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He Said, She Said: Lessons, Stories, and Mistakes from My Transgender Journey
Today, Gigi Gorgeous is beloved for her critically-acclaimed documentary, her outrageous sense of humor, her no-holds-barred honesty, and her glam Hollywood lifestyle. Ten years ago, she was a gawky Canadian teen named Gregory. In He Said, She Said, Gigi brings us on her personal journey from Gregory to Gigi, going deeper than ever before and exposing her vulnerability behind each struggle and triumph, with her signature humor on every page.
With stunning photography and heirloom snapshots, He Said, She Said takes us back to Gigi's early years as an Olympic-bound diver and high school mean girl, losing her mom at a tragically young age, and her journey of opening up about her sexuality and gender identity. She walks us through her transition, baring it all about dating and heartbreak in her stories of falling in love with both men and women.
Uproarious, unconventional, and unabashedly candid, Gigi shares never-before-heard stories, inspiration, and advice about how your life can take you to incredible places once you get real with yourself.
With stunning photography and heirloom snapshots, He Said, She Said takes us back to Gigi's early years as an Olympic-bound diver and high school mean girl, losing her mom at a tragically young age, and her journey of opening up about her sexuality and gender identity. She walks us through her transition, baring it all about dating and heartbreak in her stories of falling in love with both men and women.
Uproarious, unconventional, and unabashedly candid, Gigi shares never-before-heard stories, inspiration, and advice about how your life can take you to incredible places once you get real with yourself.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2019
About the author
Gigi Gorgeous
3 books59 followersGigi Gorgeous is a YouTube star, transgender activist, television personality, actress, model and LGBTQ icon. She has nearly 8 million followers across her social platforms and in January 2017, her feature-length documentary “This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous”, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2017, Gigi was named one of Time Magazine’s “25 Most Influential People on the Internet” and one of “Forbes 30 Under 30.” She was also previously awarded YouTuber of the Year at the Shorty Awards and the LogoTV Trailblazing Social Creator Award for her advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ youth, among other awards.
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June 5, 2019I don't really feel I should rate a memoir because I'm not here to judge Gigi's life, so, no stars -- but don't take that to mean I feel negatively about the book.
As someone who has never watched her youtube channel or known much about her, I was maybe not the best audience, however.. this was an interesting read. It was pretty no-holds-barred and also informative regarding her transition and the three (!) times she came out. I can see where maybe it would've occasionally been a funny recounting, too, had I maybe known her, or her persona, prior to reading. But sometimes it felt very "extra", to use one of her terms, and it was strange to be talked to but also talked at?
But, from a purely aesthetic standpoint, the various photo series mixed in between chapters were stunning.
Either way. Reading this was long overdue and this felt like the right month (pride!) to finally dive in.
** I received a copy of this title from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
As someone who has never watched her youtube channel or known much about her, I was maybe not the best audience, however.. this was an interesting read. It was pretty no-holds-barred and also informative regarding her transition and the three (!) times she came out. I can see where maybe it would've occasionally been a funny recounting, too, had I maybe known her, or her persona, prior to reading. But sometimes it felt very "extra", to use one of her terms, and it was strange to be talked to but also talked at?
But, from a purely aesthetic standpoint, the various photo series mixed in between chapters were stunning.
Either way. Reading this was long overdue and this felt like the right month (pride!) to finally dive in.
** I received a copy of this title from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
April 4, 2019
As a feminine gay boy, to realizing I am actually a girl, Gigi has always been there for me to look up to. She was always living her most authentic life on social media and it exposed me to positive representation of LGBTQ+ people, which led me to realize its okay to be transgender and its okay to live however you want. Reading her book only gave me new insight into her already amazing self. I love you, Gigi!!!
April 8, 2019
I’ve been a bit fan of Gigi’s for a long time now. I watched her YouTube videos religiously, and followed her journey. I was obviously very excited when she announced this book, and looked forward to reading it for awhile now!
Even tho she’s shared so much of her life on YouTube, and with her documentary, I still found myself learning new things about her in this book!
Even tho she’s shared so much of her life on YouTube, and with her documentary, I still found myself learning new things about her in this book!
July 13, 2019
I’m not exactly sure who the target audience is for this book. I’m not subscribed to Gigi on YouTube (though I have seen some of her videos here and there) and I haven’t seen her documentary, so I can’t say if this is just rehashing a lot of things she’s already talked about or if it’s filling in the blanks that haven’t been brought up before.
