Be Your Own Bestie: A No-Nonsense Guide to Changing the Way You Treat Yourself

by Misha Brown

Hey, Bestie! Start loving yourself radically with the 4-step SASS Method that literally anyone can do—from social media star Misha Brown.

You deserve happiness.
You deserve hope.
And you deserve a sassy best friend who can help you learn not to settle for less.

Misha Brown—you may know him as @yourbestiemisha—is here to support you and your journey of self-discovery, accountability, and most importantly, self-love. With his no-nonsense (but always loving) approach, Misha shares stories from his own life, encounters with others, and the wisdom gleaned from them to help you reflect on the patterns, relationships, and beliefs that have kept you from stepping into the full fabulousness you deserve.

With equal parts hilarity and heart, Misha guides you through his S.A.S.S. Method to glowing up your

S – Turn your focus inward to push away what’s been holding you back
A – Reshape the way you speak to and about yourself
S – Standing your Set boundaries and stop apologizing
S – Sculpting the life you Take bold steps toward your own happily ever after

No matter where you are today, now is the time to begin showing up for yourself as your own best friend. Because you deserve it, bestie!

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Memoir, Mental Health, Psychology, Humor

256 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 2026

Reviews

[Ali Thomson]

🎧 the audiobook was great and full of Misha’s typical sass and flamboyant, encouraging energy. I enjoyed the stories he shared and the way he encouraged readers to actually do the work of healing, growing, and becoming their own best friend

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already loved following all his stories on Instagram so this was just a fun and really uplifting compliment to them.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE Misha Brown, and want to be his bestie IRL, and this book felt like a chat with your bestie and is such a great uplifting read. If you love his TikToks or IG videos, please check it out!

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libby app, Overdrive was better
----

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know Misha, or if you know OF Misha, you know what you're getting in this. It's literally his two main social media "themes" (@Dontcrossagayman and @Yourbestiemisha), combined and repackaged into book form, with a smidgen of memoir tossed in.

I don't have social media anymore, but for a while I did, and I enjoyed his content whenever it would cross my feed. It's positive, it's snarky, it's pro-underdog, it's funny, it's a middle-finger to the patriarchy. I'm here for it.

I know that there's a whole "thing" about whether he's lying/making it up/whatever... but I don't know or particularly care if it's all real or not. He's telling stories on the internet as a content creator. And now he's writing it in a book. If he makes some of it up and it speaks to and inspires someone to stand up for themselves or someone else in need, I call that a good thing.

And that's this book in a nutshell. This book is all about standing up for yourself - even if it's standing up for yourself TO yourself. It's a good reminder that we're all just human people doing our best in this world, and to give ourselves a little grace when we need it, or set and stick to a boundary when we need that.

I recommend it. I listened to this in just about 4 hours, and it was a delight. Plus, according to the end of the audiobook, apparently my making it all the way through makes me an honorary sassy gay man! Just what I've always wanted! :D

If that's what you've also always wanted, all you have to do is listen to the audiobook. LOL

[Patty (IheartYA311) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Misha is truly all the good things.

Stellar book that I will probably re-read when I need to get in touch with my inner bestie. I'm now on the hunt for a signed copy to add to my collection.

Side note: The world needs more bad*ss girls like Bean!

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars but chose to round down, mainly because this book is in the 'self-help' category and if I'm judging it in comparison to the 'Let Them Theory' it falls significantly farther behind...although it is still my second favorite self-help book I've ever read. It's good because it's filled with tons of great stories, hilarious taunts, and you can tell how much writing this meant to Misha. I would say this book is only half self-help and half a memoir.
The audiobook is fun and is voiced by Misha himself. There was a lack of insightful learning and left me wanting more tips/tricks/etc. The biggest take away was Misha's thoughts on 'being the bigger person and playing nice'. He entirely squashes that idea and doesn't think it's fair or right to have to suck it up and 'take the high road'. Instead he encourages people to meet others like that head on, even giving tips of certain phrases to try and use. I appreciated that a lot, especially as a woman, since society expects us to shrug off the acts of men around us.

Was it a fun and quick audiobook? Definitely yes. Would I say I learned a ton and it's revolutionary? Nope.
Would I recommend? Yes.

