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

julianna_clare's review against another edition

3.0

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Not the greatest, but way better than my last audiobook. This felt hard to follow in the way the stories were arranged. This was my last pick from FWPL’s collection for the month of June “All Together Now”.

jsykes828's review against another edition

4.75

emotional funny inspiring reflective fast-paced

witchhunt's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective

creativerunnings's review against another edition

4.5

emotional reflective fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Suicide attempt, Outing

Minor: Eating disorder

stevia333k's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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So I read this book because latinx (specifically chincanx) lgbtqia+, but I didn't quite pick up on how the dear abby part would connect to advice giving in general, which was also helpful for me. (Seriously, I've been wanting to get into warmline/hotline helpline work for a long while.)

Anyways, so I liked the book. Not only did I like the reflections on I guess symbolic interactionism, but I also liked how he discussed his career because as someone w/out a career history I'm kind of alienated from the process.

I feel like I should talk more about how he talked about lgbtqia+ & chicanx things, but let's just say he was bullied badly in middle school & I don't want to go into that because mood.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Eating disorder, Deportation

meredith_summers's review against another edition

4.0

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2kerrymehome's review against another edition

4.75

emotional hopeful fast-paced

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I loved the essay with the comet and the essay with javier. Such a beautiful perspective

oriad313's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

justinlife's review against another edition

4.5

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JP Brammer has an advice column called "Hola Papi" and here he uses that trope to discuss his past. He tells his story with such care and empathy that having questions that he can answer to himself gives him the ability to be kind. This is a collection short stories or vignettes of his life. Each chapter is a question that he asks himself. When he answers the questions, he is so gentle and kind that it's refreshing. 

I feel like a lot of memoirs have a snarky or an acerbic take, particularly if they are essays. JP Bramer does the opposite. He's kind, understanding, and recognizes his part to play in his life. What I appreciated about this book is that even though he's tackling big issues, he never insults himself. He gives himself grace. We need more of that. The concepts he talks about are internalizes homophobia, bullying, mental help, suicide, sexual assault, assimilation, etc. I never felt uncomfortable for him. That's a hard thing to manage when writing about yourself. 

I would recommend this book to people looking for a queer, poor, biracial experience told with love and care. 

helenaeoftroy's review against another edition

4.0

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