Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love

I preordered this book and received it this afternoon. After I put my babies to bed I sat down and read this in one shot. Yes, it’s that interesting. Let me start by saying when I first started watching Queer Eye I did not like Jonathan. He was just too much. He was loud, bold, and invaded personal space. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. The more I watched and learned from each episode the more I realized I wasn’t being my authentic self. I became a shell of who I once was. A loud, bold, invading people’s person space, fierce woman. I couldn’t watch JVN because he was who I wanted to be, yet didn’t realize. When this self awareness clicked I became a huge fan and supporter. I knew I had to buy his book. I had a misconception that this was going to be a fun, light, happy for lucky book as JVN is often presented as. My sister informed me that there was some thick subjects in it. I tend not to read things that could trigger me. I was tempted to not read this book, but when I read the sensitivity warning I was so thankful! I wanted to include a photo of the warning so if you too are worried about this you can see what it says. Any sensitive matter was gracefully and tactfully done. I’m really appreciative that JVN took this approach and was aware that his book could harm others if it wasn’t handled properly. How JVN approached every. Single. Topic. Was so well done and empathic to his readers. This book isn’t just for one “type” of person it’s really a relatable book for everyone. It’s a book that celebrates who you are and also teaches you to forgive yourself. If you’re like me and thought that book was going to be light, fluffy, and funny, then you’ll be in for a surprise. Yet, it’s a great surprise. JVN peels himself back layer by layer in each chapter until he gets to the core. As he put it in the book, “a perfectly imperfect mess”. So perfect that it made me love him more. Yes JVN, I love you even though you've shown the other sides to yourself. I love the cover of the book and the script is nice and large. The one thing that would really have put this book “over the top” would be personal photos. The Bill Clinton report was sweet, but I would’ve loved to see some family photos. Maybe next time? Overall, this book was great! I can’t remember the last time I sat and read a book all the way through in one go. This book leaves you wanting more and I look forward to reading about the next chapterS of JVNs life in the future. I highly recommend this book!

You cannot go through this book without listening to JVN reading it through the Audible version. After I found out that he was the narrator, I just had to buy it in that format. JVN reading his life story with all his quirks and emphasis, his pizzazz and snaps makes this story, HIS story so much more meaningful. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll see yourself in his words, his life experiences, his choices, his mistakes. At the end, you’ll love him even more and will learn to love yourself once and for all. So what are you waiting for hunty, get it Natalia!

I read this book in one sitting. Insightful, humorous, witty, shocking and poignant. I love Jonathan Van Ness more now than I did yesterday, and that's saying something because I really freaking loved him yesterday. This book is surprisingly relatable and just seriously good. Read it.

I could not put this book down amidst a grueling grad school schedule working on my doctorate. It is so honest, raw, and brave. JVN has been through it... my gosh. Working in the medical field I think this book sheds incredible light on the stigma surrounding HIV, change comes from knowledge, girl say it "LOUDER" for those in the back! I am not fan of autobiographies but JVN is so lovable that I pre-ordered his book to give my brain a break. So glad I did, a fantastic read. Congratulations JVN this book is something to be very proud of, thank you for sharing.

So far I have read 66 pages with great difficulty and skipped through many boring long winded sentences, of which there are too many. Will I finish it? Maybe I will finish it and skim through it on my next long flight. I really do not recommend this book and please don’t waste your money on a very poorly written book. *****A couple of days later and after reading some more pages I have decided I cannot either waste my time nor my brain on a book that was hastily written by a celebrity in order to make both the publisher and writer richer. This is the work of a middle school student and not a fully grown man.

As per usual, JVN is a gorgeous breath of fresh air: a genuinely good person who shares his highs and his lows to bring us closer together. He was already an icon and an inspiration on Queer Eye, and now he has taken that miles further by inviting us into a very human story as well as raising awareness that you can live a healthy, happy, full life with HIV! I received it the day it was released, couldn't put it down, and finished it within 24 hours!

It’s a lifelong process for most people to be honest with themselves about who they are and be appreciative of all that entails. So the courage it takes to open yourself up to the entire world about that journey and expose your truest self is immeasurable. It takes a very brave and strong individual. Especially when that person has already had the opportunity to share a version of themselves with the world and it’s an image that’s almost untouchable in its perfection. Courage is Jonathan Van Ness’s specialty. It would have been extremely easy for Van Ness to write a very different memoir. He could have focused on his highest points and skipped the lowest entirely. His own personality and determination has created a lot of happiness and success and this book could have gone into detail on that and nobody would have complained or batted an eye. Van Ness opens up about his childhood abuse by another boy; his close relationship with his mother; experiencing grief and loss of beloved family members; his struggle with addiction; his mistreatment of himself and others; and his failures. He uses his own trials and tribulations to help others be ok with themselves and kind with themselves. A person is beautiful because of their entire package. Knowing Van Ness’ whole story makes him shine all the brighter. He also tells us about his vivid imagination and creative propensity. He tells stories that demonstrate his resilience and perseverance. He sets his mind to things that nobody gave him permission to set his mind to and he achieves them. Time and time again. Yes, it can be hard along the way, but he doesn’t give up. He becomes a star year-round cheerleader at his school, and he rides that into graduating early and getting accepted to a college cheer program. He pivots again and goes back to an early childhood dream of being a hair stylist, which he is stunning at. While he has a more natural talent for color, he puts in the work and training and observation to become equally as good at cut and across all hair textures. He moves back and forth across the country as many times as he needs to. He makes it in LA and NYC and eventually he finds his way into show business and Queer Eye. He becomes an adult and advocates for himself and others and wills his dreams into existence. I would recommend anyone pick up this book, even if they are not already familiar with Jonathan Van Ness and his body of work. It is a class in empathy and understanding and a road map to self-love and self-soothing that it’s a relief to see especially in the age of Instagram where we mostly see one side of a person and not their dynamic form. FIND MORE OF MY REVIEWS AT: lettersabound.com THANK YOU!

