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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
This memoir is such an important reminder that reality stars are so much more than the edited versions of them we see on screen.
After listening to Parvati Shallow’s story, I have a whole new level of respect for her. I’ve always admired her as a Survivor legend—if you’re a fan of the franchise, that goes without saying—but hearing about her family, her entry into the reality TV world, and the deep personal struggles she was dealing with behind the scenes adds an entirely new layer. She opens up about what it was like navigating trauma and healing while still having to play a strategic, cutthroat game on national television.
As a competition and reality show addict I found it really interesting how she reflects on how Survivorhas evolved since her seasons. In the early seasons, we weren’t given contestant backstories or emotional arcs—it was all gameplay, all strategy. That made it so easy for viewers to buy into the version of her the show portrayed. She talks about the emotional toll of being judged and villainized, not just by the audience, but even by castmates during final tribal council rants, and how those moments echoed off the island into real life.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
This is officially my new favorite memoir. Clear theme, wildly informative, and a fantastic guide for anyone who has ever found themselves in survival mode. Parvati is my favorite Survivor player so I knew I was going to love this, but this book surpassed all my expectations.
Oops, binge listened to this in one day. Really ate this up. Getting to the part where she falls in love with Mae was so gratifying :,) Queer love is so beautiful. Just checked and they no longer follow each other on Instagram though……… nothing lasts forever I guess.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse
Minor: Infidelity
emotional
medium-paced
fast-paced
I'm so disappointed. I was really looking forward to Parvati's story of healing and self-acceptance, and this was not what I expected. It's a lot of weird stories told in weird ways. There's not a lot of meaning making happening. She had suggested readings in the back and I noticed that I had read some of them before and disliked them. Would've been nice to know that those were the kinds of books she finds meaningful before deciding to read hers. Oh well.