Suck Less: Where There's A Willam, There's A Way

by Willam Belli

The only lie told more often than "No, that looks totally cute on you" and "I got AIDS through oral" is "It gets better." Well, a lotta times it don't. Sometimes it just sucks less. But I promise you: where there's a Willam, there's a way.

But this isn't all about me (for once). It's about you and how you can SUCK LESS at a variety of things drag queens are so much better at than the average person. I've got clap backs and life hacks and tips on classing up a simple grab-and-run lifting spree to the much more dignified act of larceny. Super-important life stuff with my own special, secret fag- swag sauce. So welcome to Willam's School of Bitchcraft and Wiggotry. Class is in session.

With a foreword from Neil Patrick Harris.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, LGBT, Audiobook, Memoir, Queer, Biography

223 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2016

About the author

Willam, as he is simply referred to is a world-famous American drag queen, actor, producer, TV personality, recording artist, vlogger and author. He is an all-round showbiz guy who gained popularity for his role as a transgender woman Cherry Peck in Ryan Murphy’s medical TV series Nip/Tuck and more recently as a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Willam Belli is also notorious as the first and only contestant to have ever been disqualified from the RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Despite his disqualification, William is one of the most successful contestants of the RuPaul’s Drag Race. The publicity he got on getting disqualified gave a major boost to his showbiz career. He currently has over 800,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel. He was nominated for “Most Addictive Reality Star” at the 2012 NewNowNext Awards

His first book, Suck Less: Where There’s a Willam, There’s a Way was released in October 2016.

Reviews

[Siona Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a fun and quick read. If you like RuPaul's Drag Race, drag queens, Willam, or all of the above or any combonation thereof, then you'll like this book. It has Willam's sense of humor (though it doesn't translate 100% just because it's in a text format), the pictures are either really stunning or really funny (or both). The genuine tips also seem like they could be really helpful (excet for the ones on skin care because I have amazing skin, but not everyone can be as fortune as I ;) ). Over all, this was a really good book if you're into memoirs, advice, self-help, or anything similar and/or Willam, drag queens, RuPaul's Drag Race.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book through Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. This was in no way a bad book. It was filled with hilarious/beautiful pictures, some good advice, and some pretty humorous jokes.The pictures are really helpful for the tutorials (makeup, hair) and also are beautiful/weird/fun/humorous/sexy to look at. Belli's style is very cool and the pictures really enhance the book. Having said that, there is nudity, so if that offends you, you may want to consider another book. However, if you are considering this book in the first place, a few nudes probably wouldn't deter you, so carry on.A lot of the advice was good, such as not seeking revenge and accepting yourself, but at the same time much of the advice seemed to be too focused on appearance. I realize that Belli is a performer and appearances is how he makes money, but not wanting a "friend" with no style in your selfies is pushing it for me. I like my friends for who they are, not how they look (I know, I know, I'll try to refrain from any more Hallmark moments). The main problem I had with this book was that sometimes I think Belli took humor too far and made jokes about serious issues that shouldn't be joked about (harassment, eating disorders, domestic violence). While I understand his intent and his heavy use of sarcasm, the jokes minimize the issues, which can be hurtful at one end and dangerous at the other. Belli's humor is often prejudice as well. While he is obviously very supportive of the LGBTQ community, he is very discriminatory against people who are fat. There were so many jokes at fat people's expense, I couldn't help rolling my eyes each time. It's totally fine that Belli wants to look a certain way, but putting down a whole group of people seems a little backwards.So while this was not a bad book, the amount of stereotypical/harmful/prejudiced jokes brought the rating down for me personally. I spent a lot of time trying to accept myself and other people in life and some of Belli's jokes/tips felt like a step backwards to me. A humorous book with great pictures, but some superficial/shallow/derogatory advice.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up because I have to support my favorite Drag Race queen of all time, and also this election season has basically murdered my brain and mood and I needed an escape.

Gotta be honest -- if you've ever slipped into a YouTube k-hole and watched way too many of Willam's videos (me!), you've basically already read this book. There's nothing super new here, other than a few revealing glimpses into his personal life and marriage. You also kinda get the vibe that for whatever reason the editing team phoned it in pretty hard -- a lot of typos and sloppiness made it through. But! I love this hairless creature of god, and the photos were phenomenal. It's kinda like if Amy Sedaris and Tony Robbins hooked up at Burning Man and made a drug-addled, gay baby. Fun book.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

-Ways to make your dick look bigger.
~Fuck people with smaller hands.

