Enough Already – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Enough Already

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2022

76%

WISE Score

Valerie Bertinelli kicks diet culture to the curb in this vulnerable, warm-hearted memoir about self-love and moving through grief.

Enough Already

book

2022

76%

WISE Score

Valerie Bertinelli kicks diet culture to the curb in this vulnerable, warm-hearted memoir about self-love and moving through grief.

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Screenwise Verdict

If you grew up watching Valerie Bertinelli or followed her 'Jenny Craig' years, this book is the cathartic exhale you didn't know you needed. It’s not a 'tell-all' in the gossipy sense; it’s a 'tell-all' in the emotional sense. She’s remarkably open about the fact that she doesn't have it all figured out, but she's finally stopped apologizing for existing.

For parents, this is a great personal read that might help you check your own 'body talk' around the house. It’s warm, it’s a bit sad, and it’s deeply human. It won't interest your 10-year-old, but it might make you a more intentional parent regarding how you model self-worth.

Age Fit

This is firmly for adults and older teens (16+). While there's nothing 'inappropriate' for younger kids, the themes of middle-age reflection, divorce, and long-term career pressure simply won't resonate with them.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Valerie Bertinelli's shift from diet-culture poster child to self-acceptance advocate is genuinely healthy. It models kindness toward oneself and navigating grief with grace.

Imaginative

As a memoir, it's grounded in reality rather than creative world-building, though her perspective on reframing one's life story is insightful.

Safe

It's a book for adults; safety concerns are minimal. No graphic content, though it deals with the heavy emotional reality of losing an ex-spouse and the toxic nature of the diet industry.

Enriching

High marks for ethical and personal growth. It offers a masterclass in deconstructing societal pressure regarding body image and finding joy in later stages of life.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Radical self-acceptance that serves as a necessary antidote to the 'never enough' messaging kids and adults get on social media.
Honest talk about grief following the death of Eddie Van Halen, handled with deep maturity and love.
Relatable vulnerability from a celebrity who spent decades being judged for her weight and finally decided she was done playing that game.
Encourages a healthy relationship with food by focusing on joy and connection rather than calories or restrictions.

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What to Watch For

The book deals heavily with body image struggles; while the message is positive, the descriptions of past self-loathing could be intense for someone currently struggling with an eating disorder.
The emotional weight of losing a loved one to cancer is a central thread, which might be a lot for a reader who has recently experienced similar loss.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think society puts so much pressure on how people—especially women—look as they get older?"
"Valerie talks about 'enough already' being her new mantra. What's one thing in your life you're ready to say 'enough' to?"
"How does the way we talk about food change when we focus on how it makes us feel rather than how it makes us look?"

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