Going Wilde: How I Became the Woman I Was Meant to Be by Creating a Woman I’m Not

By: Jessica Wilde

Narrated by: Brandy Kopp

Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Trailer park girl. Teen bride. Single mom. Instagram celebrity.

It would be easy to mistake Jessica Wilde’s life for a simple rags-to-riches story. After all, she went from a youth marred by poverty, sexual abuse, and bad decisions, to internet fame that gave her control over her own fate, and provided a lucrative living.

If happiness were only that simple.

In reality, Wilde’s personal journey of growth and triumph involved a daunting struggle to define the real woman behind her online creation. The bitter irony was that becoming a social media celebrity only made understanding and appreciating who she actually was, and forging deep and lasting relationships, exponentially harder.

This remarkably candid memoir follows Wilde’s thoughtful struggles to untangle social media’s jungle of destructive illusions and embrace her own authentic identity. It serves as a damning cautionary tale for anyone creating a digital façade on sites from Facebook, to Instagram, to LinkedIn. The ugly reality that Going Wilde reveals is that social media undermines the essential personal connections it was created to foster. But as Jessica Wilde ultimately discovered, a healthy sense of self and deep happiness could not be further from what appears above a “like” button.

©2021 Tiffany Brockway (P)2021 Tiffany Brockway

Good

I was expecting a book with more detail on her camming, modeling and Instagram career. I didn't expect so many stories about failed romantic relationships. The book focused mostly the drama of finding love and never getting it. Overall it's a good read and worth the time and money spent.

Loved It

Her story is fascinating to listen to, shocking and unexpected yet relatable in so many ways. Definitely worth the listen.

Inspiring and well written

I had never heard of Jessica Wilde prior to stumbling upon this book. While I do happen to have a few tattoos, all discreetly located - that’s about the only lifestyle characteristic I have in common with Jessica. Even though our lives are vastly different, I was drawn into her rags to riches story immediately and fully. She has an underdog’s likability that had me rooting for her and applauding her bumpy transformation.

I bought the book in order to broaden my horizons and expose myself to content that was different than my usual self-development / spirituality book. I got what I was looking for and more. Jessica was a completely different main character from anyone else I’d ever read that gave me a new perspective on people who cam as well as an appreciation for my own privileged upbringing. Jessica’s tale contains the undertones of the universal lessons necessary to transform and become the best version of yourself. Her Insta-crafted persona is crafted to give the audience the “perfect” version of Jessica that they desire and expect, but the true Jessica is the humble girl next door just wanting to be loved and accepted for who she really is - authentic, genuine, imperfect and simple. A great listen. Bravo on this A+ book and the narrator’s performance alike.

Reading this while being homeless…

My children and I are currently homeless due to divorce. I bought this book a month ago. I wasn’t sure what the book would be about. I didn’t want a typical romance novel to read right now. I definitely didn’t think this book would help me like it did. Leaving a dark 12 years has been so difficult. I couldn’t stop listening. I needed to know she found herself when I am still so lost.

Compelling story

I could not stop listening when I started! Jessica’s story is one of trauma, heartbreak and resilience. I was humbled and took a long pause to honour my privilege. I found her story inspiring and more than a few times felt a shared bond. Her story, while unique, has fundamental similarities to many of our own.

To the author: Thank you for this gift.

Left Me Wanting More

I started following Jessica on Instagram a while back because I'm into chicks with tattoos (obviously, as I would assume most people who follow her are).

However as I've gotten older that list of people I follow shrunk and I lost interest in most. But Jess always had my interest peaked.

It's the people who put the least amount out there about who they really are that I am the most intrigued by. But we rarely get a look inside the untouchable people we follows real lives. To that I must say this book was exactly the insider info that I crave.

I also have to say it wasn't at all what I expected. I think I just assumed the book would be some fairly tale about how she came up in/on social media and it would be all sunshine and rainbows. But to find out it was hurdle after hurdle, and that life wouldn't stop throwing brutal curve balls at her non stop was an absolute shock. I also must say it gives me a whole new perspective on her and a huge amount of respect. I've had hardships in life that nearly crippled me emotionally but to go through what she went through and still accomplish everything she had is absolutely inspiring.

It really only makes me want to know more. I'm nosey, always have been always will be. The only complaint I have is that is wasn't long enough haha

Brandy did a great job on the reading as well.

All in all I highly recommend this book to those who have been through some shit and need a little help finding the strength to come out of it stronger on the other side.