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XOXO, Cody: An Opinionated Homosexual's Guide to Self-Love, Relationships, and Tactful Pettiness
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Humor (2023)The beloved Peloton instructor chronicles his journey from small-town North Carolina to New York City stardom in an empowering story that reveals his secret to not taking yourself-or life-too seriously.
Cody Rigsby has a lot of Kevin is the hottest Backstreet Boy; grape jelly is a crime against nature; if you wear flip-flops in New York City, you do not love yourself. But if there is one opinion-one truth-that he holds above all others, it's that we shouldn't let the fear of looking stupid or being judged hold us back from living our best lives.
Cody didn't always feel this way. In XOXO, Cody, he opens up about his journey toward accepting himself, from growing up gay and poor in the South to his migration to New York City, where he went from broke-ass dancer to fitness icon. He intimately details what it was like to lose both his father and best friend to addiction and how he began to repair his relationship with his mom as an adult. He recounts his time working at a nightclub on the Lower East Side and his decision to audition for Peloton on a whim, and dishes about competing against Sporty Spice on Dancing with the Stars.
With raw and inspiring stories about learning how to handle the scary sh*t, XOXO, Cody is a bold and heartfelt reminder that sometimes laughing at yourself is the best medicine. It ain't that deep, boo.
Cody Rigsby has a lot of Kevin is the hottest Backstreet Boy; grape jelly is a crime against nature; if you wear flip-flops in New York City, you do not love yourself. But if there is one opinion-one truth-that he holds above all others, it's that we shouldn't let the fear of looking stupid or being judged hold us back from living our best lives.
Cody didn't always feel this way. In XOXO, Cody, he opens up about his journey toward accepting himself, from growing up gay and poor in the South to his migration to New York City, where he went from broke-ass dancer to fitness icon. He intimately details what it was like to lose both his father and best friend to addiction and how he began to repair his relationship with his mom as an adult. He recounts his time working at a nightclub on the Lower East Side and his decision to audition for Peloton on a whim, and dishes about competing against Sporty Spice on Dancing with the Stars.
With raw and inspiring stories about learning how to handle the scary sh*t, XOXO, Cody is a bold and heartfelt reminder that sometimes laughing at yourself is the best medicine. It ain't that deep, boo.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2023
474 people are currently reading
10177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,693 reviews
August 17, 2023
Hey Peloton crew!
Like many other millions of people, my husband and I took the leap and purchased a peloton during Covid. We were hesitant making such an investment and didn't have complete faith that at home workouts would work for us. Little did we know how motivating the instructors would be...
After reading and LOVING Tunde's memoir last year, I knew there must be more stories to the crew.
I take Cody's classes for a few reasons;
1. Britney Bitch
2. I need something FUN!
3. I need an instructor that isn't perfect but shows up and gives us grace too.
Cody is 100% authentically himself and so I was curious as to the story behind that. What motivates him? Was he always an instructor? What was his upbringing like? We get lots of answers here.
This memoir is a blend of storytelling and advice. I think it balances well as its clear how much time Cody has invested in therapy to get where is he today. He comes from a very healthy POV after having experienced a difficult upbringing.
While his dating advice is probably more well suited to the younger generations, I still was able to see what type of person he is through it.
Cody is a fantastic example of LOVING yourself and the power of FORGIVENESS.
I'm really glad I listened to him tell his story, as I have a greater appreciation for him. He brings a TON of light, love, laughter and grace to a world that needs it. Thank you PRH audio for the gifted alc.
In the words of Cody, "Don't be average. Be savage."
Like many other millions of people, my husband and I took the leap and purchased a peloton during Covid. We were hesitant making such an investment and didn't have complete faith that at home workouts would work for us. Little did we know how motivating the instructors would be...
After reading and LOVING Tunde's memoir last year, I knew there must be more stories to the crew.
I take Cody's classes for a few reasons;
1. Britney Bitch
2. I need something FUN!
3. I need an instructor that isn't perfect but shows up and gives us grace too.
Cody is 100% authentically himself and so I was curious as to the story behind that. What motivates him? Was he always an instructor? What was his upbringing like? We get lots of answers here.
