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Growing up in the 80s, the Brat Pack actors have always been icons to me. With the release of Andrew McCarthy Brats on Hulu, I became interested in where are they now, what have they been up to and this book, Stories I Only Tell my Friends by Rob Lowe, became a desired read. I didn’t previously know much about Rob Lowe outside of his big scandals, and haven’t watched any of his movies or shows since the 80s, so for me this was akin to catching up with a friend and hearing what he had been up to all these years. He is an incredibly gifted writer, but he is an even better storyteller.

The book is warm and funny, and really does read like a collection of stories expertly woven together. Rob navigates his highs and lows, and I learned much about his childhood, his time on the Outsiders, his famous friends, and his time on West Wing. He is honest about some of the realities of Hollywood. He shares that sometimes it’s just about luck, and other times he had no say in the process (when many of his scenes were cut from the Outsider after shooting). This is not a tell-all book, and some of his more infamous moves (e.g. sex tape) are missing. It also is devoid of any dirt on other Hollywood celebs that are normally in a book like this, which I actually appreciated. 

Even more than his wiring I loved his narration on audio. His ability to impersonate Bill Clinton, Patrick Swayze, Cary Grant, and so many others! His voice is full of personality, inflection and so much warmth and he talks about his family and friends with great affection. I will be adding Love Life to my to-be-read pile and cannot wait to hear more of his stories. 

“I’ve learned to only concern myself with my end of any transaction. I do the best job I can and then let the results be what they will. I am out of the people-pleasing business.” 

4.5 Stars

If you are participating in The 52 Book Club’s 2024 Reading Challenge – I found it worked best with these prompts: Features the Ocean, Non-Fiction Recommended by a Friend, and Set in a City Starting with the Letter “M”

#52bookclub #2024readingclub #52bookclub2024 #the52bookclub2024 #storiesIonlyTellmyFriends #RobLowe