[Emily McGilvray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun book especially to listen to. Very true to Misha’s online vibe. I found myself answering his questions out loud. Definitely would recommend

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the sass and attitude the author delivers. This is a good pick me up

[Lysandra Engstrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished the audiobook! Been a long time bestie observer and this book did not disappoint! What an entertaining way to remind us all that we are bad bitches 🫶🏼

[Heather Spaulding · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good. Shares a lot of his life experiences and what he learned from them. If you follow him on social media you will love it.

[Amber Kestner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't get very far in this even after putting it on-hold. I love Misha Brown, I do. I watch his content but this book hasn't set for me even after reading nearly 10 pages. It's one of those that I may never go back too because I do know his story, not like he doesn't share it on Social Media and he has, somewhat.

I'm only keeping it 3 star because it's only fair. I feel that it at least deserves middle rating, I should give it 1-2 stars but I'm not that type of reader.

I recommend to those that want it. But, it wasn't for me.

[Kaela Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Well, if you follow him on social media and you like his videos then you’ll love this book! As a therapist, I can say that he recommends all the right things in his own unique way! I already have clients I KNOW will benefit from this book! Also, I HIGHLY recommend listening to the audiobook version of this one as it is read by the author and makes it come to life so much more!

[Steffanie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad my sister*cousin recommended this book to me! What a great “hype ya up” read!! If you’re feeling down and out on your luck this is the book for you!!!

[Sherrill Carper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Positive, uplifting, encouraging and funny. Well done!

[JennyG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, love!!!

[BookstagramSam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo I’ll admit. I’ve never heard of Misha before this! Honestly the cover and title won me over!
But I’m so glad I listened to this. It was the bestie I knew I needed but never sought out to find!

Loved the SASS and lightheartedness but also the realness! The personal stories were a great insight and I truly took away a lot from this! I even annotated and if you know me that’s a big deal!

[Brittany Sabo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following Misha online for a few years now. So when I saw his book was coming out, I had to have it! Listened to the audio and loved every minute.

[Luisa Nunez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely glorious book! Entertaining and at the same time proving guidance, teaching life lessons, giving the best advice. Super engaging, Misha’s personal stories make it a completely different book from any other of this kind. I am so thankful for Misha, our real and very best friend forever!

[Heather Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start out by saying this is not your traditional “self help” book as I think most were expecting. Misha has put his own twist on trying to help others in my opinion, in a very laid back way. I follow him on social media and can say that I’m surprised by the way he chose to write this book. Yes, you learn quite a bit about him and what he’s gone through, but those experiences are ones millions go through and will likely find his “tips” easier to help us reflect. Read the book, ask yourself the hard questions and I bet, you’ll be smiling at the end.

[Rae-Leigh Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Gen X woman, I picked up Be Your Own Bestie thinking it would be a cute, cheeky little read with a few laughs and maybe a couple “hmmm… fair point” moments. What I did NOT expect was to be personally attacked… in the best possible way.

Somewhere between the sass, the humour, and the “girl, get it together” energy were these absolute nuggets of wisdom that hit me right in the soul. This book has me rethinking old habits, showing up differently for myself, and honestly starting to build a life that actually feels aligned with who I’m meant to be… not just who everyone else needed me to be.

It’s warm, funny, empowering, relatable, and feels like that one brutally honest best friend who loves you enough to call you out while handing you a latte and hyping you up at the same time.

10/10 recommend for every woman who’s spent years taking care of everyone else and is finally ready to choose herself without guilt.

Turns out becoming your own bestie is kind of life-changing.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following Misha Brown on Instagram and Facebook for quite some time now. His videos are so uplifting and I've even cried from some of them. I talked about him in our column post back in December, as the topic was "kindness." So when I heard he had a book releasing last month, I just had to read it! I rarely do audiobooks due to lack of available time, but I made an exception for this one as it was a bit shorter and I was doing more driving than usual. I'm so glad I got to listen to him read his book as it made the experience that much more meaningful. (I also made an exception to reading self-help books, as I normally don't.)

Misha shares stories and anecdotes from his life in order to illustrate the different points he is trying to make to his readers (a.k.a. besties). He also talks about things his friends have gone through and the advice he has given them. As far as self-help books go, this one was a breeze! 