Would never give less than 5 stars to JVN for any reason but this book arrived with a torn dust jacket. Disappointed the cover is not as perfect as JVN.

JVN tells his story in a rambling, sometimes slightly uneven way, but I not only really enjoyed this, I got a lot out of it on a personal level, in a serious kind of way. He is, of course, OTT AF in all the ways, what else? And irrepressibly loquacious, endearingly goofy, often hilarious, gloriously queer & nonbinary, and just, in every other way, unapologetically his own beautiful self. And I appreciate the way he doesn't present a curated version of himself here, "the sweetheart of Queereye", but reveals himself very much "warts and all", i.e., as a human being with weaknesses & flaws, who has had dark times, who lives with the effects of trauma and a chronic physical condition, who has made mistakes; as someone who has been and will continue to be a mess at times - as will we all. And that's not only brave. It makes it all the more powerful, his message of self-acceptance as embodied by this book. He really, *really* gets it about that. Lots of his story resonated, though my life on the face of it has been nothing like his. But that's kinda the thing with resonance, it's not the specific details that matter. I think this is my favorite quote: "I found a lot of my healing when I realized my suffering didn't undo my joy." That is, wow, yeah, *such* an important truth and one not easily arrived at. You can read or think and even believe words like that, and still not really get it. Until you do. And then it's life changing. The dedication of this book makes a perfect recc: "Imperfection is beautiful. To anyone who has ever felt broken beyond repair, this is for you. If you've ever been excluded or told you were not enough, know that you are enough, and beautifully complete."

Two things to know to understand why I read this book: first, my wife and I were big fans of the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Though I’m not as big a fan of this new version, I was interested in it. Second, I was born and raised in Quincy, Illinois. Because of that, I have always supported hometown people when I can. The writer James B. Stewart and the actors Mary Astor, John Anderson, and Roy Brocksmith all have Quincy roots, for example, as does Jonathan van Ness. I wanted to be a supporter of van Ness’ book much as I am of Stewart’s. Unfortunately, having read it, I found I couldn’t be. Given the way he talks down Quincy, it would have been difficult for me to give this book highest marks. I lived there during the same period he did—I would’ve been a teacher at the Catholic high school while he was at the public one—but our views of a place admittedly provincial and conservative are widely different. I, too, longed to live somewhere else and moved away. On the other hand, I love the place and am grateful for the ideals instilled in me while I lived there, as much as I may reject some of them now. Still, I could have overlooked this if the book would simply be a better one. I find his passive-aggressiveness and constant change in tone to be tiresome. I find the profanity and “hey, girl” prose to be over-the-top (which I suppose I should have expected from the title). Worst of all, however, I find it very difficult to generate any real sympathy for him. I understand that suffering sexual abuse as a child traumatized him and that he never felt accepted at home but as far as I’m concerned, his descent into drugs and sexual promiscuity lies at his own door. Despite brief lip service, he seems blissfully unaware that it is only his family’s wealth and acceptance that kept him alive long enough to be granted a second (third? fourth?) act. In the end, I found the Jonathan van Ness of this book to be a charmless brat as opposed to the vibrant character he is on TV. From what I’ve learned of him in this book, I worry that when this brief moment of fame passes it will be difficult for him to remain on an even keel. As much as I wish him success, I have concerns that he will descend once again into poor decisions once the spotlight has faded. That said, I can’t shake my natural support of a fellow Quincian. If he manages to write another book, I’ll probably read it, though I’m hoping it will be much better written than this.

I preordered this book and received it this afternoon. After I put my babies to bed I sat down and read this in one shot. Yes, it’s that interesting. Let me start by saying when I first started watching Queer Eye I did not like Jonathan. He was just too much. He was loud, bold, and invaded personal space. I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. The more I watched and learned from each episode the more I realized I wasn’t being my authentic self. I became a shell of who I once was. A loud, bold, invading people’s person space, fierce woman. I couldn’t watch JVN because he was who I wanted to be, yet didn’t realize. When this self awareness clicked I became a huge fan and supporter. I knew I had to buy his book. I had a misconception that this was going to be a fun, light, happy for lucky book as JVN is often presented as. My sister informed me that there was some thick subjects in it. I tend not to read things that could trigger me. I was tempted to not read this book, but when I read the sensitivity warning I was so thankful! I wanted to include a photo of the warning so if you too are worried about this you can see what it says. Any sensitive matter was gracefully and tactfully done. I’m really appreciative that JVN took this approach and was aware that his book could harm others if it wasn’t handled properly. How JVN approached every. Single. Topic. Was so well done and empathic to his readers. This book isn’t just for one “type” of person it’s really a relatable book for everyone. It’s a book that celebrates who you are and also teaches you to forgive yourself. If you’re like me and thought that book was going to be light, fluffy, and funny, then you’ll be in for a surprise. Yet, it’s a great surprise. JVN peels himself back layer by layer in each chapter until he gets to the core. As he put it in the book, “a perfectly imperfect mess”. So perfect that it made me love him more. Yes JVN, I love you even though you've shown the other sides to yourself. I love the cover of the book and the script is nice and large. The one thing that would really have put this book “over the top” would be personal photos. The Bill Clinton report was sweet, but I would’ve loved to see some family photos. Maybe next time? Overall, this book was great! I can’t remember the last time I sat and read a book all the way through in one go. This book leaves you wanting more and I look forward to reading about the next chapterS of JVNs life in the future. I highly recommend this book!

You cannot go through this book without listening to JVN reading it through the Audible version. After I found out that he was the narrator, I just had to buy it in that format. JVN reading his life story with all his quirks and emphasis, his pizzazz and snaps makes this story, HIS story so much more meaningful. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll see yourself in his words, his life experiences, his choices, his mistakes. At the end, you’ll love him even more and will learn to love yourself once and for all. So what are you waiting for hunty, get it Natalia!