This didn’t go as in depth as I would’ve liked, it doesn’t really feel like a traditional memoir. There’s a focus on having different photo shoots for each chapter, they’re all beautiful, but sometimes they’re really distracting. In the middle of the chapter about her mom dying you flip the page and for no reason there are just glam photos of Gigi before getting back to the story about her mom’s last day in the hospital. It felt like a really odd choice. There were also little bits in between chapters about her favorite celebrities, favorite color, or if she’s more of a Blair or Serena from Gossip Girl. When she was being really open about figuring out that she was trans, her transition, figuring out her sexuality, and relationships it was really great. I just wish that more of the book was focused on her story rather than FAQs about her favorite movies or favorite fast food.
I have seen some of Gigi’s videos so I’m familiar with how she speaks and this book really does feel like it’s written in her voice. It doesn’t feel like a ghostwriter just took over which can sometimes happen with celebrity books. The use of slang or “Gigi-isms” might be annoying to some readers, but it definitely makes it feel authentic to Gigi’s voice.
I’m not exactly sure who I would recommend this to, just because it feels so surface level. So many things are brought up but then not fully explored. Probably because they’re in her videos or documentary, but I was just hoping for something more from the book. If you’re at all interested I would say to give it a shot, it’s a pretty quick read and the pictures are really pretty.
This didn’t go as in depth as I would’ve liked, it doesn’t really feel like a traditional memoir. There’s a focus on having different photo shoots for each chapter, they’re all beautiful, but sometimes they’re really distracting. In the middle of the chapter about her mom dying you flip the page and for no reason there are just glam photos of Gigi before getting back to the story about her mom’s last day in the hospital. It felt like a really odd choice. There were also little bits in between chapters about her favorite celebrities, favorite color, or if she’s more of a Blair or Serena from Gossip Girl. When she was being really open about figuring out that she was trans, her transition, figuring out her sexuality, and relationships it was really great. I just wish that more of the book was focused on her story rather than FAQs about her favorite movies or favorite fast food.
I have seen some of Gigi’s videos so I’m familiar with how she speaks and this book really does feel like it’s written in her voice. It doesn’t feel like a ghostwriter just took over which can sometimes happen with celebrity books. The use of slang or “Gigi-isms” might be annoying to some readers, but it definitely makes it feel authentic to Gigi’s voice.
I’m not exactly sure who I would recommend this to, just because it feels so surface level. So many things are brought up but then not fully explored. Probably because they’re in her videos or documentary, but I was just hoping for something more from the book. If you’re at all interested I would say to give it a shot, it’s a pretty quick read and the pictures are really pretty.
July 7, 2019
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
This is the autobiography of Gigi Gorgeous, YouTube celebrity and transgender role model.
I've been a fan of Gigi and her YouTube channel for so long now I was super excited when I found out she was writing a book! I loved learning more about her and her transition that I didn't already know. I loved how real and honest she was about the whole process and her feelings through out.
*I received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
This is the autobiography of Gigi Gorgeous, YouTube celebrity and transgender role model.
I've been a fan of Gigi and her YouTube channel for so long now I was super excited when I found out she was writing a book! I loved learning more about her and her transition that I didn't already know. I loved how real and honest she was about the whole process and her feelings through out.
January 3, 2020
They tell you not to judge a book by the cover, but sometimes I do. And this is what drew me to grabbing this book in the bookstore and reading the jacket to read more about it. At a first glance I thought it was Kendra Wilkinson on the cover and because I had read her book, I thought that was maybe a new book by her.
Who is this Gigi Gorgeous girl and what’s her story?
Funny I am from Canada and had not heard of Gigi at all. So when I read she was from Canada that instantly intrigued me. I also love memoirs and biographies so this was also a huge draw. Wanting to learn more about the Transgender community also made it a perfect fit to pick up and tackle.
The book is absolutely stunning. The photos and colours schemes work so beautifully. Loved seeing all the photos from childhood to present. They were displayed perfectly accompanying the stories. My only complaint would be that I wish some of the smaller pics were bigger to see and on some of the coloured pages the writing was a little harder to read due to the color. Other than that, the book is gorgeous and very feminine. Probably one of the prettiest put together books that I have seen and I loved that. It really stood out because of it.
I enjoyed the story of Gigi, but at times could see an inexperienced writer shining through. Maybe in this story, that may not be a bad thing either. She is after all not an author but more of a story teller per se.
The book was a pretty quick read and covered most of her story, but I will probably look up her documentary and some of her videos to see her in action.
Who is this Gigi Gorgeous girl and what’s her story?
