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sorry i keep crying during sex
A powerful, provocative, and genre-bending literary memoir that grapples with victimhood, recovery, and resilience
In the before, James Rose is happy. She has a beautiful boyfriend with melty glacier eyes, she’s on a euphoric journey of gender exploration, and New York City is perfect. In the after, she’s single, making dinner for her grandfather, and wondering if he’s going to forget her name today. Except, in the before, her first-grade music teacher lead her into a dark room to show her something he shouldn’t have. And in the after, she’s finding healing and comfort in coming into her own, even as her grandfather declines.
In the before, she was fine, more or less. But in the after, she has to reckon with whatever the hell restorative justice really, truly means.
Following the aftermath of an assault, and the heartache of caring for a grandfather with Alzheimer’s, sorry i keep crying during sex tells a captivating story of identity, recovery, grief, survivorship, and transness. Through lists, theatrical scripts, flashbacks, and Grindr DMs, James Rose’s genre-defying memoir is raw and hysterically funny, and takes readers on the wild ride of overcoming the struggles of a trans twentysomething.
In the before, James Rose is happy. She has a beautiful boyfriend with melty glacier eyes, she’s on a euphoric journey of gender exploration, and New York City is perfect. In the after, she’s single, making dinner for her grandfather, and wondering if he’s going to forget her name today. Except, in the before, her first-grade music teacher lead her into a dark room to show her something he shouldn’t have. And in the after, she’s finding healing and comfort in coming into her own, even as her grandfather declines.
In the before, she was fine, more or less. But in the after, she has to reckon with whatever the hell restorative justice really, truly means.
Following the aftermath of an assault, and the heartache of caring for a grandfather with Alzheimer’s, sorry i keep crying during sex tells a captivating story of identity, recovery, grief, survivorship, and transness. Through lists, theatrical scripts, flashbacks, and Grindr DMs, James Rose’s genre-defying memoir is raw and hysterically funny, and takes readers on the wild ride of overcoming the struggles of a trans twentysomething.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published October 21, 2025
13 people are currently reading
835 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 19, 2025
This is a very good book, but it was hard for me to finish. I found it emotionally relentless. I get that the book has a sense of humor, might even be called funny—but I think I was struggling too much with it to ever actually laugh. I’ve been reading it since October 13th. I don’t regret it, but I’m glad I’m done.
sorry i keep crying during sex is a memoir about rape and Alzheimer’s. About love, care, suffering, and healing. Memory and absence. Gender. Sex. Sexual violence, sexual adventure, sexual relief. About being present and not being present and being present and not being present.
Early on, it felt a little like reading a particularly intense live journal or tumblr, for those of you who were on the internet ca. 2009. But the book is more formally inventive than I expected. It mimics the jumpy live-feed aesthetic of social media; the measured regularity of an old fashioned, stuck-under-the-mattress diary; the flights of fancy, experimental verve, and unstable sense of perspective of a great post-modern novel. As the timeline comes into focus, so does the story’s emotional arc. It really is a beautiful book.
I’m glad I didn’t have to live it. I’m glad I won’t ever have to read it again. I know that it is all too real, and I’m glad it exists, and I hope and suspect it will bring comfort to some and challenge others, make some people laugh, other people cry, other people—like me—feel terribly worn and uncomfortable. It really is a beautiful book.
sorry i keep crying during sex is a memoir about rape and Alzheimer’s. About love, care, suffering, and healing. Memory and absence. Gender. Sex. Sexual violence, sexual adventure, sexual relief. About being present and not being present and being present and not being present.
Early on, it felt a little like reading a particularly intense live journal or tumblr, for those of you who were on the internet ca. 2009. But the book is more formally inventive than I expected. It mimics the jumpy live-feed aesthetic of social media; the measured regularity of an old fashioned, stuck-under-the-mattress diary; the flights of fancy, experimental verve, and unstable sense of perspective of a great post-modern novel. As the timeline comes into focus, so does the story’s emotional arc. It really is a beautiful book.
I’m glad I didn’t have to live it. I’m glad I won’t ever have to read it again. I know that it is all too real, and I’m glad it exists, and I hope and suspect it will bring comfort to some and challenge others, make some people laugh, other people cry, other people—like me—feel terribly worn and uncomfortable. It really is a beautiful book.
October 15, 2025
Honestly I knew this was gonna be a fiver from the start. The writing is so up my alley as like a yappy oversharer. The book itself has a nonlinear structure, that feels like when you’re having a conversation with five sub-conversations that veer in and out of focus. There’s a good amount of almost nonsensical silliness that adds to the overall charm, ie imaginary conversations with Osama bin Laden, a choose your own adventure, hookups galore. Consuming this as an audiobook has been a treat to hear the entire account from Rose’s voice herself, it almost feels like one big guts and tea spilling session. The memoir had so much heart and personality that I feel like I have no clue how some of it is converted into physical print but I’ll def be paging through to compare as soon as I can get my hands on the book. Overall a very immersive and powerful read.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC
October 7, 2025
What a memoir! From the very first chapter, the way this book is written—and especially how the author reads it—scratched an itch in my ADHD brain that few books ever do. The pacing, the rhythm, the tone—it all clicked perfectly and kept me completely hooked.
I laughed out loud more than once, cried at moments that hit far too close to home, and by the end, I genuinely wanted to be friends with the author. It’s rare for a memoir to feel this alive, this honest, and this full of heart. Usually, I have a hard time giving memoirs a star rating (because how can you rate someone’s life 😅😂), but this book was 5 stars!!!