Very educational... i ordered this like a year ago from a bookstore and had completely forgotten about it. It finally arrived. Do i like self help books? God no, they tell you absolutely nothing you don't already know, but i like Willam so it was a fun and quick read. If you dislike Willam you most likely won't enjoy this.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all: don't come here looking for RuPaul's Drag Race secrets. It's a comedy/advice book, not a tell-all. There is some shade and allusion to details, but nothing that will satisfy your hunger for backstage tea.

That aside, this book is dirty, funny and also strangely inspiring. Willam is a successful businesswo/man who knows the value of hard work and can also teach you how to hide a bottle in your wig.

I wasn't expecting this book to be so full of pictures, but I love looking at Willam so it's great. I was looking forward to the audiobook, but it's so photo-heavy that an audiobook version seems slightly silly. I still totally want to hear it though, and since I won this copy I will put some coin down just to hear Willam (and guests) deliver these lines.

If you love Willam, totally get this. If you wish you had a drag queen friend to give you advice, get this.

[Bert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willam, you are one shady bitch!!

This book would have to be one of the most offensive, dirty, obscene and ridiculous I've ever read...and I loved every damn page of it! Do not even attempt to read this book if you don't get Willam's unique sense of humour, you'll be shocked and horrified at how real she keeps it. Knee slappingly funny!

It's like a John Waters movie in book form, only dirtier and more mean spirited. Pure filth of the highest calibre!

[Mitchell Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, breezy read and lived up to what I thought a book written by William would be like. Lots of laughs.

[Dom Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Drag queen do it better, even I, a straight, black, cis gendered dude can admit that. This book is a lot of Do's and Dont's in life, told through the eyes of a Season 4 of Rupaul's drag race contestant Willam. Very funny and helpful

[Greyson | Use Your Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

If any of ya'll know me or have been paying attention to my gif use, I fucking love RuPaul's Drag Race. Granted I have problems with RuPaul himself, but I mostly watch it for the competitors anyway so whatever!

The year before last, I think, I listened to Grace Helbig's Podcast Not Too Deep and Willam was a guest on one of her episodes. I was laughing out loud the entire episode.
This was before I had started really watch Drag Race. I had seen a few episodes here and there but that was it. Then season 7 was on Foxtel and I decided to give a go and became obsessed.
Fave while watching was god all of them? Katya? Trixie? Violet? Pearl. Now I have no idea!
However I didn't watch any other seasons because I couldn't find a way to watch them legally in Aus.
Well I signed up for Stan last year, which is the same as Netflix but and Australian version, and boy was I happy when I saw they had every season except the first one of Drag Race and All Stars...
I watched season 8 and then watched it backwards for some reason while also watching season 9 and I very quickly became addicted.

If you're wondering my fave is Adore Delano, I forced my mum to watch season 6 with me again so she could love her too... She does but I have many second faves, Willam being one of them.

I should probably get to the review huh???

Okay, since I'm hopeless at reviewing lately, I'm just gonna list what I like and dis-like!

Like
-Willam's sense of humor
I know, it can be super offensive and there's some things that make me cringe but it's just so dry and no-fucks-given and I have a soft spot for that okay???
-It was super frank and honest
-Willam didn't shy away from his checkered past
If anything he stole a spotlight and shone it on his bad behavior.
-I loved the insight into his open relationship with his husband
-There were surprisingly many insightful things hidden in between the profanity and jokes
-His step by step process of getting into drag, doing make up, hair and all of that is probably super useful to aspiring drag queens (however I wouldn't know for sure)

Things I disliked
-Still no insight into exactly what happened with him being kicked off RuPaul's Drag Race
However I do respect that choice and his choice at thanking RuPaul for the opportunity and I especially liked that dispute all of that he was still real and honest about his relationship with RuPaul. Maybe this belongs in the like section then with all of these amendments?
-Just some of the jokes
That's literally it.

This was just a super fun and quick read. I read most of it in one sitting and for someone who is in a book slump it felt really nice okay??
—
I read this book as part of my 2018 Library Love binge, where I read as many library books as possible to take advantage of my great local library network before I move interstate!
___
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[Michelle (driftingsong) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's brash and irreverent just like Willam herself! While I thought the bit on dieting might be problematic for some people who have eating disorders, I appreciated how open and honest, funny and what the hell am I actually reading on a page!?! this book was!

[trace ♡°。 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i've graduated from the school of bitchcraft and wiggotry

[Alex Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willam Belli's memoir is exactly what you would expect it to be. Trash, trash, and more trash. If you're a fan of Willam's, this review is an absolute rave because you understand that trash is a compliment in Willam's world and it's exactly what he's going for. If you're not a fan of William's, you will find this book appalling in so very many ways and I'm just gonna suggest you skip it. Special shoutout to Alaska Thunderfuck and Courtney Act for stepping in to help with the dictionary at the end. Iconic. Hilarious. Absolute trash.

