I have been putting off reading this book for longer than I had originally intended. Because deep down I knew it would break my heart and make me a weepy mess. Brianna’s writing is not secretive or full of gray areas. I can see why some folks have trouble with some of her stories on social status, etc. We make mistakes. We are, by nature, flawed beings. Brianna encapsulates that human-ness we all share and brings it to life in her writing. A lot of other readers mention this book feeling more like a series of essays. At times I felt that way too, but to me it made her storytelling more authentic. True to her and I think true to how many of us narrate our own lives.

I’ve followed Brianna for so long. I’ve adored watching her adventures. As many of her other long time (and new) followers know, Brianna has been subject to vicious - I mean disgustingly vicious - online bullying and harassment. Brianna has no fear in just being open and honest - and has been doing so for some time online. Except, I’ve noticed is that everyone is so fucking mad about it. They hate that she shares the good, bad, and ugly. But truthfully, isn’t that why people follow influencers? We want to hear the thoughts rumbling around in their minds, their secrets, their successes and failures. Except, when they do so, some feel entitled to those thoughts and words. As if their opinion on what someone has shared online to a large platform is inherently “theirs.” Even if I had never followed her online, this book made me feel like Brianna was a friend I had known for many years.

I loved this book and look forward to reading much more of Madia’s work in the future.