Lindy West's new memoir, 'Adult Braces,' has ignited debate by portraying her transition from celebrated millennial feminist to a woman in a polyamorous marriage, framed as a cautionary tale about self-abnegation. The book details her painful journey, revealing how her past persona as a champion of fat positivity and radical feminism masked profound personal struggles, including a relationship where her husband conditioned commitment on nonmonogamy. West's narrative challenges the perception of her earlier work, 'Shrill,' and the TV adaptation, exposing the chasm between her public feminist icon status and private turmoil.

Critics argue the memoir indicts leftist ideologies, while others see it as a broader warning about the universal pressure women face to sacrifice themselves for love, regardless of political affiliation.