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Burn It All Down
TAKE THE RIDE OF A LIFETIME WITH THIS MOTHER/SON CRIME/REVENGE THRILLER.
Eighteen-year-old aspiring comic Joey Rossi just found out his boyfriend has been cheating on him for the past ten months. But what did he expect? Joey was born with an addiction to toxic jerks - something he inherited from his lovably messy, wisecracking, Italian-American spitfire of a mom (and best friend): 34-year-old Gia Rossi.
When Gia’s latest non-relationship goes up in flames only a day later, the pair’s Bayonne, New Jersey apartment can barely contain their rage. In a misguided attempt at revenge, Joey and Gia inadvertently commit a series of crimes and flee the state, running to the only good man either of them has ever known - Gia’s ex, Marco. As they hide out from the law at Marco’s secluded lake house, Joey and Gia must confront all the bad habits and mistakes they’ve made that have led them to this moment - and find a way to take responsibility for what they’ve done.
Running Time => 9hrs.
©2021 Nicolas DiDomizio (P)2021 Hachette Audio
Eighteen-year-old aspiring comic Joey Rossi just found out his boyfriend has been cheating on him for the past ten months. But what did he expect? Joey was born with an addiction to toxic jerks - something he inherited from his lovably messy, wisecracking, Italian-American spitfire of a mom (and best friend): 34-year-old Gia Rossi.
When Gia’s latest non-relationship goes up in flames only a day later, the pair’s Bayonne, New Jersey apartment can barely contain their rage. In a misguided attempt at revenge, Joey and Gia inadvertently commit a series of crimes and flee the state, running to the only good man either of them has ever known - Gia’s ex, Marco. As they hide out from the law at Marco’s secluded lake house, Joey and Gia must confront all the bad habits and mistakes they’ve made that have led them to this moment - and find a way to take responsibility for what they’ve done.
Running Time => 9hrs.
©2021 Nicolas DiDomizio (P)2021 Hachette Audio
Audible Audio
First published May 25, 2021
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June 6, 2021
Nicolas DiDomizio's debut novel,
Burn It All Down
, is a wacky, funny, moving book about our self-destructive behaviors.
Joey, an 18-year-old aspiring comic, is devastated and angry when he finds out his boyfriend Luke has been cheating on him. He was even planning to go to the same college as Luke. Depressed, unsure of what his future holds, and feeling he's destined to be unloved forever, Joey turns to the one person who understands better than anyone—his 34-year-old mother and best friend, Gia, who had him when she was 16.
When Gia’s latest relationship falls apart the next day—no surprise given that she and her son are addicted to toxic men—they’re both angry and hurt. After a night of revenge (and lots of wine) gets way out of control and turns seriously destructive, they must flee New Jersey and go on the lam.
When they wind up hiding out at the house of one of Gia’s exes—perhaps the most stable relationship she'd ever had—Joey and Gia realize their lives have gotten totally out of control and they need to figure out why they keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
Billed as " Gilmore Girls meets Thelma and Louise ," Burn It All Down is a funny, outrageous story about a fierce relationship between mother and son. And as much as it made me laugh and made me wonder just how much crazier the story might get, it was emotional as well. We'd all be lucky to have a mom in our corner like Gia, even if she is a bit of a hot mess!
It was great being on the blog tour for this book. Jimmy Patterson Books and Storygram Tours provided me with a complimentary advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Burn It All Down publishes 5/25/2021.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Joey, an 18-year-old aspiring comic, is devastated and angry when he finds out his boyfriend Luke has been cheating on him. He was even planning to go to the same college as Luke. Depressed, unsure of what his future holds, and feeling he's destined to be unloved forever, Joey turns to the one person who understands better than anyone—his 34-year-old mother and best friend, Gia, who had him when she was 16.
When Gia’s latest relationship falls apart the next day—no surprise given that she and her son are addicted to toxic men—they’re both angry and hurt. After a night of revenge (and lots of wine) gets way out of control and turns seriously destructive, they must flee New Jersey and go on the lam.
When they wind up hiding out at the house of one of Gia’s exes—perhaps the most stable relationship she'd ever had—Joey and Gia realize their lives have gotten totally out of control and they need to figure out why they keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
Billed as " Gilmore Girls meets Thelma and Louise ," Burn It All Down is a funny, outrageous story about a fierce relationship between mother and son. And as much as it made me laugh and made me wonder just how much crazier the story might get, it was emotional as well. We'd all be lucky to have a mom in our corner like Gia, even if she is a bit of a hot mess!
It was great being on the blog tour for this book. Jimmy Patterson Books and Storygram Tours provided me with a complimentary advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
Burn It All Down publishes 5/25/2021.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
April 29, 2021
BURN IT ALL DOWN is *THAT BITCH*. Seriously. It's hilarious, fast-paced, refreshingly voice-y, and completely unforgettable; it's a journey into the impacts of toxic masculinity, familial bonds, and how the need for male attention and validation can psychologically impact gay men and straight women. There's also an incredibly smart analogy to Monica Lewinsky that weaves its way through the narrative that I absolutely lived for. This thrilling debut, which is HEARTBREAKERS (yes, the 90s classic) with Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt) meets THELMA AND LOUISE with a dash of GILMORE GIRLS, is one you certainly can NOT miss, lest you become known as "this bitch."
