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Baby Reindeer
I looked at her, wanting her to laugh. Wanting her to share in the joke. But she didn't. She just stared. I knew then, in that moment - that she had taken it literally...
Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Richard Gadd has a chilling story to tell about obsession, delusion and the terrifying ramifications of a fleeting mistake.
This powerful and engaging monologue play portrays a man brought to the edge by the actions of a chance encounter which takes a toll on all aspects of his life. In doing so it asks important questions about victims, the justice system and how one decision has the ability to change your life.
Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Richard Gadd has a chilling story to tell about obsession, delusion and the terrifying ramifications of a fleeting mistake.
This powerful and engaging monologue play portrays a man brought to the edge by the actions of a chance encounter which takes a toll on all aspects of his life. In doing so it asks important questions about victims, the justice system and how one decision has the ability to change your life.
80 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2019
28 people are currently reading
972 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
May 31, 2024
Update, 5/24:
I read this some 5 years ago, but now that it's become a hot streaming show, I wanted to revisit it. For the most part it held up, and I can see how it might make for must-see TV - but I do actually think I was a bit overly generous giving it 5 stars.
2020 Olivier Award winner for 'Outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre'.
What a fascinating, harrowing, riveting and all together astonishing piece of theatre. Gadd is to be congratulated not only for winnowing five years of nightmarish stalking and abuse into a cogent monologue, but having the courage to be so raw and honest about his own failings and his most intimate shame and fears. I hope he'll tour it to the US so I can see it live. Here's a taste of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqVNU....
I read this some 5 years ago, but now that it's become a hot streaming show, I wanted to revisit it. For the most part it held up, and I can see how it might make for must-see TV - but I do actually think I was a bit overly generous giving it 5 stars.
2020 Olivier Award winner for 'Outstanding achievement in an affiliate theatre'.
What a fascinating, harrowing, riveting and all together astonishing piece of theatre. Gadd is to be congratulated not only for winnowing five years of nightmarish stalking and abuse into a cogent monologue, but having the courage to be so raw and honest about his own failings and his most intimate shame and fears. I hope he'll tour it to the US so I can see it live. Here's a taste of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqVNU....
July 3, 2024
With such a short page count, I thought this would have significantly less impact on me than the show did. But it's almost just as brilliant and stunning.
Want to read
June 9, 2024موضوع بدیعی دارد. نباید فکرکنیم تجربیات ما دراین دنیای بزرگ ، استثنایی و منحصر به خودمان است .پیچیدگیهای روان آدمها..
درحال دیدن سریال و مصاحبه هابا شخصیت واقعی و...هستم.
درحال دیدن سریال و مصاحبه هابا شخصیت واقعی و...هستم.
April 21, 2024
oh my god richard gadd the man that you are. i watched the show in one seating the day it was released, & i have never felt so much emotion for a series… found out it was originally a theatre play & i had to read this book. finished reading in a day as well, & i understand now why people’s reviews of the play was: it made them cry. i wish i was there to witness it!!! the bits & clips i saw of the lights & sound in the play, the voicemails, the interviews, i want to experience it too 😭 so so good, i am unbelievably proud of gadd’s courage to share the traumatic experiences that happened 🥹 loved my time with this book so much, thank you richard ❤️🩹
August 24, 2024
not as good as the show :(
April 18, 2024
"I hate that I relate to you. That I know what it feels like to be consumed by someone else. That I am to you what he was to me"
"I think, as audience members, we expect art to be virtuous and tell the truth. But the truth isn't always virtuous. Sometimes the truth is messy and morally complicated. It wouldn't be fair to paint myself as the perfect victim because I wasn't. It wouldn't be fair to paint her as a remorseless psychopath because she wasn't. It's somewhere in the middle."
He llegado aquí por la miniserie de Netflix, ya que me ha dado curiosidad leer la obra de teatro en que se basa. Se lee en un momento y es casi igual que la serie, aunque hay algunos detalles nuevos muy buenos e interesantes. Es una barbaridad esta historia y la tremenda honestidad y valentía con que está contada. Verdaderamente increíble. 💔
"I think, as audience members, we expect art to be virtuous and tell the truth. But the truth isn't always virtuous. Sometimes the truth is messy and morally complicated. It wouldn't be fair to paint myself as the perfect victim because I wasn't. It wouldn't be fair to paint her as a remorseless psychopath because she wasn't. It's somewhere in the middle."
He llegado aquí por la miniserie de Netflix, ya que me ha dado curiosidad leer la obra de teatro en que se basa. Se lee en un momento y es casi igual que la serie, aunque hay algunos detalles nuevos muy buenos e interesantes. Es una barbaridad esta historia y la tremenda honestidad y valentía con que está contada. Verdaderamente increíble. 💔
June 23, 2024
IMMACULATE WRITING
the rawness of it all, the acceptance of his darker side, the bravery - all of it.
the rawness of it all, the acceptance of his darker side, the bravery - all of it.