Also, if you listen to audiobooks faster than 1.2x, Willam's enunciation is going to get in the way. Naturally.

[Jenn G · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan of Willam to begin with. I was interested to see if she would mention her time on RuPaul Drag Race but it gave me little of what I didn't already know. I listened to it on audio and it wasn't a good idea. The narration was bad. She kept burping while reading the book and I was annoyed by it.

[Brian Hanes · Rating 5 out of 5]

How carol got her shit together

10, 10, 10, TENS across the board. Amazing self help book, also a pretty good coloring book unless you have a kindle.

[Avi Bendahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I had really high hopes that I would love this book, I left feeling more of a 'like' than anything else, but a large chunk of that was my own fault. I had been hoping for, and somewhat expecting, a more text driven endeavor but found myself instead with what could be summed up as 'Willam's Youtube' in book form. This isn't to say it wasn't entertaining because it certainly was, and it excelled in many ways at delivering what it set out to do, it just happens that that didn't match my expectations.
It's not to say that Willam can't write, because he certainly can (his constant self-shutdowns aside), and there are a few examples here (mostly towards the end) where he decides to dedicate more space to text than pictures or graphics; with what he has to say being worth hearing I think (and even in some cases rather profound). I almost felt like a lot of this had been pushed to the back of the book because, Willam being known so much for shock value, there may have been a fear that if he didn't do a lot of that from the get-go he would lose his potential readers. I would have hoped though that, considering this was a book and not just another Youtube video, the editors (and maybe even Willam himself?) would have put a little more faith in his words - because when he takes the time (and word count) to really get into things it's kind of nice, and pretty refreshing since it's not something his fans typically get to see from him.
That's not to say everything's perfect. There's already more than enough documented pointing out of typos, and the logic behind the order of the chapters is slightly dubious at best. I also found that the ink used for some of the photos tended to come off on your fingers if you held pages too long, which is especially shameful considering how great the visuals are in many cases.
Overall I would give this a soft recommend, meant more for Willam fans than the general public, but am certainly happy to have postponed reading it so that it would be my first book of 2017. Here's to hoping it turns out to be the year that'll 'Suck Less' (not that 2016 gave it much of an antecedent to top).

[Ashley Beery · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started out great, learning how to do make up, some jokes, what vitamins are good for hair skin and nails, cool stuff that anyone can use. Then it seemed to get into throwing shade at a lot of people. Fat shaming, etc, just isn't cool in my book. Plus this is NOT a book to be read in public or that any youngster can see because there are penises in this book...and I'm not talking drawing I'm talking you get to see it all.

A little disappointed as I liked to learn more and actually get a good story instead of shade.

[Isaiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.

I want to preface this with a special note. I love Willam. I have watched every movie, memorized every song, watched the only season of RuPaul’s Drag Race that matters (and the Untucked episodes too), seen every episode of Willam’s Beatdown (both the original on The Stylish and the one on her personal YouTube), I even follow her on Facebook (I follow maybe three or four celebrities, that’s it). I have been a fan of Willam’s since 2011 or 2012. This love has tremendously influenced this review.

I hated this book. It is one of the worst pieces of trash I have gotten through. Cosmo has more helpful tips than this book did. I kept reading solely because I love the author’s work. I tried to hard to like the book. The jokes were low brow, even for Willam. There was even a bare-backing joke that was reused multiple times. If it was used once, then it would have registered as funny, but reusing it when it clearly isn’t a catchphrase cheapened it. There were jokes that were reused from the Beatdown, which didn’t bug me at first because the joke I picked up on being reused was probably one of my favorite lines from that series. Combine that reusing of jokes form the show and the book and I felt the book was just tired.

The book started off as a tutorial on how to become better, but within a few chapters that premise was lost and only held as a way to format things. The last half of the book was clearly just bragging, not even humblebragging. Every time she started to appear real and started to redeem her writing, she would go on a tirade of bad jokes or start bragging. It was a roller coaster of suck. If this was read in multiple sittings then it would probably be an easier read and funnier. Reading it in one sitting is not recommended in the slightest. I tried to express how I felt about this book to a huge fan of drag queens and he asked “what did you expect?”. I really expected this to be funny and be able to follow a basic premise. I didn’t even have that high of standards because I know Willam’s best work is done when she is drunk or high. That alone should tell you I expected very little.

