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Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict
Imagine if Sex and the City's Samantha discovered she was an addict and her drug of choice was MEN. Go on a hilarious, inspiring, and at times, shocking journey as Roxanne conquers her fears, changes her ways, gets closer to healthy relationships and begins loving herself a little more each day.
After years of working as an image-obsessed actress in Hollywood, Roxanne finds herself at rock bottom from a disease that is anything but glamorous. In her first year of recovery, Roxanne has to take accountability for her past. From tales of being mistaken for a prostitute at the Hotel Bel-Air to botching a threesome attempt with an A-list celebrity, she must face the truth about herself and stop playing the victim.
Roxanne's odyssey of using sex and love—as destructive and beguiling as an alcoholic reaching for a bottle—is a veritable rollercoaster of ups and downs, laughter and tears, and a true testament to facing your absolute truth and conquering your fears.
Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict has the vibrant, relatable vibe of chick lit, the soul-baring honesty of a memoir and the wisdom of a self-help book.
In this unique roman à clef novel, Brianne Davis shares her own intimate experience with the transformational power of recovery, providing strength and hope for anyone who wants to change their life forever.
After years of working as an image-obsessed actress in Hollywood, Roxanne finds herself at rock bottom from a disease that is anything but glamorous. In her first year of recovery, Roxanne has to take accountability for her past. From tales of being mistaken for a prostitute at the Hotel Bel-Air to botching a threesome attempt with an A-list celebrity, she must face the truth about herself and stop playing the victim.
Roxanne's odyssey of using sex and love—as destructive and beguiling as an alcoholic reaching for a bottle—is a veritable rollercoaster of ups and downs, laughter and tears, and a true testament to facing your absolute truth and conquering your fears.
Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict has the vibrant, relatable vibe of chick lit, the soul-baring honesty of a memoir and the wisdom of a self-help book.
In this unique roman à clef novel, Brianne Davis shares her own intimate experience with the transformational power of recovery, providing strength and hope for anyone who wants to change their life forever.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2021
118 people are currently reading
1033 people want to read
About the author
Brianne Davis
2 books63 followersBrianne Davis is a relationship and trauma specialist, author, speaker, podcast host, wife, mom—and unapologetic truth-teller. With over sixteen years of recovery from sex and love addiction, she is known for her work on breaking toxic cycles, healing attachment wounds, and dismantling the shame that blocks real intimacy.
She hosts the top-rated Secret Life Podcast, featuring raw conversations about addiction, relationships, mental health, and transformation. Her debut book, Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict, resonated widely for its fierce honesty and dark humor. Brianne also has a career in film and television, appearing in Jarhead, Prom Night, Lucifer, and Six. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Mark, their son Davis, and her dog Stella.
She hosts the top-rated Secret Life Podcast, featuring raw conversations about addiction, relationships, mental health, and transformation. Her debut book, Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict, resonated widely for its fierce honesty and dark humor. Brianne also has a career in film and television, appearing in Jarhead, Prom Night, Lucifer, and Six. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Mark, their son Davis, and her dog Stella.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
March 20, 2021
Wow, what a book!!!!! I first discovered this book when the author followed me on Book Tok, on Tik Tok, I knew exactly who she is. However, I didn’t know her story. So yes, I bought it and so happy she followed me, or I may have never seen this book. So keep an open mind.
This is a raw story of when you hit rock bottom, how you got there, and to go from there. Does she name names? No. It’s not what it is about; it’s about recovery and on the road to living a healthy life. If you never had a stable relationship, you know what I am talking about, and there is help out there. Don’t get me wrong. She does entertain us. This book is well written and powerful; I cried, laughed, and felt her pain.
An addict is an addict is an addict; I say this at least a few times a week; if you know me personally, you know I have a long history of people with addiction. By the way, I hate saying that; I say it before they reach help. Addiction comes in many forms; people always think of alcohol or drugs. There are other drugs of choice, food, sex, love, shopping, etc. it’s an actual disease.
Thank you to Brianne for ripping off the bandaid and writing her story. I am sure she has touched many people, myself included. You show there is help and hope.
