“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything” – Plato
Happy Thursday lovely friends!
I know, I know, it’s been a minute since I’ve posted one of these book reviews. For some reason, I have just not been reading! This book came into my life at the beginning of September when I was going through a bit of a hard time. I figured that if anyone was going to be able to take my mind off of my problems, it was going to be “Queer Eyes”Jonathan Van Ness. As I mentioned in my October Favourites post, the popular Netflix show has to be one of my all time favourite shows. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and it will totally brighten even the toughest of days (even by just a teeny tiny bit).
So enough with the small talk + lets just jump straight into book review numero 5!
Title: “Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love”
Author: Jonathan Van Ness
Price: $26.24 CAD (from Indigo)
Genre: Self help/Psychology Humor/Memoirs
Number of pages: 263
Started Reading: September 24th
Finished Reading: November 29th
Goodreads score: 4.33/5
ABOUT
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
INDIE BESTSELLER
A laugh-and-cry-out-loud memoir from the beloved star of Netflix’s Queer Eye, Jonathan Van Ness
Who gave Jonathan Van Ness permission to be the radiant human he is today? No one, honey.
The truth is, it hasn’t always been gorgeous for this beacon of positivity and joy.
Before he stole our hearts as the grooming and self-care expert on Netflix’s hit show Queer Eye, Jonathan was growing up in a small Midwestern town that didn’t understand why he was so…over the top. From choreographed carpet figure skating routines to the unavoidable fact that he was Just. So. Gay., Jonathan was an easy target and endured years of judgement, ridicule and trauma—yet none of it crushed his uniquely effervescent spirit.
Over the Top uncovers the pain and passion it took to end up becoming the model of self-love and acceptance that Jonathan is today. In this revelatory, raw, and rambunctious memoir, Jonathan shares never-before-told secrets and reveals sides of himself that the public has never seen. JVN fans may think they know the man behind the stiletto heels, the crop tops, and the iconic sayings, but there’s much more to him than meets the Queer Eye.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll come away knowing that no matter how broken or lost you may be, you’re a Kelly Clarkson song, you’re strong, and you’ve got this.
……………
I know what you’re thinking. How the heck did it take you 2 months to get through 263 pages?! While I’d been struggling to sit down + focus my attention on reading, I did save this book for times that I needed a little bit more JVN in my life.
This book is one of the most real + raw ones I’ve ever read and has definitely helped to remind me that my struggles are only temporary. Jonathan has overcome so much in this 32 years of life, but has come out a better person because of it. One common theme that he discusses in great detail in his book is that we can truly be whoever or whatever we want to be. Yes, this may sound like a super basic concept that at 31, I should already know by now. I think there’s a HUGE difference between knowing that and truly believing it. It’s only been in the last few years that I’ve come to understand that the only person stopping you from achieving your dreams, is actually yourself. I’ve spoken to so many people who say they wish they could be a … or in a perfect world they would be …
After reading this book, I’ve been left wondering why people feel like they can’t accomplish their goals or live the lives that they’ve always dreamed of. Starting a blog had been a goal of mine for maaaany years. When I would voice that dream to people in my life, many of them dismissed the idea because it seemed too “out there”. What’s even worse, some people were embarrassed by the idea, thinking that if I were to create a blog, it would somehow bring them shame or they’d be embarrassed to associate with me. At that time in my life, I believed their silliness and brushed my dreams under the rug…until I really truly couldn’t anymore. I realized that if I had continued to ignore the desire that I had, one day I would totally kicked myself for not trying it. Is this blog ever going to be world renowned? Quite possibly no. But am I content with the handful of followers that I have and with the connections that I’ve made by writing these posts? 100%! This little blog serves as my own creative outlet, to talk about the things that truly bring me happiness, be it books or makeup.
“Over the Top” clearly just doesn’t tell a story. It’s a thought provoking memoir that makes us question our own journey + helps us to realize that we aren’t living our lives to the fullest extent that we could! Do yourself a favour and read this book, I promise you won’t regret it.
Do you have dreams or goals that you’re holding yourself back from?
Thanks SO much for stopping by and until next time,
XO