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rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Unflinching and unapologetic look at the author's battle with his mental health and his coming out process.
bluelishi's review against another edition
5.0
"I was just a confused kid who'd learned the vocabulary of being gay from a world that hated fags"
melissaverasreads's review against another edition
5.0
Some parts were really hard to read, but I really hope this book find its way to a young person's hands who might need to hear this story.
tangleroot_eli's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
I like what this book is, but I don't think it's the book Hutchinson set out to write. In his end notes, Hutchinson shares his frustration that "it gets better" narratives so rarely detail how it gets better. He says he wanted to write a memoir that told that part of the story.
Instead, Brave Face is 97% the times leading up to Hutchinson'ssuicide attempt</em>, 2% the immediate aftermath, and 1% a woefully rushed accounting of everything that happened between that event and Hutchinson's decision to write the memoir. That's not saying much about how it got better - the exact question Hutchinson claims he set out to address.
Still, the book's very good at being what it is: a heartbreaking portrait of the terrible toll of internalized and societal homophobia and mental health stigma.
Instead, Brave Face is 97% the times leading up to Hutchinson's
Still, the book's very good at being what it is: a heartbreaking portrait of the terrible toll of internalized and societal homophobia and mental health stigma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Medical content, Homophobia, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Vomit, Cancer, Bullying, and Excrement
Moderate: Toxic masculinity, Questionable consent, Slut shamingklanca's review against another edition
4.0
I happened across this in order to fulfill a reading challenge. I am glad I read it. Important message for those that are struggling.