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joshuas_readingcorner's review
5.0
Amazing book! Very well written, loved the story line and characters. One of my top books of the year so far, definitely recommend giving this a read. Especially if you like anything spicy!
thisgayreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
5 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ
“All Of My Friends Are Rich” by Michael Saris
“𝑆ℎ𝑖𝑡. 𝐿𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦.”
Y'all, if you haven't read this yet, you need to! It's funny and sarcastic, and it made me laugh out loud several times, but it also had me trying not to cry at times!
Check the trigger warnings before you read if that’s your sort of thing.
The story begins with Leo enjoying his dream life, having built a family of his own. However, the onset of bipolar depression abruptly awakens him to dark truths about the man he had married. The raw and honest portrayal of Leo's struggles with mental health is both heart-wrenching and eye-opening.
As the story progresses, we follow Leo one year later, feeling lost and embarrassed by his dead-end job and his inability to keep up with those around him who seem to be enjoying success. When his best friend Sara asks him to be her best man, Leo reaches a breaking point as he realizes he can't afford the lavish festivities on his meager wages. A chance encounter on Grindr presents Leo with a reckless shortcut to riches, but he soon discovers that this path comes with dire consequences. Leo's journey takes him on a perilous path where he faces danger and makes difficult choices that threaten to cost him the very people he aims to impress.
There was an emotional depth and authenticity to the characters. Leo is a relatable protagonist who undergoes a profound transformation throughout the story, as he confronts his demons and searches for answers within himself. The supporting characters, such as Sara and other individuals Leo encounters along his journey, are equally well-drawn and add depth to the story.
Overall, this was a fun and emotional read that kept my interest until the last page.
adam_tries_books's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly I loved this book so much more than I expected, it was something I’d read during my breaks at work but I’d be constantly thinking about it between reading! Right from the start I was invested in Leo’s story, even though he’s got a lot of flaws you just can’t help but like him!
Michael Sarais does a fantastic job of creating a story with characters and actions which feel truly real, which is impressive considering some of the stuff Leo gets up to! Sarais doesn’t sugar coat things, he tells it exactly like a friend would tell you, which just made me more invested in the story.
I will give a little warning though, if you’re a prude then I’d maybe suggest you find something else to read!
Overall a fantastic story which I truly enjoyed and I look forward to seeing what Michael releases next!
Michael Sarais does a fantastic job of creating a story with characters and actions which feel truly real, which is impressive considering some of the stuff Leo gets up to! Sarais doesn’t sugar coat things, he tells it exactly like a friend would tell you, which just made me more invested in the story.
I will give a little warning though, if you’re a prude then I’d maybe suggest you find something else to read!
Overall a fantastic story which I truly enjoyed and I look forward to seeing what Michael releases next!
court1386's review against another edition
4.0
This was an emotional ride. Leo is a character you’ll want to slap for being so reckless, but at the same time just hug and protect him. A great read!
kyleetrusty's review against another edition
3.0
A lot of this just wasn’t for me but the story wrapped up nicely and I appreciate the bipolar disorder awareness
theboywithallthekeys's review
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kascott1's review
5.0
Ok, just to get it out of the way, I absolutely loved this book. The voice was so real and the writing honestly made my heart race at times. It was honest and refreshing, and although I started out with just a kindle version of the book, I bought a physical copy for my shelf before even finishing it. The characters are great, vibrant, and I wish I really knew them! (Well, maybe not Marc). I also love that the author didn't shy away from sex but also didn't make it the whole focus of the book - which is saying a lot given some of the themes! A refreshingly honest look at mental health issues. All in all, I ATE THIS BOOK UP and I cannot wait to continue supporting this voice in the future.
verofleitassolich's review
4.0
It is too much to try to put it in a few words.
Accompanying Leo was a profound and far from easy experience, but it was worth it.
It is a direct reading, without unnecessary rambling, real and close to realities with which one can empathize despite its harshness.
You have to read to understand.
Accompanying Leo was a profound and far from easy experience, but it was worth it.
It is a direct reading, without unnecessary rambling, real and close to realities with which one can empathize despite its harshness.
You have to read to understand.
annas_sweets_and_stories's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
Alright, I've been procrastinating hard on writing my review for this one because I have such complicated feelings about it. This book follows Leo as he struggles to figure out his place in life when all of his friends have loads of money and are getting married or together and all of them seem to have their lives figured out while Leo drowns. Leo's husband broke up with him after he was diagnosed as bipolar and while he finally had answers for his depressive episodes and hypomania, he no longer had a relationship and is struggling hard.
When Leo's best friend Sara gets engaged and asks Leo to be best man, he takes a hard look at his finances and realizes he can't afford the same lifestyle as his friends. This leads to him making a lot of poor decisions and going down a rabbit hole of escorting through Grindr. Men pay him for sex and companionship as he spirals into hypomania.
As a whole I can appreciate this book and the mental health rep. I also loved that this book wasn't written in a way that portrays queerness as idealized and palatable to straight readers. Leo's escapades are messy and sometimes dangerous and realistically awkward and uncomfortable for him. They aren't romanticized and neither is his mental health.
Mild spoilers ahead:
Where I struggled the most with this book was how it was so clearly trying so hard to be inclusive, yet fell short many many times. Lets talk about the fatphobia first. There's multiple comments about body size that portray fat bodies as evil and negative, yet there's a scene where Leo is paid by a fat client, a morbidly obese client as stated in the book, and Leo makes a point of saying how he couldn't feel bad about his own body in the presence of such a huge man. ugh. it was rough. But then he goes on to have sex with the fat character and gets off so obviously it cant be fatphobic *insert eye roll*
Next lets chat about prostitution and sex work. Sex work is a valid form of employment and I was really put off by the intense shaming of sex workers that happens in this. Not only from Leo's friends once they find out he has been escorting and selling himself, but from Leo himself. It's constantly described as shameful and something to be hidden. While I understand this for Leo himself, since he didn't really want to do it and did it only for money, there were so many conversations about sex work in general that were negative and off putting.
