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lgbtrepinbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Trigger Warnings: Poverty, alcohol, drugs, sex, orphan, death of a parent, cancer, addiction, violence, sex for money, cursing, therapy, mental health, cheating, STDs, jealousy, suicidal thoughts, depression, mania
Representation: Gay, Mental Health (Bipolar)
All of My Friends Are Rich is a contemporary adult fiction novel about Leo who finds himself in a life he cannot recognize after his divorce. He works at a job he hates, he’s struggling with his Bipolar, and quite literally is poor compared to his rich friends. When his best friend asks him to be her best friend, Leo has to figure out a way to make money fast. Will the lengths Leo goes to to make money ruin his life or help him succeed?
I can’t believe how much I loved this book! While I’m not a gay man in London, I felt Leo was so relatable and I loved reading about another 29 year old! I think this story was incredibly well written and contained a great depth of sarcasm and vulnerability. I loved the spotlight on mental health and how much it can affects one’s life. The author used a very endearing approach when writing Leo’s inner monologue and his morbid thoughts.
Overall, I felt the book was very real and so much more than I was expecting. Leo is real and fully developed and felt like a human that I could encounter. The side characters were also well developed and I loved journeying through Europe with them.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Representation: Gay, Mental Health (Bipolar)
All of My Friends Are Rich is a contemporary adult fiction novel about Leo who finds himself in a life he cannot recognize after his divorce. He works at a job he hates, he’s struggling with his Bipolar, and quite literally is poor compared to his rich friends. When his best friend asks him to be her best friend, Leo has to figure out a way to make money fast. Will the lengths Leo goes to to make money ruin his life or help him succeed?
I can’t believe how much I loved this book! While I’m not a gay man in London, I felt Leo was so relatable and I loved reading about another 29 year old! I think this story was incredibly well written and contained a great depth of sarcasm and vulnerability. I loved the spotlight on mental health and how much it can affects one’s life. The author used a very endearing approach when writing Leo’s inner monologue and his morbid thoughts.
Overall, I felt the book was very real and so much more than I was expecting. Leo is real and fully developed and felt like a human that I could encounter. The side characters were also well developed and I loved journeying through Europe with them.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
lgbtrepinbooks's review
5.0
Trigger Warnings: Poverty, alcohol, drugs, sex, orphan, death of a parent, cancer, addiction, violence, sex for money, cursing, therapy, mental health, cheating, STDs, jealousy, suicidal thoughts, depression, mania
Representation: Gay, Mental Health (Bipolar)
All of My Friends Are Rich is a contemporary adult fiction novel about Leo who finds himself in a life he cannot recognize after his divorce. He works at a job he hates, he’s struggling with his Bipolar, and quite literally is poor compared to his rich friends. When his best friend asks him to be her best friend, Leo has to figure out a way to make money fast. Will the lengths Leo goes to to make money ruin his life or help him succeed?
I can’t believe how much I loved this book! While I’m not a gay man in London, I felt Leo was so relatable and I loved reading about another 29 year old! I think this story was incredibly well written and contained a great depth of sarcasm and vulnerability. I loved the spotlight on mental health and how much it can affects one’s life. The author used a very endearing approach when writing Leo’s inner monologue and his morbid thoughts.
Overall, I felt the book was very real and so much more than I was expecting. Leo is real and fully developed and felt like a human that I could encounter. The side characters were also well developed and I loved journeying through Europe with them.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Representation: Gay, Mental Health (Bipolar)
All of My Friends Are Rich is a contemporary adult fiction novel about Leo who finds himself in a life he cannot recognize after his divorce. He works at a job he hates, he’s struggling with his Bipolar, and quite literally is poor compared to his rich friends. When his best friend asks him to be her best friend, Leo has to figure out a way to make money fast. Will the lengths Leo goes to to make money ruin his life or help him succeed?