I read this book in one sitting. Insightful, humorous, witty, shocking and poignant. I love Jonathan Van Ness more now than I did yesterday, and that's saying something because I really freaking loved him yesterday. This book is surprisingly relatable and just seriously good. Read it.

I could not put this book down amidst a grueling grad school schedule working on my doctorate. It is so honest, raw, and brave. JVN has been through it... my gosh. Working in the medical field I think this book sheds incredible light on the stigma surrounding HIV, change comes from knowledge, girl say it "LOUDER" for those in the back! I am not fan of autobiographies but JVN is so lovable that I pre-ordered his book to give my brain a break. So glad I did, a fantastic read. Congratulations JVN this book is something to be very proud of, thank you for sharing.

So far I have read 66 pages with great difficulty and skipped through many boring long winded sentences, of which there are too many. Will I finish it? Maybe I will finish it and skim through it on my next long flight. I really do not recommend this book and please don’t waste your money on a very poorly written book. *****A couple of days later and after reading some more pages I have decided I cannot either waste my time nor my brain on a book that was hastily written by a celebrity in order to make both the publisher and writer richer. This is the work of a middle school student and not a fully grown man.

As per usual, JVN is a gorgeous breath of fresh air: a genuinely good person who shares his highs and his lows to bring us closer together. He was already an icon and an inspiration on Queer Eye, and now he has taken that miles further by inviting us into a very human story as well as raising awareness that you can live a healthy, happy, full life with HIV! I received it the day it was released, couldn't put it down, and finished it within 24 hours!

It’s a lifelong process for most people to be honest with themselves about who they are and be appreciative of all that entails. So the courage it takes to open yourself up to the entire world about that journey and expose your truest self is immeasurable. It takes a very brave and strong individual. Especially when that person has already had the opportunity to share a version of themselves with the world and it’s an image that’s almost untouchable in its perfection. Courage is Jonathan Van Ness’s specialty. It would have been extremely easy for Van Ness to write a very different memoir. He could have focused on his highest points and skipped the lowest entirely. His own personality and determination has created a lot of happiness and success and this book could have gone into detail on that and nobody would have complained or batted an eye. Van Ness opens up about his childhood abuse by another boy; his close relationship with his mother; experiencing grief and loss of beloved family members; his struggle with addiction; his mistreatment of himself and others; and his failures. He uses his own trials and tribulations to help others be ok with themselves and kind with themselves. A person is beautiful because of their entire package. Knowing Van Ness’ whole story makes him shine all the brighter. He also tells us about his vivid imagination and creative propensity. He tells stories that demonstrate his resilience and perseverance. He sets his mind to things that nobody gave him permission to set his mind to and he achieves them. Time and time again. Yes, it can be hard along the way, but he doesn’t give up. He becomes a star year-round cheerleader at his school, and he rides that into graduating early and getting accepted to a college cheer program. He pivots again and goes back to an early childhood dream of being a hair stylist, which he is stunning at. While he has a more natural talent for color, he puts in the work and training and observation to become equally as good at cut and across all hair textures. He moves back and forth across the country as many times as he needs to. He makes it in LA and NYC and eventually he finds his way into show business and Queer Eye. He becomes an adult and advocates for himself and others and wills his dreams into existence. I would recommend anyone pick up this book, even if they are not already familiar with Jonathan Van Ness and his body of work. It is a class in empathy and understanding and a road map to self-love and self-soothing that it’s a relief to see especially in the age of Instagram where we mostly see one side of a person and not their dynamic form. FIND MORE OF MY REVIEWS AT: lettersabound.com THANK YOU!

Would never give less than 5 stars to JVN for any reason but this book arrived with a torn dust jacket. Disappointed the cover is not as perfect as JVN.

JVN tells his story in a rambling, sometimes slightly uneven way, but I not only really enjoyed this, I got a lot out of it on a personal level, in a serious kind of way. He is, of course, OTT AF in all the ways, what else? And irrepressibly loquacious, endearingly goofy, often hilarious, gloriously queer & nonbinary, and just, in every other way, unapologetically his own beautiful self. And I appreciate the way he doesn't present a curated version of himself here, "the sweetheart of Queereye", but reveals himself very much "warts and all", i.e., as a human being with weaknesses & flaws, who has had dark times, who lives with the effects of trauma and a chronic physical condition, who has made mistakes; as someone who has been and will continue to be a mess at times - as will we all. And that's not only brave. It makes it all the more powerful, his message of self-acceptance as embodied by this book. He really, *really* gets it about that. Lots of his story resonated, though my life on the face of it has been nothing like his. But that's kinda the thing with resonance, it's not the specific details that matter. I think this is my favorite quote: "I found a lot of my healing when I realized my suffering didn't undo my joy." That is, wow, yeah, *such* an important truth and one not easily arrived at. You can read or think and even believe words like that, and still not really get it. Until you do. And then it's life changing. The dedication of this book makes a perfect recc: "Imperfection is beautiful. To anyone who has ever felt broken beyond repair, this is for you. If you've ever been excluded or told you were not enough, know that you are enough, and beautifully complete."