I laughed out loud more than once, cried at moments that hit far too close to home, and by the end, I genuinely wanted to be friends with the author. It’s rare for a memoir to feel this alive, this honest, and this full of heart. Usually, I have a hard time giving memoirs a star rating (because how can you rate someone’s life 😅😂), but this book was 5 stars!!!
October 3, 2025
At first, the tonality of this story was giving me something akin to Dylan Mulvaney from earlier in the year, but this one hits much more powerfully and intersectionally. The two big elements in this memoir are SA and loss of a loved one to Alzheimer's and dementia. So be kind with yourself and your triggers if you attempt to read this. It is an unapologetic and raw look at the mental pathways while trying to survive and thrive. A lot of this does revolve around sexually explicit scenes, mostly consensual, but pertaining to lingering post-rape trauma and how it takes away more than just your sense of safety. The violence doesn't end with the act itself but while looking for a safe place to fall apart in, and being met with the expectation to get over it already and spare people the discomfort of having to acknowledge your brokenness. The cyclical nature of internalized shame despite all the outward efforts and conviction to break out of it. The author being the narrator is also particularly powerful and humbling to hear as they bare themselves to the reader as a life and wound and euphoria you can't look away from. The violence isn't trans-specific, but the author is deeply intersec in their introspection about the nature of isolating violence committed by anyone against anyone. All of which culminates in a fictional chat with a globally reviled personage from a place of self-accountability that is honestly one of the boldest and surprisingly effective narrative choices I've encountered in a long time.
If you, like me, believe that now more than ever trans voices need to be amplified, please check this out, because trans stories of deep humanity, full of joys and sorrows, love and loss, mundane and magical are essential in fortifying the human empathic condition. This is not an easy read but perhaps a very necessary one. In these transphobic and unempathetic times, sharing such a deeply vulnerable and unflinching recounting of the full life of a trans/nonbinary person is one of the deeply humanizing exercises one can and must undertake.
Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook ARC narrated by the author.
If you, like me, believe that now more than ever trans voices need to be amplified, please check this out, because trans stories of deep humanity, full of joys and sorrows, love and loss, mundane and magical are essential in fortifying the human empathic condition. This is not an easy read but perhaps a very necessary one. In these transphobic and unempathetic times, sharing such a deeply vulnerable and unflinching recounting of the full life of a trans/nonbinary person is one of the deeply humanizing exercises one can and must undertake.
Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook ARC narrated by the author.
October 17, 2025
Oh, this was GREAT. This is the kind of book you pick up because the title is intriguing and because the summary is funny. You expect to spend a good time and then forget about it.
What you don’t expect is to cry silently and laugh at the same time. What you don’t expect is to find your mirror life, but this person can actually put words on what you experienced. What you don’t expect is to find a new favorite book.
This obviously felt like this book found me, because I was also raped and I’m also taking care of someone with Alzheimer disease. And the link between those situation always made sense for me. Being stripped of something without consent. Your brain playing tricks. I am not trans, but her story was interesting and eye opening!
I would like to thank they for going out there and saying everything unfiltered, but I would also like to thank their publisher for letting it happen. Because we don’t have enough brutally honest and raw books like this one.
Her love for literature is obvious because the pace, the narration and tbh, everything, was mastered.
I would strongly suggest the audiobook that feels like a podcast!
9.5/10
What you don’t expect is to cry silently and laugh at the same time. What you don’t expect is to find your mirror life, but this person can actually put words on what you experienced. What you don’t expect is to find a new favorite book.
This obviously felt like this book found me, because I was also raped and I’m also taking care of someone with Alzheimer disease. And the link between those situation always made sense for me. Being stripped of something without consent. Your brain playing tricks. I am not trans, but her story was interesting and eye opening!
I would like to thank they for going out there and saying everything unfiltered, but I would also like to thank their publisher for letting it happen. Because we don’t have enough brutally honest and raw books like this one.
Her love for literature is obvious because the pace, the narration and tbh, everything, was mastered.
I would strongly suggest the audiobook that feels like a podcast!
9.5/10
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December 15, 2025This was something
June 22, 2025
Book Review: sorry i keep crying during sex: a memoir by Jesse James Rose
Rating: 4.8/5
Initial Impressions
Jesse James Rose’s memoir is a fearless, genre-bending exploration of trauma, transness, and healing that defies conventional storytelling. Blending raw vulnerability with dark humor, Rose crafts a narrative as unpredictable as it is profound—swinging between Grindr DMs, theatrical scripts, and fragmented memories to mirror the chaos of recovery.
Emotional Resonance & Reactions
Reading this felt like witnessing a metamorphosis in real time. Rose’s unflinching honesty about assault and its aftermath—paired with her biting wit—left me oscillating between laughter and tears. The juxtaposition of her grandfather’s Alzheimer’s decline with her own journey of self-discovery (Will he forget my name as I’m learning it?) was particularly gut-wrenching. While the nonlinear structure brilliantly mirrors the disorientation of trauma, some sections (like abrupt shifts to script format) demanded rereading to fully absorb.
Strengths
-Innovative Form: Lists, scripts, and flashbacks create a visceral reading experience that mirrors the fragmentation of memory and identity.
-Tonal Mastery: Balances searing pain with laugh-out-loud humor (e.g., Grindr escapades as both comic relief and coping mechanism).
-Intersectional Depth: Weaves trans identity, intergenerational grief, and survivorhood into a cohesive narrative without reducing any to tropes.
