Party of One

A Memoir in 21 Songs

By: Dave Holmes

Narrated by: Dave Holmes

From former MTV VJ Dave Holmes, the hilarious memoir of a perpetual outsider fumbling towards self-acceptance, with the music of the '80s, '90s, and today as his soundtrack

Dave Holmes has spent his life on the periphery, nose pressed hopefully against the glass, wanting just one thing: to get inside. Growing up, he was the artsy son in the sporty family. At his all-boys high school and Catholic college, he was the closeted gay kid surrounded by crush-worthy straight guys. And in his twenties, in the middle of a disastrous career in advertising, he accidentally became an MTV VJ overnight when he finished second, naturally, in the Wanna Be a VJ contest, opening the door to fame, fortune, and celebrity—you know, almost.

In Party of One, Holmes tells the hilariously painful and painfully hilarious tales—in the vein of Rob Sheffield, Andy Cohen, and Paul Feig—of an outsider desperate to get in, of a misfit constantly changing shape, of a music geek who finally learns to accept himself. Structured around a mix of hits and deep cuts from the last four decades—from Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart" and En Vogue's "Free Your Mind" to LCD Soundsystem’s “Losing My Edge” and Bleachers’ “I Wanna Get Better”—and punctuated with interludes like "So You've Had Your Heart Broken in the 1990s: A Playlist" and “Notes on (Jesse) Camp,” this book is for anyone who's ever felt like a square peg, especially those who have found their place in the world around a band, an album, or a song. It's a laugh-out-loud funny, deeply nostalgic story about never fitting in, never giving up, and letting good music guide the way.

– NPR “Best Books of 2016”: Staff Picks, Biography & Memoir, For Music Lovers, Funny Stuff, Non-fiction Categories

Charming, nostalgic and honest

I was drawn to this book after hearing Dave being interviewed about on the podcast,Getting Curious. I loved Dave’s personality and remembered him as one of the only VJ’s at the time he was on air that I liked. After just listening to the sample I knew I’d love this book. He narrates his journey of self acceptance with humor and heart. I really enjoyed his story and the stroll they music and the budding years of MTV were prolific for me as well! You won’t regret this book.

This Book Is For You

One of the best memoirs I've heard. All queer kids and adults should listen--it's comforting, funny, and feels like a support group without the drama of having to say anything.

Party of One on One with a great storyteller

Dave Holmes' reading/performance of this book is wonderful. The tone is completely conversational yet at the same time incredibly professional. There was no over the top affect to the performance (as there have been some other audiobooks). Even the few times where Holmes began to attempt an accent were peppered with jokes of "no, I'm not going to do an accent".

He is a wonderful writer with smart and funny observations and the ability to make the reader feel as if they are in a one on one conversation with the author.

It is an engaging, funny, self-depreciating and poignant book. The chapters are vignettes that are strung together to tell the story of life by a talented storyteller. And the author brings you along--inviting you to his party.

Funny? Yes! Relatable? Surprisingly so!

Despite the author's contention that he is not funny, don't let him fool you; Dave Holmes is quite funny. Imagine your best friend. Now go back to the time when you had just met that person, before they were actually your BFF and you were just getting to know that person. You already knew you liked that person and all the stories you told each other about your respective childhoods, your formative years, your latest exploits as adults - that's what this book feels like, with a tiny sprinkling of celebrity dish. Dave Holmes' honesty and willingness to be forthcoming makes him instantly likable and he discusses some issues that, while intensely personal, end up being pretty universal; I found myself nodding and saying, "That's right" several times throughout, and I'm a straight late-30's Latino male from California. Definitely worth a listen.

Loved Dave Holmes before love him more now

Listening to him read his life is like sitting with my best friend. He explains his experiences so even if you've never had them you feel it with him.
I'm going to listen again and tell everyone to buy this book