Two things to know to understand why I read this book: first, my wife and I were big fans of the original Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Though I’m not as big a fan of this new version, I was interested in it. Second, I was born and raised in Quincy, Illinois. Because of that, I have always supported hometown people when I can. The writer James B. Stewart and the actors Mary Astor, John Anderson, and Roy Brocksmith all have Quincy roots, for example, as does Jonathan van Ness. I wanted to be a supporter of van Ness’ book much as I am of Stewart’s. Unfortunately, having read it, I found I couldn’t be. Given the way he talks down Quincy, it would have been difficult for me to give this book highest marks. I lived there during the same period he did—I would’ve been a teacher at the Catholic high school while he was at the public one—but our views of a place admittedly provincial and conservative are widely different. I, too, longed to live somewhere else and moved away. On the other hand, I love the place and am grateful for the ideals instilled in me while I lived there, as much as I may reject some of them now. Still, I could have overlooked this if the book would simply be a better one. I find his passive-aggressiveness and constant change in tone to be tiresome. I find the profanity and “hey, girl” prose to be over-the-top (which I suppose I should have expected from the title). Worst of all, however, I find it very difficult to generate any real sympathy for him. I understand that suffering sexual abuse as a child traumatized him and that he never felt accepted at home but as far as I’m concerned, his descent into drugs and sexual promiscuity lies at his own door. Despite brief lip service, he seems blissfully unaware that it is only his family’s wealth and acceptance that kept him alive long enough to be granted a second (third? fourth?) act. In the end, I found the Jonathan van Ness of this book to be a charmless brat as opposed to the vibrant character he is on TV. From what I’ve learned of him in this book, I worry that when this brief moment of fame passes it will be difficult for him to remain on an even keel. As much as I wish him success, I have concerns that he will descend once again into poor decisions once the spotlight has faded. That said, I can’t shake my natural support of a fellow Quincian. If he manages to write another book, I’ll probably read it, though I’m hoping it will be much better written than this.

Goodness I wish I could give more stars honey! I freaking loved this book so much, it was so relatable and hit close to home in several parts. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book so fast as I did this one. I just could not put it down, I keep reading beginning to end in his voice. I have always been a fan girl of his since day one of Queer Eye and after this book I am even more of a fan. After seeing what all he has been though, fighting through to make it where he is, and he still came out a fabulous queen! I preordered this book as soon as it came out and I am so glad I did and it sure did not disappoint. It’s a MUST read HANDS DOWN! Everyone can benefit from something in here and should pick it up! It will have you laughing, crying and cheering sometimes all at once.

JVN is a total badass. This book made me cry and laugh my butt off multiple times. If you have friends who are into Queer Eye but have no clue what emotional intelligence or making better choices for their life really means, have them read this book. It is a game changer. (Also I feel like so many people just assume that JVN is a happy-go-lucky little white queer boy, but holy crap is that NOT true!) This is a great example of how everyone struggles, and that you can’t assume from a person’s exterior behavior whether or not they have a difficult life. Some of the happiest people I know struggle with depression, PTSD, and suicide. So 1) check in on your happy friends just as much as your sad ones, and 2) get to know people before making a quick judgment about who they are, and be patient with yourself while you create the beautiful life you want!

Really disappointed with the political injections. Wish celebrities would quit thinking we care about their political OPINIONS. If i wanted a political read i would have chosen a political author.

Like many other reviewers, when I first encountered JVN on QE, I thought he might not be authentic. But honey, he really is. He is beautiful and funny and hyper and surprising and flawed and a very good storyteller. I had no idea his life story was so rocky and yet this book made me snort so loud I scared my cat. Other reviewers say this is not well written or JVN is not a writer. Well no ish. I’m sorry his biography didn’t fit into your favorite genre. I felt like he was right in the room with me, and I loved the ADHD style. He also inspired me to take care of my own self because no one else will. K bye.

Highly recommend! I couldn't put it down and finished it in one day!

In the past when I have read books written by celebrities I have found them to be a bit contrived and even badly written. They try too hard, ya know? But I had an inkling that this book would be something special, and it WAS. This is the fastest I have finished a book this whole year. Not only is JVN's writing so accessibly real and relatable but his cerebral chops really shine through. She is SMART honey! I breezed through tale after tale of some really hard moments that were laid to paper in just some really beautiful ways honestly. The transparency, unabashed IDGAFery and raw, intelligent humor will have me battling whether to lend this out to person after person or to save it all for myself! If you want to feel like JVN himself is reading you a story every night, then don't you dare put this in your "save for later" pile girl. PERIODT.

How can you not love something written by JVN? His personality is infectious and his like ability factor is off the charts! A really poignant, funny and definitely heartbreaking at times book, you will come away from this experience better for having known. He really helps you know that it’s not only ok, but it’s imperative to live your whole self, all the parts good and bad. He says in the beginning that he hopes the reader will still love him at the end of this book and I can say 100% unequivocally YES! I love him even more for having gotten to know all of his parts. He writes with wit and candor, letting the reader in on his incredible journey to fame, self discovery and love for himself......

This book was absolutely amazing! First technically it was written beautifully. Fast paced and entertaining. It was so surprising how well he balanced the darkness of some of his experiences with the light exuberance of his natural personality that we’ve we’ve all watched on Netflix. It is so harrowing and brave and honest. He asks at the beginning “if you knew all my parts would you still love me?” The answer by the end is a resounding YES. Even more. Buy it. Read it. Then buy it for your friends. ❤️

It took me over a month to read this book.. (because I got busy with life), but I'm so glad I actually finished! Jonathan is such an inspiration ! I heard his voice in my head while reading. I felt his soul as he divulged vulnerable details of his childhood. I felt empowered to love myself and not allow the world to exclude me. There are many beautiful and strong queer people like me. We are bold, confident, unapologetic and here to stay, honey! Luvz&Hugz

One of the most self-reflective and owning books I have read. This book speaks to me in that JVN and I have so many similar experiences that have always made me feel ashamed and self-loathing of who I am as a person. Knowing that you are not alone in learning to love yourself and watch how once you do that you grow into a person who is powerful, loving, caring, and knows yourself changes you. I have learned all that and to read that another human being has also gone through so much as I (literally, I felt like I was reading parts of myself so many times in this book!) really validates the human quality in each of us that we are all going through something and that to just listen, love, and hear their truths and voices is what make this world a better place. Everyone deserves to be here and to love and feel validated and thank you Jonathan for your story which truly spoke on so many levels! May you be blessed!

I knew JVN had an interesting past but I was not expecting this!! The writing sounds exactly like Jonathan but is still descriptive and clear. This book will suck you into the incredible mind of JVN and make you never want to leave! He is your personal cheerleader, inspiration coach and biggest fan. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone is need of a pick me up with a dose of raw, realness.

