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rebkathekid's review
3.0
Finished this in one sitting. Leah Messer’s story is one that highlights the generationally cyclical nature of poverty, domestic violence and addiction in regional America. This memoir paints a picture of her family’s long history with all three. Furthermore, Messer also sets the record straight on events in her life that were misconstrued by the MTV cameras to provide juicier drama for audiences that were eager to judge a struggling young mother.
This book is extremely easy to read BUT is so lacking in context that anyone who isn’t an avid Teen Mom 2 viewer (which I luckily am) will find themselves very puzzled.
This book is extremely easy to read BUT is so lacking in context that anyone who isn’t an avid Teen Mom 2 viewer (which I luckily am) will find themselves very puzzled.
liralen's review
2.0
No real surprises here—not a stunner as far as writing goes, but enough honesty and introspection to keep things interesting. I still haven't seen any of 16 and Pregnant or Teen Mom, so I don't have any context for Messer outside of the book, but it's nice to see less mud-slinging of exes than in some related books I've read.
But mostly I just find this to be a really good illustration of cycles of poverty and teen pregnancy. Messer's pregnancy as a teenager isn't all that surprising when you consider the context: being the child of a teenage mother to begin with, not having any sex ed, not having any emphasis placed on education, a community that was very tolerant (even encouraging) of young girls dating with much older boys... Quite separate from a person's individual decisions and so on, it's hard to break a cycle when you've had no other consistent model.
It also strengthens my suspicion that shows like Teen Mom can be simultaneously beneficial and toxic for the people taking part—a valuable source of income for young mothers who can be quite financially vulnerable, and something that might give them a chance at a career quite different from the ones they'd expected, but also a source of extra drama (the show might not be manufacturing drama outright, but it's definitely stirring the pot) and something that opens the participants (who are, again, often in vulnerable positions) up to the opinions and criticism of the masses in ways that they are unlikely to be prepared for.
But mostly I just find this to be a really good illustration of cycles of poverty and teen pregnancy. Messer's pregnancy as a teenager isn't all that surprising when you consider the context: being the child of a teenage mother to begin with, not having any sex ed, not having any emphasis placed on education, a community that was very tolerant (even encouraging) of young girls dating with much older boys... Quite separate from a person's individual decisions and so on, it's hard to break a cycle when you've had no other consistent model.
It also strengthens my suspicion that shows like Teen Mom can be simultaneously beneficial and toxic for the people taking part—a valuable source of income for young mothers who can be quite financially vulnerable, and something that might give them a chance at a career quite different from the ones they'd expected, but also a source of extra drama (the show might not be manufacturing drama outright, but it's definitely stirring the pot) and something that opens the participants (who are, again, often in vulnerable positions) up to the opinions and criticism of the masses in ways that they are unlikely to be prepared for.
existinbliss's review
5.0
If you are a huge fan of Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2 then this is the perfect book for you. Honestly speaking, Leah has always been a personal favorite of mine. I have watched parts of her life unfold on TV for years - Leah has been strong and courageous at times, Leah has battled addiction, Leah has been married and divorced then remarried. Leah digs deep into her childhood and you will be shocked and surprised to learn things about her childhood that she has never shared with viewers or readers before. I have the upmost respect for Leah because she is willing to admit when she’s made mistakes and when she is wrong.
This is a quick and easy read that I could not put it down. Definitely would read again!
5/5 Stars!
This is a quick and easy read that I could not put it down. Definitely would read again!
5/5 Stars!
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