Constructive Criticism
-Pacing: The experimental style, while powerful, occasionally disrupts emotional flow—some readers may crave more narrative continuity.
-Thematic Breadth: The Alzheimer’s subplot, though poignant, sometimes competes for focus with the central trauma/recovery arc.
-Audience Scope: Dark humor and niche references (e.g., queer culture) might alienate readers outside those lived experiences.
Final Verdict
This isn’t just a memoir—it’s a revolution in form and feeling. Rose’s ability to alchemize pain into art makes sorry i keep crying during sex a landmark work in queer and survivor literature. Its imperfections only underscore its humanity.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy.
Rating: 4.8/5 (A dazzling, disarming triumph that redefines what memoirs can do.)
Rating: 4.8/5
Initial Impressions
Jesse James Rose’s memoir is a fearless, genre-bending exploration of trauma, transness, and healing that defies conventional storytelling. Blending raw vulnerability with dark humor, Rose crafts a narrative as unpredictable as it is profound—swinging between Grindr DMs, theatrical scripts, and fragmented memories to mirror the chaos of recovery.
Emotional Resonance & Reactions
Reading this felt like witnessing a metamorphosis in real time. Rose’s unflinching honesty about assault and its aftermath—paired with her biting wit—left me oscillating between laughter and tears. The juxtaposition of her grandfather’s Alzheimer’s decline with her own journey of self-discovery (Will he forget my name as I’m learning it?) was particularly gut-wrenching. While the nonlinear structure brilliantly mirrors the disorientation of trauma, some sections (like abrupt shifts to script format) demanded rereading to fully absorb.
Strengths
-Innovative Form: Lists, scripts, and flashbacks create a visceral reading experience that mirrors the fragmentation of memory and identity.
-Tonal Mastery: Balances searing pain with laugh-out-loud humor (e.g., Grindr escapades as both comic relief and coping mechanism).
-Intersectional Depth: Weaves trans identity, intergenerational grief, and survivorhood into a cohesive narrative without reducing any to tropes.
Constructive Criticism
-Pacing: The experimental style, while powerful, occasionally disrupts emotional flow—some readers may crave more narrative continuity.
-Thematic Breadth: The Alzheimer’s subplot, though poignant, sometimes competes for focus with the central trauma/recovery arc.
-Audience Scope: Dark humor and niche references (e.g., queer culture) might alienate readers outside those lived experiences.
Final Verdict
This isn’t just a memoir—it’s a revolution in form and feeling. Rose’s ability to alchemize pain into art makes sorry i keep crying during sex a landmark work in queer and survivor literature. Its imperfections only underscore its humanity.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for the review copy.
Rating: 4.8/5 (A dazzling, disarming triumph that redefines what memoirs can do.)
May 10, 2025
Wow. What do I even say. This has to be one of the best memoirs I’ve read. The honesty. The rawness. The layers. What Rose did with this is so unique and powerful. From laughing to crying to every emotion in between. Just beautiful.
October 9, 2025
Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex is inventive and vulnerable and unflinchingly honest. I've been a fan of Jesse on Instagram for a while, and her voice is so strong in this memoir. It's especially meaningful to hear Jesse narrate the book on audio herself, bringing their own story to life as authentically as possible. I'm so glad I got to listen to the audio!
First and foremost, readers need to know that this book is about rape, both as an adult and childhood sexual assault. Jesse is open about the reality of their life as a survivor of sexual assault: the physical triggers, the trauma she experiences, and their fantasies and fixations on their rapist. Survivors and anyone else for whom these topics are triggering should definitely proceed with caution, but I imagine this book will be cathartic and healing to so many other survivors.
As for the structure, Jesse has created something truly unique. She weaves together her experiences of sexual assault with reflections on 9/11 and the active process of losing her grandfather to Alzheimer's while serving as his caregiver. There's a choose-your-own-adventure section about confronting their rapist and jokes (or sincere musings?) about whether the 9/11 memorial is a bottom. She catalogs the men she's slept with since being raped in detail, assigning each liaison a number (reaching up well past 100). The memoir is at once raunchy and explicit, and tender and vulnerable. Jesse is not one thing—and neither is any survivor of sexual assault.
I was surprised by this book and really enjoyed it. I hope that this book finds readers who will feel seen and cared for by Jesse James Rose's art and openness. Thank you to Netgalley and Recorded Books for a free eALC in exchange for an honest review.
First and foremost, readers need to know that this book is about rape, both as an adult and childhood sexual assault. Jesse is open about the reality of their life as a survivor of sexual assault: the physical triggers, the trauma she experiences, and their fantasies and fixations on their rapist. Survivors and anyone else for whom these topics are triggering should definitely proceed with caution, but I imagine this book will be cathartic and healing to so many other survivors.
As for the structure, Jesse has created something truly unique. She weaves together her experiences of sexual assault with reflections on 9/11 and the active process of losing her grandfather to Alzheimer's while serving as his caregiver. There's a choose-your-own-adventure section about confronting their rapist and jokes (or sincere musings?) about whether the 9/11 memorial is a bottom. She catalogs the men she's slept with since being raped in detail, assigning each liaison a number (reaching up well past 100). The memoir is at once raunchy and explicit, and tender and vulnerable. Jesse is not one thing—and neither is any survivor of sexual assault.
I was surprised by this book and really enjoyed it. I hope that this book finds readers who will feel seen and cared for by Jesse James Rose's art and openness. Thank you to Netgalley and Recorded Books for a free eALC in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2025
Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex tells James Roses' story in the before and after her rape. In the before, she was carefree, exploring gender and desire; and in the after, she's dealing with family loss and grief and trying to heal.