April 7, 2024
Woah. Just a couple of hours ago I watched the trailer for the upcoming limited series of Baby Reindeer and saw that it was based on a true story. Was instantly fascinated. Couldn’t wait for the series, so I immediately bought the play on kindle and read it in one sitting. I never read anything in one setting. Now I [still] can’t wait to watch the series
November 18, 2019
Richard Gadd's autobiographical monologue about being stalked is harrowing, rigorous and entirely without self-pity. It was vibrantly theatrical in performance, Gadd's performance as himself and the people around him anchoring the helter-skelter of a story to the theatre. Here, it does read like a play rather than a monologue, and does lose some of its tension and humour but it's still a sickening story expertly crafted.
May 21, 2024
Should have read before watching the series
April 28, 2024
i don’t like plays, i devoured this
April 17, 2024
This one-man show was performed before the Netflix series, but I was so engrossed with the series, I wanted to read the source material.
It’s not terribly different from the filmed series. There are a few additional details; and of course the limited series was able to get a bit more in-depth generally. But the story is obviously the same and definitely disturbing. His feelings about the whole thing are elaborated a bit. I don’t think it’s necessary to read the stage play if you’ve seen the show, but I thoroughly enjoyed (?) both.
It’s not terribly different from the filmed series. There are a few additional details; and of course the limited series was able to get a bit more in-depth generally. But the story is obviously the same and definitely disturbing. His feelings about the whole thing are elaborated a bit. I don’t think it’s necessary to read the stage play if you’ve seen the show, but I thoroughly enjoyed (?) both.
April 20, 2024
I just watched the show, and it was one of the best shows I have ever watched. I'm definitely going to read the script as well. I'm struggling to articulate my feelings; the experience was so intense that my heart physically ached.
This show powerfully illustrates the deep, lasting damage abuse can inflict on a person.
It shows how painful it is to strip someone of their self-love and how even the deepest external affection can fail to mend such deep-seated wounds. Saying that, I don‘t think that one can’t heal from it, nor that it defines a person.
I will never in my life forget the story of Richard Gadd. This piece is so raw, I have the utmost respect for such an amount of honesty.
Abuse is the cruelest act imaginable, and this story will forever change how I view a person who has gone through abuse, no matter in what form.
This show powerfully illustrates the deep, lasting damage abuse can inflict on a person.
It shows how painful it is to strip someone of their self-love and how even the deepest external affection can fail to mend such deep-seated wounds. Saying that, I don‘t think that one can’t heal from it, nor that it defines a person.
I will never in my life forget the story of Richard Gadd. This piece is so raw, I have the utmost respect for such an amount of honesty.
Abuse is the cruelest act imaginable, and this story will forever change how I view a person who has gone through abuse, no matter in what form.
June 9, 2022
So thankful I got to see this live at the Bush in 2019. One of the best shows I've ever seen, even on the page it retains its uncomfortable intensity. Apparently it's being made into a Netflix series! Can't wait.
February 24, 2020
Wow.
Goosebump inducing autobiographical play.
This highly effective monologue recounts how an act of kindness resulted in the protagonist being stalked.
Goosebump inducing autobiographical play.
This highly effective monologue recounts how an act of kindness resulted in the protagonist being stalked.
January 3, 2024
This sent shivers down my spine. What a terrifyingly awful story - big thanks to Richard Gadd for sharing this in such a beautiful way
October 13, 2024
yes i read this bc of the new show
May 15, 2024
Richard Gadd, I’d say I’m obsessed with you but i don’t think that’d be appropriate given the circumstances. 5 stars.
September 18, 2025
“𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘺-𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘭, 𝘴𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯-𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘺-𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘺-𝘴𝘪𝘹 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘹 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘣𝘰𝘹𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘺”.
(PSA: This review will be mainly about Baby Reindeer in general. So, I’ll not talk only about this book but also my feelings about the case and the TV series)
Honestly, it is only 80 pages but I felt like, I had to put five stars to this.
As you may know, Baby Reindeer has been really famous since the series came out on Netflix. This series is based on true events and Richard Gadd’s true story.
I’ll be honest with you guys, I didn’t wanted to watch the series when it came out–I don’t know why, but I wasn’t that excited about. But few months ago, I finally decided to dive into and see what it was about and why everyone was talking about it. And now, I understand.
First and foremost, I have to say that the series was absolutely a piece of art. And as disturbing as it was, I found it genuinely fascinating and interesting.
Since I finished, I became totally obsessed with the case. But more than that, I found it interesting to understand the psychological aspect of it.
