are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.


Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.

Books similar to Perfect (13 similar books)

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by 11086925|Rebecca Skloot book cover

πŸ“˜ The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks follows the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer whose cancer cells were taken in 1951 without her consent and later became the first immortal human cell line, HeLa, driving major scientific breakthroughs while raising questions of ethics, race, and medical exploitation.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 4.2 (41 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Stick Figure by 6992174|Lori Gottlieb book cover

πŸ“˜ Stick Figure

A candid memoir of Lori Gottlieb’s teenage battle with anorexia nervosa, revisiting her 1970s diary to reveal the loneliness, family dynamics, and societal pressures that drove her dieting obsession.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 4.6 (7 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Wasted by 8259489|Marya Hornbacher book cover

πŸ“˜ Wasted

Marya Hornbacher’s memoir chronicles her battle with anorexia and bulimia, detailing hospital stays, therapy, and the loss of family and jobs as she ultimately finds a path to recovery.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 4.5 (6 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Insatiable by 10987434|Erica Rivera book cover

πŸ“˜ Insatiable

In *Insatiable*, Erica Rivera chronicles her painful descent into and recovery from anorexia and exercise addiction, revealing how her struggles echoed three generations of women and ultimately led her to learn self‑love and resilience.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 3.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Anorexia by 7396765|Katie Metcalfe book cover

πŸ“˜ Anorexia

Anorexia is a harrowing autobiographical account of Katie Metcalfe’s battle with the eating disorder, her journey through hospital treatment, and the profound effects on her family.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 4.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Heart berries by 11880536|Terese Marie Mailhot book cover

πŸ“˜ Heart berries

Terese Marie Mailhot's memoir follows her journey from a turbulent upbringing on Seabird Island to healing through writing, confronting PTSD and bipolar II while honoring her mother and reconciling with her father.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 4.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Inner hunger by 8370857|Marianne Apostolides book cover

πŸ“˜ Inner hunger


β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 3.0 (1 rating)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Unexpected blessings by 9451718|Roxanne Black book cover

πŸ“˜ Unexpected blessings

Roxanne Black turns her 15‑year‑old lupus diagnosis into a nationwide support movement, sharing her healing journey and stories of courage from patients worldwide.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Not all Black girls know how to eat by 10966003|Stephanie Covington Armstrong book cover

πŸ“˜ Not all Black girls know how to eat

An autobiographical account of a Black woman’s battle with bulimia, exploring cultural barriers, self‑esteem struggles, and the scarcity of race‑sensitive eating‑disorder treatment.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Ask me about my uterus by 11881661|Abby Norman book cover

πŸ“˜ Ask me about my uterus

Abby Norman’s memoir recounts her battle with endometriosis, from chronic pain and misdiagnosis to self‑education and activism, revealing the gender bias that often dismisses women’s medical complaints.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Being Emily by 11751293|Donovan, Anne (Fiction writer) book cover

πŸ“˜ Being Emily

A 21st‑century Glaswegian family faces tragedy and transformation as the middle child, Fiona, juggles household duties, twin siblings, and a poignant friendship while coping with her mother's death in childbirth.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
C by 6607956|John Diamond book cover

πŸ“˜ C

John Diamond's witty account of his cancer diagnosis and treatment, an instant bestseller that captures the humor and heart of a man facing mortality.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0
Gaining by 8188008|Aimee Liu book cover

πŸ“˜ Gaining
 by Aimee Liu

Aimee Liu revisits her pioneering memoir on anorexia, blending personal testimony with research on the origins, long‑term effects, and treatment of eating disorders, offering insights into recovery and relapse patterns.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… 0.0 (0 ratings)
Similar? ✓ Yes 0 ✗ No 0

Some Other Similar Books

The Truth About Love by Kate Tweed
Fragile Hearts by Lena Bell
Broken Wings by Sophia Lee
Shattered Promises by Daniela Moore
Unspoken Words by Megan Hart
Lost in Silence by Anna Carter
Pieces of Us by Laura Bennett
Hidden Truths by Michael Adams
The Edge of Love by Rachel Adams
Beneath the Surface by Monica Reid

Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!

Please login to submit books!