This memoir is a blend of storytelling and advice. I think it balances well as its clear how much time Cody has invested in therapy to get where is he today. He comes from a very healthy POV after having experienced a difficult upbringing.
While his dating advice is probably more well suited to the younger generations, I still was able to see what type of person he is through it.
Cody is a fantastic example of LOVING yourself and the power of FORGIVENESS.
I'm really glad I listened to him tell his story, as I have a greater appreciation for him. He brings a TON of light, love, laughter and grace to a world that needs it. Thank you PRH audio for the gifted alc.
In the words of Cody, "Don't be average. Be savage."
September 18, 2023
What a fun ride! All Cody's wisdom and none of the sweat. I loved learning more about Cody’s early days. Cody narrated the audiobook and did a great job of it. If you love Cody on the bike, you will love this book. You do, you boo, but don't miss this book!
*** Big thanks to PRH Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
*** Big thanks to PRH Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
June 22, 2023
Cody is one of my favorite human beings of all time. Not only is he HILARIOUS. he’s also a bad bitch in the best way. I felt like I was sitting next to him dishing over a glass of wine. He is honest and shares even the things that may be unflattering - he doesn’t sugarcoat anything. I also loved the mix of advice in there, as a girl who loves a good Dear Abby column.
If you have ever taken one of Cody’s classes, you know the energy he brings. That same energy is felt on every single one of these pages. Read it!
I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you have ever taken one of Cody’s classes, you know the energy he brings. That same energy is felt on every single one of these pages. Read it!
I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2023
I adore Cody, I do I do I do. Like orange soda. Most of the book I found enjoyable. Cody had a lot to unpack here and I found it very captivating while also humorous and silly. Diving into his upbringing and the struggles he faced with his mother and her addiction and mental health, I felt that deep!
When Cody wrote about body image, body positivity, showing up as you are and wanting to be this generation’s Richard Simmons, I was cracking up but also thinking yes please, gimme more!!! I really appreciated his perspective about fitness and not taking yourself too seriously. His instruction style on the Peloton platform is a testament to how he accepts all bodies on the bike with open arms.
As a mature, married woman of almost 40, I didn’t find a lot of the relationship parts relevant to me personally but there was some solid advice and wisdom. He’s certainly been though some things and lived to tell about it!
I just couldn’t love it. Something about this book… it was all over the place. I loved his story telling, wit and hot takes on a lot of topics. As a traditionally published and highly anticipated book, there didn’t seem to be much structured format to the writing. It bounced from topic to topic, back story and then present.
I might have enjoyed this more if I’d listened on audiobook because I bet hearing Cody tell it himself would have sold me more!
3.5 stars for my boo.
When Cody wrote about body image, body positivity, showing up as you are and wanting to be this generation’s Richard Simmons, I was cracking up but also thinking yes please, gimme more!!! I really appreciated his perspective about fitness and not taking yourself too seriously. His instruction style on the Peloton platform is a testament to how he accepts all bodies on the bike with open arms.
As a mature, married woman of almost 40, I didn’t find a lot of the relationship parts relevant to me personally but there was some solid advice and wisdom. He’s certainly been though some things and lived to tell about it!
I just couldn’t love it. Something about this book… it was all over the place. I loved his story telling, wit and hot takes on a lot of topics. As a traditionally published and highly anticipated book, there didn’t seem to be much structured format to the writing. It bounced from topic to topic, back story and then present.
I might have enjoyed this more if I’d listened on audiobook because I bet hearing Cody tell it himself would have sold me more!
3.5 stars for my boo.
September 27, 2023
Honestly the book wasn't terrible, I just can not rate a book well that slanders Olive Garden.
September 22, 2023
I don’t rate books below 4 stars often, so I just want to explain WHY I gave this 3 stars. It’s a quick read, it is entirely in Cody’s voice, and I really enjoyed it. However, the whole book is just…. Fine? The advice is all pretty generic, and perhaps I was expecting something much more detailed like Tiny Beautiful Things. This was just a bit more surface -y, which is wild because Cody does speak about some heavy things. But I just didn’t close the book feeling like I got much depth out of it, I’m not sure why. So although I enjoyed it, I know I won’t read it again. But I still like Cody, his classes, and his whole POV!
December 11, 2025
Rating to come because I’m between 4 or 5 stars.