This book is written as a monologue if I can say, originally a one-man play. I do think, if you had watch the series, it will be useless to read this novel. From my point of view, this brings quite nothing more important than everything that has been already told in the series. It felt like reading a script tbh.
So, you probably will ask “why did I give five stars then?”–only because of the fascination I have for this case. And as I said, I’m reviewing this book but also the all thing in general.
Do I recommend you to read this piece of literature? With no bad intentions, I would say no. If you are very interested in learning about this case and what Richard Gadd has been through, go watch the series on Netflix instead. Everything is told and filmed beautifully and there is a form of art in this that I genuinely liked when I watched the series.
You don’t know me, but Richard, you have and you will have my support. Always.
(PSA: This review will be mainly about Baby Reindeer in general. So, I’ll not talk only about this book but also my feelings about the case and the TV series)
Honestly, it is only 80 pages but I felt like, I had to put five stars to this.
As you may know, Baby Reindeer has been really famous since the series came out on Netflix. This series is based on true events and Richard Gadd’s true story.
I’ll be honest with you guys, I didn’t wanted to watch the series when it came out–I don’t know why, but I wasn’t that excited about. But few months ago, I finally decided to dive into and see what it was about and why everyone was talking about it. And now, I understand.
First and foremost, I have to say that the series was absolutely a piece of art. And as disturbing as it was, I found it genuinely fascinating and interesting.
Since I finished, I became totally obsessed with the case. But more than that, I found it interesting to understand the psychological aspect of it.
This book is written as a monologue if I can say, originally a one-man play. I do think, if you had watch the series, it will be useless to read this novel. From my point of view, this brings quite nothing more important than everything that has been already told in the series. It felt like reading a script tbh.
So, you probably will ask “why did I give five stars then?”–only because of the fascination I have for this case. And as I said, I’m reviewing this book but also the all thing in general.
Do I recommend you to read this piece of literature? With no bad intentions, I would say no. If you are very interested in learning about this case and what Richard Gadd has been through, go watch the series on Netflix instead. Everything is told and filmed beautifully and there is a form of art in this that I genuinely liked when I watched the series.
You don’t know me, but Richard, you have and you will have my support. Always.
May 6, 2024
34/2024 cu 4 sau 5 stele
Recunosc, am văzut prima dată serialul. Și da, dacă nu ai văzut încă acest documentar/piesă de teatru/ confesiune, și vrei să vezi cum afectează viața cuiva un obsedat, atunci îți recomand așa: citește piesa în scris.
Apoi vezi serialul.
Fiind scrise (si interpretate) chiar de autor, sunt atât de ...crud, abominabil, sufocant de marcante. Așa văd un horror, deși e o dramă. S-a dramatizat și mai tare în online după apariția serialului, apreciat și de Stephen King dar și de muuulți alții
Vă puteți face și voi o părere asupra moralității demersului autorului, care prin ce a scris (dar mai ales prin ce a scris pentru varianta tv) a făcut simplă descoperirea unui personaj, dar a cauzat rău altor oameni ce seamănă cu alt personaj.
Mă rog, autorul trece prin multe și sigur a avut nevoie de curaj imens. De la victimă, la a se îndoi și întreba dacă nu cumva el devine abuzator, scenariul (căci asta este, nu e chiar o carte) e visceral și totuși prea personal. E inconfortabil, e puțin tabu și de aia e bun bun. Măcar de l-ar vindeca.
Cum ar fi dacă ai primi:
Forty thousand and seventy-one emails, three hundred and fifty hours of voicemail, seven-hundred and forty-four tweets, forty-six Facebook messages, three fake Facebook accounts, one hundred and six pages of letters, some sleeping pills, a woolly hat, a pair of brand new boxer shorts, and one cuddly baby reindeer toy. . . .
All within the realms of legality.
Recunosc, am văzut prima dată serialul. Și da, dacă nu ai văzut încă acest documentar/piesă de teatru/ confesiune, și vrei să vezi cum afectează viața cuiva un obsedat, atunci îți recomand așa: citește piesa în scris.
Apoi vezi serialul.
Fiind scrise (si interpretate) chiar de autor, sunt atât de ...crud, abominabil, sufocant de marcante. Așa văd un horror, deși e o dramă. S-a dramatizat și mai tare în online după apariția serialului, apreciat și de Stephen King dar și de muuulți alții
Vă puteți face și voi o părere asupra moralității demersului autorului, care prin ce a scris (dar mai ales prin ce a scris pentru varianta tv) a făcut simplă descoperirea unui personaj, dar a cauzat rău altor oameni ce seamănă cu alt personaj.