Funny I am from Canada and had not heard of Gigi at all. So when I read she was from Canada that instantly intrigued me. I also love memoirs and biographies so this was also a huge draw. Wanting to learn more about the Transgender community also made it a perfect fit to pick up and tackle.
The book is absolutely stunning. The photos and colours schemes work so beautifully. Loved seeing all the photos from childhood to present. They were displayed perfectly accompanying the stories. My only complaint would be that I wish some of the smaller pics were bigger to see and on some of the coloured pages the writing was a little harder to read due to the color. Other than that, the book is gorgeous and very feminine. Probably one of the prettiest put together books that I have seen and I loved that. It really stood out because of it.
I enjoyed the story of Gigi, but at times could see an inexperienced writer shining through. Maybe in this story, that may not be a bad thing either. She is after all not an author but more of a story teller per se.
The book was a pretty quick read and covered most of her story, but I will probably look up her documentary and some of her videos to see her in action.
June 19, 2019
This was a really fun insight into Gigi’s life. She’s very honest about family, coming out three times, transitioning, sex, drugs, relationships, and her life in LA. It’s a difficult read at times - particularly with regard to emotional abuse from an ex-boyfriend and Gigi grieving the loss of her mother - but it’s well worth it.
Gigi’s voice really comes through in the writing and you can really tell she penned each word herself. The personality is leaking out of every page! There are also beautiful images throughout, and I can’t help but be reminded of Paris Hilton’s Confessions of an Heiress; a comparison I’m sure Gigi would enjoy.
The book could’ve used a little tidying up for chronology and coherence, but overall it was a really fun read and insight into Gigi’s journey. Glad I gave it a shot!
Gigi’s voice really comes through in the writing and you can really tell she penned each word herself. The personality is leaking out of every page! There are also beautiful images throughout, and I can’t help but be reminded of Paris Hilton’s Confessions of an Heiress; a comparison I’m sure Gigi would enjoy.
The book could’ve used a little tidying up for chronology and coherence, but overall it was a really fun read and insight into Gigi’s journey. Glad I gave it a shot!
April 16, 2019
Definitely listen to this on Audible. It's like one long YouTube video. And I did feel it was a bit long for the actual content or happenings in her life. She is a little young for an autobio but that's not to say I don't want a part 2 in 10-20 years.
April 12, 2019
As someone who's watched Gigi's videos for years and has followed her whole transition, this book was a fascinating, in-depth look at her life beyond YouTube. I give her credit here - she does not hold back. I also loved the glamour shots that accompanied each chapter. Very Gigi. Can't wait for her self-narrated audiobook!
August 20, 2023
There were some really good moments in the book but overall Gigi seems oblivious to how much privilege she has.
June 27, 2021
I was never an avid watcher of Gigi Gorgeous, but I did see a few of her videos way back in the Gregory Gorgeous days and I would periodically see her videos in my YouTube recommended. I had no idea that she had written a book so I decided to give it a listen. If you vibe with audiobooks, I definitely recommend this as the medium to experience this book because it sort of sounds like a long form YouTube video. I'm not sure if this book would be repetitive for someone who has watched Gigi since the Gregory Gorgeous days or someone who has watched her documentary, but I do think that for someone who picked this book up without knowing who Gigi was (something she actually acknowledges in the book), she gives you enough background about her life and career trajectory to get you caught up. I do think that this book is primarily for long-time fans of hers and, despite the marketing as a transgender memoir, not meant to be a deep dive into life as a transgender woman.
Gigi glosses over a lot of details - which kind of begs the question if this is meant to be read in conjunction with the documentary? - and though it doesn't quite move into the territory of toxic positivity, I don't think that the book fully acknowledges how difficult and harrowing the reality was for Gigi at the time. For example, Gigi mentions doing cocaine at all of the parties she would go to in LA, but then never really discusses how or when she stopped(?) doing cocaine. She also glosses over what I at least perceived to be a sexual assault - while out clubbing with female friends, one girl pulls her into a bathroom stall, pulls Gigi's shirt down and begins licking her nipples and then Gigi ends up performing oral sex on her friend. Gigi describes this as getting "bullied into a hookup" but to me it sounds like an assault??? Gigi also discusses hooking up with men that she describes as straight and the notion of "turning" straight guys and how some trans women like "turning" straight guys - I know this book came out in 2019, but given how some queer beauty YouTubers have recently come under fire for their professed preference for straight men (and how the community views this as predatory behavior) this bit really aged like milk. There are a few other un-interrogated comments that felt dated and pulled me out each time I heard them. Generally, I don't mind terribly that Gigi doesn't write very much about how privileged she is, but I think to someone unfamiliar with her and her content, she would come off quite spoiled and superficial.
