Party of One by Dave Holmes- Book Review

I was just past the age for MTV when Dave Holmes became part of the VJ team, so I kind of knew who he was, but he wasn't a huge part of my growing up as he was for many teens. I have also read many celebrity memoirs which focused on a particular career highlight while giving some growing up stories. So, when I got Party of One by Dave Holmes from Blogging for Books*, I thought it would be a typical celebrity memoir about his time at MTV. I was in for a very pleasant surprise.

The major focus of the book is about how Holmes grew up in an all Catholic boys school and college as a gay person. He talks about his struggles, his worries about coming out, how he hid, and even made fun of gay people to protect his identity. 

He tells his story using song titles as chapter headings to create a playlist of sorts. Every now and then he also has Interludes where he creates song lists and tells a little bit more of his story in short bits. 

We, of course, also read about his time at MTV as a gay man and has to once again hide his identity to the viewing public. He winds up as a writer for Esquire with a very successful career. 

Holmes tells a very heartwarming story and does it with a lot of humor and a love of music of the late 80s and early 90s. Part of the book is a love letter to those times as he mentions some of more popular items of the time. It was fun reminiscing about those times.

Holmes' main story though is really powerful and I am sure he is sharing a story that quite a few other gay men had as they struggled with who they were in conditions that were not kind to them. I thought this would be a book that would be great for those youth who are struggling with who they are as it is honest and truthful.

I was glad I read this one. I gave it 4 stars.

Here is your Amazon link= Party of One by Dave Holmes

* I wish to thank Blogging for Books and Crown Archetype for the free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.