I'm sorry, JVN, I love you and I will always love you, but I found this to be a convoluted read -- stories kinda circling back on themselves, points being made and made again, and just... kinda murky. I had to stop halfway through. But I still love JVN and if you've never seen Gay of Thrones, his webseries, and you're a GoT fan, run, don't walk, to Youtube and watch right now!

Loved #overthetop by @jvn !!! It was not what I expected at all but I lived every twist and turn and raw real ness it brought to my life ....having had some similar experiences and similar reactions it brought up many thoughts and feelings but in a healing “normalizing” understanding way And yes #jonathanvanness I do think I could/would still love you in all your mess and your glory! Congrats and thank you so much for sharing and for being perfectly you!

I read this only vaguely knowing who the author is and I really enjoyed it. It definitely gives me a better perspective on others and I love a book that takes me into a world I don't really know about. This book is a very unsanitized look at abuse, addiction, overcoming huge obstacles and being honest with yourself. I found it inspiring and interesting.

I have loved JVN since he first popped up on my Netflix, and since reading this book I can say for sure that I love him even more now. I related a lot to of his story, and he tells it in a way that still relates to his bubbly and loving personality while also being raw and honest and truthful. I have recommended this book to almost every single person I know and will continue to do so.

Absolutely, positively stunning... please tell me the audiobook is read by you too, because i heard your voice the entire time. I smiled, laughed, cried (even uncontrollably at times *both ways*) I am so proud of you! And to think the least time I saw you, you were probably going through ShTuFf- yet, you seemed just like the YoU I have always known. YoU, Jonathan Van Ness, have been raised by an amazing human... which your light to the world is shining... keep being YoU! ✌❤🙃🧘♀️🐛🦋💧🌞🌈

Inspirational and full of personality. There is no doubt JVN wrote this book. He made his personality shine through while inspiring and educating the reader

As someone who adores Jonathan’s podcast and queer eye, I wanted to read this. I laughed, I cried, I cheered, and I related. I feel like there were so many parts to this story that were so relatable. From struggling with addiction, childhood trauma, learning to connect with your inner child, and dealing with a loved one with cancer. This is one of the most beautifully written memoirs I have read in a very long time. Thank you Jonathan for having the courage to show up, be vulnerable, and share your beautiful story! Yes Queen! This is a must read for anyone who wants a raw story of how life really is. Everyone has a story and I’m so glad Jonathan shared his!

Are you a fan of JVN? Than this is a must read! I read the book in three days, it was thoughtful, funny, tough, raw, honest. Real. I’m not personally an LGBTQ+ individual. But guess what? I’m human. And like I’ve said about Queer Eye being something every one on earth should watch, this book is one everyone should read. Johnathan is a beautiful person, he was brave in telling his story. And I love him even more for it.

What's not to love about JVN? He is so adorable on Queer Eye, and I wanted to know more. He has overcome some truly hard times but is still such a good person. Lessons to be learned there I think. If you like the show, you will love the book. I spent a week doing nothing but reading the books all the guys wrote, and it was a pretty great week.

Wow, I've never been a "grab a good book and snuggle up with wine" kind of person, (well except I'll snuggle up with the wine part anyday) but I this book has it all. I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep. Jvn really portrays the emotional roller coaster that we all go through at some point or another, whether gay or straight, bi or questionable. Just some, much more and much harder than others. This is such a remarkable reminder that everyone has had or still has their challenges, be kind and demand kindness. We all deserve to be happy.

I found in this book a worthwhile read to suggest to my book club. I find it well written and sensitively written about intense hardships the author went through. In the end I learned something new about a topic I had not been following closely enough. Well done Jonathan!

It's THAT good. JVN's story will make you laugh and cry - sometimes both at the same time. It's beautiful and gut-wrenching and most of all, it speaks to the majority of people who have experienced pain and trauma. This book had me rooting out loud for JVN. Truly outstanding!

I loved this book. It was a great, raw look at an individual with some heavy baggage. I feel like I look at JVN a bit differently now, but not in a bad way. Knowing what someone has gone through in their life and seeing them succeed is always very uplifting! I also love the way it was written. It was very much in the author's voice (and yes I did hear him narrating in my head as I was reading).

While I loved JVN on Queer Eye, I absolutely hated this book. I started it and put it away numerous times before I finally forced myself to finish it. Good for him for overcoming so much drama but this was a bore to read, and al the Russian names make it harder to focus. I still love the show and JVN is fun to watch but this book was just garbage.

Honest account of growing up flamingly gay in the Midwest during the 90’s. With intelligence, talent,family love and self-confidence Jonathon survived child sexual abuse, substance abuse and sex addiction to emerge as a confident media mohel and gay advocate.

I loved this book. JVN is a wonderful person and he selflessly put himself out there to share his story and help others.

An amazing read... My sister had me watch Queer Eye on Netflix. We watched every episode. We cried because the Fab 5 is so genuine. My sister works for an extension of the media conpany owned by Jonathan's family. I got to know his brother, who is very much like Jonathan. Their Mom must be an amazing friendly lady. Jonathan makes me laugh & I love & recommend his book. He is as true as you can get.

JVN is nothing short of fabulous. If you read this book with his voice in your head, it’s even more fabulous. A brave and inspiration soul describing his wonderful journey. It’s an easy and entertaining read, even if you don’t already love him.

Wonderful book and am so excited to finish. However my book arrived with the cover torn and the pages all folded up in multiple areas.

l gave this book every star I could. This young man took us through his harsh childhood, being bullied, dropping to his lowest time and picking himself up and is continuing to learn and grow. I would be proud to be his Mom. Keep going Jonathan. Love you!

Just incredible. I had enjoyed JVN since he broke out on the scene with Gay of Thrones. Reading his journey to the person we know and love today felt like an intimate treat, like meeting up with a good friend you haven't seen in years. I was moved, inspired and just guffawed at JVN's humor, grace and ability to see the good in even the most challenging of situations. I am so glad I preordered this. I don't usually enjoy celebrity autobiographies--- this one sets the standard for me.

