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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
I loved this book! Like everybody, I watched Jonathan on Queer Eye and love his attitude and personality. This book shows that anybody can survive even the hardest of situations. Highly recommend!
JVN is did THAT. I loved this book. I related to it ways I didn’t expect and was surprised by Jonathan’s story. His writing allows you to hear the whole book in his voice which makes this a fun read, despite the difficult topics that he discusses throughout his life experiences. Before I read this book, I loved JVN as a fun TV personality and podcaster. Now after reading, I really admire him for how he lives is truth and uses his platform to educate.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Fun memoir to listen to. He gets honest and raw. Love how he talks about his relationship with his mom.
Overflowing with equal parts joy and pain, Over the Top proved somewhat hollow for me. I would never reduce a book written through such tears and with such true aim to below three stars, but I'm afraid it just wasn't for me. That said, I adore Van Ness and his Queer Eye colleagues.
This was such an eye-opening journey into Jonathan's life. It's peppered with his love and zeal for life, even when he's narrating the incredibly rough and frankly tragic parts of his life. I appreciate him so much for having the courage to share his story and hope that it can encourage and change the lives of young LGBTQ+ people.
I definitely recommend it, but if you are in a bad place mentally I would suggest waiting until you are stronger. Some parts were very difficult to read and experience and I can't even imagine how he was able to pull through and be the amazing person that he is today.
I definitely recommend it, but if you are in a bad place mentally I would suggest waiting until you are stronger. Some parts were very difficult to read and experience and I can't even imagine how he was able to pull through and be the amazing person that he is today.
I, like pretty much everyone, love JVN. So I was really excited to read his story. Unfortunately, he isn’t a writer- it’s not his strong suit. While he is funny, and smart, and so strong - there are many times through the story telling that fell flat. His best moments are rambling non stop, because those are the most authentic. I felt like he was very detailed in the first half of the book, but the second half he just sped through.
All of that being said- I listened/read this book in a day. It’s also a book I consider to be important. Because it discusses living with HIV and the rampant abuse of LGBTQ youth. Johnathan shares his deeply emotional trauma, while also showing there is a way through, which is really inspiring. I feel that other youths could identify with this story and maybe, avoid making some harmful missteps in their own life.
This is worth a read though, and really doesn’t take too long to get through. If you are a fan of Queer Eye, then You will find this an interesting read.
All of that being said- I listened/read this book in a day. It’s also a book I consider to be important. Because it discusses living with HIV and the rampant abuse of LGBTQ youth. Johnathan shares his deeply emotional trauma, while also showing there is a way through, which is really inspiring. I feel that other youths could identify with this story and maybe, avoid making some harmful missteps in their own life.
This is worth a read though, and really doesn’t take too long to get through. If you are a fan of Queer Eye, then You will find this an interesting read.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
This was at times hard to listen to (Audible - narrated by JVN himself) because there is a lot of talk of abuse and how it affects someone later in live. You get the feeling that this book was really hard to write since Jonathan Van Ness reveals a lot about himself here and I for one am grateful for that.
The narration was good, it wasn´t as animated and scatter brained as the podcast (Getting curious - which is awesome, you should listen to it) but it still made me cry especially later on in the book.
I don´t really know how to rate biographies because it feels like rating someones life but since this one made me cry and laugh and gasp I´m giving it 5 stars.
If you´re thinking about reading this please beware that this book might be triggering for some people.
The narration was good, it wasn´t as animated and scatter brained as the podcast (Getting curious - which is awesome, you should listen to it) but it still made me cry especially later on in the book.
I don´t really know how to rate biographies because it feels like rating someones life but since this one made me cry and laugh and gasp I´m giving it 5 stars.
If you´re thinking about reading this please beware that this book might be triggering for some people.
Spoiler
Trigger warnings include: Substance abuse, sexual abuse, child molestation
I listened to this audiobook, which is read by the author, and it was so good. I just love JVN. He is bursting with love for everyone.
Could I have guessed that the author went through some harrowing experiences growing up?
Yes.
Did I expect them to recount those stories not only with their trademark exuberance, but with candor and self examination?
Would’ve been a tougher guess.
I really enjoyed listening to someone who has clearly made many mistakes, but has gotten to a place where they are finally on their own side.
Really inspiring.
Yes.
Did I expect them to recount those stories not only with their trademark exuberance, but with candor and self examination?
Would’ve been a tougher guess.
I really enjoyed listening to someone who has clearly made many mistakes, but has gotten to a place where they are finally on their own side.
Really inspiring.