Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?

Adventures in Boyhood

De: Jay Ellis

Narrado por: Jay Ellis

Jay Ellis, star of HBO’s Insecure, tells the story of growing up with an imaginary best friend you will never forget—part Dwayne Wayne from A Different World, part Will Smith from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air—in this hilarious, vulnerable memoir.

“So funny, poignant, and personal. I loved this and you will, too.”—Mindy Kaling, author of Why Not Me? and Nothing Like I Imagined

What to do when you’re the perpetual new kid, only child, and military brat hustling school to school each year and everyone’s looking to you for answers? Make some shit up, of course! And a young Jay Ellis does just that, with help from his imaginary friend, Mikey.

A testament to the importance of invention, trusting oneself, and making space for creativity, Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)? is a memoir of a kid who confided in his imaginary sidekick to navigate parallel pop culture universes (like watching Fresh Prince alongside John Hughes movies or listening to Ja Rule and Dave Matthews) to a lifetime of birthday disappointment (being a Christmas-season Capricorn will do that to you) and hoop dreams gone bad. Mikey also guides Ellis through tragedies, like losing his teenage cousin in a mistaken-target drive-by and the shame and fear of being pulled over by cops almost a dozen times the year he got his driver’s license.

As his imaginary friend morphs into adult consciousness, Ellis charts an unforgettable story of looking inward to solve to some of life’s biggest (and smallest) challenges, told in the roast-you-with-love voice of your closest homey.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Nothing is more annoying than knowing that a handsome movie star like Jay Ellis is also a talented writer. His debut collection of essays is so funny, poignant, and personal. I loved this and you will, too.”—Mindy Kaling, author of Why Not Me? and Nothing Like I Imagined

“Not only affirming but also transporting, a true beacon for both our younger and older selves who were once lonely, and perhaps are still lonely at times, but always capable of wielding our immense imaginations . . . This is a joyous, celebratory, fluorescent, and fully alive book.”—Hanif Abdurraqib, author of A Little Devil in America

“Heartwarming, heartbreaking, and seriously hilarious, this book is an ode to imagination—that which dwells inside all of us, waiting to run free. Jay Ellis has written a brave, necessary book, filled with coming-of-age stories packed with solid life lessons. I wish I’d read this as a young person, but am even more grateful to have found it as an adult.”—Mateo Askaripour, author of Black Buck

“Poignant and delightfully nostalgic with a perfect blend of humor and candid self-reflection . . . This is an essential reminder to nurture the worlds we build in our minds as children—and as adults, too.”—Zakiya Dalila Harris, bestselling author of The Other Black Girl

“Pairing youthful exuberance with the nostalgia of a man looking back on his formative years, this book is told with verve, charm, and joy. By the time you finish, you’ll wish you had an imaginary friend like Mikey, too.”—Maurice Carlos Ruffin, author of The American Daughters

A great perspective

Jay’s Stories were not only entertaining but a reminder of the innocence, creativity and multi- dimensional nature of a child’s mind. A reminder encourage imagination in our children.
My mother always brings up my imaginary friend from my childhood. While I don’t remember him, this book makes me want to reach into the recesses of my mind and search for his existence.

A little odd but Awesome

At first I was like ummm what now? But Jay is an awesome story teller and I really enjoyed it!

Wow! Amazing

Very related and entertaining. Definitely on my re-read list. I’m going to recommend this to my little brother.

A 90's Throwback

This was such a a fun book. Jay truly has a knack for storytelling, and is incredibly talented, creative, and imaginative. The innocence of an imaginary friend is a moment in time many people can relate to. Learning more about his upbringing through "Mikey" and unique exploration through his childhood was a treat.

Wonderful book! My imaginary friend says thanks.

It was so much fun listening to Jay talk about his imaginary friend. I have siblings, but my "friend" was also with me growing up. Kept me out of a lot of trouble as well. I named her Spidey