October 22, 2023
I love Cody, I love peloton, I love his rides. Did I want this book to be great? Yes! Was it? Not really!
The personal parts, about his mom and Oscar, were very well written and I would have loved this book if the entire thing was written as well as those parts.
Besides those parts? Recycled sayings from his classes and IG almost verbatim, tiptoeing into misinformation about nutrition, and some pretty problematic takes on anything from online dating to he’s rich because he works harder than anyone else. And then some more inspirational fluff and jokes that read like I told ChatGPT to write like Cody talks. I started skimming at the DWTS part and didn’t stop until the end.
Anyway, good for Cody, get your bag, this is fine :/
The personal parts, about his mom and Oscar, were very well written and I would have loved this book if the entire thing was written as well as those parts.
Besides those parts? Recycled sayings from his classes and IG almost verbatim, tiptoeing into misinformation about nutrition, and some pretty problematic takes on anything from online dating to he’s rich because he works harder than anyone else. And then some more inspirational fluff and jokes that read like I told ChatGPT to write like Cody talks. I started skimming at the DWTS part and didn’t stop until the end.
Anyway, good for Cody, get your bag, this is fine :/
May 4, 2023
When I received an advanced copy of Cody's book, I expected the witty quips and funny anecdotes that pepper his Peloton classes. However, I was blown away by the genuineness and emotion in the stories about his childhood, parents, cross-country move, coming out, moving to NY...all of it. What a story! And what a storyteller! The book is so well-written. It is an engaging and fast read - I started it around 7PM and finished it around 11PM. I hope he narrates the audiobook. I don't want to give too much away, but, whether you're a Peloton devotee or not, you'll get something out of XOXO, Cody.
October 1, 2023
This book is an absolute treat. Cody Rigsby’s down-to-earth style and relatable humor make him feel like a close friend. (I wish) He shared his story with wit, wisdom, and vulnerability. It's a refreshing read that's both hilarious and inspiring.
September 15, 2023
Love him even more after reading this. His journey is so inspiring and despite the spunky attitude this book runs deep.
August 31, 2023
Who else is a proud member of The Boo Crew?! I love Cody Rigsby’s peloton classes and enjoy sweating my butt off while listening to his silly antics!
In his memoir, Cody Rigsby shares his own story of growing up with a struggling single mom, coming to terms with his sexuality, and his eventual rise to fame. Along the way, he sprinkles in fun pieces of advice and pop culture. It’s a fun, honest read that made me feel like I was talking to an old friend over a glass of wine!
I highly recommend this one to Cody fans! I think I will probably listen to this audiobook sometime in the future. Four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
XOXO, Cody publishes September 12, 2023. I received an ARC in return for my honest review.
In his memoir, Cody Rigsby shares his own story of growing up with a struggling single mom, coming to terms with his sexuality, and his eventual rise to fame. Along the way, he sprinkles in fun pieces of advice and pop culture. It’s a fun, honest read that made me feel like I was talking to an old friend over a glass of wine!
I highly recommend this one to Cody fans! I think I will probably listen to this audiobook sometime in the future. Four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
XOXO, Cody publishes September 12, 2023. I received an ARC in return for my honest review.
February 2, 2024
It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that made me laugh out loud so much. HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a delight!
October 4, 2023
Mini-Review: Cody Rigsby, of Peloton, Dancing With the Stars, and TikTok fame, is here to give you a shot in the arm about what it means to love your SELF! With razor sharp wit, true honesty, and a gentle dose of sass, the opinionated spin instructor has pulled together quite the enjoyable essay collection to inspire, humor, and engage with his fans. This book gave me what I was after, be it some wild dating advice (do it), or some hilarious POVs on how to handle money (get it). But it also was a chance for Cody to open up about his poverty growing up, his troubled relationship with his mom, and the struggles he's witnessed in a community of queer men in NYC. I loved that Cody was not here to pretend he's an expert on much, nor is he a Suzie Orman, a therapist, or a doctor. He is however, a famous person with a lot of opinions, and he will speak to you like such.
May 8, 2024
2.5 stars that I’ll generously round up. I love Cody and I found some of the chapters to be heartfelt and touching, but quite a bit of this book could have been an email. I also was let down by the audio narration. I could tell it took him awhile to get comfortable narrating but I would say it improved by the end.
