Over the Top

By: Jonathan Van Ness

Narrated by: Jonathan Van Ness

Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Who gave Jonathan Van Ness permission to be the radiant human he is today? No one, honey.

The truth is, it hasn’t always been gorgeous for this beacon of positivity and joy.

Before he stole our hearts as the grooming and self-care expert on Netflix’s hit show Queer Eye, Jonathan was growing up in a small Midwestern town that didn’t understand why he was so...over the top. From choreographed carpet figure skating routines to the unavoidable fact that he was Just. So. Gay., Jonathan was an easy target and endured years of judgment, ridicule and trauma - yet none of it crushed his uniquely effervescent spirit.

Over the Top uncovers the pain and passion it took to end up becoming the model of self-love and acceptance that Jonathan is today. In this revelatory, raw and rambunctious memoir, Jonathan shares never-before-told secrets and reveals sides of himself that the public has never seen. JVN fans may think they know the man behind the stiletto heels, the crop tops, and the iconic sayings, but there’s much more to him than meets the Queer Eye.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll come away knowing that no matter how broken or lost you may be, you’re a Kelly Clarkson song, you’re strong, and you’ve got this.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Jonathan Van Ness (P)2019 Simon & Schuster UK

This will be something I listen to over and over

Would I still love JVN if I knew all the parts? I don’t think 5 hours of listening to 32 years worth of story is knowing all the parts, but knowing 5 hours more now than I did a few days ago, I love her so much more!!
If you’ve bought this book you’re already a fan and you will not regret this purchase. She’s spilling the T and will tell you some real shit that you’ll want to remember to help you grow too. So much love!

Amazing,

Honestly I didn’t know what to expect 🤷🏾‍♀️😂 but I am so glad I decided to pick this up. Such a beautiful and uplifting story. I cried, I laughed, I screamed but most importantly I was deeply loved and touched by this story :) lived and told by a truly beautiful and gorgeous soul 🥰

Loved it!!!

A fabulous treat to hear Jonathan tell his story in his gorgeous voice. Superbly entertains and raw authenticity.

wow

loved every second! didn't even feel the pass! love that is was you narrating! love you

Very good

Inspiring book by an inspiring queen.
Some of the anecdotes feel like they are missing vital details.

Perfect, funny, heart warming, devastating - a real rollercoaster

Hearing Jonathan’s voice read his words made this book. I would have loved it just reading it but this was the PERFECT audio book and perfect narrator! It’s an emotional story from start to finish. I cried, from laughing so hard i nearly peed, from gut wrenching sobbing where I thought I would never stop crying, to warm fuzzy feeling tears of pride. If you want to find out so much more about your favourite queen and queer eye character, you HAVE to listen to this. I feel like me and JVN are BFF’s now I know so much! Haha! I can’t see how anyone would not enjoy this!

Moved and Love JVN even more now!

I have been a fan since I first laid ears and eyes on this magical unicorn of a man. I knew he must’ve gone through some tough times! Jonathan has such a sweet soul and keeps it real. I didn’t know how deep he would take us into his darkness and then back into the light! This book is the Gay Rocky in my opinion! Such a great listen! And so glad Jonathan reads it and not some poser who couldn’t pull it off!
Thank you for sharing your life lessons, your fears, your humour, your success, and your breakthroughs. Highly recommend. Yass Queen!

Uplifting and funny

I truly liked the book - audio format was the best choice for me as it felt like JvN was literally telling his story to me on my couch! Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.. and reminding that there is always place for self love.

"We are never too broken to heal.."

Perhaps if I had seen the Queer Eye programme for which he is, obviously, famous and so was familiar with the author prior to this book, had a visual image of him in my memory, or had even a passing interest in Olympic figure skaters, my enjoyment of Over the Top might have been greater. It is certainly a book of courage, with honest self revelation and need - his mother should be given a medal and, to his credit, Van Ness apparently appreciates this - mixed in with his own self help advice. However, I had first to contend with the narration, that of the author himself, a very distinctive nasal twang, words quickly punched out and swinging up and down, slightly distorted at times and too fast to comfortably follow: I lowered the playback speed slightly, which helped. Only to listen to the first of his eulogies about ice skating and skaters, and Olympics gymnastics on the T.V., a recurring topic.

From what I can gather, although coming from a media background, Jonathan's forte is not the written but the spoken word, the non stop spoken word of anecdotes and story telling, leaping between topics from opinions and gossip to politics and family memories. and this is much how the book is presented: with little structure other than a very vague time line of his depression, illness and final redemption through hairdressing, filming and the ongoing support of others. Oh, and figure skating!

Yes, I think I should definitely have waited until seeing a programme with Van News appearing. He is obviously a very charismatic figure and, given the suggestion that he become a stand up comedian, is obviously thought very funny. But what I received was the picture of a man, lonely and sad, still trying hard to love who he is even if his life now is the one he always dreamed of having as a child.

I.am glad I read it and will probably revisit some time in the future. A must, I am sure, for any Queer Eye fan, for others it is the tale of how we can all hurt ourselves, or perhaps save ourselves, whatever our situation in life..