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neldab_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I truly enjoyed the sexual liberation and freedom that was detailed in this book. I was able to relate to the author's viewpoint especially with how she began the book. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy the connection/order of the essays. The story felt somewhat disjointed, and it left me wanting to skip ahead.
iguarnieri's review against another edition
4.0
super readable and self empowering in a way that felt super authentic. appreciate the author’s vulnerability, especially in the later chapters, but a few of the pop culture-focused essays became a little formulaic for me structure-wise.
simplybibliophiles's review against another edition
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | “The tiny rebellions in my life - refusing to go to church, talking openly about sex, freelancing full-time, et cetera - may make it seem like I’m just floating in the wind, but they’re how I try to regain control of my life from other people’s expectations of me.”
Whether it be the unbelievable realness, the laugh-out-loud humor, or the unabashed reconciliation of one’s journey through this thing called life, SITOHHWCB is a book that you should pick up…like today. Through a series of essays, Perkins effectively negotiates her relationships with mental illness, sexuality, racism, misogyny, and their resulting pressures, as well as gives hilarious (and sometimes concerning) accounts of all of the roads that Janet Jackson, Prince, Okayplayer, married men and white boys have led her.
Perkins is unabashedly raw - giving you the good, bad, ugly, and vulnerable bits of some of the most defining moments of her life. She’s honest where some of us wouldn’t be. She’s retrospective in areas that some of us would avoid. She’s forgiving of herself in ways that only the most self-aware of us could be. The book hits a lull around halfway through; however, it could have been that (low-key) the stories were starting to stress me out (no judgment). Yet, overall, this an entertaining biographical memoir that forces readers to wonder what pop culture moments have inspired us, what trauma has built us, and how truly understanding and acknowledging our past can heal us.
Top 5 Essays:
1. Fast
2. My Kameelah-A** List
3. My Brother the Superhero
4. HBCUs Taught Me
5. The Night I Took Shrooms
Whether it be the unbelievable realness, the laugh-out-loud humor, or the unabashed reconciliation of one’s journey through this thing called life, SITOHHWCB is a book that you should pick up…like today. Through a series of essays, Perkins effectively negotiates her relationships with mental illness, sexuality, racism, misogyny, and their resulting pressures, as well as gives hilarious (and sometimes concerning) accounts of all of the roads that Janet Jackson, Prince, Okayplayer, married men and white boys have led her.
Perkins is unabashedly raw - giving you the good, bad, ugly, and vulnerable bits of some of the most defining moments of her life. She’s honest where some of us wouldn’t be. She’s retrospective in areas that some of us would avoid. She’s forgiving of herself in ways that only the most self-aware of us could be. The book hits a lull around halfway through; however, it could have been that (low-key) the stories were starting to stress me out (no judgment). Yet, overall, this an entertaining biographical memoir that forces readers to wonder what pop culture moments have inspired us, what trauma has built us, and how truly understanding and acknowledging our past can heal us.
Top 5 Essays:
1. Fast
2. My Kameelah-A** List
3. My Brother the Superhero
4. HBCUs Taught Me
5. The Night I Took Shrooms
emmreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Wow wow WOW! This is a captivating memoir full of humor and honesty that will leave you lost in thought. She discusses topics like sexuality, abuse, and love all throughout the essays. The format of the memoir as a series of essays helps with the noncontinuous flow of the piece and gives the reader bite-sized pieces to consume at their leisure. I loved her self-awareness as she looks back on her life, as she doesn't pull any punches in critiquing her actions as well as those of her conquests. If you want a sex-positive memoir that hits hard, this is the one for you.
*Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
*Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
bookedandfrizzy's review against another edition
I think I’m really starting to get into essays. Nichole has a way of making you relate to things that you didn’t think you related to. This book is raw. It’s vulnerable. It’s honest. Its funny. It’s human. I was first introduced to Nichole by listening to her podcast-Thirst Aid Kit. My friend sent me the link and said “Jas, this is you in podcast form” 😂It’s still one of my favorite podcasts today.
There’s something really beautiful about vulnerability. Nichole doesn’t tell us everything of course, but she gives us just enough that it feels like we’re on this journey of self discovery with her. She does not shy away from her experiences. She shares the good and the bad. I found myself giving grace as she gives herself grace. Some essays made me uncomfortable, which isn’t a bad thing. Hell, I hope to be this liberated one day. Some made me laugh out loud. Others made me gasp in unbelief (Scandalous). Many made sit in the quiet (Don’t Take Roses Away From Me).
This is the first memoir I’ve read that’s in essay form. My one complaint about most memoirs is that they don’t come off as cohesive. The essay format really works here.
Some of my favorite parts are when Nichole talks about her family and upbringing. I love how we get glimpses of those she clearly cares for. I also how pop culture topics are woven into the different essays. There’s something both affirming and challenging within the pages.
Please check for CW and TW.
4⭐️
Favorite Essays:
A Woman Who Shouts
Prince’s Girl
HBCUs Taught Me
My Kameelah-Ass List
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
lulureads365's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this read! It was insightful and very relatable!
lizmart88's review against another edition
3.0
Memoir /essays by Nichole Perkins about her life growing up. She is a beautiful writer! This was a Roxane Gay book club and I enjoyed it.
P. S. Read Roxane Gay's review on good reads for a much better review!
P. S. Read Roxane Gay's review on good reads for a much better review!
disasterchick's review against another edition
4.0
This book is for adults only. Author frequently talks about her sexual experiences from her teens through adulthood. I really could relate to much of her dating experiences and felt like we could easily be close friends with similarities in thought. If you don't like the topic of one of the essays just read on and there will be a change.
How did I find this book? This was the November 2021 pick from Roxane Gay for her Audacious book club hosted through the bookstore Literati.
How did I find this book? This was the November 2021 pick from Roxane Gay for her Audacious book club hosted through the bookstore Literati.