First, can we talk about the layered and nuanced characterization? DiDomizio is brilliant at his craft, now known forever as *THE BITCH*. Not only is Joey Rossi a deeply flawed, messy, hilarious character, he's also very realistic in his raw, unfiltered honesty. He's not afraid to put his every thought out there--something that you don't often find in either YA or adult literature because, at least for queer literature, there's often this need to want to sanitize and make it palatable for straight readers. But Joey is a messy, chaotic gay eighteen year old who has been raised by a single mother and both of whom have fallen victim to incredibly toxic men and have to continually pick themselves up after being preyed upon, cheated on, and lied to. It's about time we have stories about messy gays who aren't afraid to just be flawed. Joey is an aspiring comedian, an over-thinker, an over-analyzer, and he has this cacophony of voices in his head telling him to make a joke out of everything while also telling him he's not good enough and his self-defense coping mechanisms and hilarious pop culture-attuned commentaries are so real and true to the gay experience. Joey's mom Gia, the real MVP, is THAT BITCH. She's also deeply flawed, but she loves her son tremendously. The way DiDomizio captures their bond is beautiful (especially for those who grew up in single-parent households AND surrounded by messy Italian women, like myself), but it's also a fascinating exploration into co-dependency. Though Joey spends a lot of the book deep in his own thoughts, projecting onto his mother and using humor as a way to deflect, watching him slowly start to think for himself and exorcise his own demons becomes extremely cathartic.
NOT TO MENTION: THE WAGON. All I will say is that the wagon is such an important symbol AND motif in the book that speaks to its thematic elements: Something beautiful that, through a mix of accident and intention, starts to break and threatens to destroy everything.
I could go on, but I don't want to get spoiler-y. All I'll say is that BURN IT ALL DOWN is a deep dive into how toxic masculinity impacts gay men and straight women. It's smart, funny, and a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I've read this book multiple times, and I legitimately LOL every single time. PLEASE, for your own good, pre-order this book. It's out on May 25th, 2021!!!
First, can we talk about the layered and nuanced characterization? DiDomizio is brilliant at his craft, now known forever as *THE BITCH*. Not only is Joey Rossi a deeply flawed, messy, hilarious character, he's also very realistic in his raw, unfiltered honesty. He's not afraid to put his every thought out there--something that you don't often find in either YA or adult literature because, at least for queer literature, there's often this need to want to sanitize and make it palatable for straight readers. But Joey is a messy, chaotic gay eighteen year old who has been raised by a single mother and both of whom have fallen victim to incredibly toxic men and have to continually pick themselves up after being preyed upon, cheated on, and lied to. It's about time we have stories about messy gays who aren't afraid to just be flawed. Joey is an aspiring comedian, an over-thinker, an over-analyzer, and he has this cacophony of voices in his head telling him to make a joke out of everything while also telling him he's not good enough and his self-defense coping mechanisms and hilarious pop culture-attuned commentaries are so real and true to the gay experience. Joey's mom Gia, the real MVP, is THAT BITCH. She's also deeply flawed, but she loves her son tremendously. The way DiDomizio captures their bond is beautiful (especially for those who grew up in single-parent households AND surrounded by messy Italian women, like myself), but it's also a fascinating exploration into co-dependency. Though Joey spends a lot of the book deep in his own thoughts, projecting onto his mother and using humor as a way to deflect, watching him slowly start to think for himself and exorcise his own demons becomes extremely cathartic.
NOT TO MENTION: THE WAGON. All I will say is that the wagon is such an important symbol AND motif in the book that speaks to its thematic elements: Something beautiful that, through a mix of accident and intention, starts to break and threatens to destroy everything.
I could go on, but I don't want to get spoiler-y. All I'll say is that BURN IT ALL DOWN is a deep dive into how toxic masculinity impacts gay men and straight women. It's smart, funny, and a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I've read this book multiple times, and I legitimately LOL every single time. PLEASE, for your own good, pre-order this book. It's out on May 25th, 2021!!!
August 5, 2021
I don’t know if I personally got offered a freebie of this or if it was a Read Now or first 500 or where the heck it came from, but I know that I downloaded it immediately because I want all the things and don’t want to wait for them. Then I never read it because I took a gander at the blurb and thought it was going to be a revenge story. Revenge stories have been all the rage for the past couple of years and tons of my friends really love ‘em, but I have read a handful and I have to say . . . .
But then my pal Erica reviewed this one and liked it and I realized maybe it was NOTHING like I had assumed it was going to be. And also maybe Erica had suffered a severe head trauma because this is sooooooo not her usual cup of tea. Folks, if you think I’m a curmudgeon, you should meet my pal. That’s why we get along so well. Really the only difference between us is I sometimes like the mushy gushy feel good times and she doesn’t have nearly as many grammatical errors in her reviews. Long story long, thank you Erica for your review and for being the catalyst that finally brought Joey Rossi and his mother into my life.