Lastly, we've got to talk about how shitty Leo is to his friends and how his friends constantly and instantaneously forgive him. this just seems iffy and I can't actually imagine that it wouldn't take a little groveling to make up for his terrible behavior.
There's also the fact that everything just casually solves itself for Leo in the end. He is miraculously without any STIs after months of having unprotected sex. He somehow doesn't get fired or arrested for stealing a multi-thousand dollar suit and he's just all good at the end. He has one therapy appointment and I wouldn't loved to see more on page therapy and medication rep at the end.
Mental health is messy and unforgiving and can be dangerous and traumatic. To see everything wrapped up nicely in a bow was weird for me. I know that it wasn't that easy for Leo as it seemed, but the way this book ends is the issue, not necessarily the mental health rep itself.
Somehow, with all of my criticism, I would still recommend this book, because it does have redeeming qualities and I do appreciate the effort. As a whole, this book is messy but in a way that works. as long as you're aware of the CWs, I'd absolutely rec this one, especially for mental health rep.
rep: gay man.
Alright, I've been procrastinating hard on writing my review for this one because I have such complicated feelings about it. This book follows Leo as he struggles to figure out his place in life when all of his friends have loads of money and are getting married or together and all of them seem to have their lives figured out while Leo drowns. Leo's husband broke up with him after he was diagnosed as bipolar and while he finally had answers for his depressive episodes and hypomania, he no longer had a relationship and is struggling hard.
When Leo's best friend Sara gets engaged and asks Leo to be best man, he takes a hard look at his finances and realizes he can't afford the same lifestyle as his friends. This leads to him making a lot of poor decisions and going down a rabbit hole of escorting through Grindr. Men pay him for sex and companionship as he spirals into hypomania.
As a whole I can appreciate this book and the mental health rep. I also loved that this book wasn't written in a way that portrays queerness as idealized and palatable to straight readers. Leo's escapades are messy and sometimes dangerous and realistically awkward and uncomfortable for him. They aren't romanticized and neither is his mental health.
Mild spoilers ahead:
Where I struggled the most with this book was how it was so clearly trying so hard to be inclusive, yet fell short many many times. Lets talk about the fatphobia first. There's multiple comments about body size that portray fat bodies as evil and negative, yet there's a scene where Leo is paid by a fat client, a morbidly obese client as stated in the book, and Leo makes a point of saying how he couldn't feel bad about his own body in the presence of such a huge man. ugh. it was rough. But then he goes on to have sex with the fat character and gets off so obviously it cant be fatphobic *insert eye roll*
Next lets chat about prostitution and sex work. Sex work is a valid form of employment and I was really put off by the intense shaming of sex workers that happens in this. Not only from Leo's friends once they find out he has been escorting and selling himself, but from Leo himself. It's constantly described as shameful and something to be hidden. While I understand this for Leo himself, since he didn't really want to do it and did it only for money, there were so many conversations about sex work in general that were negative and off putting.
Lastly, we've got to talk about how shitty Leo is to his friends and how his friends constantly and instantaneously forgive him. this just seems iffy and I can't actually imagine that it wouldn't take a little groveling to make up for his terrible behavior.
There's also the fact that everything just casually solves itself for Leo in the end. He is miraculously without any STIs after months of having unprotected sex. He somehow doesn't get fired or arrested for stealing a multi-thousand dollar suit and he's just all good at the end. He has one therapy appointment and I wouldn't loved to see more on page therapy and medication rep at the end.
Mental health is messy and unforgiving and can be dangerous and traumatic. To see everything wrapped up nicely in a bow was weird for me. I know that it wasn't that easy for Leo as it seemed, but the way this book ends is the issue, not necessarily the mental health rep itself.
Somehow, with all of my criticism, I would still recommend this book, because it does have redeeming qualities and I do appreciate the effort. As a whole, this book is messy but in a way that works. as long as you're aware of the CWs, I'd absolutely rec this one, especially for mental health rep.
rep: gay man.
intonewrealms's review against another edition
4.0
Leo has lost his husband, his dog and the job he liked. Now he's realised he has bipolar depression, his husband has an even younger boyfriend, and this boyfriend is his best friend Sara's boss. When Sara gets engaged and announces a host of expensive activities, Leo decides he's had enough of being the friend who can't splash his money and have a bit of care-free fun, so he agrees to a Grindr request to provide his services for money. This quickly spirals into a full on part-time career when he realises how much demand there is, but he starts to lose himself and put himself and his relationships at risk.
I love that every chapter of this starts off with the amount of money Leo has left in his bank as it shows how hyper-aware he is of the situation without even looking at the account. I really liked the scenes where he was with his friends and the different dynamics between them. However the amount of time spent on all his sexual encounters was a bit excessive and although I understand that it was sinking us into them and showing us what they were doing to Leo, and the different attitudes of all the men, I feel the same effect could have been given by spending more time on Leo's internal thoughts or seeing him try to cope in his normal life more often.
I love that every chapter of this starts off with the amount of money Leo has left in his bank as it shows how hyper-aware he is of the situation without even looking at the account. I really liked the scenes where he was with his friends and the different dynamics between them. However the amount of time spent on all his sexual encounters was a bit excessive and although I understand that it was sinking us into them and showing us what they were doing to Leo, and the different attitudes of all the men, I feel the same effect could have been given by spending more time on Leo's internal thoughts or seeing him try to cope in his normal life more often.