This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch

The Joy of Loving Something—Anything—Like Your Life Depends on It

By: Tabitha Carvan

Narrated by: Tanya Schneider

Why We Can’t Sleep meets Furiously Happy in this hilarious, heartfelt memoir about one woman’s midlife obsession with Benedict Cumberbatch, and the liberating power of reclaiming our passions as we age, whatever they may be.

Tabitha Carvan was a new mother, at home with two young children, when she fell for the actor Benedict Cumberbatch. You know the guy: strange name, alien face, made Sherlock so sexy that it became one of the most streamed shows in the world? The force of her fixation took everyone—especially Carvan herself—by surprise. But what she slowly realized was that her preoccupation was not about Benedict Cumberbatch at all, as dashing as he might be. It was about finally feeling passionate about something, anything, again at a point in her life when she had lost touch with her own identity and sense of self.

In This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch, Carvan explores what happens to women's desires after we leave adolescence…and why the space in our lives for pure, unadulterated joy is squeezed ever smaller as we age. She shines a light onto the hidden corners of fandom, from the passion of the online communities to the profound real-world connections forged between Cumberbatch devotees. But more importantly, she asks: what happens if we simply decide to follow our interests like we used to—unabashedly, audaciously, shamelessly? After all, Carvan realizes, there’s true, untapped power in finding your “thing” (even if that thing happens to be a British-born Marvel superhero) and loving it like your life depends on it.

©2022 Tabitha Carvan (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of Good Housekeeping’s 20 New Books to Add to Your Summer 2022 Reading List

One of PureWow’s 20 Best Beach Reads of Summer 2022

One of 425 Magazine’s Best Books of 2022

One of MPR News’s Best Books of 2022

“Part memoir, part self-help, this one will empower you to rediscover your own obsessions. And yes, Google image search the Sherlock actor, too."–Good Housekeeping

“The title alone inspires a smile, but the book itself is hilarious, and wise…[Carvan’s] story is really about the joy that comes with rediscovering and indulg­ing youthful passions and pleasures.”–AARP

“Winningly effervescent…[The book] seems written in the blush of first love, an aria of joyous discovery at the shedding of an obsolete inhibition…To read This Is Not a Book About Benedict Cumberbatch is to follow Carvan on a path to overcoming her shame and reveling in the sheer frivolity of her love for the Sherlock star alongside the women [who] share it with her. Once she does, she proclaims, ‘it felt so good—you would not believe how good!—that I didn’t mind if it made me the biggest weirdo in the world.’ She almost makes you feel as good as that when she gets there.”—Slate

This book made me happy

This is a wonderful book. I really enjoyed it. Super honest and such a good message.

You are not alone so let’s enjoy the ride!

This book opened up the discussion about our love for Fandoms and why we need them at certain times in our lives. The narration felt like you were sharing tea with a friend.

Relatable and Essential

This is the exact kid of story that every fan girl needs to hear. I grew up emphatically fixated on new things every cool me of years. I have found this hasn’t stopped with adulthood. I used to feel a kind of guilt or shame around what I used to think was annoying and immature and stories like this one help to destigmatize and unify. I am also interested in fandom psychology and this was a great first read in that category.

My heart was singing

In my 50’s I had unexplainable love for Sam Heughan and all things Outlander. I couldn't quite understand what was happening... Ohhhhhh. And it's sooo worth it. Love what you love and let's others love what they love.

Please get Benedict Cumberbatch to narrate! ❤️

I loved it! I was often daydreaming and giggling like a school girl as I was listening. I feel like this book was written just for me and it's cool to hear that there are other folks out there who are similarly delighted w Benedict Cumberbatch, specifically as Sherlock Holmes. Good message - have fun, own it, find your joy, embrace your genuine self.

An excuse to chase your passions again

Is it really about Benedict Cumberbatch? No, not about him per se, but he is a main character and it is deliciously funny. What an amazing book. This book made me laugh, made me cry, and then laugh again. For any woman who has stopped loving things with unbridled passion due to shame, feeling stupid, or being told to grow up, this book is for you. Remember when you were a kid and you loved things with your whole soul even if you didn’t fully understand why? This book tells you why and then shows you that feeling never had to end. You can rekindle it, find your passions again, and go after them at full speed without shame, guilt, or embarrassment.
Do yourself a favor and read this book. Enjoy its humor, enjoy that it’s not an in-depth, scientific foray on finding joy, and dare to think about what might make you feel alive again. And…..maybe watch BBC’s Sherlock while your at it. You’ll be glad you did. 😉

No

Got this book because of a recommendation. I couldn't even finish it. I'm a mom in my 40s wirh 2 little kids and thankfully can not relate to this book at all. Just pass.