I read it in his voice. I laughed, cried, related, and am completely impressed with this man who has continued to be true to himself and love himself more everyday. If you want to know JVN better, read this book.

Loved this book! So raw. So authentic. I was amazed at his level of self-love and self-compassion. My mom (RIP) was a hair stylist, so it was fun to relive some memories through his stories. Highly recommend!!

JVN has an incredible magic when you read this book in his voice and spirit. This book hits the highest of highs and lowest of lows for JVN, painting a humorous and complex image of his humanity. I found that JVN did a great job of being mindful of contextualizing his experiences and making his advice relevant to readers. I personally found empowerment in how he discussed therapy and identifying as LGBTQ. Additionally, I LOVE his perspective on well-known/famous personalities.

A powerful and emotional memoir. It was so interesting to read his story with the good and the bad. It also taught me a lot about HIV. He writes well with a good dose of humour and positivity in the middle of the shit that happened to him.

JVN is the pinnacle of vulnerability in this book and Brene Brown would be so proud. I'm so grateful for Jonathan sharing their story and I'll admit, I shed quite a few tears while reading. Quality read

I loved this book. It was well written and hard to put down. I've read the other cast members books and this one is the best. Jonathan is such a kind, caring soul you'll be waiting for his next book when you're done reading this!

This book was not only emotional, it's real. It's deep and it touched my heart in all the right places. As a member of the LGBTQ family like Jonathan, this book is a great example of how it does get better. Jonathans story is very unique yet very relatable. Thank you JVN for sharing your story with us.

If you love JVN, you will love getting to know him on a deeper, more intimate level in this book. His life story is one of struggle, hard work and determination! It's about overcoming hardship and learning how to self love! His humor is weaved throughout his journey and it's fabulous!

I think sometimes it was just too much and if I wanted to just read for a little bit before bedtime i would find myself out of breathe because he was just talking like JVN would. I hated using the alternative names because I would get soo hung up on how to pronounce one and would get stuck.

I didn't enjoy reading this book at all...Finished to see if it would get better and it didn't.

Jonathan Van Ness... Over the Top is a powerful story full of love, life and laughter. Your story is amazing, your strength is inspiring. The path to loving yourself takes many twists and turns and I thank you for sharing your story!

JVN is so open and honest in this book and I learned so much about him. He really does tell you everything and is very reflective and offers nuggets of wisdom that are worth remembering! The book reads like you are sitting having a conversation with him. I could totally hear his voice in my head the whole time. Definitely worth a read!

If you love JVN and you will absolutely love this book. Sometimes the Russian names that he gives to people are a little hard to follow, but I understand his desire to protect those in his life.

The only thing I didn’t like was it had to end! I picked this book up initially as a fan of Jonathon. At the time it came out I was going through a difficult period in my life. To me surprise this book spoke to me in a way I would’ve never imagined. Overcoming struggles to find self love is a universal theme. Jonathon’s journey is fascinating, relatable and incredibly inspiring. You get more than you bargained for (in a really really good way) with this book!!

Raw, honest, funny, endearing, sad, triumphant, full of love. I truly enjoyed the book, hearing about JVN's journey & philosophy. She's a gorgeous moment honey.

I laighed..I cried.... I love Jonathan VanNees and his honesty. I feel like I know him and love him as a person rather a personality after reading his book. ♡

A very quick & candid look at the Johnathan we all love! His intelligence, humor & most importantly...his heart show through. Thank you for your realness honey, you are so appreciated and loved 😘

Oh my goodness - what a story! I HIGHLY recommend listening to this book! Jonathan tell his amazing story and i think everyone should take a minute to listen!

it was lovely to get to know more about the jvn I know and love from queer eye. it's a wild ride of a story and towards the end I thought to myself it's never too late to create what you want or to change or better yourself. he's just amazing and I love him even more.

Jonathan Van Ness is a bright burst of energetic sunlight and goodness. JVN’s openness and humor in this book had me riveted from the opening dedication to the very last words. I only wish that the book came with a portal to step through and give that queen a hug. Thank you, JVN, for your beautiful spirit and gorgeous love.

Funny, unapologetic and brave. In a well written and light style, JVN is surprisingly brave in sharing the dark places of his story and how he became who he is.

I loved reading this book! Jvn inspires me so much and I learn so much from him, I really enjoyed learning more about him and just getting more of his fabulous energy in my life

I was obsessed with JVN in queer eye, and after I finished this book, I have so much more respect and love for him than I did before. This is a must read!

JVN’s book took me on a magical journey through pain, trauma, denial, growth, relapse, trying again, and showing up for yourself. He made me laugh and he made me cry sometimes on the same page. This book is moving and affirming. Love the way jvn candidly discusses his relationship with his mom and the struggles of growing up queer. He is my queen forever 💫

JVN opens his heart & bares his soul in this memoir. His humor, sensitivity & self love allow him to share openly his life, high & low points. Jonathan is an inspiration to all of us who struggle with self acceptance & forgiveness. She is a true Queen!

I loved it! If you are feeling sad or you feel like you have nobody to talk too. This book will inspire you to be happy and succeed in life.

I absolutely love JVN. He’s so unapologetically himself like no one I’ve ever seen, but honey has he been through it! A fascinating read on a fascinating person.

Bought as a gift, came with huge globs of life on top of pages. Tried to lightly rub off but the glue has sunk into pages.

I could not put this book down! JVN tells his story so well. This book is heart wrenching, It makes you smile, worry for him, and cheer for him. ❤️

I was on the fence if I wanted to read this but I really enjoyed. Even if you're not a fan you will enjoy his story.

Loved JVN before. Love him more after. Lots of detailed Olympic gymnastics recounts incorporated throughout that were at times a bit hard to follow, but obviously this is a subject JVN is passionate about and I can’t fault him for that! Brave story overall. Quick read.