One thing that was actually truly enlightening about this book was how candid Gigi was explaining why gender affirming surgery on the genitals (previously called a sex change) is a massive undertaking, and sheds some light on why not all trans people do it - in Gigi's case, the body perceives a surgically made vagina as an open wound and attempts to close it and so preventing the vagina from closing requires some long term daily maintenance, and in the end the nerve endings still might not work and as a result there is a loss of sensation and an inability to orgasm.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this book, but it doesn't stand out among others. Probably worth a read if you're a subscriber of hers, but if you're looking for emotional trans memoirs, I don't think this will provide you with what you're looking for.
Gigi glosses over a lot of details - which kind of begs the question if this is meant to be read in conjunction with the documentary? - and though it doesn't quite move into the territory of toxic positivity, I don't think that the book fully acknowledges how difficult and harrowing the reality was for Gigi at the time. For example, Gigi mentions doing cocaine at all of the parties she would go to in LA, but then never really discusses how or when she stopped(?) doing cocaine. She also glosses over what I at least perceived to be a sexual assault - while out clubbing with female friends, one girl pulls her into a bathroom stall, pulls Gigi's shirt down and begins licking her nipples and then Gigi ends up performing oral sex on her friend. Gigi describes this as getting "bullied into a hookup" but to me it sounds like an assault??? Gigi also discusses hooking up with men that she describes as straight and the notion of "turning" straight guys and how some trans women like "turning" straight guys - I know this book came out in 2019, but given how some queer beauty YouTubers have recently come under fire for their professed preference for straight men (and how the community views this as predatory behavior) this bit really aged like milk. There are a few other un-interrogated comments that felt dated and pulled me out each time I heard them. Generally, I don't mind terribly that Gigi doesn't write very much about how privileged she is, but I think to someone unfamiliar with her and her content, she would come off quite spoiled and superficial.
One thing that was actually truly enlightening about this book was how candid Gigi was explaining why gender affirming surgery on the genitals (previously called a sex change) is a massive undertaking, and sheds some light on why not all trans people do it - in Gigi's case, the body perceives a surgically made vagina as an open wound and attempts to close it and so preventing the vagina from closing requires some long term daily maintenance, and in the end the nerve endings still might not work and as a result there is a loss of sensation and an inability to orgasm.
Overall, I enjoyed listening to this book, but it doesn't stand out among others. Probably worth a read if you're a subscriber of hers, but if you're looking for emotional trans memoirs, I don't think this will provide you with what you're looking for.
April 2, 2019
Loved hearing about Gigi’s life
January 31, 2020
To be honest, I've never heard of Gigi Gorgeous. Apparently she is a YouTuber, socialite, actress and model. What attracted me to the book was that it was about a gay man in Toronto who became transgender who became a lesbian. I thought that would be an interesting story ... and for the most part it was.
Gigi started in life as Gregory, the middle son of three, living in the Toronto area. Even as a young boy, he was attracted to pretty girly things like make-up, nail polish, Barbie Dolls, etc. As he grew older, he tried to figure out who he was and eventually made it happen. Now she's living in Los Angeles and married to Nats Getty, a member of the famous Getty family who is apparently an American model, socialite, designer, artist and LGBTQ rights activist.
It was interesting reading about the transition of Gregory to Gigi. It sounds like an expensive and painful process. I found there were gaps in her story, though. One minute he was a gay high school boy making and uploading videos onto YouTube and the next thing you know he had a manager and was being flown to New York and Los Angeles to attend and speak at fashion shows. Huh? As I said, I don't know who she is or her story (other than what I read in her book) so it would have been nice to get a little more information about how that happened. And how did she get so famous? It seems like she moved to Los Angeles and that's all it took. I doubt it was that easy.
Though I found her story interesting, I didn't find Gigi overly likeable. I thought she was pretentious, superficial, materialistic and immature. She's going to be 28 soon but writes and "talks" like a 15-year-old. She does warn us in an early chapter about her vocabulary ... like "totes" instead of "totally" and "Hundo P" instead of "100%". As a head's up, there is swearing, sexual activity and drug use.
There are lots of full colour pictures throughout the book from her childhood, her pre-Gigi period and how she is now. There were three happy pictures with her and an old boyfriend, which was weird, since she describes their relationship as verbally abusive ... why would you include the pictures?! There are many pages of her dressed in fashion and make-up. It was kind of strange at one point when she is talking about the death of her mother from cancer and how devastated the family was ... and then in the middle of this are fashion pictures ... they might have rethought the placement. At the end of the book are pictures of her friends and who they are in her life.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2020/01...