The story here does start off with a bit of revenge. Joey and his mom Gia are basically attached at the hip, so when each of them gets dumped by their respective boyfriends they decide to go on a bit of a vigilante mission and trash their car/house. When things get out of hand . . . .
With a McMansion left ablaze, the duo find themselves on the lam hiding out at Gia’s ex’s lake house in upstate New York. And that’s where you get to find out what makes these two co-dependent loveable losers tick and they get redemption arcs and all the feeeeeeeeelz come out and Kelly kicks her own ass for not reading this sooner. This was such a great little story. It brought out a lot of the same feelings I got from Apatow/Davidon’s The King of Staten Island last year . . . .
And that ain’t a bad thing.
Just ignore that it was blurbed by James Patterson . . . .
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
But then my pal Erica reviewed this one and liked it and I realized maybe it was NOTHING like I had assumed it was going to be. And also maybe Erica had suffered a severe head trauma because this is sooooooo not her usual cup of tea. Folks, if you think I’m a curmudgeon, you should meet my pal. That’s why we get along so well. Really the only difference between us is I sometimes like the mushy gushy feel good times and she doesn’t have nearly as many grammatical errors in her reviews. Long story long, thank you Erica for your review and for being the catalyst that finally brought Joey Rossi and his mother into my life.
The story here does start off with a bit of revenge. Joey and his mom Gia are basically attached at the hip, so when each of them gets dumped by their respective boyfriends they decide to go on a bit of a vigilante mission and trash their car/house. When things get out of hand . . . .
With a McMansion left ablaze, the duo find themselves on the lam hiding out at Gia’s ex’s lake house in upstate New York. And that’s where you get to find out what makes these two co-dependent loveable losers tick and they get redemption arcs and all the feeeeeeeeelz come out and Kelly kicks her own ass for not reading this sooner. This was such a great little story. It brought out a lot of the same feelings I got from Apatow/Davidon’s The King of Staten Island last year . . . .
And that ain’t a bad thing.
Just ignore that it was blurbed by James Patterson . . . .
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
May 26, 2021
¸„.-•~¹°”ˆ˜¨ 🎀 💗𝒽 𝓈𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓉 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃𝑔𝑒... 🎀 ¨˜ˆ”°¹~•-.„¸
𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: Joey is 18 and his relationship with his 34 year old mom is anything BUT conventional - this isn’t the first time they’ve sought revenge on their exes, however it is the first time things go crazy wrong...
𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: REVENGE! Oh one of my favorite topics right here at the tips of my deliciously devious fingers! Revenge fascinates me from a psychological point of view, EVERY TIME. If you’ve ever TAKEN revenge - it’s a feeling that is difficult to describe to people who’ve never truly EXPERIENCED it, kind of like loaning you my pants that are 10 sizes too big for you and making you pretend they fit. Weird, right? But to anyone who has ever lost their $&@%, especially over a man, buckle up because you’ll GET IT (mine was over a parking spot not a guy...message me for the deets lol).
Revenge, well, It feels like the highest high - letting that freakish fiend flag fly into the sky, man it feels gooooooood, reckless, dirty... followed by a solid crash of “oh no” humanity. And worry. And fear. And elation sometimes (if you get away with it). If you’ve ever thought for a split second of having an Angela Bassett burn-your-cheating-husband’s-stuff-up-in-his-Mercedes moment (Waiting to Exhale, BEST. REVENGE. SCENE. EVER.), saw that movie and cheered with your SO side-eyeing you the entire time? Oh this book is soooooo for you.
This book has an afternoon brunch bitch-session-with-your-gay-bestie vibe that entertained. It’s light, has some solid laughs, makes for a light read, something I personally needed during my busy time as a teacher. Revenge is a dish best served cold? I’ll take mine with extra ice, thank you VERY much. This review further guarantees I will remain single. #notapsycho
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Contemporary Fiction
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Those needing light & breezy. Those who crave a revenge story!
𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: eh if you’re judge-y about moms being friends with their kids.
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ, ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏ. ꜰᴏʀ ᴍʏ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍʏ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ-ʜᴏɴᴇꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴇᴀʜ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏ ꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇ ꜱʜɪɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴠɪʟ ɢʟᴇᴇ. (#ɴᴏʀᴇᴀʟʟʏɴᴏᴛᴀᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏ)
𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: Joey is 18 and his relationship with his 34 year old mom is anything BUT conventional - this isn’t the first time they’ve sought revenge on their exes, however it is the first time things go crazy wrong...
𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: REVENGE! Oh one of my favorite topics right here at the tips of my deliciously devious fingers! Revenge fascinates me from a psychological point of view, EVERY TIME. If you’ve ever TAKEN revenge - it’s a feeling that is difficult to describe to people who’ve never truly EXPERIENCED it, kind of like loaning you my pants that are 10 sizes too big for you and making you pretend they fit. Weird, right? But to anyone who has ever lost their $&@%, especially over a man, buckle up because you’ll GET IT (mine was over a parking spot not a guy...message me for the deets lol).