I can’t believe how much I loved this book! While I’m not a gay man in London, I felt Leo was so relatable and I loved reading about another 29 year old! I think this story was incredibly well written and contained a great depth of sarcasm and vulnerability. I loved the spotlight on mental health and how much it can affects one’s life. The author used a very endearing approach when writing Leo’s inner monologue and his morbid thoughts.
Overall, I felt the book was very real and so much more than I was expecting. Leo is real and fully developed and felt like a human that I could encounter. The side characters were also well developed and I loved journeying through Europe with them.
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
jbowen0314's review
4.0
Saw this recommended with a bunch of other YA gay romance books, and this is most definitely NOT for teens and is most definitely Adult. It isn’t marketed as YA, but it came across my feeds as such.
That being said, it was well written but a bit emotionally taxing.
That being said, it was well written but a bit emotionally taxing.
natashas_notes's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mattysbooks's review
4.0
An honest, gritty, no holds barred story of mental illness and how it effects a person and all of their relationships. It isn’t afraid to tell things like they are.
marizey's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
brittlaux's review
5.0
I'm scandalized!!! My poor eyes!
In all actuality, this book was an incredibly witty (and even snarky) look at Leo's struggle with mental health. Written with no holds barred, there are some intense scenes (scandalized, I tell you!) but I feel like Sarais handled them with authenticity and truth. Life can be difficult, and we can't avoid the hard things. Those hard things (no pun intended) weren't there just for shock value, though - they were real and honest. I found the book poignant in its own way - gritty and blunt and it felt completely relatable.
I devoured this book in one sitting, and found myself laughing out loud, blushing, and even crying at the end.
Well done!!
In all actuality, this book was an incredibly witty (and even snarky) look at Leo's struggle with mental health. Written with no holds barred, there are some intense scenes (scandalized, I tell you!) but I feel like Sarais handled them with authenticity and truth. Life can be difficult, and we can't avoid the hard things. Those hard things (no pun intended) weren't there just for shock value, though - they were real and honest. I found the book poignant in its own way - gritty and blunt and it felt completely relatable.
I devoured this book in one sitting, and found myself laughing out loud, blushing, and even crying at the end.
Well done!!
cdneuhaus90's review
4.0
All my Friends are Rich is a debut novel by Michael Sarais that is wildly sexy, thought-provoking, and heartfelt. This book will give you the opportunity to escape and explore Europe (which I GREATLY miss!) and follow in Leo’s footsteps as a manages to find a way to live a healthier and more joyful life in the wake of a year of unexpected twists and turns.
Leo Cotton is a twenty-nine-year-old gay man trying to live out the lavish and luxurious London lifestyle that his friends so easily live. But Leo is not in a good place. His marriage has ended, he is in a job that he absolutely hates, and all he wants to do is write but never feels confident in himself as a writer. Leo has bipolar disorder and struggles to take his medication consistently which can lead him to be involved in very questionable experiences.
Leo’s long-time friend Sara is getting married and asks Leo if he would be her best man. While Leo is excited for Sara and will of course be her best man, he can’t help but also feel depressed and resentful knowing that his best friend is moving on in life. As she talks about her engagement party in Ibiza and wedding in Santorini, Leo constantly worries that the expenses to participate in these trips will bankrupt him. He knows that solely relying on his earnings in his retail work will not provide enough funding for him to participate in the bachelorette party and wedding. Leo constantly wishes he could be like his friends and not have to worry about money on a daily basis.
When Leo finds that a chance encounter on Grindr may provide him with a little extra cash in his pocket, his world spirals into meetings with various men that leave Leo unfulfilled and feeling as if he is quickly losing control. Leo must grapple with sacrificing his emotional and psychological well-being to please others no matter what it costs him.
This book has a little bit of everything. This novel is quite sexy and steamy, speaks to the importance of friendship, tells the story of a man trying to make sense of being bipolar, and champions the importance of self-preservation. Thank you @moby.fict and @ddrosche for this fabulous recommendation!
