And Other Lies Books in Order

The And Other Lies books are not a continuing fictional series. They are themed anthologies, built from many contributors' personal essays, stories, and illustrations. The connecting idea is simple: take a familiar phrase or assumption, then look more closely at the real experiences behind it.

The two books can be read in either order. They share a curator, Scarlett Curtis, and a direct, conversational approach, but each has its own subject. There are no recurring characters, no shared setting, and no plot to follow from one volume to the next. What carries across is the sense that complicated subjects become easier to approach when many people are allowed to speak in their own words.

Feminists Don't Wear Pink and Other Lies focuses on feminism. Its contributors include writers, performers, activists, and other public voices reflecting on their personal relationships with the word. The collection pushes back on the idea that feminism has only one look, one background, or one approved way of being understood. Some pieces are funny, some are serious, and many begin from uncertainty rather than certainty.

It is a conversation, not a rulebook.

It's Not OK to Feel Blue turns toward mental health and emotional wellbeing. More than sixty contributors share experiences of sadness, anxiety, grief, recovery, self-image, and asking for help. The range of voices matters here. One person's way through a difficult time may not suit someone else, so the book makes room for different ages, identities, and kinds of struggle.

Charlie Mackesy is among the contributors to It's Not OK to Feel Blue. His presence fits the collection's interest in making difficult feelings easier to name, though these books are collaborative projects rather than solo Charlie Mackesy titles. The focus remains on the many people gathered in each volume and the different forms their contributions take.

Expect short, accessible pieces rather than one long argument. That makes the books easy to read in sections, return to, or discuss with a friend. They are especially suited to readers who want personal perspectives instead of a textbook-style introduction.

For the clearest reading path, begin with Feminists Don't Wear Pink and Other Lies if you want essays about gender, identity, and activism. Choose It's Not OK to Feel Blue first if you are looking for a broad, candid collection about mental health. Either book stands on its own.