November 26, 2023
I listened to this aiming to better understand the widespread love for the author but ended up finding him more insufferable than I anticipated…with a big dose of bad self help advice. I don’t like being a hater but :(
February 20, 2024
To quote New Girl S3E4:
“feel like you kinda have to do something to write a book about yourself.”
One star because it was free for me on Spotify.
“feel like you kinda have to do something to write a book about yourself.”
One star because it was free for me on Spotify.
July 9, 2024
The way I could literally hear Cody in my head saying all of this with his exact tone and inflections
April 9, 2025
Another book made more enjoyable by listening to the author read it. Cody is cute and the book is exactly what you'd think it is.
September 26, 2023
This book was thoroughly entertaining, but also some good advice & I learned more about Cody! Xoxo 💋
January 16, 2024
I love Cody! You have to understand his personality and like the flamboyantness that is Cody to like this book. He did give a lot of peloton information which was interesting if you own a bike. Overall I really enjoyed this book for what it was!
January 19, 2024
I knew that I would like this book from the handful of Peloton rides I’ve done with Cody and then from watching him on DWTS. However, I didn’t just like this book…I loved it. I wanted it to be longer!!
Cody is hilarious and it felt like a conversation with a bestie (but one where he does all the talking). I enjoyed the first half of this book but where it really picked up for me was the second half of the book.
Chapter 9 on dating was full of so many good nuggets I found myself agreeing with. Chapter 10 where Cody discusses his relationship and role reversal with his mom into adulthood was so honest and vulnerable. Chapter 12 about DWTS was fun to listen to and then Chapter 13 about Cody losing his best friend Oscar was touching and relatable as I have also lost someone very close to me that struggles with addiction.
Cody is so confident in himself and sure of his opinions that it’s hard to not hear everything as facts 💯💯💯 He is vulnerable and emotionally mature and yet this book was just so light and fun. I wish we were besties irl!! XOXO, love you, Cody!!
Cody is hilarious and it felt like a conversation with a bestie (but one where he does all the talking). I enjoyed the first half of this book but where it really picked up for me was the second half of the book.
Chapter 9 on dating was full of so many good nuggets I found myself agreeing with. Chapter 10 where Cody discusses his relationship and role reversal with his mom into adulthood was so honest and vulnerable. Chapter 12 about DWTS was fun to listen to and then Chapter 13 about Cody losing his best friend Oscar was touching and relatable as I have also lost someone very close to me that struggles with addiction.
Cody is so confident in himself and sure of his opinions that it’s hard to not hear everything as facts 💯💯💯 He is vulnerable and emotionally mature and yet this book was just so light and fun. I wish we were besties irl!! XOXO, love you, Cody!!
September 25, 2023
The last chapter is my favorite
August 22, 2023
After growing up poor in California and North Carolina, Cody Rigsby moved to NYC to become a dancer but unexpectedly rose to fame as a Peloton instructor during the pandemic. His ride hasn’t been always been smooth as he’s had to come to terms with losing his father and best friend to addiction and accepting his mother, who has also struggled with addiction throughout his entire life.
Many of you know I’m a huge fan of Peloton (and Cody) so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one - I was hooked from the dedication - iykyk. The audiobook is narrated by Cody himself and it felt like we were just hanging out as he told me his story.
Cody didn’t have the easiest childhood but I loved how Cody brought levity to the book with his hot takes and humor - if you’ve ridden with him on the bike you know how hilarious he is and this book really showcased that. Cody has had a lot to overcome and he’s done so while staying true to himself. I seriously can’t recommend this one enough!
Fix your wig, towel off, get your life together & read this book.
Many of you know I’m a huge fan of Peloton (and Cody) so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one - I was hooked from the dedication - iykyk. The audiobook is narrated by Cody himself and it felt like we were just hanging out as he told me his story.
Cody didn’t have the easiest childhood but I loved how Cody brought levity to the book with his hot takes and humor - if you’ve ridden with him on the bike you know how hilarious he is and this book really showcased that. Cody has had a lot to overcome and he’s done so while staying true to himself. I seriously can’t recommend this one enough!
Fix your wig, towel off, get your life together & read this book.
