Author: Gabourey Sidibe

Genre: Memoir

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Pages: 256

Gabourey Sidibe got her big break starring in the title role as Precious in the film Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire. Since then, she has gone on to several other roles on television shows such as American Horror Story, and most recently, Empire. She certainly didn’t start out as a star, though. Gabby, as she is known to her fans, came from humble beginnings in Brooklyn. The daughter of a polygamous, African immigrant father and a mother who began as a teacher (and then went on to support her children by becoming a subway singer), Gabby sis not exactly have it easy growing up. Once on her own, it was not exactly any easier. Case in point: When she was discovered, Gabby was working at a phone sex talking company.

This memoir is, I think, the best one that I have read thus far this year. Sidibe is refreshingly honest, irreverent, hysterical, and says things that we would all like to say at times, but just can’t bring ourselves to. She doesn’t hold back when she talks about the “hard topics”, such as her relationship with her father, her family in Africa, being treated differently because of the way that she looks, weight, depression, anxiety, and more. There is something in there for everyone, and she makes you feel a little less alone while making you literally laugh out loud. Honestly, Gabourey is the kind of woman that every woman needs in her life. I want her to be my friend, too!