Sorry is vulnerable and honest, explicit and raw. Rose is honest and descriptive of the sexual assault they experience, the physical triggers, trauma, fantasies, and fixations on their rapist throughout the book. I would encourage people to take a look at the trigger warnings and read accordingly.
It took awhile for the connections of her assault and 9/11 to come together for me, while being mixed in with caring for her grandfather with Alzheimer's. It felt a bit all over the place for the first half of the book but sort of came together in the second half. She catalogs the men she sleeps with after the assault, assigning each of them a number and describing them in detail. Rose really demonstrates how healing isn't linear and comes with ebbs and flows.
I enjoyed the writing style and the pacing throughout the book, and having the audio narrated by the author always lends a bit more authenticity to any story.
Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex is being released October 21, 2025 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
Sorry is vulnerable and honest, explicit and raw. Rose is honest and descriptive of the sexual assault they experience, the physical triggers, trauma, fantasies, and fixations on their rapist throughout the book. I would encourage people to take a look at the trigger warnings and read accordingly.
It took awhile for the connections of her assault and 9/11 to come together for me, while being mixed in with caring for her grandfather with Alzheimer's. It felt a bit all over the place for the first half of the book but sort of came together in the second half. She catalogs the men she sleeps with after the assault, assigning each of them a number and describing them in detail. Rose really demonstrates how healing isn't linear and comes with ebbs and flows.
I enjoyed the writing style and the pacing throughout the book, and having the audio narrated by the author always lends a bit more authenticity to any story.
Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex is being released October 21, 2025 and I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
October 17, 2025
4🌟
It's always a bit awkward trying to rate and review memoirs.
I appreciate that this was a difficult story to tell. JJR is very honest, real, and unfiltered when it comes to reliving stories of their past. They manage to do it with a bit of humor, too, which can be challenging. The parts about their grandfather's decline with Alzheimer's were so heartbreaking. Something was missing from the story, though I'm having a hard time pinpointing exactly what that is. Even though it was deeply personal, a lot of the narrative felt very surface-level at the same time.
Jesse James Rose, the author, narrates the audiobook. They did an excellent job, and it makes sense for an author to narrate their own memoir.
Recommended for fans of memoirs, but do check trigger warnings beforehand.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC.
It's always a bit awkward trying to rate and review memoirs.
I appreciate that this was a difficult story to tell. JJR is very honest, real, and unfiltered when it comes to reliving stories of their past. They manage to do it with a bit of humor, too, which can be challenging. The parts about their grandfather's decline with Alzheimer's were so heartbreaking. Something was missing from the story, though I'm having a hard time pinpointing exactly what that is. Even though it was deeply personal, a lot of the narrative felt very surface-level at the same time.
Jesse James Rose, the author, narrates the audiobook. They did an excellent job, and it makes sense for an author to narrate their own memoir.
Recommended for fans of memoirs, but do check trigger warnings beforehand.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC.
October 8, 2025
I normally don’t like rating memoirs but I feel like this one is important.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!
Oh, what can I say.. this audiobook was amazing. Jesse James Rose narrates their own memoir, and I always love when authors do that because it’s read exactly as it’s meant to be read (if that makes sense!).
This book touches on so many important and difficult topics, including sexual assault and its aftermath, and it does so with honesty and vulnerability. I really appreciated how it showed that healing isn’t linear and explored what it means to reclaim your power and come to terms with trauma. It was emotional, raw, and incredibly relevant. I truly enjoyed listening to it.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!
Oh, what can I say.. this audiobook was amazing. Jesse James Rose narrates their own memoir, and I always love when authors do that because it’s read exactly as it’s meant to be read (if that makes sense!).
This book touches on so many important and difficult topics, including sexual assault and its aftermath, and it does so with honesty and vulnerability. I really appreciated how it showed that healing isn’t linear and explored what it means to reclaim your power and come to terms with trauma. It was emotional, raw, and incredibly relevant. I truly enjoyed listening to it.
December 20, 2025
I wish this book existed a few years ago when I needed it, but I’m deeply glad it crossed my path now. I feel so understood and held reading this book. I feel a sense of community, which is fucked up to say ab being a survivor but to sit in community is so healing. Reading this has been so healing. Really beautiful, raw prose & I love how Jesse uses multiple styles to convey different thoughts/topics. Highly recommend but read gently and with care!
October 24, 2025
Wow! whoever designed the inside of this book is so insanely talented!! they should be hired to design all books ever!!!
(I love this book because maybe sometimes trauma is funny and profound and identity is personal and universal and maybe we’re all swiping our lives away to find out if we’re fuckable or lovable and maybe I should start crying more)
(I love this book because maybe sometimes trauma is funny and profound and identity is personal and universal and maybe we’re all swiping our lives away to find out if we’re fuckable or lovable and maybe I should start crying more)
November 7, 2025
Absolutely heartbreaking to read. Simultaneously absolutely hilarious with the darkest humor only trauma can bring.
Beyond the unfortunately relatable-for-many-of-us topics, I loved the format. How was section II both Choose [James’s] Adventure and the best view of anxiety I’ve ever seen in the same breath?
Stunning, no notes.
Beyond the unfortunately relatable-for-many-of-us topics, I loved the format. How was section II both Choose [James’s] Adventure and the best view of anxiety I’ve ever seen in the same breath?
Stunning, no notes.