I will start by saying I was already a JVN fan from Queer Eye, but I am not a reader. His book was inspiring, authentic and written in a way where I could hear his voice and truth come through. I will warn it does have its dark parts, but overall the tone was positive and he brings you all the way through to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I highly recommend for anyone wanting to feel uplifted!

Loved this book. Jonathan is authentic and doesn’t hold back on telling the good, the bad and the ugly. I laughed and cried. And like him even more now!

Loved everything about this book! Such a fabulous read! It has moments of struggle and pain but his spin on positivity makes it a must read!

I read this in just days. There are moments that make you laugh, some that make you cry, and many that make you think! I highly recommend this book for JVN fans, and those of us also on our own journey of self love.

A must read. Buy it. Gift it. Tears, laughter. I adore Jonathan and his story is one many will relate to.

Wow! Tear jerker, for sure. Jonathan’s story is nothing short of amazing. He has really gone through some $%!? To get to where he is today for such a young man. Kudos Jonathan for telling such a beautiful, sad, wonderful story .

I loved Jonathan's book so much. I appreciated his rawness and loved that he came out OVER THE TOP! Such a fantastic testament to overcoming so many obstacles. You killed it Jonathan. Love your book! Love you!

Jonathan's story has touched me to the core. I've really enjoyed his happy moments, and his lessons learned and comic relief have provided a break from his darkest moments in his life. I absolutely love the fact that he emphasizes that people are complicated like an onion with multiple layers. Must read for people who struggle with social acceptance.

It was such a great book! I love JVN! Only criticism is there are way too many gymnastics and figure skating references. But it was a great read! Loved getting to know JVN better, Henny!

This book is a great read-- I laughed, I cried, etc. JVN is a beautiful genius, and I love him.

First off, I love Johnathan, period! So as soon as I seen he had a book I had to buy it. I love how candid he is in the book. Most of us will never truly know/understand the fight that people in the LGBT+ community have to go through just to be accepted by your peers; and your parents as well. My heart goes out to anyone who has to endure this type of trauma.....just to be.

Absolutely ADORE this book! I loved Johnathan Van Ness as the grooming expert on queer eye and it was amazing to see how much more he is. He’s raw and honest and encouraging to himself and others. This is a must read!

It's hard not to read it in Jonathan's voice but this book is an honest story of how no matter what you've done or been through, there is always a way to love yourself at the end of the day. 10/10

You can hear Jonathan’s voice in the book - he shares his humor, heartache, and persistence with us - definitely lows and highs - but I came away with quite a bit of respect for his honesty & his story

Love love love Jonathan Vannes and his story. Great read for anyone who is a fan of him!

If you love Jonathan you will love him about a bazillion times more after reading his journey. If you don’t love Jonathan . . . first of all, whaaaaaaaaaaat???? Second of all, read the damn book. Most lovable person in the universe . . . just sayin.’

I couldn't put this book down; I laughed, cried, and ugly-cried through the whole thing in one sitting. JVN is a true queen, and she slays in every story he tells, hunty. This book is such a gift. I hope there will be another one.

I can fully related to his story, but at times found it a little slow.

Fantastic, funny, sad, but also heartwarming. I couldn’t put it down.

In LOVE with this book!! It’s 100% honest and funny!! I laughed and cried through the whole thing!!

Love, love, love this book. It’s an incredible journey that JVN brings us on and you can literally hear him narrating it. It’s such a great read and he is an inspiration.

She is serving us authenticity at its best, she is giving us humanity, she is absolutely everything you loved and more. Literally could not put it down in 3 days! It's raw and real and thank you so much for delivering such truth a true inspiration for all.

I devoured this book in 3 days. It's deep yet also a super funny light read with some profound insights on radical self acceptance. In other words, it's full of contradictions just like every one of us.

I loved every page, every little story gives you a little peek at why our beloved JVN is who he is. Great story of success despite circumstances, of choosing joy instead of despair, of picking yourself up instead of staying down. Lovely read, keep on shining sisters! ❤

Bought this as a birthday gift for my girlfriend and decided to give it to her early. She loved it and is already reading it. It came on time, undamaged and was well packaged.

I think it's amazing to have someone put themselves so completely out there. I think if I were ever to see Johnathon I would come up to him and sound like a creepy stalker but only because he has no idea who I am and through this book I feel like I've made a friend. Time may be a little desynchronized. Other than that it was a compelling read.

This was a good and revealing read about one of my favorites.

I usually hate memories of celebrities but his level of insight into his own life and experiences paired with the information he seems to have gotten through research and counseling made this book an incredible read. I highly recommend purchasing the audio book as it takes on more life through his voice.

Love Jonathan. Very good writing, because it’s obviously from his heart. Read in just a few hours. Lifts my spirits

JVN is the best. If you love him, you’ll love this book.

Really good! Great story flow and structure.

Listening to audiobooks of memoirs beats reading them everytime. I love everything about this book. JVN is queen of our time and this book is a raw, beautiful, and endearing peek into the life that moldes this gorgeous soul. Listen to it, read it, ir both...but either way- BUY IT!!!

I can't put it down! I love Queer Eye. I love Getting Curious! I love this book!

This is a wonderful story, full of hope, love, and kindness. If you have ever struggled to love yourself, or know someone who does, this is the book to read. Jonathan is so honest and open. You will be glad you read this book. I highly recommend.

Love, love, LOVE this book! Jonathan really opens up and bares all.

JVN is raw and telling in his book. It’s a great read and allows us to peer into who he is and the trauma that made him into the fabulous person that he is. He shows great perseverance and determination to make this world a better place through his personality and his connection with people. Keep pressing on JVN.

This was such a raw, inspiring, beautiful book. JVN did a great job of expressing honesty, pain, and triumph... all with a sassy twist of humor. He really empowered me to be more accepting of myself and my own journey, which is something I think we could all use in our lives.

JVN's story is raw, heartbreaking and emotional. It is so important to know his story to fully appreciate his character.

