Some Boys I Knew

by Clea Myers

Some Boys I Knew is the new memoir by Clea Myers, the author of cult best-seller, Tweaking the Dream .

This memoir answers the question the author has often been ‘How did you end up middle-aged, childless & on your own?’

In the midst of a sequence of traumatic events—recovering from crystal-meth addiction, facing infertility, battling chronic fatigue, surviving breast cancer, rebuilding a relationship with her narcissistic mother only for it to fall apart again before her mother’s suicide— Clea realises she has to take a break from men.

As Clea digs through the evidence, she exposes learned behaviours that keep her dependent. Denial is a powerful drug and the endorphin rush of apologies, promises and make-up sex fix things over and over… until they don’t. Rich, powerful and authentic, Some Boys I Knew takes us on a raw, insightful journey to becoming the person Clea most Herself.

Clea Myers is an actress, author, screen-writer & teacher who currently lives alone in Notting Hill. She has appeared in numerous plays, TV & films over the last 20+ years. She teaches ‘memoir-writing workshops’ within her local community and beyond, connected to her advocacy within the mental health community.

268 pages, Paperback

Published January 23, 2024

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Random Things Tours.

Some Boys I Knew is a raw and honest memoir about the authors life from early childhood to the present day.
Clea recounts numerous events she suffered trauma through and how they have made her the person she is today. Clea grew up being raised by a mother who was narcissistic and she unpacks how this has impacted her since childhood along with showing insight into the relationship she's had with her mother through different stages of her life. She also reflects on toxic relationships with men, drug addiction, mental health issues, insecurities, and physical health issues and how they've all impacted her as well as what they've taught her about life, relationships, health and herself. My heart ached for this lady who so desperately wanted to feel loved and cherished, and I think it's a very brave and cathartic thing to do to pen all this down and share it with the world. I hope it has given her an abundance of healing in doing so and hope it will go on to help others who need to read this and deal with similar events for them to find healing, too.
Check trigger warnings.

[Kelly Hollingworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a raw, honest, brave memoir by Clea Myers. I have not read her first book Tweaking the Dream but, on the basis of how compelled and captivated I was by this book and Cleo’s story , I will seek it out. In this second book Clea describes her complex childhood, particularly her relationship with her narcissistic mum, through her teens, 20’s and 30’s to the present day. She shares her addictions, health issues, poor mental health and messy partnerships with men in her pursuit of a positive relationship. Her journey takes her from the UK to the USA and back, inner conflicts and insecurities impacting on her life wherever she was based. I felt empathy for her poor choices and angered at the broken promises of others, willing her to find happiness and some stability, a way out of the cycle of toxicity. Finally, hopefully, deservedly, the Lotus Flower.

[Alfred Nobile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it nature or nurture. Are the choices she makes learned or are they in fact her own free will. Read and find out.