Reviews - Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons

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

sensira's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful reflective

acejolras's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

This was my book club’s pick for the month, and I had expected something breezy, and this really hit me with a gut punch. The theme of seeking affirmation from others really hit close to home, and the surprise chapter about Great Comet really rocked me. He did an excellent job describing how we use words and stories to interpret and reinterpret what happens to us without ever sounding pretentious.

drvibrissae's review against another edition

5.0

This is a memoir based on the conceit of answering advice questions. I have no familiarity with the author's previous work as an advice columnist, so I can't say how it compares, but it was a wonderful listen. Early on he asserts that humans can only understand the world through stories, and perhaps that's what makes him such a gifted storyteller. The essays follow his coming of age as a young mixed, gay man in rural Oklahoma and going through to his early adulthood in New York. While the main essays are roughly chronological, they are not a linear retelling of his life, but more a series of stories through which to see major turning points in his life. He mixes humor and tragedy throughout, the way life does, which makes for a moving, but not heavy book. I listened to this as an audiobook, and the content is not suitable for work/all audiences. Although mentions of sex and suicide ideation are not graphic or gratuitous they are common.

joanaacevedor's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

j_millareads's review against another edition

3.75

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

ywoy's review against another edition

5.0

I didn't expect to emotionally wreck me the way it did but I feel so cleansed now. Also insane how the subtitle refers to one of the most emotionally wrecking ones (to me personally), but it sounds silly! And the cover is so fun! I cried like crazy. God I loved this book.

notesonbookmarks's review against another edition

5.0

4.5 many funny moments. Wish it was longer.

emilyjmasters's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

JP tackles difficult topics with grace and wit, weaving heartbreaking stories with descriptions that shock a laugh out of you. I thought this was very well-done, and I think JP is a hell of a writer

Content Warnings

asmrbookishnesserin's review against another edition

4.25

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

thomasdevito's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

More...