This is a raw story of when you hit rock bottom, how you got there, and to go from there. Does she name names? No. It’s not what it is about; it’s about recovery and on the road to living a healthy life. If you never had a stable relationship, you know what I am talking about, and there is help out there. Don’t get me wrong. She does entertain us. This book is well written and powerful; I cried, laughed, and felt her pain.
An addict is an addict is an addict; I say this at least a few times a week; if you know me personally, you know I have a long history of people with addiction. By the way, I hate saying that; I say it before they reach help. Addiction comes in many forms; people always think of alcohol or drugs. There are other drugs of choice, food, sex, love, shopping, etc. it’s an actual disease.
Thank you to Brianne for ripping off the bandaid and writing her story. I am sure she has touched many people, myself included. You show there is help and hope.
September 26, 2021
When Brianne reached out I was immediately intrigued by this title. While I don’t read much non fiction, I love following celebrities and general pop culture so this was definitely up my ally but was also so much more.
She was incredibly honest, raw and transparent from start to finish. She’s a fantastic storyteller and I really enjoyed her wit, humour and candor!
I applaud her for sharing such a personal and intimate part of her life in hope to help others!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads!
She was incredibly honest, raw and transparent from start to finish. She’s a fantastic storyteller and I really enjoyed her wit, humour and candor!
I applaud her for sharing such a personal and intimate part of her life in hope to help others!
3.5 stars rounded to 4 for goodreads!
February 5, 2021
Wow, what can I say? What a book!
This is not my usual read and I didn't exactly know what to expect from this book. What happened is that it hit home more closely than I would like to admit. I was hooked by "Roxanne" s story and felt her struggle throughout her difficult journey, while at the same time being entertained by her wit and sense of humour. The 5 question to ask yourself aat the end of the day will stay with me for the time being.
This book is a wonderful journey from self loathing to self loving of a Hollywood actress addicted to sex and love.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is not my usual read and I didn't exactly know what to expect from this book. What happened is that it hit home more closely than I would like to admit. I was hooked by "Roxanne" s story and felt her struggle throughout her difficult journey, while at the same time being entertained by her wit and sense of humour. The 5 question to ask yourself aat the end of the day will stay with me for the time being.
This book is a wonderful journey from self loathing to self loving of a Hollywood actress addicted to sex and love.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 9, 2021
Learn to live! The unraveling of the taboo sets people free. May you find, just like a butterfly, it is within struggle new life is found.
This is an eye-opening read. It brings accessibility to a taboo topic that, up until now, has been easy to make light of, poke fun at, and bat away by thinking it is not a real addiction. What this book does is bring to light all the darkness of the disease for the purpose of debunking the myths and demystifying the perceived fakeness to expose what's at the root of the problem itself.
You can't evade matters of the heart forever. The heart must be tended to as it is "the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).
What this author does so well is the peeling away to stand not in shame but in the glory of having been made new and reclaiming the parts of herself that had once been lost. It is possible to tend to the inner-child of yourself and to give back the gift of innocence that was stolen. To reflect without blinders, grieve, and reboot.
One of the most important lessons within this book is to learn to love yourself. To bring yourself joy and happiness. To not rely on others to fulfill your needs. Buy yourself those flowers, and take yourself out to dinner and a movie. You don't have to wait for someone to buy your affections and you don't have to give yourself away so easily!
This book is an expose. It's uncomfortable and gross; light-hearted, and funny; filled with sass and foul language; and, beneath it all, there's an underlying sadness. The silver lining? If you comfort others with the comfort you yourself have been given, you will find your way to confident self-worth, sustainable joy, and peace.
High-light reel: This author brought up so many places and things I had never heard of before! I think a trip to California might be in my future (much to the author's chagrin.) Who wouldn't want to eat out at Sweet Lady Jane's, experience tea time at the Hotel of Bel-air, and wear a pair of Rag and Bone's Boots while sight-seeing on Melrose Ave. and shopping at Wasteland? Of course, as a small town, mid-west girl turned middle-aged Alaskan, even if I dressed the part I'd be a fish out of the water, "Yikes!" Perhaps the author is right, and I should just stick close to home, be satisfied by what I see of California on the television screen, and write my own thoughts down as Roxanne's play-list plays in the background?