Leo Cotton is a twenty-nine-year-old gay man trying to live out the lavish and luxurious London lifestyle that his friends so easily live. But Leo is not in a good place. His marriage has ended, he is in a job that he absolutely hates, and all he wants to do is write but never feels confident in himself as a writer. Leo has bipolar disorder and struggles to take his medication consistently which can lead him to be involved in very questionable experiences.
Leo’s long-time friend Sara is getting married and asks Leo if he would be her best man. While Leo is excited for Sara and will of course be her best man, he can’t help but also feel depressed and resentful knowing that his best friend is moving on in life. As she talks about her engagement party in Ibiza and wedding in Santorini, Leo constantly worries that the expenses to participate in these trips will bankrupt him. He knows that solely relying on his earnings in his retail work will not provide enough funding for him to participate in the bachelorette party and wedding. Leo constantly wishes he could be like his friends and not have to worry about money on a daily basis.
When Leo finds that a chance encounter on Grindr may provide him with a little extra cash in his pocket, his world spirals into meetings with various men that leave Leo unfulfilled and feeling as if he is quickly losing control. Leo must grapple with sacrificing his emotional and psychological well-being to please others no matter what it costs him.
This book has a little bit of everything. This novel is quite sexy and steamy, speaks to the importance of friendship, tells the story of a man trying to make sense of being bipolar, and champions the importance of self-preservation. Thank you @moby.fict and @ddrosche for this fabulous recommendation!
myrialovesbooks's review
4.0
*ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review*
CW: mental health issues/discussions, drug & alcohol use/abuse, suicidal ideations
I struggled to even like Leo when the story began because his character was just so apathetic about his life, his job, and who he slept with. But pieces started falling into place along the way to paint the picture as to why Leo was the way he was. At first it read more like diary entries that peeked into his daily life and then as Leo’s character begins to grow and change, so does the author’s writing style. I was impressed by where the author started the story and where it ended up. There were some very hard-hitting issues within the story that were handled beautifully.
3.5/5 stars
CW: mental health issues/discussions, drug & alcohol use/abuse, suicidal ideations
I struggled to even like Leo when the story began because his character was just so apathetic about his life, his job, and who he slept with. But pieces started falling into place along the way to paint the picture as to why Leo was the way he was. At first it read more like diary entries that peeked into his daily life and then as Leo’s character begins to grow and change, so does the author’s writing style. I was impressed by where the author started the story and where it ended up. There were some very hard-hitting issues within the story that were handled beautifully.
3.5/5 stars
anniekslibrary's review
3.0
This book is very much out of my comfort zone, but I did think it was a good read. It reminds me a little of Boyfriend Material, the currently popular m/m romance, but messier and more focused on sex instead of romance.
This could have been a very heavy read with the existing themes, and while it did have some emotional punches, it was also a pretty funny read at times, and it ended up being more of a feelgood read than I was expecting.
What I appreciated most about it is how this book was not toned down to be palatable for a broader audience. The gay rep is not made palatable for a cishet audience. The mental illness rep is not made palatable for a neurotypical audience. That's something we don't see quite often enough and I loved that this book was clearly not written for those audiences.
While I did appreciate the book overall, I sometimes found the wording of things to be problematic, and that took me out of the story a little.
CWs: mental illness, (unprotected) sex/sex work, possibility of HIV, past death of parents, alcohol, drugs
This could have been a very heavy read with the existing themes, and while it did have some emotional punches, it was also a pretty funny read at times, and it ended up being more of a feelgood read than I was expecting.
What I appreciated most about it is how this book was not toned down to be palatable for a broader audience. The gay rep is not made palatable for a cishet audience. The mental illness rep is not made palatable for a neurotypical audience. That's something we don't see quite often enough and I loved that this book was clearly not written for those audiences.
While I did appreciate the book overall, I sometimes found the wording of things to be problematic, and that took me out of the story a little.
CWs: mental illness, (unprotected) sex/sex work, possibility of HIV, past death of parents, alcohol, drugs