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Hola Papi
Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons | John Paul Brammer
From popular LGBTQ advice columnist and writer John Paul Brammer comes a hilarious, heartwarming memoir-in-essays chronicling his journey growing up as a queer, mixed-race Chicano kid in Americans heartland to becoming the Picante Carrie Bradshaw of his generation. The first time someone called John Paul (JP) Brammer Papi was on the popular gay hookup app Grindr. At first, it was flattering; JP took this as white-guy speak for hey, handsome. Who doesnt want to be called handsome? But then it happened again and againand again, leaving JP wondering: Who the hell is Papi? What started as a racialized moniker given to him on a hookup app soon became the inspiration for his now wildly popular advice column Hola Papi!, launching his career as the Cheryl Strayed for young queer people everywhereand some straight people too. JP had his doubts at firstwhat advice could he really offer while he himself stumbled through his early 20s? Sometimes the best advice to dole outcomes from looking within, which is what JP has done in his column and bookand readers have flocked to him for honest, heartfelt wisdom, and of course a few laughs. In Hola Papi!, JP shares his story of growing up biracial and in the closet against the backdrop of Americas heartland, while attempting to answer some of lifes toughest questions: How do I let go of the past? How do I become the person I want to be? Is there such a thing as being too gay? Should I hook up with my grade school bully now that hes out of the closet? Questions weve all asked ourselves, surely. With wit and wisdom in equal measure, Hola Papi! is for anyonegay, straight, and everything in betweenwho has ever taken stock of their unique place in the world, offering considered advice, intelligent discourse, and fits of laughter along the way. As #1 New York Times bestselling author Shea Serrano says: I loved Hola Papi! Im certain you will too.
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steph_phanie
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Pickpick

Almost 4⭐️
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This equally humorous and heartbreaking memoir is told in the format of Questions & Answers (essays) supposedly taken from the author's job as a queer advice columnist. Flashbacks to Brammer's youth in rural Oklahoma and his early experiences as a gay man serve as the packaging for most of his advice. I was quite moved by his honesty, vulnerability, and insight, but I think a more standard format would have served his story better.

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Smrloomis
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John Paul Brammer is publishing a new children‘s book called Samara. He wrote: “Samara is, among other things, a love letter to those weird kids sitting in the very back of the classroom with their heads in the clouds, who doodle and take cracks at poetry and find comfort and refuge in language.” 🥳🥳🥳

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Reggie
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Pickpick

John Paul Brammer is an advice columnist for Grinder that starts off as a spoof and then gains traction as more and more letters come in prompting him to cull from his personal life leading to shared universal experiences that are super self aware, funny at times, and touching at others, all well written which means that after this long ass sentence: It‘s a pick!!!! So glad queer books like this exist. 🏳️‍🌈

Smrloomis I loved reading this one and enjoyed it so much. I hope he writes more books/thoughtful advice for others. He‘s great! 2mo
sarahbarnes ♥️♥️♥️ 2mo
67 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Christine
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Pickpick

I liked this a lot! Great writing, very funny, plenty of bittersweet growing-up stories. The author‘s audio narration was a bit deadpan in a way that I really enjoyed. Not quite as light as I'd assumed it might be based on the (fun and awesome) cover, but all the better for it.

35 likes1 stack add
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CaliforniaCay
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Pickpick

I had never heard of John Paul Brammer before but I'm glad I listened to this one. Nothing earth shattering here but he had an interesting, if not sometimes sad, back story. He's a mixed (Mexican and White) gay advice columnist who shares funny stories about his struggles with his ethnicity as well as his sexuality.

44 likes1 stack add
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Smrloomis
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Pickpick

Enjoyed this but not sure if it‘s advice so much as vignettes some readers can benefit from. CW for discussions of bullying and suicide. I was caught off guard by the second topic in particular. While I found those parts hard to listen to, I would definitely read more from him.

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acw
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Pickpick

All I can say is “wooooooow.” I am not a gay man, but I can soundly say, even in light of that, this book is so relatable to the human condition and beautifully written. BRB currently telling everyone I know to read this.

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Nalbuque
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Pickpick

Great memoir written in the form of advice columns. Brammer is such a good story teller, even tho his stories are almost common place in the experience of someone growing up gay, he makes them feel new and fresh. The analysis and “take home message” he leaves us with on each chapter is inspiring 🤍 def recommend this short, funny read.