July 30, 2023
As any fan of his Peloton rides might expect, Cody does not hold back in his first book. Right from the first chapter, he opens up about his childhood - his mother’s struggle with addiction and mental illness, his father’s overdose when he was a baby, and growing up gay in the south. The truth keeps coming for the rest of the book, touching on his path to Peloton, his relationships, and his time on Dancing with the Stars.
Sprinkled in is his witty, sometimes tough love advice. Anyone who is a fan of his rides will enjoy this book, especially if you’re a nosy bitch like me and want the dirt on his relationship with Andres.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sprinkled in is his witty, sometimes tough love advice. Anyone who is a fan of his rides will enjoy this book, especially if you’re a nosy bitch like me and want the dirt on his relationship with Andres.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 24, 2023
It’s hard to write an unbiased review of this book when I love Cody so much. I’m not sure that others who do not know him at all will love it as much. I appreciated reading all about his successes after all of his struggles. I’m going to continue to root for Cody and I hope that everyone else does too.
October 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this memoir, but I also love memoirs and I was interested to learn more about Cody. If memoirs and /or Cody aren't your cup of tea then I'd take a pass but if they are then give it a go 😊
November 2, 2023
As a Peloton girly, I felt this was a must read for obvious reasons. Come on, it’s CODY! One of the most hilarious and warm people I’ve come to love virtually. This was an incredibly eye opening story, albeit hard to get into at the start. As an avid reader, the book was very difficult to physically read, it just kept feeling like I was reading a transcript of one of his cycling classes. I switched over to Audiobook and that changed it all. I loved his narration! His vulnerability in his story is beautiful and raw, I appreciated his brutal honesty and life lessons he’s had to learn the hard way. His upbringing surprised me, seeing what a kind and generous person he is now, I am inspired by his strength and dedication to his goals and dreams. You can expect typical Cody banter throughout with large doses and humor and tactful pettiness sprinkled in each chapter. What a joyful and fun read!
Read
September 16, 2023Mini Audiobook Review: Thank you so much to PRH Audio for the complimentary audio!
This book is out now!
Content Warnings from Storygraph:
If you are a fan of Peloton or perhaps seen Cody on "Dancing With the Stars" then you'll want to check this out! Cody is one of my favorite instructors on Peloton. There is just something about his honesty & how he tells it like it is that always makes the rides entertaining. Plus he usually has a great playlist for the riders. The book had such a mix of heart and laughs throughout the book. He talked about hard times growing up, losing a friend to addiction, his identity and how he became who he is today.
I do recommend this on audio as Cody narrates and it's just as entertaining as you can imagine. If I had read this with my eyes rather than with the audio, I still feel as though I could hear Cody reading to me. His voice definitely came through in the text.
This was a short book that went rather quickly via audio. And the physical book comes in under 300 pages.
It was nice learning more about him!
I will not be rating Non Fiction books as it is based on real events and real experiences.
This book is out now!
Content Warnings from Storygraph:
If you are a fan of Peloton or perhaps seen Cody on "Dancing With the Stars" then you'll want to check this out! Cody is one of my favorite instructors on Peloton. There is just something about his honesty & how he tells it like it is that always makes the rides entertaining. Plus he usually has a great playlist for the riders. The book had such a mix of heart and laughs throughout the book. He talked about hard times growing up, losing a friend to addiction, his identity and how he became who he is today.
I do recommend this on audio as Cody narrates and it's just as entertaining as you can imagine. If I had read this with my eyes rather than with the audio, I still feel as though I could hear Cody reading to me. His voice definitely came through in the text.
This was a short book that went rather quickly via audio. And the physical book comes in under 300 pages.
It was nice learning more about him!
I will not be rating Non Fiction books as it is based on real events and real experiences.
November 29, 2023
An avid spinner for years (pre-pandemic), I finally relented and got a Bike+ in early 2021. Cody quickly became a go-to instructor especially when I felt unmotivated. His hilarious comments are the best distraction. Enjoyed this memoir! Appreciated hearing about his early life, his mom, career aspirations, and accidentally becoming a fitness instructor. He’s a hot mess in the best way. And he dedicated this to Britney Jean Spears, iykyk.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,693 reviews