December 14, 2025
This was a very difficult beautiful important horny book that is very worth reading if/when are are ready to confront the big bad in people and humanize them anyway and to fall in love with yourself the way you fall in love with every stranger you meet.
October 29, 2025
OH this positively had me in a chokehold!! What a powerful story - she’s gonna stick with me!
November 26, 2025
this is a love letter to SA survivors with grandparents who died from dementia/Alzheimers. exactly what i needed right now.
May 5, 2025
*Thank you to Netgalley and Abrams books for an advanced reader copy in exchange for a review*
holy fuck I do not know how to talk about this. This memoir is extremely raw and had so much depth in it. I never thought a fake conversation with Osama bin Laden could make me cry but here we are. Jesse James Rose you are a stunning writer. Protect trans voices ♥️
November 19, 2025
I received an ARC of the audio of this book through Net Galley.
As a personal rule, I do not rate memoirs, because who am I to judge someone's life's experiences, unless it's undoubtedly 5 ⭐
This book provided a lot of insight to gay hookup culture that I thought was exaggerated in movies, I was wrong.
To me, the reason it was not a 5⭐ read was for two reasons. One, the beginning was all over the place, and two, the respectiveness at the end felt like the editor was demanding the book to be xxx pages long. I literally thought I accidentally bumped my audio player backwards, which took me out of the story.
With that being said, I do believe it is a book that everyone should read to understand, relate, and support trauma victims and their responses to that trauma.
As a personal rule, I do not rate memoirs, because who am I to judge someone's life's experiences, unless it's undoubtedly 5 ⭐
This book provided a lot of insight to gay hookup culture that I thought was exaggerated in movies, I was wrong.
To me, the reason it was not a 5⭐ read was for two reasons. One, the beginning was all over the place, and two, the respectiveness at the end felt like the editor was demanding the book to be xxx pages long. I literally thought I accidentally bumped my audio player backwards, which took me out of the story.
With that being said, I do believe it is a book that everyone should read to understand, relate, and support trauma victims and their responses to that trauma.
October 2, 2025
I don't give 5-star reviews often. Three stars is an average book that didn't leave me feeling much. 4 stars for a book that made me feel something (happy, joy, lust, grief, anger). 4 stars for a "good book." 5 stars is reserved for a book that I either want to read again, buy a physical copy for my bookshelf (because I normally listen to audiobooks), or that made me grab a box of tissues.
I came in a bit hesitant to this memoir by a 26ish-year-old. Folks, James' story deserves to be told, read, reflected on, and celebrated. I am so glad they decided to share their story with the world. James recorded the audiobook in her own voice, giving emphasis, tone, and something that you just can't get in a purely written word. For instance, the voice she uses for her ex, made me laugh each time.
My first immediate reaction when I finished was to go to the author's IG page and tell them, "Currently reading your ARC. Folks, holy BANANAS. This book has made me laugh, made my chest tighten in panic, make me want to give you a hug, want to yell “HELL YES SISTER”, want to yell “fuck him; he doesn’t deserve you.” and a whole bunch more emotions. I can’t wait for the rest of the world to read your story. I don't want to give anything away to those reading the comments but how you ended the book, flipping back and forth between 2 things happening simultaneously. Girl. I was gripping the chair. At first listen I thought "a memoir at 26ish", come on. Jokes on me. That was a story that not only deserves to be told, and read, and learned from. But also was an incredibly enjoyable read. Much much love. Hugs (if you're hugs kind of girl) from a random internet stranger <3"
I stand by my initial feelings. Their story made me reflect on my own life, which isn't something a memoir is always capable of. I learned something, something about myself, something about life in general, from listening to sorry i keep crying during sex by Jesse James Rose.
5 stars. Time to order a hardcopy for the trophy bookshelf.
I came in a bit hesitant to this memoir by a 26ish-year-old. Folks, James' story deserves to be told, read, reflected on, and celebrated. I am so glad they decided to share their story with the world. James recorded the audiobook in her own voice, giving emphasis, tone, and something that you just can't get in a purely written word. For instance, the voice she uses for her ex, made me laugh each time.
My first immediate reaction when I finished was to go to the author's IG page and tell them, "Currently reading your ARC. Folks, holy BANANAS. This book has made me laugh, made my chest tighten in panic, make me want to give you a hug, want to yell “HELL YES SISTER”, want to yell “fuck him; he doesn’t deserve you.” and a whole bunch more emotions. I can’t wait for the rest of the world to read your story. I don't want to give anything away to those reading the comments but how you ended the book, flipping back and forth between 2 things happening simultaneously. Girl. I was gripping the chair. At first listen I thought "a memoir at 26ish", come on. Jokes on me. That was a story that not only deserves to be told, and read, and learned from. But also was an incredibly enjoyable read. Much much love. Hugs (if you're hugs kind of girl) from a random internet stranger <3"
I stand by my initial feelings. Their story made me reflect on my own life, which isn't something a memoir is always capable of. I learned something, something about myself, something about life in general, from listening to sorry i keep crying during sex by Jesse James Rose.
5 stars. Time to order a hardcopy for the trophy bookshelf.
October 16, 2025
Memoirs are always tricky to review. I commend the author for their honesty and their willingness to share their story with this memoir. It’s extremely hard to balance humour, grief and hurt, but unfortunately I found that this aspect of the book fell flat for me. There are some genuinely great descriptions and prose, but the constant references to social media and millennial quips (who says finger guns in 2025?) felt too on the nose and repetitive for me to get drawn into the story.