Revenge, well, It feels like the highest high - letting that freakish fiend flag fly into the sky, man it feels gooooooood, reckless, dirty... followed by a solid crash of “oh no” humanity. And worry. And fear. And elation sometimes (if you get away with it). If you’ve ever thought for a split second of having an Angela Bassett burn-your-cheating-husband’s-stuff-up-in-his-Mercedes moment (Waiting to Exhale, BEST. REVENGE. SCENE. EVER.), saw that movie and cheered with your SO side-eyeing you the entire time? Oh this book is soooooo for you.
This book has an afternoon brunch bitch-session-with-your-gay-bestie vibe that entertained. It’s light, has some solid laughs, makes for a light read, something I personally needed during my busy time as a teacher. Revenge is a dish best served cold? I’ll take mine with extra ice, thank you VERY much. This review further guarantees I will remain single. #notapsycho
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com around time of publication.
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Contemporary Fiction
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Those needing light & breezy. Those who crave a revenge story!
𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: eh if you’re judge-y about moms being friends with their kids.
ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ, ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏ. ꜰᴏʀ ᴍʏ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍʏ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ-ʜᴏɴᴇꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴇᴀʜ, ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏ ꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇ ꜱʜɪɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴠɪʟ ɢʟᴇᴇ. (#ɴᴏʀᴇᴀʟʟʏɴᴏᴛᴀᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏ)
June 26, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
4,5 ⭐️
Burn it all down is another example of “book I chose based on its cover”. Look at it! It’s yelling at you to read it! And I’m so glad I did cause I absolutely adored every single moment.
Joey, 18, and hist mother Gia, 34, are not very lucky in love. Like mother, like son, they have a penchant for toxic jerks. And what do toxic jerks deserve? REVENGE! (My favorite word in literature!). When their planned revenge goes out of hand they find themselves on the run, leading to a series of hilarious and emotional situations.
Characterization was amazing. I could not help to fall in love with Joey and Gia right from the start. I think the audiobook helped even more to achieve this with a phenomenal work by Mark Sanderlin. They were both flawed and messy but at the same time you could understand where they were coming from, so it was hard to blame them. Their bond was so beautiful! It also made me reflect upon some of my past relationships and realize that thankfully I’ve grown quite a lot in the last years, not wanting this kind of toxic masculinity around.
The pop culture references, the dynamics of an italo-american family, the Monica Lewinsky parallels, the use of THIS BITCH and THAT BITCH (which I’m definitely incorporating to my vocabulary)…all of them made me laugh so much I wish the story would have run a bit longer.
Nicola DiDomizio is THE BITCH and I can’t wait to read what he comes out with next.
In the words of Nietzsche (look at me, so intellectual!): “You must be ready to burn yourself on your own flame; how could you rise anew if you have not first become ashes?”
4,5 ⭐️
Burn it all down is another example of “book I chose based on its cover”. Look at it! It’s yelling at you to read it! And I’m so glad I did cause I absolutely adored every single moment.
Joey, 18, and hist mother Gia, 34, are not very lucky in love. Like mother, like son, they have a penchant for toxic jerks. And what do toxic jerks deserve? REVENGE! (My favorite word in literature!). When their planned revenge goes out of hand they find themselves on the run, leading to a series of hilarious and emotional situations.
Characterization was amazing. I could not help to fall in love with Joey and Gia right from the start. I think the audiobook helped even more to achieve this with a phenomenal work by Mark Sanderlin. They were both flawed and messy but at the same time you could understand where they were coming from, so it was hard to blame them. Their bond was so beautiful! It also made me reflect upon some of my past relationships and realize that thankfully I’ve grown quite a lot in the last years, not wanting this kind of toxic masculinity around.
The pop culture references, the dynamics of an italo-american family, the Monica Lewinsky parallels, the use of THIS BITCH and THAT BITCH (which I’m definitely incorporating to my vocabulary)…all of them made me laugh so much I wish the story would have run a bit longer.
Nicola DiDomizio is THE BITCH and I can’t wait to read what he comes out with next.
In the words of Nietzsche (look at me, so intellectual!): “You must be ready to burn yourself on your own flame; how could you rise anew if you have not first become ashes?”
dnf
May 30, 2022I so wanted to love this but I'm afraid I just can't with Italian-American authors and their stereotyping of Italians (as if being Italo-American makes you quainter/quirkier/spicier than 'regular' white Americans...).
Our narrator describes his mother's hair as being the color of "espresso", then he compares her to a "brunette Lady Gaga", on wine he says that "it's basically like water for us. What? We're Italian.", and then we get metaphors involving "tortellini". And don't get me started on his Nonna who has to thrown in a few Italian words in italics just to remind us that yes they are 'Italians'.
Ugh. I just can't. I'm sure non-Italians readers won't mind but I am (Italian) and I do (mind).
Our narrator describes his mother's hair as being the color of "espresso", then he compares her to a "brunette Lady Gaga", on wine he says that "it's basically like water for us. What? We're Italian.", and then we get metaphors involving "tortellini". And don't get me started on his Nonna who has to thrown in a few Italian words in italics just to remind us that yes they are 'Italians'.