Mă rog, autorul trece prin multe și sigur a avut nevoie de curaj imens. De la victimă, la a se îndoi și întreba dacă nu cumva el devine abuzator, scenariul (căci asta este, nu e chiar o carte) e visceral și totuși prea personal. E inconfortabil, e puțin tabu și de aia e bun bun. Măcar de l-ar vindeca.
Cum ar fi dacă ai primi:
Forty thousand and seventy-one emails, three hundred and fifty hours of voicemail, seven-hundred and forty-four tweets, forty-six Facebook messages, three fake Facebook accounts, one hundred and six pages of letters, some sleeping pills, a woolly hat, a pair of brand new boxer shorts, and one cuddly baby reindeer toy. . . .
All within the realms of legality.
May 13, 2024
Can’t wait to watch this show
November 11, 2025
oops, i forgot i started reading this. i have now come back and finished it in the middle of a particularly boring equity and trusts lecture.
it was really cool to see how richard gadd’s storytelling has evolved over time. baby reindeer, the show, is one of my favourite pieces of media of all time. my comfort show through and through. i feel this fell a little flat in comparison, and glossed over a lot of my favourite parts.
obviously, this is a script, so it’s not fair to compare them too closely. this just feels very much like it’s not the final product of his story if that makes sense? still great, would love to see it on stage!
it was really cool to see how richard gadd’s storytelling has evolved over time. baby reindeer, the show, is one of my favourite pieces of media of all time. my comfort show through and through. i feel this fell a little flat in comparison, and glossed over a lot of my favourite parts.
obviously, this is a script, so it’s not fair to compare them too closely. this just feels very much like it’s not the final product of his story if that makes sense? still great, would love to see it on stage!
April 25, 2024
It’s hard for me to say this was so good because this was someone’s reality and it’s really sad and scary, but he is a really good story teller. I read this after watching the show on Netflix and the fact that he played himself and having to replay traumatic events that happened to him takes a lot of guts. I feel like it’s good to watch the show then read the book because the show has a lot more details and helps with understanding what’s going on in the book.
May 26, 2024
"When someone sees you through the mire of it all, sees you as the person you came here to be, you notice them." — if you’ve watched the show in Netflix, the written p’ay has nothing to add. However, I’ve enjoyed the way it develops and how easy an quick you can read it. It’s a great job.
October 27, 2024
Amazing. Was not able to put this down! It was read for a modern laughter class and I am extremely interested in what we are going to do with it!!
May 2, 2024
Oh my. Dark dramas are not my cup of tea. I had no idea what to expect when I started it, but I HAD to finish it. I accidentally binged the show and I had to follow it up with a book binge. I don't like this type of genre because I get SO captivated and forget all about reality. So now, I sit here, in the middle of the living room, at 4 AM, on a random stormy Thursday morning, speechless. I will be in a state of recovery in the following days.
“Sent from my iPhone” NAURR
“Sent from my iPhone” NAURR
June 28, 2024
I loved this Netflix series so I had to get the lil book. I enjoyed the book just as much. I’m glad I got to see all the detail in the show first. I’d usually rather read first but I could read it in their accents and it made me laugh a lot.
May 2, 2024
“That’s the thing with stalking, it doesn’t take much for the adoration to shift into something else.”
wow. i can really see why it made such a successful tv show. hope someday i get to see this in a theater. richard gadd presents himself raw and really impacts you, redefining the idea that a victim has to be 100% blameless for them to be a victim.
July 3, 2024
Richard Gadd is a great sroryteller. I couldn't put the book down and got shocked reading certain things, even though I had already seen the series - this monologue-medium maybe suits his story even better.
The sexual abuse he endured is not mentioned as much as in the series, but it's better connected to the abuse he gets by Martha. This may have to do with the other monologue he mentions he was doing some time before Baby Reindeer, which had the abuse as its main theme.
His passages about his sexuality were weirdly relatable to me - even though I haven't suffered abuse and I'm an out bisexual man for 10 years now, many of his thoughts are ones that have crossed and even still cross my mind.
It's interesting how confessional works, such as memoirs, poetry and performances, have overtaken the entertainment industries, and small scenes too. We are in an era where we are looking for something real, and we can recognize what's real. The examples are too many.
The sexual abuse he endured is not mentioned as much as in the series, but it's better connected to the abuse he gets by Martha. This may have to do with the other monologue he mentions he was doing some time before Baby Reindeer, which had the abuse as its main theme.
His passages about his sexuality were weirdly relatable to me - even though I haven't suffered abuse and I'm an out bisexual man for 10 years now, many of his thoughts are ones that have crossed and even still cross my mind.
It's interesting how confessional works, such as memoirs, poetry and performances, have overtaken the entertainment industries, and small scenes too. We are in an era where we are looking for something real, and we can recognize what's real. The examples are too many.
December 7, 2024
4.5 stars. Wish I could’ve seen this production!
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