That being said, I’m not 100% convinced this book works as an audiobook. While the author has some very heartbreaking and truly poignant moments, the flow is constantly being interrupted by lists or screenshots or attempts at humour. I understand that it’s supposed to be a train of consciousness narrative, but this distraction feels like it’s pulling away from something that really resonates with the reader. The narration does become smoother as the book goes on, but the first 20% I kept begging the author to please breathe at the end of each sentence. I also really struggled with the Yogi-bear style voice for the men in the novel, I felt emotional whiplash being torn from one scene to the next but that might be a bit of a personal preference.
My biggest issue though is that this book seems heavily inspired on several aspects of “Martyr!”, including the usage of poems/screenwritings and the tie-in with 9/11. And while I agree with the “genre-defying” label, this book seems to lean a bit too much on the same tropes and has a similar structure as Martyr!, where the first half has a different style of narration than the second. I'm not convinced that this book was able to pull the concept off as well as Martyr!, but I would recommend giving it a try if you enjoy that style of writing.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review*
That being said, I’m not 100% convinced this book works as an audiobook. While the author has some very heartbreaking and truly poignant moments, the flow is constantly being interrupted by lists or screenshots or attempts at humour. I understand that it’s supposed to be a train of consciousness narrative, but this distraction feels like it’s pulling away from something that really resonates with the reader. The narration does become smoother as the book goes on, but the first 20% I kept begging the author to please breathe at the end of each sentence. I also really struggled with the Yogi-bear style voice for the men in the novel, I felt emotional whiplash being torn from one scene to the next but that might be a bit of a personal preference.
My biggest issue though is that this book seems heavily inspired on several aspects of “Martyr!”, including the usage of poems/screenwritings and the tie-in with 9/11. And while I agree with the “genre-defying” label, this book seems to lean a bit too much on the same tropes and has a similar structure as Martyr!, where the first half has a different style of narration than the second. I'm not convinced that this book was able to pull the concept off as well as Martyr!, but I would recommend giving it a try if you enjoy that style of writing.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review*
April 15, 2025
I will admit that at first, it was hard to follow the format of this book, but the more I read, the more I was able to follow along. And I’m sorry if my understanding is far from what the author wants the readers to take away—but hey, I’m being really honest here, I promise!
Reading this book feels like diving straight into someone’s stream of consciousness, and honestly, I relate to it a lot. That feeling of the voices in your head speaking too loudly—at each other, to each other, or even against each other—it can get overwhelming. And I could feel that through this book.
Some parts hit me so hard I had to stop and take a moment to breathe, fighting back tears, because if I let myself cry mid-chapter, I knew I’d struggle to keep going. I’m sorry, guys, I’m such a crybaby sometimes.
Anyway, the content was tough—not because I’m squeamish or anything like that, but because the delivery was so raw and honest. It tugged at something deep in me, and as someone who's still kind of new to dealing with emotions this heavy, I found myself wincing once or twice.
However, I think that’s also what made it so powerful. It didn’t sugarcoat anything. It didn’t try to package pain into something pretty or easy to digest. It just laid it all out, unfiltered. And while that made it challenging to read, it also made it feel real. Like someone was saying, “Here, this is what it’s like,” and trusting me enough to handle it.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for granting me this ARC. As I said before, here’s my honest review.
Reading this book feels like diving straight into someone’s stream of consciousness, and honestly, I relate to it a lot. That feeling of the voices in your head speaking too loudly—at each other, to each other, or even against each other—it can get overwhelming. And I could feel that through this book.
Some parts hit me so hard I had to stop and take a moment to breathe, fighting back tears, because if I let myself cry mid-chapter, I knew I’d struggle to keep going. I’m sorry, guys, I’m such a crybaby sometimes.
Anyway, the content was tough—not because I’m squeamish or anything like that, but because the delivery was so raw and honest. It tugged at something deep in me, and as someone who's still kind of new to dealing with emotions this heavy, I found myself wincing once or twice.
However, I think that’s also what made it so powerful. It didn’t sugarcoat anything. It didn’t try to package pain into something pretty or easy to digest. It just laid it all out, unfiltered. And while that made it challenging to read, it also made it feel real. Like someone was saying, “Here, this is what it’s like,” and trusting me enough to handle it.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for granting me this ARC. As I said before, here’s my honest review.
October 24, 2025
While this book has a record number of trigger warnings, sorry i keep crying during sex is a standout memoir of dealing with trauma and grief, while simultaneously being hilarious. James’s storytelling is both lighthearted and profoundly deep.
James chronicles her trauma with humorous wit, visiting her sexual trauma, witnessing her grandfather’s rapid decline with Alzheimer’s as his caregiver, and the devastating breakup with Finnegan.
James ties her sexual trauma in with 9/11 seamlessly. James finds a way to make it inexplicably hilarious, considering how devastating and dark both of those subjects are. James uses humor as a tool to take control of her narrative and share her story. It is raw, emotional, and reads like a yap session with a girlfriend. The writing style worked well with my ADHD brain.
James’s story is valuable to the queer community, as a story of surviving the unthinkable, as well as an eye opener to those of us who have been privileged enough to have been spared sexual trauma. James also details parts of her journey as she evolves as a trans-femme woman. It’s so important now more than ever, for trans voices to be lifted up.
Trigger Warnings:
Sexual Assault
Rape
Childhood Sexual Assault
Terrorism (9/11/2001)
Drug Use
Alzheimer's Dementia
Death of a Grandparent
Violence
Gender Identity
Transphobia
Deadnaming
Toxic Relationship
Gaslighting
Suicidal Thoughts
Mental Illness
Panic Attacks
PTSD
Grief
Medical Content
James chronicles her trauma with humorous wit, visiting her sexual trauma, witnessing her grandfather’s rapid decline with Alzheimer’s as his caregiver, and the devastating breakup with Finnegan.