There was a tremendous amount of fatphobia, transphobia, and classism throughout the book. Promoting eating disorders is not funny. Telling you to ditch your friends because they aren’t trendy enough to be in pictures, what? Actively saying that penises are the only body part that matter and equating malehood with penises, despite pretending to be trans friendly. I can go on for days about my issues with Willam and trans people, which I have been able to ignore but recently this has started to become such a large problem that I can no longer justify it by saying it is all an act and that people see how ignorant she is being so they understand it is bad. Instead it is now feeling like she uses trans as an insult so often that it is becoming more acceptable to just call an ugly drag queen a trans woman because all trans women are ugly (there are multiple jokes about bathrooms in the book that just left a bad taste in my mouth even). There was a section of the book that talks about how she won’t use the term tranny, but she ALWAYS says her version of trans, which just struck me as asinine how she says it. So what that she is missing the ending. She has turned trans into a slur to be funny.

If I never hear another dick or poop joke again, it will be too soon. I know what Willam is like and what humor to expect, but even this was lower than I expected. I agree with Rhea Litre, I would love to have Willam write a memoir. I would give Willam another shot for a memoir, but I am starting to think I have outgrown Willam, even though she has the best boat. BGB.

[St. Gerard Expectant Mothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay hunties! You're reading this shit because you want to know about drag queen winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 4. Okay, some other queen one but this bitch is not gonna rupalogize for any shiz that went down. Sure, this bitch was disqualified...ahem, she was asked to leave and she became a superstar nonetheless with her YouTube channel, music, and endorsement deals. So Logo and World of Wonder can kiss her bearded ass and suck it! Rather, Willam can tell you Suck Less, a self-help book that helps you be more like him...er her. Whatever the tranny fuck she means?

Here, she spills all the tea and shoots the shade like a bukkake scene with everything you need to know that is important in life like making sure you ass gets paid after getting your poop snatch Rick Rolled on Grindr and making sure you're face is beat to the Gods so that it is prepared to suck dick at a GOP closeted convention. Yes, Willam's got it all the advice and the dick pics to showcase in her...er his book. So buy this poorly written, type shit. You fucking want to!

Oh and all you prudes out there, this book ain't for you. Go home and read something boring like The Goldfinch or Aryn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. I'm sure Donna Tartt did get fisted at a Pride Party or Aryn Rand got Nazi gangbanged in a shit party (well, she is racist and anti-Semite so possibly).
Buy this fucking book bitches or are you afraid?

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’know how in the intro of Willam’s Beatdown he says “you’re doing that wrong”? This is basically a how-to on how to not do that wrong.

Willam’s unique voice and comedy permeates every word of this book, and you don’t even need the audiobook because if you’re even familiar with Willam in the slightest, his voice will be running through your head the e n t i r e time. Suck Less covers everything from drag queen etiquette through to sucking dick and career advice, all peppered with his unique brand of humour and beautiful images that are basically makeup and wig pr0n for drag enthusiasts.

Be warned though, Willam is nobody’s role model and take all the advice with a grain of salt. Don’t actually read it like a self-help book, just read it as Willam waxing lyrical on a bunch of random topics. Like he says: take his advice and do the opposite. Or you’ll end up raging for 3 hours about the problematic food/diet chapter and have to go scrub your brain.

Overall: It’s Willam. It’s problematic, it’s funny AF, the images are beautiful, the humour is on point as always, and it’s just a hella fun read. It’s a joke not a dick, don’t take it so hard.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty comical. I don’t agree with most of the stuff in it; however, I didn’t have to in order to enjoy it. I wanted Willam to talk more about specific things, but the fact that he touched on all of the things I wanted to hear about his life was good enough for me.

I didn’t love this book to the point of me fawning over it and saying it’s the best think that has ever been created (like I will for Bianca’s book), but I will keep it around and listen to it when I want a chuckle.

The negatives: I listened to the audiobook and Willam’s voice is honestly so slow, difficult to understand, and awkward at times. However, when I moved it up to 1.5x speed, his voice was clear and more enjoyable. I also found it funny, but slightly annoying that he would mess up words to his own book, or lose where he was at in the book, especially if he was on #3 or #4 on a list of 22 (or whatever). I also noticed he was chewing gum, which I didn’t mind, because it’s Willam....

Overall, I’m glad I read/listened to this book and I just hope more queens put books out so I can eat them up!

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I got it as a gift for christmas from my friend when we went to see Willam perform in Dublin and he signed it which is pretty cool. The book itself is full of hillarious one liners, Willam humour and some advice that should be taken with a pinch of salt. Mostly while reading it feels like your just listening to Willam answering questions that you really want to ask him, with hunour included. If you like Willam or drag race then this is a must read for you. If you dont know who Willam is but have a dark/dirty sense of humour then I also reccomend a read.