Great story. Love seeing how JVN became the amazing queen he is today 💙💜

Didn’t do it for me at all. I thought all of the press for this book was about something, but I find myself just skipping pages and pages.

This book had me literally laughing out loud. It’s a great read. I’d highly recommend!

Excited for this one!

There are no words. Get the audio book and listen to JVN read this himself, I think you'd lose something if you didn't. My only complaint is that it wasn't longer - I blew through it in 2 sittings.

Amazing book! So honest and heartfelt. If you love JVN then you'll love his book. Queer Eye is just a small part. He goes back to his childhood which is really fun if sad at times. I love him even more now.

Enjoyed your book. You should be very proud. Would recommend to friends if asked. You have great courage and it's time to soar.

A heartfelt, funny, honest look into the life of a current cultural icon. Recommended for anyone who has felt like an outsider (which certainly would be me).

I mean...I REALLY wanted to like this book. But it's just meh. The writing is literally all over the place. The material is somewhat interesting...but the writing style can't really do it justice. Im struggling to finish it. Save yourself the money, you can find other ways to support your favorite celebrity.

Great book to read. Was quick and easy, kept my attention the whole time. Would definitely recommend others to learn about JVN’s life!

Loved this book..I kept hearing his voice in my head when I was reading it. Great message too.

Good read!

Read this book!

JVN is the best.

I love this book!!

JVN tells his story in a way that's approachable and real. He's raw and glamorous at the same time. I read the whole book hearing his voice tell the story and enjoyed every minute. I laughed and felt his pain.

JVN can do no wrong. I adore everything about him... even more so with how vulnerable he was in his book! Such a great read.

So good!

Love him even more after reading this book. It's helpful to remember we can all be a hot mess and "gorgeous" at the same time and the only opinion that really matters in the end is your own.

I'm nearly finished reading. Absolutely loving it. So honest.

Love this book. Honest and hysterical.

Such a raw, beautiful, inspiring story with many lessons taught. I'm not a huge reader, but couldn't put the book down.

JVN is hilarious. This book was great

Love you even more now JVN!!! I highly recommend! I hope he plans to continue to write and especially more of his story. His writing is brave and rich with candor.

I did not know much about JVN’s beginning prior to him being on Queer Eye. He really did wonders overcoming the odds when so many don’t.

Love this book!

I love you Johnathon and appreciate your honesty in sharing your story!!! I could relate in so many different aspects. Love you Queen!!

I am a huge JVN fan and his book only made me love him more. We are all flawed but fabulous individuals trying to love ourselves the best we can. In Over the Top, Jonathan shows his readers that it’s possible, no matter what you’re up against.

Loved this book, it was written in a way that was easy to read and follow the stories. Definitely recommend it!

If you’re a JVN fan you’ll love this book. He is so refreshingly open, honest and vulnerable as he shares some very intimate moments of his life and how those moments shaped him.

Loved reading this book cover to cover. A Raw Journey to Self Love made me laugh, cry, and ultimately see Jonathan's success through adversity.

This book is so relatable to any member of the lgbt. JVN deserves the world. This book gives us all hope.

I love Jonathan more than ever after reading this book. A perfectly flawed human being that is fierce in every sense!

So raw, so real, so beautifully vulnerable. The world needs more authenticity like this! Thank you JVN for sharing your incredible story, it has certainly touched my life.

Good book

JVN did an amazing job of incorporating his personality into his writing! He included a lot of personal details from his life and you could basically hear his voice narrating it as you read it. Worth the read!

I literally stayed up all night and read this book start to finish which I literally haven’t done since I read the Harry Potter books when I was six. Such an amazing piece to read, and long live queen JVN!!!

I had high expectations for this book as I am a big fan of JVN and it had rave reviews. It met my expectations, it was raw, sad, honest.

I really enjoyed learning about JVN's story of growth and self acceptance. It's truly caused me to think and be inspired to look inside myself.

I loved this book! Quick read on a cross country plane journey and loved every second. I laughed and cried in public, not ashamed!

As the mother of a gay son, I would like to give kudos to little Jack's mom, because her love and constant support and acceptance made all the difference!

I loved this book. Jonathan really embraced his vulnerabilities and that must have been terrifying, but I'm glad he was able to. This book is exuberant, heartbreaking, funny and most of all, honest. A very worthwhile read.

Listening to JNV narrate this book brought his words even more to light and brought all the laugher, tears and feel good moments right off the page. Thanks for sharing with us Jonathon! ❤

A must read book for literally Anyone

The story telling was laid out beautifully. I felt so connected to his experience, I couldn’t stop reading. This book did not only just focus on Jonathan’s life, but displayed the importance of self love and care.

This was a fantastic read .So well written and relatable. You feel as if you`re sitting with Jonathan as he reads you his story. A very real and gifted person. A true Queen and inspiration.

Love

Amazing book. Great read. I wasn’t really a big JVN fan before but this makes me understand him more on the show. I highly recommend this book!

I completely loved reading Jonathan's story. He is so inspiring. To read how human he is, is so amazing. Thank you for sharing your story.

I had seen Jonathan in interviews and read articles about him. My emotions were stirred from reading his story so far. So young and been through so much!! Wishing only the best for Jonathan. 💕

I LoOoOooOOOVE this book! I bought more for my friends and family! Jonathan Van Ness is a QUEEN and in the best way! I finished the book in like 3 days. I want another JVN book!

I feel like I know an entirely new JVN. I love that he was brave enough to share his struggles, his highs and his lowest points in life with us.

Thank you for telling my story. I will recommend this book for everyone, forever, because it just that good. It was a page turner from start to finish and from the second I picked it up I didn’t put it down until it was over. Thank you.

An important discussion on trauma, shame, body liberation, and healing that preaches how everyone is worthy. A must read.

Love Jonathan & love this book 💜

LOVE this book! It has become my new favorite read! I can totally hear the authors voice in my head when I read it, and I love him now more than I did before!

Thank you for your braveness and sharing your truth. Would love to read a second follow up book! Love you JVN!