Would You Rather?, Katie Heaney
Would You Rather?, Katie Heaney
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Would You Rather?
A Memoir of Growing Up and Coming Out

Author: Katie Heaney

Narrator: Katie Heaney

Unabridged: 5 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/06/2018


Synopsis

A collection of poignant, relatable essays from the author of Never Have I Ever about coming out in her late twenties, entering into her first relationship, and figuring out what it means to be an adult.

When Katie Heaney published her first book of essays, chronicling her singledom up to age twenty-five, she was still waiting to meet the right guy. Three years later, a lot changed. For one thing, she met the right girl.
        
Here, for the first time, Katie opens up about realizing at the age of twenty-eight that she is gay. In these poignant, funny essays, she wrestles with her shifting sexuality and identity, and describes what it was like coming out to everyone she knows (and everyone she doesn’t). As she revisits her past, looking for any “clues” that might have predicted this outcome, Katie reveals that life doesn’t always move directly from point A to point B—no matter how much we would like it to.

In a warm and relatable voice, Katie tackles everything from the trials of dating in New York City to the growing pains of her first relationship, from obsessing over Harry Styles (because, actually, he does look a bit like a lesbian) to learning to accept herself all over again. Exploring love and sexuality with her neurotic wit and endearing intimacy, Katie Heaney shares the message that it’s never too late to find love–or yourself.

Illustration © 2018 Neil Webb c/o the ispot

Advance praise for Would You Rather?

“Would You Rather? is an extraordinarily generous and affecting book. Katie Heaney has written something with a remarkable amount of room in it—enough for anyone to spread out and connect with. It’s deeply felt, clear-eyed, joyful, and illuminating.”—Mallory Ortberg, author of Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters
 
“Whether you’re single or in a relationship, whether you’re queer, straight, or questioning, whether or not you’re partial to Harry Styles—you will discover something relatable and self-affirming in this honest, heartfelt, hilarious memoir.”—Camille Perri, author of The Assistants 

“What does it mean to find yourself, to know who you are and walk boldly in that truth? Would You Rather? takes readers on that journey along with Katie, reveling in the relief and glee of finding your tribe and frolicking in the exquisite joy of being a woman who loves women.”—Jenna Wortham, staff writer at The New York Times Magazine and co-host of the podcast Still Processing

About The Author

Katie Heaney is a freelance writer and was most recently a senior editor at BuzzFeed. Her writing has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Vulture, The Hairpin, The Awl, and Pacific Standard, among other places. She is the author of a memoir, Never Have I Ever, and the novel, Dear Emma. She lives in Brooklyn.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Jessica on June 07, 2018

I received this book for free through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers. It wasn’t until I actually read the blurb on the back that I realized that this was written by the girl who wrote Never Have I Ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date. I had really wanted to read that book and even marked it as such......more

I'd never heard of Katie Heaney before I decided to pick up Would You Rather : A Memoir of Growing Up and Coming Out, but the blurb was too interesting for me to pass up. Sexuality in general intrigues me, especially the personal exploration of sexuality. I'm always interested in someone's sexuality......more

Goodreads review by Tori on May 02, 2018

I sat on my review of this book for half a week, because I was so emotional after I finished reading it. Katie Heaney and I have a lot in common. I've had a boyfriend--but ten years ago. Since then, I've had little to no interest in dating, despite feeling like I should. Her talk with her therapist......more

Goodreads review by disco on January 15, 2019

Something about Katie Heaney is remarkably relatable, and I think you will find that whether you consider yourself gay or not. But don’t get me wrong: I couldn’t be gayer. ;)......more

Goodreads review by Lea (drumsofautumn) on May 21, 2018

I have never in my life related to anything as much as this. I don't think I'll ever find words to describe what listening to this memoir meant to me. A lot of the essays actually freaked me out because that experience could've been written about me. EXACTLY like that. I can already feel this having......more


Quotes

“[Katie] Heaney’s not afraid to examine her past for ‘clues’ to what she realizes is her truth in the present, and reflects on her changing identity with honesty and wit.”NYLON
 
“An honest, endearing, and laugh-out-loud account of coming to terms with one’s sexual identity.”W Magazine

Would You Rather? is an extraordinarily generous and affecting book. Katie Heaney has written something with a remarkable amount of room in it—enough for anyone to spread out and connect with. It’s deeply felt, clear-eyed, joyful, and illuminating.”—Mallory Ortberg, author of Texts from Jane Eyre: And Other Conversations with Your Favorite Literary Characters
 
“Whether you’re single or in a relationship, whether you’re queer, straight, or questioning, whether or not you’re partial to Harry Styles—you will discover something relatable and self-affirming in this honest, heartfelt, hilarious memoir.”—Camille Perri, author of The Assistants 

“What does it mean to find yourself, to know who you are and walk boldly in that truth? Would You Rather? takes readers on that journey along with Katie, reveling in the relief and glee of finding your tribe and frolicking in the exquisite joy of being a woman who loves women.”—Jenna Wortham, staff writer at The New York Times Magazine and co-host of the podcast Still Processing