Gigi started in life as Gregory, the middle son of three, living in the Toronto area. Even as a young boy, he was attracted to pretty girly things like make-up, nail polish, Barbie Dolls, etc. As he grew older, he tried to figure out who he was and eventually made it happen. Now she's living in Los Angeles and married to Nats Getty, a member of the famous Getty family who is apparently an American model, socialite, designer, artist and LGBTQ rights activist.
It was interesting reading about the transition of Gregory to Gigi. It sounds like an expensive and painful process. I found there were gaps in her story, though. One minute he was a gay high school boy making and uploading videos onto YouTube and the next thing you know he had a manager and was being flown to New York and Los Angeles to attend and speak at fashion shows. Huh? As I said, I don't know who she is or her story (other than what I read in her book) so it would have been nice to get a little more information about how that happened. And how did she get so famous? It seems like she moved to Los Angeles and that's all it took. I doubt it was that easy.
Though I found her story interesting, I didn't find Gigi overly likeable. I thought she was pretentious, superficial, materialistic and immature. She's going to be 28 soon but writes and "talks" like a 15-year-old. She does warn us in an early chapter about her vocabulary ... like "totes" instead of "totally" and "Hundo P" instead of "100%". As a head's up, there is swearing, sexual activity and drug use.
There are lots of full colour pictures throughout the book from her childhood, her pre-Gigi period and how she is now. There were three happy pictures with her and an old boyfriend, which was weird, since she describes their relationship as verbally abusive ... why would you include the pictures?! There are many pages of her dressed in fashion and make-up. It was kind of strange at one point when she is talking about the death of her mother from cancer and how devastated the family was ... and then in the middle of this are fashion pictures ... they might have rethought the placement. At the end of the book are pictures of her friends and who they are in her life.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2020/01...
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December 28, 2020Gigi's writing style is refreshingly fun and an entertaining way to tell her story outside of the typical memoir format. At times it really read more like that of a magazine spread than a memoir.
Being a transgender author myself, I immediately connected with her honesty and emotional struggles even though our age difference is significant. Her writing, which will surely get better as she ages, really shows that no matter your situation in life; fame, financial resources, etc.—the struggles we face are very real, and that, to her credit, is worth the read of this young author.
Being a transgender author myself, I immediately connected with her honesty and emotional struggles even though our age difference is significant. Her writing, which will surely get better as she ages, really shows that no matter your situation in life; fame, financial resources, etc.—the struggles we face are very real, and that, to her credit, is worth the read of this young author.
March 28, 2020
So, it's always hard to review a memoir -- you can't exactly review someone's life. But here goes.
First I think it's important to judge a book against what it's trying to be. Gigi clearly wrote this book for her fans, which I sort of count myself among -- I occasionally watch her videos but I did religiously when I was much younger. It's half memoir, half bitchy celebrity book. Bitchy celebrity books have their place!
And it does some of that well. For example, I actually thought the photos throughout the book were great, they were beautiful and different and for the fans. In much of it she was clearly quite vulnerable -- I thought the chapter about her stealing phase was enlightening and she was incredibly open about dating as a trans girl, much moreso than she ever was on her channel.
But much of it just felt, well, really dumb. The chapter on her idols was quite strange, and felt like she was trying to fill pages. The "Gigi-isms" that are cute in her videos are really dumb and feel forced in this book.
The intro this book kind of put me off. She essentially says "Don't think I didn't struggle! I had to come out three times! My mom died when I was 20! I struggled!!!" and look, I am NOT trying to act like I understand the transgender struggle here, but her insistence that she struggled while never addressing the big elephant in the room that she's freaking rich, engaged to a literal Getty, and raised in an upper middle class household is.... too much. On one of the first pages, she implies that she would NEVER take the subway. It grated a bit for me.
I wish she hired a ghost writer.
First I think it's important to judge a book against what it's trying to be. Gigi clearly wrote this book for her fans, which I sort of count myself among -- I occasionally watch her videos but I did religiously when I was much younger. It's half memoir, half bitchy celebrity book. Bitchy celebrity books have their place!
And it does some of that well. For example, I actually thought the photos throughout the book were great, they were beautiful and different and for the fans. In much of it she was clearly quite vulnerable -- I thought the chapter about her stealing phase was enlightening and she was incredibly open about dating as a trans girl, much moreso than she ever was on her channel.