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amma-keep-reading
Pickpick

i liked it this better than i thought i would. this was honest, funny, and worth the read. [3.5]

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Susanita
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A sunny afternoon spent at Books in Bloom!

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Mariasimon
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Pickpick

“My present criteria expected me to play sports and not cry, so I was failing”
“ I think that‘s why it‘s important that we express ourselves: you never know who might be listening and who needs to hear you”
“There is a time for self-help and a time for self-helplessness”

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SkeletonKey
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Current book and morning cacao to try and wake up today.

#lgbtq

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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

This cover art 😍
Dear Abby-style questions for John Paul, an American with Mexican heritage. As the subtitle promises, readers get a glimpse into his life including a bit of his childhood, coming of age, and early experiences with sexuality. Funny at times, self depreciating, and covers the hard stuff too. Only complaint — a bit too short! I would have gladly listened to more of his stories!

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Karmapen
Pickpick

I did not think I was going to like this, despite liking JP Brammer, because the first chapter felt a bit rocky ? But then I really got into the form and then I LOVED it.

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Matilda
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Pickpick

Nonfiction continues to put out fantastic reads.

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phantomx
Pickpick

Hola Papi was a blast to read! Although most people are looking for an advice type book on coming out and accepting yourself, its more an memoir with a collection of essays on Brammer's experiences through his life and hia examination on race, loving and accepting yourself, sexuality, relationships, and constant change in life. I found this memoir to be relatable, campy, funny, honest, and heart-felt.

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underground_bks
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Mehso-so

This memoir-in-essays is by a queer, mixed-race kid from Oklahoma who became the Grindr advice columnist. Structured as responses to letter-writers, ¡Hola Papi! hinges on how much meaning John Paul Brammer is able to make from the trauma, mistakes, & experiences of his youth—and how self-aware he is, and this is where it didn‘t work for me. A recurring question is who are you to give advice, and I didn‘t have an answer when I turned the last page.

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Hooked_on_books
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Mehso-so

The title and cover of this book, and indeed the description that put it on my radar, suggest a fun, boisterous, funny discussion of life and advice for living as a gay man (a gay Mexican, as the author calls himself). Instead, it‘s straight memoir with little to no variation in emotional impact, making it fall flat. I was disappointed. 😕

Soubhiville That‘s too bad, the cover and title make it sound really fun. 3y
41 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
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Mehso-so

This was a lot more serious and somber than I was expecting. Just okay, but only because I read SO MANY memoirs that my memoir expectations are pretty high. Also author‘s narration was a little monotone. #BorrowNotBuy

Megabooks I think I‘ll skip. 3y
Cinfhen It‘s not bad if you go in with different expectations @Megabooks You might want to borrow one day😉 3y
Cathythoughts Nice pic 💕💕💕 3y
61 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Cinfhen
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Everything about this title and the cover art has me saying sí sí ?♥️??#Scribd Have you seen this one @Megabooks ?? #PrideMonth ?️‍?#OwnVoices

Megabooks No I haven‘t! Thanks for the heads up. Looking forward to your review!! 3y
67 likes1 comment
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vlwelser
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Mehso-so

This was solidly ok. I think the best part is the cover.

#BookSpinBingo square 17
@TheAromaofBooks

Pub date is 6/8/2021

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
Cinfhen Haha! I felt the same way…was expecting something lighter… 3y
vlwelser @Cinfhen memoirs should either be funny or inspiring, possibly both. This was neither imo. 3y
Cinfhen Yes!!! So true!!! I feel bad not “liking” a memoir - but I agree, this was very flat. 3y
25 likes4 comments
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GerardtheBookworm
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Pickpick

Biracial Hispanic columnist shares his insight into relationships, sex and gay dating in this hilarious part self-help part memoir of growing up in the heartland.

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Schlinkles
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Hoping to get this finished to meet the Indie Next deadline on the 29th...

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akaGingerK
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Pickpick

A memoir filled with considerations of identity & authenticity - as a boy, as a gay man, as Mexican-American, as someone with depression - framed as advice column answers. I‘ve followed the author on twitter for a while. Like all my favorite agony aunts, his approach is empathetic & a touch humorous, with the occasional perfect phrase I didn‘t know I needed - all of which shines through in his memoir. #ARC

8 likes2 stack adds
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akaGingerK
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“Oh goodness, screw life.... I‘ve triangulated mine in such a way that the sex app I got addicted to shortly after coming out became my freelance employer when I accidentally became an advice columnist under the racialized moniker that white dudes liked to throw at me when they were horny.” #ARC