A review by allisonwonderlandreads
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.0

JVN explained that one of his reasons for writing this book was to show more sides of himself to the world than we see on Queer Eye. I think he definitely met his goal. The stories he shares aren't the peppy go-getter side of himself we are most familiar with (although that still shines through in his sense of humor and enthusiasm about gymnastics and figure skating). He tells of his struggles growing up gay in the Midwest, dealing with childhood trauma, drug use, other self-destructive behaviors, and testing positive for HIV. He also recounts his professional triumphs, talks about the relationships that mean the most to him, and offers random but enthusiastic commentary on a variety of topics. Through it all, he preaches self-love and looking for people and situations that lift you up the way you deserve.
 
I listened to this book as an audiobook, which I highly recommend. Hearing his story in his actual voice made everything feel more personal and vivacious. You can look forward to his Moira Rose impersonation towards the end. What I most appreciated about this book was the way JVN spoke about how he wanted his experiences to make others feel seen, to show people there is hope for their dreams, and to correct harmful misinformation, particularly on the topic of HIV. You could hear his passion for every topic he covered and every loved one in his life. It was a joy to get to know him better even when certain parts of his story were anything but joyful.
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