The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting cover art

The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting

A powerful memoir of overcoming an eating disorder

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting

By: Evanna Lynch
Narrated by: Evanna Lynch
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

Gradually, I began to feel this dawning awareness that womanhood was coming for me, that it was looming inevitably, and it didn't feel safe.... While those around me tried to expedite it, simulate it, exacerbate it, I tried to strangle it.

A raw and compelling new memoir from actress and activist Evanna Lynch about the battle between perfection and creativity.

Evanna Lynch has long been viewed as a role model for recovering anorexics, and the story of her casting as Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films has reached almost mythic proportions. Yet even after recovery, there remains a conflict at the very core of her being: a bitter struggle between the familiar, anesthetising pursuit of perfection and the desire to fully and fearlessly embrace her creativity. In her memoir, Evanna confronts all the complexities and contradictions within herself and reveals how she overcame a life-threatening eating disorder, began to conquer her self-hate and confronted her fear of leaving the neatness and safety of girlhood for the unpredictable journey of being a woman.

Revealing a startlingly accomplished voice, Evanna uses her book to delve into the very heart of a woman's relationship with her own body. Unwilling to let the darkness of her eating disorder eclipse her dreams, but afraid to fully release the certainty and safety of self-destruction, Evanna explores the pivotal moments and choices in her life that led her down the path of creativity and dreaming and away from the empty pursuit of perfection, and reaches towards acceptance of the wild, sensual and unpredictable reality of womanhood. This is a story of the tragedy and the glory of growing up, of mourning girlhood and stepping into the unknown and how that act of courage is the most creatively liberating thing a woman can do.

©2021 Evanna Lynch (P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
Eating Disorders Personal Development Psychology Women Heartfelt Inspiring Mental Health

What listeners say about The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    59
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    62
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    56
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thank you for sharing your story Evanna!

This was a compelling story! I was unaware of Evanna's struggles, but I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter world and especially Luna Lovegood!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully written

Highly engaging and entertaining, raw, honest and very insightful. Beautiful, visual writing and a great story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thoughtful and authentic

An honest and wise account. Created to help not hinder those that suffer from this mental illlness.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

so inspiring

Absolutely incredible cannot recommend enough. I was completely captivated by evannas words and thoroughly grateful that she chose to write this book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An honest and easily intriguing memoir

I think I connected a lot to Evanna which is why I found this book so rewarding, while her story alone is interesting based purely on her achievements/overcomings I think her approach to this topic in honesty is what made this memoir. She didn’t present some great answer, she told her story; and with that provided many answers and lessons in itself.

My only disappointments for this book was (while number based or specific action based details when describing anorexia are not helpful; so I’m still happy she omitted these) the way that she still seemed to simplify the illness.
Everyone’s experience with it is so different but from my own and others I know I have never heard an experience of anorexia that was just as the media portrays; this lose weight/ completely revolving thinness related issue. (There are many other ways/areas anorexia affects you)
She does talk about the complexities that led into her anorexia, but I wish she had added some more details about the complexities of the illness itself.
Having said that though, she covered a lot in this book so I can’t be too tough! I found it a captivating listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heart breaking beautiful

One of the most heartbreakingly sad, wonderfully uplifting and funny story's that I have enjoyed in a long time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating corners of an impressionable mind

Not normally much of a consumer of non-fiction, thanks to my admiration of Evanna as an actor, activist, and all around human, I thought to give this a go as my first full audiobook ever after she mentioned that it was best heard, not read.
Every spare minute I had, I excitedly flicked back over to Audible to take in Evanna's soothing voice, deeply moving story, and, simply, gripping way with words.
This book is for anyone struggling with the idea of perfection in their daily lives, or witnessing someone struggling with it themselves. In other words, it's for everyone. Bravo.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I've never felt more understood

Lynch captures the decades long struggles of what it means to grow up and accept yourself (or hopefully one day cherish it). She was able to describe feelings that I have not been able to acknowledge for too many years. I'm recommending this book for anyone who has struggled with self care, knows someone who has, or even anyone wanting to further understand perspectives of those around them.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating and healing

Evanna, this was truly incredible to listen to.

This memoir is raw and heartfelt without all the showy content that often comes with recovery content. No sugar coating (ironic phrasing) but also no dramatisation of weights and behaviours. Her discriptions of how her relationship with food also changed her relationship with family members was eye opening and truly beautiful. The description of circus classes at the end made my heart sing. Loved it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Honest, Disarming and Ultimately Hopeful.

Evanna Lynch Pulls not punches in her long struggles with anorexia. However her with and charm create a compelling, moving and uplifting tale.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.