But much of it just felt, well, really dumb. The chapter on her idols was quite strange, and felt like she was trying to fill pages. The "Gigi-isms" that are cute in her videos are really dumb and feel forced in this book.
The intro this book kind of put me off. She essentially says "Don't think I didn't struggle! I had to come out three times! My mom died when I was 20! I struggled!!!" and look, I am NOT trying to act like I understand the transgender struggle here, but her insistence that she struggled while never addressing the big elephant in the room that she's freaking rich, engaged to a literal Getty, and raised in an upper middle class household is.... too much. On one of the first pages, she implies that she would NEVER take the subway. It grated a bit for me.
I wish she hired a ghost writer.
May 4, 2019
This is an unusual choice of a book for me. This is about a person who named herself Gigi Gorgeous. She was born as Gregory and knew from a very young age that Gregory was really a girl. As time went on, Gregory changed to Gigi supported by her brothers and her parents while growing up in Canada.
Gigi took female hormones and also had female facial reconstruction surgery. She had breast enhancement too. She is living as a woman but never got the complete surgery to change from a man's anatomy to a woman's. She dated men but didn't feel completely fulfilled. She fell in love with a woman and intends to get married and hopes they can have their own children. So in a way, she is still a male but living as a female.
I found the autobiography to be interesting but confusing. I think anyone who goes through the process of changing their body partially or completely has to have a very strong conviction to be willing to go through all the steps and surgeries.
Gigi took female hormones and also had female facial reconstruction surgery. She had breast enhancement too. She is living as a woman but never got the complete surgery to change from a man's anatomy to a woman's. She dated men but didn't feel completely fulfilled. She fell in love with a woman and intends to get married and hopes they can have their own children. So in a way, she is still a male but living as a female.
I found the autobiography to be interesting but confusing. I think anyone who goes through the process of changing their body partially or completely has to have a very strong conviction to be willing to go through all the steps and surgeries.
October 19, 2022
I don't know if I started watching (at the time Gregory Gorgeous) long enough ago to count as an OG fan. If not, close.
I was pleasantly surprised. This was honest, and less frothy than it comes off as. I enjoyed most of the stories, minus some timeline issues.
However, I do have some major complaints. There were other interesting incidents that were not mentioned, or barely mentioned. Like the filming of the reality show The Avenue. That was a less savory endeavor, but the truth on it would've been much appreciated.
Also, there was some lack of self-reflection. From reading about the college days, I think she was going through some severe depression. Likely a symptom of being away from the support of her friend network she spent years building up.
And-this is me reaching a little bit-I do think some of the story time videos were heavily exagerated, if not outright fabricated. They were still fun to watch, though.
Better than the documentary, for sure.
I was pleasantly surprised. This was honest, and less frothy than it comes off as. I enjoyed most of the stories, minus some timeline issues.
However, I do have some major complaints. There were other interesting incidents that were not mentioned, or barely mentioned. Like the filming of the reality show The Avenue. That was a less savory endeavor, but the truth on it would've been much appreciated.
Also, there was some lack of self-reflection. From reading about the college days, I think she was going through some severe depression. Likely a symptom of being away from the support of her friend network she spent years building up.
And-this is me reaching a little bit-I do think some of the story time videos were heavily exagerated, if not outright fabricated. They were still fun to watch, though.
Better than the documentary, for sure.
August 15, 2022
Disclaimer: I've never seen a video by Gigi, and my girlfriend made me read this.
This could have been so much better. First of all, by getting a good editor. There were several grammar mistakes, or sentences that did not make any sense.
Secondly, I just can't like her. She is arrogant and seems to feel really cool about having a lot of money and her only purpose in life being going to clubs and get very drunk (even just before surgery, are you an idiot?).
As for the story, this book could have been so much better if it would dive deeper into feelings of dysphoria, loss of a loved one and finding who you really are, instead of telling me exactly how much your boobs cost.
I guess this was just not for me..
This could have been so much better. First of all, by getting a good editor. There were several grammar mistakes, or sentences that did not make any sense.
Secondly, I just can't like her. She is arrogant and seems to feel really cool about having a lot of money and her only purpose in life being going to clubs and get very drunk (even just before surgery, are you an idiot?).
As for the story, this book could have been so much better if it would dive deeper into feelings of dysphoria, loss of a loved one and finding who you really are, instead of telling me exactly how much your boobs cost.
I guess this was just not for me..
September 13, 2021
I haven’t gotten to know Gigi Gorgeous through any other mediums (YouTube, documentary, etc) and don’t really expect to love this book.