Ugh. I just can't. I'm sure non-Italians readers won't mind but I am (Italian) and I do (mind).
May 31, 2021
My most anticipated release of 2021 has now become my favorite book (so far) of 2021. So hilarious and heartfelt. I live for Joey and Gia. Nicolas DiDomizio is that bitch. Go pick this one up.
July 29, 2021
This is a story about what happens when too much wine + too little impulse control exists within a mother/son pair who have both just been dumped by their respective boyfriends.
Gia had Joey at 16.
Joey's now 18.
The two are BFFs.
And a bit codependent.
Also a tad trainwrecky.
And a lot vengeful.
Enter a cast of stable side characters, a lakeside cabin during spring break, rich people, terrible decisions, a warrant for arrest, and incredible jumps to conclusions that would make a snow leopard jealous, and you've got a fun, "Glad it's not me" romp full of love, absolute silliness, some romance (don't worry, I survived), and a couple of surprises.
This is a good crossover novel for the YA - adult crowd, especially for fans of Rainbow Rowell, David Levithan, and Becky Albertalli.
Gia had Joey at 16.
Joey's now 18.
The two are BFFs.
And a bit codependent.
Also a tad trainwrecky.
And a lot vengeful.
Enter a cast of stable side characters, a lakeside cabin during spring break, rich people, terrible decisions, a warrant for arrest, and incredible jumps to conclusions that would make a snow leopard jealous, and you've got a fun, "Glad it's not me" romp full of love, absolute silliness, some romance (don't worry, I survived), and a couple of surprises.
This is a good crossover novel for the YA - adult crowd, especially for fans of Rainbow Rowell, David Levithan, and Becky Albertalli.
May 4, 2021
BURN IT ALL DOWN is truly THAT BITCHHHHH. I haven’t read a book all in one day in a while and this one sucked me in and I never wanted this beautiful distasteful to end. Nic could write 27 more novels with these characters and I’d preorder EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Nic is truly going to be an author who I will be an auto buy for. I loved the voicey-ness of the book and ugh. Just perfection.
If you like disaster moms and there disaster gay son then READ THIS BOOK ALREADY!!!! AHHHHHH
If you like disaster moms and there disaster gay son then READ THIS BOOK ALREADY!!!! AHHHHHH
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October 4, 2021A buddy comedy featuring an 18-year-old gay main character and his 34-year-old mother who go to get a little "light revenge" on the exes who've hurt them...only to accidentally commit arson on one of the homes they enter and now, they're on the run.
This is an outlandish and wild story and a whole lot of fun. It's easy to both loathe the main characters and totally feel for them. How much I didn't want them stuck in jail and yet, I also wanted them to get some kind of punishment for their acts. The twist on where .
A number of reviews label this as YA, but it's not. The imprint is adult, the humor is adult, and the voice is adult. It has significant crossover appeal, for sure.
This is an outlandish and wild story and a whole lot of fun. It's easy to both loathe the main characters and totally feel for them. How much I didn't want them stuck in jail and yet, I also wanted them to get some kind of punishment for their acts. The twist on where .
A number of reviews label this as YA, but it's not. The imprint is adult, the humor is adult, and the voice is adult. It has significant crossover appeal, for sure.
September 19, 2021
Burn It All Down by Nicolas DiDomizio was a total #bookstagrammademedoit situation, and I am so glad it was because this book was fantastic. There are so many things I loved about it including but not limited to the humor and the characters. The pacing is very quick, and this could easily be a one-sitting type of read thanks to that. It made me laugh out loud more times than I can count, and I really enjoyed how fleshed out Joey and Gia’s characters are. They are the type of people I would love to be friends with and that made the book that much better. I enjoyed Joey's inner monologue throughout, and it felt like he was talking right to me most of the time. I love this style of writing, and it made it feel like I was having a conversation with a friend, especially since I was listening to it on audio. There is so much drama and so many shenanigans that go down in this book, and I don't even know what to categorize it, but it didn't really feel like a mystery or a thriller to me.
The audiobook honestly couldn't have had a better narrator, and I loved every minute of listening to Mark Sanderlin. He was perfect as Joey and sounded exactly the way I would have expected him to, plus his narration was spot on for the entire book. Like James Patterson says in the blurb, Burn It All Down is very entertaining and addictive, but also touched on a couple of harder subject matters as well. The relationship between Joey and his mom is beyond what you would expect from a mother and son, and DiDomizio touches on that as well as cheating, jerky partners, and being gay. I think the acknowledgments are some of the best I have ever read and if DiDomizi's humor didn't come out in his book it sure did in them. He sounds like a hilarious human, and I have found a new favorite author! I hope he writes many more books to come and that they are all this amazing.
The audiobook honestly couldn't have had a better narrator, and I loved every minute of listening to Mark Sanderlin. He was perfect as Joey and sounded exactly the way I would have expected him to, plus his narration was spot on for the entire book. Like James Patterson says in the blurb, Burn It All Down is very entertaining and addictive, but also touched on a couple of harder subject matters as well. The relationship between Joey and his mom is beyond what you would expect from a mother and son, and DiDomizio touches on that as well as cheating, jerky partners, and being gay. I think the acknowledgments are some of the best I have ever read and if DiDomizi's humor didn't come out in his book it sure did in them. He sounds like a hilarious human, and I have found a new favorite author! I hope he writes many more books to come and that they are all this amazing.
