by Jeffery Self
First published 2025
Jeffery Self opens his life to readers in this memoir that tracks his path from awkward gay teenager in the American South to working actor and comedian. Self recounts his experiences in community theater productions, underage encounters with Broadway performers, and nights in downtown comedy clubs. He details his career in television and film, world tours performing stand-up, getting rejected by gay cruise ship audiences, and a stint in sex work. The book covers meeting his idols, romantic relationships that ended in heartbreak, public criticism, and his struggles with bipolar disorder. Self examines how he learned to accept himself while keeping parts of his identity hidden, and how he discovered self-worth despite years of self-destructive behavior. Through stories that range from shocking to tender, he shows readers his journey toward becoming the person he wanted to be.
Genres: american-fiction, autobiography, contemporary, memoir, biography-memoir, comedy
Vibes: candid, humorous, intimate, reflective, tender, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family, overcoming-adversity, self-discovery
Setting: American South, Broadway, Downtown Comedy Clubs
Period: 21st-century
272 pages · Paperback · HarperOne
Content warnings: mental-illness, sexual-content, substance-abuse