I just loved hearing what Misha had to say and I felt a lot of it was so relatable. I even saw myself in some of the stories he had about his friends. I was cheering him on when he shared something good and getting angry on his behalf when people treated him poorly. I really liked how he was able to rise above the way people treated him and impart his wisdom to others who may be going through the same things. Where was he when I was dealing with a toxic friend in high school?!? (He was probably in elementary school since he's eleven years younger than me. 🤣)

Misha is just so kind, genuine, and a complete ray of sunshine! It's impossible NOT to adore him once you see even just one of his social media videos. I'm jealous of anyone who has gotten to actually connect with him in person or even receive a response to a message they sent him. He's very popular and high-in-demand, so I understand that. I just hope he brings his book tour to my neck of the woods soon. 

There are parts in the book where Misha asks readers to do thought exercises and write things down. I will admit that I didn't do this. I may have thought about what he suggested a few times, but I was hard-pressed to always come up with situations where I would be able to use these exercises. However, they are extremely helpful to anyone who would actually need them. I did feel a boost of confidence from listening to Misha be my own personal cheerleader during my drives and while folding laundry though! 

Something Misha said that was extremely relevant is that people tend to sympathize with bullies instead of victims. That has been happening a lot lately and it's a disturbing trend. Maybe Misha's next book should be helping people realize that they were brainwashed. 

Overall, this is a delightful book to listen to (or read in print or Kindle, if you don't do audio). I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a confidence boost or a push to remove toxicity from their lives. I think everyone can benefit in some way from listening to Misha and becoming their own bestie! (On the audio version, Misha leads a meditation at the end.)

Side note: The other day, my daughter was giving advice to one of her friends regarding some friendship drama. Afterward, I told her how much she sounded like Misha and how proud I was. (She hasn't even listened to Misha, but she definitely said everything he would say!)

Side note 2: Since you know how much I love Ghosts, the name of Misha's method is easy for me to remember. And honestly, Sass could use some S.A.S.S. too. (Although I am impressed by something he did recently, but more for his own sake.)

Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.

[Elise I. Jakabhazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t really looking for a self-help book when I picked this up. I bought it because I already love Misha Brown as a positive, inspiring internet personality, and his energy translates well to the page. He’s unabashedly out, gay, and fierce, and that openness is part of what makes him so appealing.

Be Your Own Bestie is warm, funny, and genuinely encouraging, but what stood out to me most were the stories. Brown uses personal anecdotes to make his points feel real, and I especially loved the story about the older woman he met at the bus stop and started taking to church because she had a hard time getting there. That kind of small, compassionate gesture gave the book a lot of heart.
I also appreciated the other stories throughout the book, which kept it engaging and made the advice feel lived-in rather than abstract. Even though I’m not an alcoholic or substance abuser, I was proud of him for getting sober and for helping encourage his friend to do the same when she was ready. That honesty and compassion added real depth to the book.

I was a little surprised there wasn’t more about his husband, since that felt like another part of his life that could have added richness to the narrative. Still, Brown’s voice is personable, relatable, and easy to trust. He strikes a nice balance between humor and sincerity, and he never feels preachy.

Overall, this was a thoughtful, uplifting read from someone I already admired. It may be framed as self-help, but for me it worked just as much as a collection of stories about kindness, resilience, and showing up for other people.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listen to the audiobook. 🎧🩷

Be Your Own Bestie by Misha Brown is one of the best "self-help" books I've listened to in a long time.

If you've ever wanted a sassy, gay man bestie, pick up this book, because Misha is that bestie. I love him, and I loved this book.

It genuinely feels like having a friend in your ear, encouraging you, calling you out (lovingly), and reminding you to show up for yourself. The way he speaks directly to you, always saying "hey bestie" or "as your bestie," makes it feel so personal, like you have someone hyping you up, supporting you, and giving you a few laughs along the way.

Don't be afraid to stumble. I know how I used to feel when I messed up, like I ruined everything, and what was the point of trying to fix it? Bestie, the truth is that you will continue to mess up because that's just a part of being human, but that doesn't mean that you need to throw yourself or your progress in the trash like the romaine lettuce I buy every week to make salads, but instead find brown and wilted in the back of the fridge come Friday. No, we learn, we pivot, we keep it moving. This journey wasn't ever about becoming a flawless, perfectly polished version of yourself who never makes mistakes.

This book felt like such a breath of fresh air and left me smiling.

[Vi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflective• Empowering • Roadmap • Concise • Upbeat
“Your happiness isn’t a luxury, it’s your right. Own it, protect it, and most importantly, Bestie, live it.”


