In an unnecessarily large book haul I made recently, there was one particular purchase I was looking forward to getting my hands on, Sarah Knight’s The Life-changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck.

If you’re thinking that was mostly on account of its less than subtle title, you’d be right but its mantra, how to stop spending time you don’t have, doing things you don’t want to do with people you don’t like, also caught my eye.

As it turns out, it actually does what it says on the tin. Strangers, colleagues and family are just some of the topics you’re forced to confront on your journey to care free living. Learning to clear out your barn and keep within your budget are both things I have no doubt you’ll find (as the title suggests) life-changing too.

I’ll warn you in advance that it won’t all be smooth sailing though. Learning to care less about your pet peeves sounds like a great idea in theory but it involves actually facing them in the first place. There’s no skim reading and heading straight for the epiphany either, there are pages dedicated to listing each and every one of them.

For this reason alone, it’s definitely not a bed time read - thinking about the things in life that annoy you isn’t exactly conducive to a good night’s sleep. A bad day at work or a passive aggressive coffee date with an old friend however are perfect opportunities to consult your new rulebook. Practical advice aside, Sarah Knight’s narrative voice is what makes this book unique. The witty writing style and honest approach to life’s challenges make it feel more like a conversation with a sassy friend than a self-help book.

It’s taken pride of place on my bedside table for its pretty pink appearance too but I did actually manage to put it into practice recently. Turning down an invitation to an awkward family gathering felt just as good as its author told me it would and I’m actually looking forward to my next opportunity to say no! When it comes down to it, this book is definitely one you can judge by its cover. A frequent use of the word f*ck means it's not for the easily offended but for those of you who want to stop giving them, I couldn’t recommend it enough. It doesn’t hurt that it’s an Instagram worthy accessory either.