The Truth About Aaron

My Journey to Understand My Brother

By: Jonathan Hernandez

Narrated by: Josh Bloomberg

Length: 5 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

The unvarnished true story of the tragic life and death of Aaron Hernandez, the college All-American and New England Patriots star convicted of murder, told by one of the few people who knew him best, his brother.

To football fans, Aaron Hernandez was a superstar in the making. A standout at the University of Florida, he helped the Gators win the national title in 2008. Drafted by the New England Patriots, in his second full season with the team he and fellow Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski set records for touchdowns and yardage, and with Tom Brady, led New England to Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. But Aaron’s NFL career ended as quickly as it began. On June 26, 2013, he was arrested at his North Attleboro home, charged with the murder of Odin Lloyd, and released by the Patriots. Convicted of first-degree murder, Aaron was sentenced to life in prison without parole. On May 15, 2014, while on trial for Lloyd's murder, Aaron was indicted for two more murders. Five days after being acquitted for those double murders, he committed suicide in his jail cell. Aaron Hernandez was 27 years old.

In this clear-eyed, emotionally devastating biography - a family memoir combining football and true crime - Jonathan (formerly known by his nickname DJ) Hernandez speaks out fully for the first time about the brother he knew. Jonathan draws on his own recollections as well as thousands of pages of prison letters and other sources to give us a full portrait of a star athlete and troubled young man who would become a murderer, and the darkness that consumed him. Jonathan does not portray Aaron as a victim; he does not lay the blame for his crimes on his illness. He speaks openly about Aaron’s talent, his sexuality, his crimes and incarceration, and the CTE that ravaged him - scientists found that upon his death, Aaron had the brain of a 67-year old suffering from the same condition. Filled with headline-making revelations, The Truth About Aaron is a shocking and moving account of promise, tragedy, and loss - of one man’s descent into rage and violence, as told by the person who knew him more closely than anyone else.

©2018 Jonathan Hernandez (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Excellent

This book was well written & very informative. His brother did well in explaining his life.

Not what I was expecting

This book profoundly tugged at my heart strings. I watched the trials of Aaron Hernandez from the get go and you could clearly see he was battling something deeper but it almost seemed like he was at peace in prison. With all the documentaries of Aaron in the spotlight today, I was interested in listening to this book and gain his families perspective. I have been fascinated with true crime ever since I can remember solely because it is real and I'm always curious to know what drove people to commit such crimes and this book dove into that. In my opinion, the families of both the victim and the accuser suffer tremendously and are sometimes guilty by association so it was heartbreaking to hear how Aaron's family struggled after he was convicted especially DJ. I could feel DJ's pain, anguish and profound love for Aaron and although he knew there were issues with him, his hands were tied. I personally have been in a similar situation and you question yourself over and over and convince yourself you could have done more to help but in the end, you realize you have to stop trying because a person will do what they want to do regardless. Even if Aaron might have not committed this murder, he is held accountable for being there and involved but hearing DJ's side of the story gives a very different perspective on who Aaron really was and the demons he was fighting. He doesn't undermine Odin's death nor does he ask for pity of him, his family or Aaron, he simply gives us insight into Aaron's life and clearly identifies that he knew he wasn't perfect but that he was still his brother.

powerful

just a reminder that by the grace of God go we. spoke is not justifying anything it's explaining the importance of understanding compassion and seeking help when needed. God bless all families affected truly sad

love it a must read , brother telling the truth

this book is powerful and has a message for those that need help loved it!

Powerful and Necessary

Speaking to his brother’s truth, Jonathan Hernandez shares perhaps the closest glimpse we’ll see into Aaron’s internal struggle.

Reading this book will change your life. We love you Aaron.

Keep strong Jonathan and family.

Brilliantly written, with such in depth personal feelings♥️💔

As a mother of a child with a traumatic brain injury I can relate to the behaviors Aaron exhibited. Impulsive, irrational, joyful, depressed, anger, confusion, memory loss and then to add the molestation on top of it. I am not downsizing the repercussions of his choices at all. As a parent of a child with a brain disorder I have had to grieve the loss of the son I had. He is a totally different person. I know I still have him and please know I have the utmost respect for the victims and their families. I just wish there was a way that these things could be identified prior to verses after the fact. All lives could have possibly been saved. Definitely suggest listening to this side of the story verses what is shown on TV and in the media.

Great book

I feel very bad for the family and for Aaron because he was not diagnosed or helped the way he should’ve been.
This is a great book.

in love

I loved hearing Jonathan's perspective on how they grew up and how he and Aaron were. God bless u, I came out feeling hurt for Aaron for having to hide who he truly was. Its a shame in today's society that we can't just accept each other.

Enjoyed to learn the truth!

very sad to hear! but really glad his brother had the strength and will power to write about him. To tell his story! i had my own questions. Answered all of them. May his family continue to stay strong!

Well written and narrated story

Really enjoyed this. It answered a lot of questions about Aaron. It tugged at the heart strings. You could tell he got dealt a bad hand in life and it’s no excuse but you can’t help but feel sorry for the way his life turned out. I feel deep inside he was a good person and immensely talented player but with so much psychological, physical and mental abuse. It shaped who he was later in life not to mention CTE. Amazing job Jonathan, I think your brother would’ve been proud to have had his story told.