A review by honeycoffeereads
Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope by Karamo Brown

3.0

As Queer Eye's culture expert, Karamo has a unique ability to connect with the show's guests - all of the external changes that the other fabulous four implement won't matter if there's not an internal change too. To help them face their fears and embrace themselves, one would have to have experienced a deep range of trials and successes. Similar to Jonathan's book (as its the only one I've read so far), Karamo helps us understand the challenges he's overcome by opening up about his past of drug addiction and abuse as well as becoming a father and celebrating his sexuality. Even though I truly admire Karamo's honesty while telling his story, the overall focus of the memoir is more or less a chronological inventory of experiences he's faced. The writing is simple enough to breeze through, but it's also too similar to other lifestyle memoirs that offer various vulnerable details but also skims the surface. The style isn't exactly distinct or engrossing. Since Karamo is a licensed social worker and psychotherapist, I'm surprised that the book didn't add little sections of empowering guidance for readers to make changes in their own life - every chapter could've offered unique advice for addicts, abuse survivors, LGBTQ+ community, etc. and would've elevated the book a little more. Sometimes hear someone's story is enough to help people through their own struggles, so I commend Karamo's ability to use his experiences to bond with people on the show - I just wish that the book didn't feel so one-sided.