January 31, 2023
Maybe like a high 3.5
August 7, 2021
Narration: 4 stars 🌟
Ztory: 4 stars 🌟
Ztory: 4 stars 🌟
June 13, 2021
Didomizio’s debut novel is a wacky “criminals” on the run mother/son caper. It’s billed as a comedy, but I failed to see the humor in it. It was more whiney than funny. It also read like a YA novel given the nature of the banter between the characters or perhaps it was because everything felt rather superficial. Not sure. I was a bit confused. Gia and her 18 year old son, Joey, have been wronged by their respective lovers once too often. With a history of poor impulse control and Jersey Shore potty mouths to match, this sad duo lashes out in revenge, and, as per the title - Burn It All Down. Now they have to skip town to evade arrest. It’s a good premise, but I couldn’t quite get to a place where I was rooting for these two souls. I was constantly transported to the reality show version of Thelma and Louise if Snooky and Mike “The Situation” were playing the roles. One too many cliches for my taste. Pass.
October 31, 2021
A really fun buddy comedy style book about a mom and son who are on the run after a revenge tactic on an ex goes horribly wrong.
I do wonder if this book missed its audience by being categorized incorrectly and feel that, with the teenage main character and his spot-on voice, this book could have been more at home in the YA space. I loved how deeply and terribly flawed Joey was in the way that all heartbroken and scorned teens are (though there were a lot of exclamation points) and feel like with a bit more developing as a YA book instead could have really hit home with a lot of young people transitioning in big moments of their lives.
I do wonder if this book missed its audience by being categorized incorrectly and feel that, with the teenage main character and his spot-on voice, this book could have been more at home in the YA space. I loved how deeply and terribly flawed Joey was in the way that all heartbroken and scorned teens are (though there were a lot of exclamation points) and feel like with a bit more developing as a YA book instead could have really hit home with a lot of young people transitioning in big moments of their lives.
July 29, 2021
Hey thanks I hate it.
May 29, 2021
4.5 stars
Guys. I seriously laughed my ass of reading this book.
As most of you know I’m Italian and come from a loud Italian family. So the dynamic between Joey and his mother Gia and then add in Nonna, it was so spot on. I never related to a book as much as this one!!
I totally wish I could bump the actual “break up” playlist Joey and Gia had made on Spotify or something because I’ve been listening too Beyoncé “ring the alarm” since!
Such an easy read, with the best mother and son duo, ever!!
Highly recommend this one, especially if you’re in need of a good laugh.
Guys. I seriously laughed my ass of reading this book.
As most of you know I’m Italian and come from a loud Italian family. So the dynamic between Joey and his mother Gia and then add in Nonna, it was so spot on. I never related to a book as much as this one!!
I totally wish I could bump the actual “break up” playlist Joey and Gia had made on Spotify or something because I’ve been listening too Beyoncé “ring the alarm” since!
Such an easy read, with the best mother and son duo, ever!!
Highly recommend this one, especially if you’re in need of a good laugh.
May 7, 2021
Thank you to Nicolas DiDomizio for the advanced copy (won in a giveaway)!
I am always here for a book starring a messy gay, and Joey is a messy gay. Joey is also one of those young gays that deserves to be protected, like Bitty from Check, Please. I am also very much here for Joey’s relationship with his mom. While they can get each other into some serious trouble, Gia is always there for Joey and Joey is always looking out for his mom. While the relationship between me and my mom isn’t at that exact level of comfort in terms of me talking to my mom about the guys I see, she and I do sometimes enjoy some wine together (Italians and Jews have a lot in common when it comes to wine consumption). While Joey and Gia do run away from their problems, and the law, they also learn from their recent and past experiences and are able to grow from them. With a great balance of bad decisions and heartfelt moments, Burn It All Down is that bitch that keeps you coming back for more.
I am always here for a book starring a messy gay, and Joey is a messy gay. Joey is also one of those young gays that deserves to be protected, like Bitty from Check, Please. I am also very much here for Joey’s relationship with his mom. While they can get each other into some serious trouble, Gia is always there for Joey and Joey is always looking out for his mom. While the relationship between me and my mom isn’t at that exact level of comfort in terms of me talking to my mom about the guys I see, she and I do sometimes enjoy some wine together (Italians and Jews have a lot in common when it comes to wine consumption). While Joey and Gia do run away from their problems, and the law, they also learn from their recent and past experiences and are able to grow from them. With a great balance of bad decisions and heartfelt moments, Burn It All Down is that bitch that keeps you coming back for more.
February 12, 2021
As an elite member of the Italian Americans from New Jersey club, praise must be given to Nicolas DiDomizio because his characterizations of the Rossi family are accurate. Your grandmother is nuts, which makes your mom pretty much insane, and that trickles down to you. However, you still spend every waking minute together because, FAMILY, obviously. It is just generations on generations of crazy, but can you get it under control before it controls you?