Rating: 5.0 Stars


Misha Brown is one of my favorite content creators! So when I found out he was writing a book, I was curious! This self-help book is it! It felt like my best friend was talking to me and giving me advice. I wish I had this book when I was younger because I would have needed it! Maybe I wouldn’t have wasted my time and energy on people who didn’t deserve it.

As someone who has read a lot of self-help books, let me just say this one is the best I have read! Misha is so uplifting and brings a positive outlook on change. He shares stories from his own life and his journey of growth and being his best self. I love how engaging this book is; it includes challenges and moments of reflection for your own life. There are many self-help books, so after a while, the messages can be repetitive. I feel like, oftentimes, life will have us learn these lessons eventually. For me, there was nothing groundbreaking in this book, but I will say it is still a great refresher and reminder to continue putting these lessons into practice.

If you ever want to pick up just one self-help book, let it be this one! This one is so clear and concise and gets straight to the point, compared to other books I have read. It is never too late to change the direction of your life, and sometimes you just need that reminder from your Bestie Misha.


I recommend this book to everyone who wants to read a Self-Help Novel.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I love Misha, and have been following him for some time. I'm so happy for him that this book got published and is being read by so many people. I know most people sometimes need a little nudge to remember to take care of themselves. Particularly women.

This is a very readable book with lots of good advice. Being almost 70 (next month!) I feel like I've learned many of these lessons, but a refresher never hurts. If you're just starting out in the adult world it would definitely be worth your time to put in the work on you so that you can follow your dream with the best shot at amazing results.

I don't know if Misha's target audience are older folk like me, but there was something in this book for everyone, from the teenager trying to get through high school to the retired person thinking about changing direction. It's never too late to follow your dream.

[Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this book! I was lucky enough to meet Misha on his book tour in STL. What an amazing human being!!

In Be Your Own Bestie, Misha shares his secrets to becoming the best version of yourself by becoming your own best friend. He has created an easy to follow method called SASS. This stands for: Self reflection; Affirmations; Standing your ground; and Sculpting the life you want.

I spoiled myself by purchasing the audiobook, which is narrated by Misha too! He shares many personal stories about his struggles with alcohol addiction, overcoming the party boy lifestyle, and finding the strength and courage to finally stand in his truth and become the person he was always meant to be.

So much of this book resonated with me and my own experiences. I too, found myself constantly giving and never taking or making any time for myself. I remained in toxic relationships, never set clear boundaries, and always felt like I either wasn’t good enough or was “too much.”

Misha’s SASS method is easy to follow and includes numerous activities to help you really dig down deep to discover the patterns and thought processes that are holding you back from going after the life you’ve always wanted. From journaling to striking up a conversation with a stranger, Misha guides you every step of the way with compassion and love.

Told with Misha’s classic humor and a whole lot of heart, I highly recommend this book to besties everywhere!

[Ashley Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the 8 hours I listened to this on audio, Misha became a real life bestie and free therapist. I'm not at all surprised that the method he developed was shortened to SASS because he is absoluely FILLED with it in the best way, just as anyone who has followed his online videos would come to expect. I adored this book. Part memoir, part journal, part self-help book, you not only got to learn more about Misha and what brought him to the amazing level that he's at now, but you also are gently given the space to understand more about yourself. Everything in this book is told in such a honest, non-judgmental, loving way you can't help but feel connected to Misha and open up yourself at the same time. I am SO glad I got to listened to this on audio first for all of Misha's glorious flamboyant sass and no-nonsense manner, but I also plan to purchase a physical copy to follow along and go back to complete the exercises he mentions.

This was EXACTLY what all of your besties needed, Misha. Well done!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG!! okay! So I was on the TIkTok and I came across one of Misha's videos and was like "Who in the EFF is this hilarious person"? I am serious when I say this, I have never seen him before but the name sounded familiar. ANYWAYS, after about 2 weeks of watching his videos, he spoke about his book and since I am trying to be a better me I thought... Why the heck not!? and OMG I am SOOOOOOO Glad I did. Not only do I feel better, I feel like I CAN!! Like I am WORTH IT! Misha is a blessing in the world and this book was refreshing.

4 Bestie Stars

[Rachel Pollock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have followed this author on social media for a while and I love the stories he shares in short form videos so I thought I would check out this book when it came out.

I don’t think I am the target audience for it in the sense that I am not trying to build my confidence or achieve my dreams. If you are, this is a great motivational, text or audiobook.

I loved his stories about life as a working stage performer in touring shows and on cruise ships.