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cozy_academic's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
pacifickat's review against another edition
4.0
The audiobook absolutely made this book work for me as a reader. There were so many jokes and moments that relied on anticipating the correct voice intonation in order to completely land, and it was fun hearing JVN's humor come through in the audio narration. Plus, I would have hopelessly butchered all the Russian pseudonyms in my head.
Lots of trigger warnings could be applied to this book (childhood trauma, sexual content, drug use, self harm, bullying, etc.), but I have rarely heard more accurate or compelling descriptions of addictive behaviors and the self-destructive-yet-all-consuming mental state behind them than here. This felt like an extremely honest and open account of the author's most formative life experiences, and I can't help but admire that.
I also really appreciated learning a bit about AIDS/HIV stigma, treatments, and current positive prognoses when caught early and managed carefully. This kind of information is truly a public service to get out there in the open.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Self harm, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Dementia, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder and Fatphobia
minaegg's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Mental illness, Blood, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug use, and Terminal illness
bebidocrimes's review against another edition
Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Grief
amyspag's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, and Eating disorder
leahlovesloslibros's review against another edition
5.0
This book was like chatting with an old friend. Listening to the audio told by JVN himself is absolutely the way I'd recommend reading this book, if that appeals to you. I was totally engrossed in the author's story, from childhood Jack all the way to adult Jonathan, and eventually the well-known JVN. The book was kind of a mix of his life story (the highs and the many lows), reflection, and self-help/advocacy, all of which were beautifully woven together into this one work.
Every bit of this book highlighted Jonathan, from beginning to end. The language and phrasing; the matter-of-factness and telling it how it is; the sheer beauty that is this gorgeous human being. I laughed and cried my way through this book, and I VERY rarely cry at books. Van Ness' book is one I will not soon forget.
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Dementia
**More TW/CW: sexual abuse, sex with a child, divorce, body image issues, gay slurs, masturbation, prostitutioncaseythereader's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent
caitlinsbooks's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Self harm, and Medical content