Gia Rossi was 16 when she had Joey and this mother and son duo are thick as thieves, however, their crime is more like arson and destruction of property. But, don't cross an Italian because if you break their heart, there are consequences. And, after eighteen-year-old Joey's boyfriend is caught cheating and thirty-four-year-old Gia's man was found to be married, they grab the Louisville Slugger ala Carrie Underwood and set off with a vengeance. Until it escalates to something they didn't intend. Consequences have actions, and the duo has to learn how to face their demons, take responsibility for their actions, and break the pattern.
Yes, there are major life lessons, but there is humor, sarcasm, and observations on life that are tender in that "there's more to life than you know" way. This is a growing up story . . . burn it all down to rebuild.
Gia Rossi was 16 when she had Joey and this mother and son duo are thick as thieves, however, their crime is more like arson and destruction of property. But, don't cross an Italian because if you break their heart, there are consequences. And, after eighteen-year-old Joey's boyfriend is caught cheating and thirty-four-year-old Gia's man was found to be married, they grab the Louisville Slugger ala Carrie Underwood and set off with a vengeance. Until it escalates to something they didn't intend. Consequences have actions, and the duo has to learn how to face their demons, take responsibility for their actions, and break the pattern.
Yes, there are major life lessons, but there is humor, sarcasm, and observations on life that are tender in that "there's more to life than you know" way. This is a growing up story . . . burn it all down to rebuild.
August 22, 2022
18 year old Joey and his mom have an extremely close (and extremely unconventional) relationship with each other. When Joey and his mom are each dumped by their perspective boyfriends within 24 hours of each other they go off on a revenge crime spree that gets way out of control.
This book rubbed me the wrong way. The novel is well written and easy to read - but my god were these two main characters the most whiny, codependent "bitches" around. Half way through I was rooting for them to get arrested and actually experience some consequences to their actions. The humor didn't come through for me, I am not sure if that's because I kept having to google Italian phrases from Grandma before I could appreciate what was being said, or if the general "wah my life is so sad" vibe ruined any humor for me.
I got very strong YA vibes from this and, tbh, 15 year old me would have loved this edgy book. The dialog between the characters was very immature and the world view was very superficial. I am with other reviewers in wondering if this book would have gotten a better reception if it was marketed as YA/NA.
I was lucky enough to win this book in a giveaway and gave it 2 stars on my goodreads!
This book rubbed me the wrong way. The novel is well written and easy to read - but my god were these two main characters the most whiny, codependent "bitches" around. Half way through I was rooting for them to get arrested and actually experience some consequences to their actions. The humor didn't come through for me, I am not sure if that's because I kept having to google Italian phrases from Grandma before I could appreciate what was being said, or if the general "wah my life is so sad" vibe ruined any humor for me.
I got very strong YA vibes from this and, tbh, 15 year old me would have loved this edgy book. The dialog between the characters was very immature and the world view was very superficial. I am with other reviewers in wondering if this book would have gotten a better reception if it was marketed as YA/NA.
I was lucky enough to win this book in a giveaway and gave it 2 stars on my goodreads!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2021
This one was such a fun debut! Joey and his mom, Gia both find out their boyfriends are cheating on them so they decide to get some revenge in a serious way. Almost immediately they’re in over their heads as they sorta accidentally commit some series crimes and so they have to run, and fast to stay out of trouble. This was so fast paced and exciting, the action starts in the beginning and really never lets up. So besides a super entertaining plot line, I freaking loved both Joey and Gia and their amazing bond. It’s not a typical mother/son dynamic, Gia was a teen mom so her and Joey are oftentimes more like friends than a parent and child. They both had larger than life personalities and while Joey is an aspiring stand up comic, so he’s clearly a funny kid, Gia can hold her own as well, she cracked me up. The audio narration was 🔥, Mark Sanderlin was outstanding and totally brought Joey to life
October 21, 2023
An explosive and thrilling debut novel from Nicholas! I devoured this book in one night and I could not put it down.
Nicholas did an amazing job in writing this books. It was so well thought out and made me on the edge of my seat swinging to see what would happen.
No only was this book a fast-paced crime book but it was also incredibly heartfelt! Nic did a great job with the conversation with men and feeling like you have to give up some of yourself for them. It was really empowering and made me think about my life and how I’m the type of person who lets people walk all over me. It made me see what potential I have.
I also adored the relationship between Joey and His mom Gia. It reminded me of my mom and I (without the committing arson and other crimes). They were so close and their relationship while someone a lot was beautiful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Nicholas did an amazing job in writing this books. It was so well thought out and made me on the edge of my seat swinging to see what would happen.
No only was this book a fast-paced crime book but it was also incredibly heartfelt! Nic did a great job with the conversation with men and feeling like you have to give up some of yourself for them. It was really empowering and made me think about my life and how I’m the type of person who lets people walk all over me. It made me see what potential I have.
