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1.05k reviews for:
Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons
John Paul Brammer
4.06 AVERAGE
1.05k reviews for:
Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons
John Paul Brammer
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Random find from the library but oh so good. It was intense and disturbing at times but I enjoyed the transparency of how the author shared his life experiences. I appreciate how he doesn't have it all figured out but can provide some reflection on people and situations from his past. It shines a light on what it's like growing up queer, but all the things one may deal with not only externally from the outside world, but also how it can impact someone internally and the decisions one makes. While I'm not queer, I could definitely relate to his feelings around being Mexican and feelings of disconnect with his Mexican roots. Overall one of my favorite reads of the year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
An honest reflection of queer identity
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Homophobia, Suicide attempt
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Interesting life lessons from a gay advice columnist. An even mix of autobiography and advice. For you straight folks wondering how your XXX decided to come out as gay, maybe some insight here. For other queer folk, you'll feel some resonance and empathy. Definitely pair this with Pedro's Theory by Marcos Gonzalez.
Laugh out loud funny and heartbreaking and lovely. I've read quite a few memoir slash advice essay collections this year and so far no one has been able to balance those things with as much grace and humour as JP Brammer.
The audiobook performance by the author was great, and when I finished the audiobook this morning, I was left wanting more (maybe I should pay for his substack). Lots of messy queer partnerships, questions of racial and sexual identity, dealing with internalized homophobia, and honesty about mental health struggles. The chapter that's going to stick with me most is the one about grappling with a sexual assault and trying to forgive oneself for not understanding that's what it was at the time--feeling anger at oneself for having continued to interact with the person that harmed you in a benevolent way after it happened because it hadn't quite clicked yet. I've had similar anger at myself, so it was honestly really helpful to see the author verbalize this process of acknowledgement and forgiveness that we did not have the knowledge or understanding that we do now. Me when a self-help book actually helps me with something :0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Eating disorder, Racism
CW: mentions of suicide, hard F slur, mentions of bullying in the past, SA
This was heavy and also really funny. I got choked up and laughed out loud. I found it really easy to fall into the stories. Listened on audio which I love doing for memoirs.
This was heavy and also really funny. I got choked up and laughed out loud. I found it really easy to fall into the stories. Listened on audio which I love doing for memoirs.
A memoir written as advice columns. Well written, moving, great stories. It made me laugh, made me cry, and was all around a delight to read.
Brammer is utterly hilarious and perfectly witty in memoir chronicling his life as a closeted mixed-race kid to advice columnist!