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Wow, Over the Top was so much more intense than I was expecting! Jonathan Van Ness (from Netflix’s uber-popular show, Queer Eye) is, of course, his usual lovable self, but holy smokes she’s been through some things, honey! I swear, every 50 pages I’d be like, oh so this is where it gets bad. And then it would get worse, and I’d think, well now THIS is probably the absolute worst of it. But then there would be even more drugs and more sex. At some point I just stopped trying to anticipate and control, and I just had to run with it.

In other words, this book is a roller coaster, so prepare yourself. He talks about things that I hadn’t even really considered as possible experiences for most middle-class American teenagers. And when I finished the book, all I could think of was my own kids and this whole next level of pain that it had never occurred to me my children could experience. I mean, how would I feel if I found out my son had been prostituting himself for cash? Oh dear lord, I can’t even. It’s heartbreaking.

I will say that, thankfully, the book ends on a positive note, which I appreciate. And I truly love Jonathan Van Ness—his voice, his bravery, his willingness to talk about ALL THE THINGS. I don’t know that many people could let it all out like he does, but I can’t help but wonder how many lives he has positively impacted because of it. Much respect, queen. 

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