James ties her sexual trauma in with 9/11 seamlessly. James finds a way to make it inexplicably hilarious, considering how devastating and dark both of those subjects are. James uses humor as a tool to take control of her narrative and share her story. It is raw, emotional, and reads like a yap session with a girlfriend. The writing style worked well with my ADHD brain.
James’s story is valuable to the queer community, as a story of surviving the unthinkable, as well as an eye opener to those of us who have been privileged enough to have been spared sexual trauma. James also details parts of her journey as she evolves as a trans-femme woman. It’s so important now more than ever, for trans voices to be lifted up.
Trigger Warnings:
Sexual Assault
Rape
Childhood Sexual Assault
Terrorism (9/11/2001)
Drug Use
Alzheimer's Dementia
Death of a Grandparent
Violence
Gender Identity
Transphobia
Deadnaming
Toxic Relationship
Gaslighting
Suicidal Thoughts
Mental Illness
Panic Attacks
PTSD
Grief
Medical Content
June 25, 2025
This is one of the wildest memoirs I’ve ever read. It’s shockingly honest, queer as hell (a big surprise, I know), witty, snarky, heartbreaking, dark, bold, and gut wrenching. Rose’s candor is both refreshing and devastating as she weaves her story and recounts some of her most traumatic moments. As always, dear reader, please check the trigger warnings and make sure that this is the right time and right novel for you.
Rose’s story bounces between recalling her relationship that ended poorly, acting as a caretaker to her ill grandfather, remembering 9/11 (with added layers of trauma), trying to navigate love, sex, assault, and everything in between as she comes to terms with her own gender identity and her existence as a nonbinary trans-femme. She uses a lot of Grindr screenshots, makes lists, writes scripts, and even has a choose your own adventure loop (which was tricky for me to navigate since ARCs don’t have accurate page numbers), which switched up the pace, keeps the novel flying by, and really lets her inner conflicts and beautiful hilarity shine.
Overall, it was a very difficult read, but a very important one as well. I’m grateful to the author for her vulnerability. I’ve been a follower of her online content for a while and am glad to have had the opportunity to read her debut. Thanks to Abram’s Press for the complimentary advance copy via NetGalley.
Rose’s story bounces between recalling her relationship that ended poorly, acting as a caretaker to her ill grandfather, remembering 9/11 (with added layers of trauma), trying to navigate love, sex, assault, and everything in between as she comes to terms with her own gender identity and her existence as a nonbinary trans-femme. She uses a lot of Grindr screenshots, makes lists, writes scripts, and even has a choose your own adventure loop (which was tricky for me to navigate since ARCs don’t have accurate page numbers), which switched up the pace, keeps the novel flying by, and really lets her inner conflicts and beautiful hilarity shine.
Overall, it was a very difficult read, but a very important one as well. I’m grateful to the author for her vulnerability. I’ve been a follower of her online content for a while and am glad to have had the opportunity to read her debut. Thanks to Abram’s Press for the complimentary advance copy via NetGalley.
November 18, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars
“Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex” absolutely wrecked me in the best, most beautiful way. This memoir is raw, brutally honest, and so incredibly brave. I love a good memoir, but this one felt like sitting on the couch talking with a friend — the kind who tells the truth even when it’s messy, awkward, or downright hilarious.
The author’s voice? ICONIC. The little sayings, the sarcastic humor, the way she phrases things… I swear I snort-laughed more times than I can count. 😂 But woven through all the humor is a story full of vulnerability and healing that hit me straight in the heart.
Will this book be everyone’s cup of tea? Probably not. But it was exactly mine. Just make sure you check the trigger warnings before you dive in — this memoir explores some heavy topics with honesty and heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. I’m so grateful I got to read this one early. 💛
⸻
#BookReview #NetGalleyReader #ARCReview #MemoirLove #SorryIKeepCryingDuringSex #BookishHumor #ReadersOfInstagram #Bookstagram #BookstagramReads #FiveStarReads #HonestBooks #RawAndReal #EmotionalReads #SnortLaughing #BookishLife #MustReadMemoirs
“Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex” absolutely wrecked me in the best, most beautiful way. This memoir is raw, brutally honest, and so incredibly brave. I love a good memoir, but this one felt like sitting on the couch talking with a friend — the kind who tells the truth even when it’s messy, awkward, or downright hilarious.
The author’s voice? ICONIC. The little sayings, the sarcastic humor, the way she phrases things… I swear I snort-laughed more times than I can count. 😂 But woven through all the humor is a story full of vulnerability and healing that hit me straight in the heart.
Will this book be everyone’s cup of tea? Probably not. But it was exactly mine. Just make sure you check the trigger warnings before you dive in — this memoir explores some heavy topics with honesty and heart.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. I’m so grateful I got to read this one early. 💛
⸻
#BookReview #NetGalleyReader #ARCReview #MemoirLove #SorryIKeepCryingDuringSex #BookishHumor #ReadersOfInstagram #Bookstagram #BookstagramReads #FiveStarReads #HonestBooks #RawAndReal #EmotionalReads #SnortLaughing #BookishLife #MustReadMemoirs
October 22, 2025
I’ve been looking forward to this book for ages! Jesse has such a beautiful perspective and way with words. I’ve followed her on Instagram for a while, and I remember some of these events told through Instagram stories. It is such a treat to watch her reflect and share insight. I’ve always deeply related to how she connects seemingly disparate ideas, so an entire book of this was just lovely.