[Sarah Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read but very funny and fill deffo pick it up if bored to re-read sections. Reminded me weirdly of the 'Bart Simpson's guide to Life' I got for a present as a kid...only with more talk of butt-chugging.

[Luke Spooner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, VERY offensive, very on brand

[jiawen · Rating 4 out of 5]

did i learn anything? no. did i need to know what was written in this book? not really, considering i don't have a dick. was it a fun read? i guess so.

[Hunty · Rating 4 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK. This was actually very insightful and the advice in here could be useful for anyone!

[Tiffany Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Willam... I love you. I love how your drag is wonderful, honest, shoot from the hip, slightly buzzed from yesterday's high, and coated in sweat but also strategically placed glitter! This book is intended to be a primer for how to be a "better more interesting person who sucks less at different things". Each chapter is titled "suck less at ___" and it made for an extremely amusing audiobook. I decided to go audio with this on purpose - given my love of Willam's drag, his youtube show "Willam's Beatdown" and also his time on Rupaul's Drag Race (which I can't get enough of, but was Willam's 'Nam).

For those on the fence about reading/listening, or for those who are not extremely comfortable with a gay man speaking plainly about anal hygiene, here is the thing, if you do not get the genius shtick that is Willam, you will likely not understand or appreciate this book. Though, it does pose the question, Why the hell are you reading it then?

Further, as a special treat on the audio version, I loved the inclusion of other favorite queens. I never expected to hear Bianca Del Rio open with the prologue or Courtney Act and Alaska TF5000 round out the appendix. The "Drag-tionary" was hands-down one of my favorite parts of the book.

What you also come away with, intended or not is a wonderful self-esteem booster, a guidepost for the wayward, the freaks, and the ones who shine a little too brightly. Willam gives hope where it is needed most, humor in sufficient doses and truth even when it hurts. "Seriously Mary, get it together!"

I found Willam's personal anecdotes witty and fun. I could definitely see myself being friends with this girl! While it may not be for everyone, Willam's "Suck Less" has become an instant favorite of mine and one I am sure I will listen too and enjoy several times over.

[Daniela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love drag queens, some say I may have an unhealthy obsession for them, but I don't care, I still love them. And right at the top of the pantheon of the great drag queens of history, there is Willam Belli, a divine creature of awesomeness that worked her ass off (quite possibly literally) to get to the top of the game and be the best she can be. I read this book as any true fan should and I was not disappointed, quite the contrary. Willam's humor is evident throughout the book and even when she's giving you sound advise you'll find yourself laughing your ass off.
It's not the best writing for a book and it's a read more suited for those familiar with drag than any newcomers (dare I say niche?), but to deny the sheer genius of this work would be dumb.
Willam knows her audience and delivers 100% every single time. The photos are phenomenal, too and, unlike RuPaul's books, there's actual writing going on... like, full pages! I know, right? You go, Willam, you magnificent bastard.
Fair warning, though: this book is for adults who are not afraid of humor and don't get easily offended. If you're a teenage Social Justice Warrior out of the murky depths of Tumblr, you might want to avoid this and just read something else (though probably much more boring).
I give this 4 stars because of the writing; if it were based only on how much I enjoyed it, then it would probably be a 6 out of 5.

[Amy Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willam is one of a kind. This book is...really...dirty. I think I'm pretty open-minded, but Willam is on a different planet of open-mindedness. Drugs, prostitution, "bubble gum," scalding hot truth... nothing is off limits, and it seems that nothing is beyond what she finds acceptable. There were times I just had to put the book down and read something else because it was too much. With all that being said, it was actually kind of an enjoyable book. She can certainly craft a story, and I like that the chapters are short and focused. There are lots of pictures--beautiful, funny, shocking... again, there are no taboos in Willam's world. There are also fun little sidebars with playlists, anecdotes, and how-tos. This book is for anyone who can take life with and/or as a joke, and for those who are not easily offended.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was kind of all over the place. Some of the tips were great like makeup or how revenge is a fool's game. Others, like how to cheat better or disordered eating to lose weight, I couldn't tell if they were tongue in cheek or real. It was a weird, fun ride that is worth a look if you like Willam or RuPaul's drag race. Otherwise, it might be a little much for you. Hell, it might be a little much anyway.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook because I’ve inhaled every episode of race chaser and am missing Willam’s sass.

Obviously would prefer a memoir that was more focused on willam’s life rather than (paper thin) self help. The best advice in the book is to buy houseplants especially philodendron.

Typical Willam tho lots of the stories are flippantly x-rated.