I also adored the relationship between Joey and His mom Gia. It reminded me of my mom and I (without the committing arson and other crimes). They were so close and their relationship while someone a lot was beautiful.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 20, 2021
Thanks to NovelSuspects on Instagram and Nicolas Didomizio for the ARC of this book.
This novel is billed as Gilmore Girls meets Thelma and Louise and it definitely lives up to that comparison. It was a funny, sarcastic look at this mother and son and all of their past relationships that have gone badly. This will be a great addition to your summer reading pile and I highly recommend picking it up when it is published in May 2021.
This novel is billed as Gilmore Girls meets Thelma and Louise and it definitely lives up to that comparison. It was a funny, sarcastic look at this mother and son and all of their past relationships that have gone badly. This will be a great addition to your summer reading pile and I highly recommend picking it up when it is published in May 2021.
June 8, 2021
I feel like I would have loved this book in high school. I think the concept of a mother/son revenge plot-gone-wrong is brilliant, but I think the comedy that was almost exclusively built on Italian & gay stereotypes failed to keep me as amused as I’m sure the author intended. There is something to be said about the compulsive readability though!
June 13, 2022
“You and your mom deserve each other.”
Imagine Gilmore Girls. Imagine Lorelai and Rory did so much more than devil egg Jess’ car and sought extreme arson on one of Lorelai’s exes as well, your pick.
I was scrolling for available books and needed something funny, and this chaotic synopsis on my TBR struck me. And hey, it’s June, so I’m trying to read more LGBTQ+ books. This was such a chaotic and fast-paced story with hilarious narration and hijinks. I love Joey as a storyteller. We live very different lives but I could still relate to him and love his humour.He would make a great comic with this story as an act. I love the close yet sometimes complicated relationship between him and Gia. I can safely say that I could not predict how this book would end, whether they would confess, be on the run, or something in between with its consequences.
And as a bonus, “I have such a love/hate relationship with my notes app.” (I felt this so much because I would die if anyone read my dumb fanfics on it).
Also, Marco deserves the world. And Lisa.
Imagine Gilmore Girls. Imagine Lorelai and Rory did so much more than devil egg Jess’ car and sought extreme arson on one of Lorelai’s exes as well, your pick.
I was scrolling for available books and needed something funny, and this chaotic synopsis on my TBR struck me. And hey, it’s June, so I’m trying to read more LGBTQ+ books. This was such a chaotic and fast-paced story with hilarious narration and hijinks. I love Joey as a storyteller. We live very different lives but I could still relate to him and love his humour.
And as a bonus, “I have such a love/hate relationship with my notes app.” (I felt this so much because I would die if anyone read my dumb fanfics on it).
Also, Marco deserves the world. And Lisa.
July 6, 2021
A wildly entertaining debut about a gay son + mom duo embroiled in a fiery, inadvertent crime spree catalyzed by the bad men they’re both sick of falling for (CANNOT RELATE. NOPE NOT AT ALL. NEVER FELT THIS WAY). What follows is a raucous, runaway narrative that’s as unpredictable as it is unforgettable — and I devoured every word!!! As a queer kid, I yearned to have the kind of relationship Joey and mom, Gia, enjoy. Sure, they have each other’s backs to the point of escalating to maybe-felonies but 1) that’s what family’s *supposed* to be for and 2) their love and loyalty for each other is unquestionable and endless and makes every joke, every conflict, every moment pain & every victory stick the landing with all the deft and power of an Olympic gymnast. AND DID I MENTION THIS BOOK IS FUNNY AS HELL???
July 7, 2021
This book is hilarious even though it's a revenge story! Joey's cheating boyfriend has just dumped him and his mother, Gia has just discovered her boyfriend is cheating as well. So they set off on a mission of revenge which includes slashing tires, and a "small" fire in a bathtub of burning clothes. Well, what could go wrong? Simply put; everything! It may not sound like it's funny but it really is as wise-cracking Gia deals with an old flame and Joey meets a new boy who doesn't understand his forward moves. It's just a fun and irreverent read that will make you laugh and appreciate these characters!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 5, 2021
This book is a hilarious wild ride! The dynamic between Joey, his young mother Gia and Nona was funny and yet also sweet and loving. I think my favorite part was the inner monologue of Joey, I was absolutely cracking up from his thoughts! This book combines a whole lot of bad decisions with some heartfelt moments and made for a great read. I recommend you pick this one up when you are in need a good laugh! 4.5/5🌟
Side note, I’m gonna need the rest of the breakup playlist please and thank you.
Side note, I’m gonna need the rest of the breakup playlist please and thank you.
May 13, 2021
How did I forget to review this at the time I read it?! Burn It All Down is the most fun--like the best of RHONJ as a book. Fans of 1994 Little Women and Monica Lewinsky will swoon. Uproarious and wonderful and sure to be a top beach read this summer!
September 14, 2021
This book is so different and refreshing. Hilarious, painful and sprinkled with pop culture references. I love the mother-son relationship and the epic bonding journey they embark on as they each face a broken and full heart. I wish I hadn’t read it so I can read and experience it all over again.
This book is “that bitch.” What a gift to the world!
This book is “that bitch.” What a gift to the world!
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