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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
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Audiobook read by the author
Subtitle: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons
Brammer studied journalism and creative writing and landed a job writing an advice column for INTO, which was published by Grindr, the popular gay hook-up app. He wasn’t sure he was doing “the gay thing” right, or that he had any business giving advice, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. His column, ¡Hola Papi!, took off like wildfire.
This collection of essays serves as a memoir and self-help guide to pressing questions about growing up, surviving break ups, finding love, and all the issues young people – both gay and straight – have to navigate in the process of becoming adults. He recounts his experiences in a small Oklahoma town, his horrible middle-school years, when he was bullied to the point where he considered suicide, his confusing teenage years in the closet, his awakening in college, and his eventual move to New York.
The beginning of each chapter poses a question asking for advice. There are some chapters where I wondered where his story was headed and if he’d ever connect to the question being asked. But Brammer’s honesty and empathy propelled me forward.
Brammer narrates the audiobook himself. He does a fine job, it IS his own story after all, and I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job of narrating it. I did read about half the book in text format, however.
Subtitle: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons
Brammer studied journalism and creative writing and landed a job writing an advice column for INTO, which was published by Grindr, the popular gay hook-up app. He wasn’t sure he was doing “the gay thing” right, or that he had any business giving advice, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. His column, ¡Hola Papi!, took off like wildfire.
This collection of essays serves as a memoir and self-help guide to pressing questions about growing up, surviving break ups, finding love, and all the issues young people – both gay and straight – have to navigate in the process of becoming adults. He recounts his experiences in a small Oklahoma town, his horrible middle-school years, when he was bullied to the point where he considered suicide, his confusing teenage years in the closet, his awakening in college, and his eventual move to New York.
The beginning of each chapter poses a question asking for advice. There are some chapters where I wondered where his story was headed and if he’d ever connect to the question being asked. But Brammer’s honesty and empathy propelled me forward.
Brammer narrates the audiobook himself. He does a fine job, it IS his own story after all, and I can’t imagine anyone doing a better job of narrating it. I did read about half the book in text format, however.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I liked the different stories and the format of answering questions in an advice column. He was really funny and even when he was telling sad stories he kept it positive and as a learning about himself lesson and how he didn’t let the challenges beat him.
Was expecting this to be funny. It is the gif of Jamie Lee Curtis repeating “trauma,” in book form.
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual assault
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt
Minor: Infidelity
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Because this is an autobiography, it automatically gets five stars (I don't technically rate them). But Wow, As a Queer Mexican-American, I read this and couldn't put it down. It is truly so honest and reflects on how imperfect one can be within their own identity and that it is OKAY to be so.
Adding on, I have two queer brothers who I have helped raise. One of my biggest worries is not being able to understand their experiences since they are Mexican-American men who have grown up in a very misogynistic and homophobic environment. Reading this made me think of them, and although no singular experience is equally the same. I hope that my brothers are able to reach this kind of acceptance toward their own identities sometime in their lives.
Adding on, I have two queer brothers who I have helped raise. One of my biggest worries is not being able to understand their experiences since they are Mexican-American men who have grown up in a very misogynistic and homophobic environment. Reading this made me think of them, and although no singular experience is equally the same. I hope that my brothers are able to reach this kind of acceptance toward their own identities sometime in their lives.
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced