ophalen's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

4.0


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tieflingmom's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

5.0


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sblisberg's review against another edition

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Just not mentally in the right headspace to hear how dark his story goes. I’m so happy he is out and thriving and will finish one day. This story is worth listening to, just not after a family
Member dies

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pacifickat's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

I'm not sure I could have read a memoir about someone with more different life experiences to my own, but here's to a year of reading broadly! 

The audiobook absolutely made this book work for me as a reader. There were so many jokes and moments that relied on anticipating the correct voice intonation in order to completely land, and it was fun hearing JVN's humor come through in the audio narration. Plus, I would have hopelessly butchered all the Russian pseudonyms in my head.

Lots of trigger warnings could be applied to this book (childhood trauma, sexual content, drug use, self harm, bullying, etc.), but I have rarely heard more accurate or compelling descriptions of addictive behaviors and the self-destructive-yet-all-consuming mental state behind them than here. This felt like an extremely honest and open account of the author's most formative life experiences, and I can't help but admire that. 

I also really appreciated learning a bit about AIDS/HIV stigma, treatments, and current positive prognoses when caught early and managed carefully. This kind of information is truly a public service to get out there in the open.

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bebidocrimes's review

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emotional funny inspiring fast-paced
This captures Jonathan's voice so so well, it feels like we were just chatting at a coffee shop. I have been told time and time again, directly or indirectly, that I am too loud, I'm too much, I won't stop rambling on and on when I'm excited about something. It just feels so good to be reminded that I can find people who will love me for all that I am. Looking forward to getting my hands on his next book!

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asummrox's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

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officialdani's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.25

I love JVN and loved this book! I respect so much him sharing his past struggles with such a mass audience, owning all parts of himself, and celebrating his wins. As he mentions the goal of writing this book, I genuinely believe it will help so many young LGBTQ+ 

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book_dragon_'s review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Wow. I want to hug jvn.
I can't believe want this beautiful person had to go trough...

Please look at the tws!

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angryglitterwitch's review against another edition

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5.0

This incredible book made me feel so seen that I'm taking it to show my therapist this afternoon. Can't really offer higher praise than that!

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omissacat's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

JVN does a wonderful job of portraying his life in an upbeat tone, even when dealing with difficult topics. 

Only dropped the rating by one star because his writing imitates that of a straight white cis man writing a teen girl in the early 2010s and it got on my tits a bit

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