Over the Top
-
-
4.5 • 126 Ratings
-
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
‘Over The Top [is] a lightning bolt – devastating and stirring … generous and frank.’ The Observer
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 wasjust so gay, Jonathan was an easy target and endured years ofjudgement, 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, andrambunctious 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.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The outrageous glamour, magnificent hair and endless good vibes that Jonathan Van Ness serves up in every episode of Queer Eye have made him a breakout gay icon even the most conservative grandma can love. And that’s exactly why his memoir, Over the Top, is so startling and brave. It would have been easy for JVN to slap together a bestselling mix of grooming tips and sparkly-unicorn epigrams, but he chose a very different path—his autobiography is as raw as a skinned knee. Growing up gay in a conservative Illinois town, Van Ness endured childhood sexual abuse and relentless bullying, which led to an adulthood marked by depression, addiction and a spiralling collapse that’s genuinely painful to read about. But his storytelling isn’t without humour—there’s one chapter titled with simply the eggplant emoji—and all the anguish makes Van Ness’ eventual rebirth that much sweeter.
Customer Reviews
A Beautiful Onion
JVN’s book is a beautiful story of the discovery of self love, self worth, self acceptance and the journey to hell and back he’s taken to get there.
Brutally honest, filled with the spirit and vivacity we’ve all come to love from this gorgeous creature, it’s a triumphant work of life.
His absolute full disclosure of his struggles and pain can’t help but make you fall a lot more in love with him.
Thank you for writing this Jonathan, your story will help so many people feel so much less alone.
10 stars.