This memoir contains chaotic hookup stories, the grief of caregiving for a loved one, healing from sexual assault, gender journeys, and learning to love yourself again. I love the parallels Jesse crafted between the haphazard memories of Alzheimer’s and PTSD through her story telling. The narrative feels disjointed sometimes—and it’s reality with PTSD. The monotone of caregiving coupled with the ruminating on confronting your abuser. The 9/11 through line especially clicks with my CSA survivor brain. Oof! This book is so relatable and beautiful. Love love love. Congratulations on a beautiful debut!!!
This memoir contains chaotic hookup stories, the grief of caregiving for a loved one, healing from sexual assault, gender journeys, and learning to love yourself again. I love the parallels Jesse crafted between the haphazard memories of Alzheimer’s and PTSD through her story telling. The narrative feels disjointed sometimes—and it’s reality with PTSD. The monotone of caregiving coupled with the ruminating on confronting your abuser. The 9/11 through line especially clicks with my CSA survivor brain. Oof! This book is so relatable and beautiful. Love love love. Congratulations on a beautiful debut!!!
November 14, 2025
I thought I wouldn't like this at first. The writing almost felt like it was all over the place, jumping from point to point, moment to moment, I wasn't sure where I was going. But I trusted in Rose's writing, in her storytelling. And it all came together in the end. It was the themes of identity, of survivorship after assault, and understanding her own sexuality in the before and after that kept this grounded amidst the up and down that was this narrative choice. And it worked.
It's funny. It's heartbreaking. It's traumatic. It's uplifting. It's also that one friend who goes way overboard on the TMI when they're having a heart to heart conversation with you. Rose's voice is genuine throughout, and you can hear the pain in her words during the more emotional points of the story. I'm sure that certain sections of the book involving sexual acts might be a big turn off to some readers, but perhaps those too squeamish to read about such acts won't even pick this up in the first place.
A great memoir with an experimental style.
It's funny. It's heartbreaking. It's traumatic. It's uplifting. It's also that one friend who goes way overboard on the TMI when they're having a heart to heart conversation with you. Rose's voice is genuine throughout, and you can hear the pain in her words during the more emotional points of the story. I'm sure that certain sections of the book involving sexual acts might be a big turn off to some readers, but perhaps those too squeamish to read about such acts won't even pick this up in the first place.
A great memoir with an experimental style.
October 28, 2025
Rose writes of her non-cyclical and non-linear journey to healing for sexual trauma, the last days of her grandfather's life, and her journey to finding herself as she understands her gender expression and identity.
This memoir actually altered my brain chemistry in ways that I never have seen. From the stream of consciousness thoughts throughout the novel to the raw emotions related to personal traumas and LGBTQIA+ identity is relatable and embodies similar feelings I have felt healing and expressing my queer identity.
Rose not only provides a beautiful story of healing but also shows the reader that healing is not something that is a finite point. Trauma can make connections to everyday life and healing is an ongoing process that we have to encounter and combat daily.
After seeing Rose at Pride Book Fair in June 2025, I have been waiting for this book and am grateful to be on this journey alongside Rose.
A thank you to Jesse James Rose, RBmedia, and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This memoir actually altered my brain chemistry in ways that I never have seen. From the stream of consciousness thoughts throughout the novel to the raw emotions related to personal traumas and LGBTQIA+ identity is relatable and embodies similar feelings I have felt healing and expressing my queer identity.
Rose not only provides a beautiful story of healing but also shows the reader that healing is not something that is a finite point. Trauma can make connections to everyday life and healing is an ongoing process that we have to encounter and combat daily.
After seeing Rose at Pride Book Fair in June 2025, I have been waiting for this book and am grateful to be on this journey alongside Rose.
A thank you to Jesse James Rose, RBmedia, and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2025
This is so good I'm buying a trophy copy!!! I. Am. In. Love,
Equally important & hilarious, Jesse James Rose is a friggin angel. Grateful for the transparency & reflection within these pages is an understatement—we don't deserve it, fr. That we're also blessed w Jesse's narration in the audiobook??? If this wasn't my bday month I'd say it's too good to be true. Thee most fun I've had WITH a narrator—specifically WITH. It felt like we were chatting over drinks, not like I was listening to a previous (& one sided lol) recording.
I have 38759687 more things I wanna say, but they're almost all in ref to specific quotes soo I'll be back post-tropy copy to update accordingly.
For now, just trust me. One of the easiest 5 star reviews I've given in months.
Thank you bunches to Jesse James Rose, Abrams, RB Media & NetGalley for the ALC & DRC in exchange for my honest review.
Equally important & hilarious, Jesse James Rose is a friggin angel. Grateful for the transparency & reflection within these pages is an understatement—we don't deserve it, fr. That we're also blessed w Jesse's narration in the audiobook??? If this wasn't my bday month I'd say it's too good to be true. Thee most fun I've had WITH a narrator—specifically WITH. It felt like we were chatting over drinks, not like I was listening to a previous (& one sided lol) recording.
I have 38759687 more things I wanna say, but they're almost all in ref to specific quotes soo I'll be back post-tropy copy to update accordingly.
For now, just trust me. One of the easiest 5 star reviews I've given in months.
Thank you bunches to Jesse James Rose, Abrams, RB Media & NetGalley for the ALC & DRC in exchange for my honest review.
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