I didn’t, but I also wasn’t disappointed! She’s “extra” and although that was something I expected not to like much, I like how she owns it and is herself the way she wants to be. I also loved how she owned her mistakes and other items she’s not proud of in her past, not as a dramatic I-was-so-awful or riddling those choices with excuses. It takes someone strong to own their poor choices and, even when you can see reasons or contributing factors to those decisions, not excuse them or try to sweep them under the proverbial rug.
I hope her future is a happy and healthy one!
I didn’t, but I also wasn’t disappointed! She’s “extra” and although that was something I expected not to like much, I like how she owns it and is herself the way she wants to be. I also loved how she owned her mistakes and other items she’s not proud of in her past, not as a dramatic I-was-so-awful or riddling those choices with excuses. It takes someone strong to own their poor choices and, even when you can see reasons or contributing factors to those decisions, not excuse them or try to sweep them under the proverbial rug.
I hope her future is a happy and healthy one!
May 11, 2019
This book was an easy read. It was almost like a magazine in that it had lots of glossy photos of Gigi and advertised the makeup she wore. It felt like she was talking to the reader, she told about her life in a conversational tone. My first impression was that she was very shallow and materialistic but after reading this I see how her values grew out of her needs and insecurities. Gigi openly talked about the mechanics of transitioning as well as how she felt along the journey. Her candor and willingness to expose her vulnerability added another level to her story. I hope this book will help others who are trying to become their real selves.
February 2, 2021
Full Review here
This book I enjoyed, I think Gigi told her story in the best way of her. And while it took a while to get into the writing style a little bit I liked it.
That being said I feel like the flow wasn’t the best? I suppose it was written how Gigi would tell her story times in that some stories had detail and others didn’t or there would be gaps.
I suppose that comes from wanting to share your life but leaving some bits out or glossing over bits that don’t need much attention. But it left me having some more questions about her life...
This book I enjoyed, I think Gigi told her story in the best way of her. And while it took a while to get into the writing style a little bit I liked it.
That being said I feel like the flow wasn’t the best? I suppose it was written how Gigi would tell her story times in that some stories had detail and others didn’t or there would be gaps.
I suppose that comes from wanting to share your life but leaving some bits out or glossing over bits that don’t need much attention. But it left me having some more questions about her life...
January 30, 2021
So I should admit upfront that I picked this up having absolutely no idea who the author was, havng never seen any of her videos (and, let's be honest, I probably never will). It all felt a bit like reading the diary of a teen valley girl, and the whole "omg, I'm so extra" vibe was definitely offputting at times, but underneath all that was an endearingly open and honest exploration of the journey of a trans girl finding and embracing her identity. Given the current hostility surrounding the debate on trans identity, these sorts of narratives feel so important to give voice to the realities of what it is that people are fighting for.
January 1, 2022
Definitely it’s not a book it’s like of tale and sporadic memories
Just out of curiosity started reading this memoir as what it was like to know the other side !!!
Just flip the pages and travel with Gigi as she discover her self and find her true self
But honestly I did not like the theme as she drive everything to the moment she wrote the book as it is the climax of her story
You will gain nothing by reading except some confusion that was affirmed and cleared
Meh 😑
Just out of curiosity started reading this memoir as what it was like to know the other side !!!
Just flip the pages and travel with Gigi as she discover her self and find her true self
But honestly I did not like the theme as she drive everything to the moment she wrote the book as it is the climax of her story
You will gain nothing by reading except some confusion that was affirmed and cleared
Meh 😑
April 18, 2019
A light read. As someone who doesn’t know a lot about Gigi and who doesn’t watch her videos, I now have a better idea of who she is and what her story is, but the book wasn’t particularly entertaining or humorous. It was a quick read and generally better suited for her fan base or her YouTube audience who does watch her content.
October 15, 2020
Some great insights into Gigi's life that I think can serve more than just her fans. However, there is so much blatant filler in this that the good moments get lost in strange listicles that clearly got written in an afternoon to fill space. Take the good anecdotes and save them for another memoir in 30 years.
Read
May 6, 2020It feels wrong to rate a memoir. This book was entertaining, funny, sad at times, insightful and genuine. I loved how open and honest Gigi is, and I learned a lot about how she grew up to be the woman that she is now. It gave me a lot of insight about gender, sexuality, femininity and what all those mean in our society.
May 14, 2019
This book was interesting, but she writes the same way that she speaks, and it doesn't always work.
