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A review by leahlovesloslibros
Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Jonathan Van Ness - commonly referred to as JVN - is the grooming expert on Netflix's reboot of Queer Eye. This memoir details his upbringing, including many traumatic experiences he has endured, some of which include: sexual abuse, eating disorders, bullying, and addiction. **See below for further TW/CW. This is a heavy book, as noted by many reviewers [myself included] and the author himself.**
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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, prostitution