Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

We're Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True by Gabrielle Union

16 reviews

andrearuthelyn's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Terminal illness, Racism, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Infertility, Cancer, and Miscarriage

michelle_my_belle's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Drug use, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Racism, Cursing, Homophobia, Rape, Alcohol, Bullying, Cancer, and Gun violence

kelly_e's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

Title: We're Going to Need More Wine
Author: Gabrielle Union
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: October 17, 2017

T H R E E • W O R D S

Open • Raw • Empowering

📖 S Y N O P S I S

In We're Going to Need More Wine Gabrielle Union offers a moving and deeply personal collection of essays about power, race, gender, sexuality, feminism, beauty, fame, and what it means to be a modern woman

💭 T H O U G H T S

I wouldn't consider myself to be a Gabrielle Union fan, although I do recall watching some of her earlier movies during my teenager years. I received We're Going to Need More Wine as a suggestion when I put out a call to my fellow booklovers for some audiobook recommendations.

Not a memoir by definition (it's told in stories), it reads (or should I say listens) very much like a memoir. The author narrates pivotal moments throughout her life with humour, conviction, and emotion. She's an incredibly good story teller, bearing the most intimate corners of her life. At times light and quite funny, it also gets very heavy and dark. There's no denying she is smart and extremely talented.

My one qualm is definitely the title, which almost stopped me from picking it up entirely. The promotion of 'normative' nature of drinking culture is just something that I have a hard time getting behind because I know first hand the destruction it can cause. There are so many other options that would have worked just as well.

Don't hesitate to pick this one up, even if you don't know Gabrielle Union. There's so much depth and open dialogue on some very important topics that everyone will find something within its pages. I enjoyed listening to Gabrielle's stories so much that I immediately want to pick up You Got Anything Stronger?

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• celebrity memoir fans
• readers who like books by strong women

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"If you prioritize yourself, you are going to save yourself." 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Sexual violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Homophobia, Infertility, Sexual content, Cursing, Abortion, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Gun violence, and Miscarriage

Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Death, and Grief

essie__reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Cursing, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infertility, Terminal illness, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

cozyreadsandcoffee's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I loved this book- especially listening on audio. It was like Gabrielle Union was speaking to me about her life, her struggles. I enjoy reading more and understanding what actors go through other than just their movies. It felt just like a boozy conversation with a friend. It isn't fluffy but it is a real exploration of race, violence, and sexuality. It is truly a life book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Classism, Rape, Racism, Infertility, Miscarriage, Sexism, Racial slurs, Cancer, Bullying, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Gun violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, and Police brutality

macknificent's review against another edition

funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Infertility, and Classism

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexism, and Pregnancy

Minor: Stalking, Alcohol, and Animal death

puffprincess's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I've always been a big fan of Gabrielle Union, but I think I love Nikki even more 💛 I absolutely loved this book! It's not an autobiography in chronological order, but rather a collection of stories from her life. Some of them made laugh out loud, some of them made me cry. I think everyone should have to read her chapter 16 (I think) about raising black men. There was a beautiful mix of light-hearted, funny stories with emotionally challenging stories. I truly felt like I was listening to a girlfriend talk over wine. Can't wait to read the next one!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexism, Rape, Gun violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Pregnancy, Bullying, Homophobia, Drug use, Classism, Cancer, Body shaming, Alcohol, Violence, Outing, Medical content, and Cursing

theworldisyourlibrary's review against another edition

funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I love reading memoirs. I know Gabrielle Union the actor, from childhood favorites like Bring It On and 10 Things I Hate About You. But I didn’t know the person, Nickie Union. 

We’re Going to Need More Wine (great title, btw) is composed of 20 chapters, structured like essays were Gabrielle covers topics from growing up in a mostly white community, being a victim of sexual assault, relationships in all of their aspects (family, love and friendship), acting and the importance of lifting each other, especially as women. All with a perfect dose of honesty and realness, that’s very much appreciated. 

The chapters were the perfect size and her writing style is very easy going. Chapter 13 was extremely hilarious! Def a great memoir!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, Infertility, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual assault

lit_with_lauren's review against another edition

emotional funny informative medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racism

Moderate: Infertility

brothena's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.0

 I knew this book existed, but don't really know much about Gabrielle Union so was never particularly drawn to it. But when her second memoir came up on more than one of my reading podcasts as a favorite, and when I needed an audiobook for my commute, I figured I'd listen to this (her first). 

I enjoyed this read, despite really not having known anything about her or her backstory. Her upbringing and the dichotomy between her home/ visiting family was particularly interesting, and I appreciated how open she was about some personal choices that she knows would paint her in an unflattering light. She does delve into some darker subject material (sexual assault, the reality of raising young black boys), as well as some lighter moments, (I found the chapter about how menstruation "came for" each of her friends, a la a horror movie particularly funny). 

Overall, I found this book well-balanced, and her to feel really down-to-earth. I do plan to read her follow-up. 

CW: sexual assault, infertility

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Racism, and Infertility