May 28, 2019
Boring~This book was hard to get through. I hated how it was narrated and the content barely kept my interest. I wish I could give it half a star.
May 18, 2019
I started watching Gigi - formerly known as Greg - on YouTube in late 2008. Despite being a number of years younger, I found Greg's videos to be incredibly hilarious and sincere. As I was a freshman in college watching his videos, I saw Greg as just a kid in high school that was venting his frustrations on YouTube. As the years progressed, and I lost touch with his channel, I found myself wondering "Whatever happened to Greg?"
From time to time as I would check-in on YouTube, I found that he went through a series of incredibly challenging chapters in his life in a very condensed amount of time. From what I recall, in less than half a decade, he lost his Mother to cancer; he realized he no longer identified as gay, but rather, as transgender; he had started his physical transition to becoming a woman; and she came-out as a lesbian. The book is a condensed and humorous look at an incredibly turbulent period in a young person's life. It also shows how the incredibly blessed Gigi is to have a family that is more than accepting, but supportive, and truly unconditionally loves her in more than their thoughts but their actions. However, along with the good, this novel, in conjunction with Gigi's YouTube film documentary, shows very clearly that at the end of the day, Gigi/Greg is terribly young, naive at heart, and at times, for lack of better words, a full-fledged brat.
It's hard to grasp that a person born in 1992 can, at the ripe young age of 27, write a memoir filled with such dramatic chapters. This book is a testament to what might be the ultimate representation of a Millenial. I would be interested to see a novel reflecting on this book when Gigi is in her late 40s/early 50s.
From time to time as I would check-in on YouTube, I found that he went through a series of incredibly challenging chapters in his life in a very condensed amount of time. From what I recall, in less than half a decade, he lost his Mother to cancer; he realized he no longer identified as gay, but rather, as transgender; he had started his physical transition to becoming a woman; and she came-out as a lesbian. The book is a condensed and humorous look at an incredibly turbulent period in a young person's life. It also shows how the incredibly blessed Gigi is to have a family that is more than accepting, but supportive, and truly unconditionally loves her in more than their thoughts but their actions. However, along with the good, this novel, in conjunction with Gigi's YouTube film documentary, shows very clearly that at the end of the day, Gigi/Greg is terribly young, naive at heart, and at times, for lack of better words, a full-fledged brat.
It's hard to grasp that a person born in 1992 can, at the ripe young age of 27, write a memoir filled with such dramatic chapters. This book is a testament to what might be the ultimate representation of a Millenial. I would be interested to see a novel reflecting on this book when Gigi is in her late 40s/early 50s.
February 17, 2023
I am definitely not the target audience here but I've been interested in Gigi for a while and I definitely found this book to be very informing in some ways - especially for someone like me who has literally no experience when it comes to being transgender. I do appreciate the honesty of the author, especially regarding some very very personal matters that not all of us would be brave to speak about.
I am definitely a bit late to reading this book as well considering how much has happened since 2019, but no matter. It's also the first ever Youtuber book I've actually read and I do feel that considering what I've heard about the others this one is well ahead. However, it definitely didn't make me want to reach for any other books written by Youtubers (especially because quite a few of them are well.. jokes to say the very least), even if I did like Gigi as a narrator. Maybe only if it's someone like John Green.
I do feel however that when comparing this memoir to some of the others that I've read, especially Jennette's book, it really feels like something is missing just a little bit. Is it the language, is it a clearer structure - not entirely sure, however I definitely did at times feel that getting from page dragged a little bit. However, at the same time I did still appreciate the simplicity of the language and the way Gigi's voice came through.
All in all it was an interesting reading experience and definitely taught me quite a few things. I know that Gigi does have a new book coming out as well which I will also likely have a look at sometime.
I am definitely a bit late to reading this book as well considering how much has happened since 2019, but no matter. It's also the first ever Youtuber book I've actually read and I do feel that considering what I've heard about the others this one is well ahead. However, it definitely didn't make me want to reach for any other books written by Youtubers (especially because quite a few of them are well.. jokes to say the very least), even if I did like Gigi as a narrator. Maybe only if it's someone like John Green.
I do feel however that when comparing this memoir to some of the others that I've read, especially Jennette's book, it really feels like something is missing just a little bit. Is it the language, is it a clearer structure - not entirely sure, however I definitely did at times feel that getting from page dragged a little bit. However, at the same time I did still appreciate the simplicity of the language and the way Gigi's voice came through.
All in all it was an interesting reading experience and definitely taught me quite a few things. I know that Gigi does have a new book coming out as well which I will also likely have a look at sometime.
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