This book is a fast and wild romp that's not for the faint of heart. It's in your face, down and dirty but not for the purpose of ecstasy. What it really portrays is lives made up of lies. When you see through the veneer, Hollywood isn't so glamorous after all.
You are at your most beautiful and powerful when you don't need outside validation but place your trust in God and hear His/Her voice say, "You are fearfully and wonderfully made," marvelous just the way you are (Psalm 139:14). May you come to know the voice of God, cast out your demons, and live your truth.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book, via Reedsy Discovery, in exchange for my honest review.
This is an eye-opening read. It brings accessibility to a taboo topic that, up until now, has been easy to make light of, poke fun at, and bat away by thinking it is not a real addiction. What this book does is bring to light all the darkness of the disease for the purpose of debunking the myths and demystifying the perceived fakeness to expose what's at the root of the problem itself.
You can't evade matters of the heart forever. The heart must be tended to as it is "the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).
What this author does so well is the peeling away to stand not in shame but in the glory of having been made new and reclaiming the parts of herself that had once been lost. It is possible to tend to the inner-child of yourself and to give back the gift of innocence that was stolen. To reflect without blinders, grieve, and reboot.
One of the most important lessons within this book is to learn to love yourself. To bring yourself joy and happiness. To not rely on others to fulfill your needs. Buy yourself those flowers, and take yourself out to dinner and a movie. You don't have to wait for someone to buy your affections and you don't have to give yourself away so easily!
This book is an expose. It's uncomfortable and gross; light-hearted, and funny; filled with sass and foul language; and, beneath it all, there's an underlying sadness. The silver lining? If you comfort others with the comfort you yourself have been given, you will find your way to confident self-worth, sustainable joy, and peace.
High-light reel: This author brought up so many places and things I had never heard of before! I think a trip to California might be in my future (much to the author's chagrin.) Who wouldn't want to eat out at Sweet Lady Jane's, experience tea time at the Hotel of Bel-air, and wear a pair of Rag and Bone's Boots while sight-seeing on Melrose Ave. and shopping at Wasteland? Of course, as a small town, mid-west girl turned middle-aged Alaskan, even if I dressed the part I'd be a fish out of the water, "Yikes!" Perhaps the author is right, and I should just stick close to home, be satisfied by what I see of California on the television screen, and write my own thoughts down as Roxanne's play-list plays in the background?
This book is a fast and wild romp that's not for the faint of heart. It's in your face, down and dirty but not for the purpose of ecstasy. What it really portrays is lives made up of lies. When you see through the veneer, Hollywood isn't so glamorous after all.
You are at your most beautiful and powerful when you don't need outside validation but place your trust in God and hear His/Her voice say, "You are fearfully and wonderfully made," marvelous just the way you are (Psalm 139:14). May you come to know the voice of God, cast out your demons, and live your truth.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book, via Reedsy Discovery, in exchange for my honest review.
April 7, 2022
OoooOOoooooOo, this was so much fun to listen to. It was like I was sitting across from Brianne with a glass of whiskey, listening to her regale stories of her (i.e. Roxane's) journey from addiction to sobriety. And done in a fun way so as not to feel like a textbook on the rules to follow. From hilarious quips and situations to the cringe worthy. I mean, who doesn't love that butterfly in the stomach feeling that we get at the beginning of any relationship? Who doesn't get complacent and take people for granted sometimes? But how much do you rely on this feeling to satiate what you think you need to feel good about yourself? If you're not looking to yourself to make you happy, then maybe you're doing it wrong.
This roman à clef novel showcases Davis's own intimate experiences through our main character, Roxanne, in her road to finding self love and ditching her destructive patterns. While we may not have this same type of addiction, I'm sure we can all relate in one way or another - I know I certainly can. There's certainly advice to be heeded that would benefit us all. Whether it's staying away from social media to avoid the "compare and despair" spiral (been there) to cutting people out of your life that can trigger you to act in a way you'll feel worse for the wear for later on (done that). Everything is easier said than done - but that does not mean it can't be done!
Thank you, Brianne, for being such an inspiration and providing me with this gifted audiobook.
This roman à clef novel showcases Davis's own intimate experiences through our main character, Roxanne, in her road to finding self love and ditching her destructive patterns. While we may not have this same type of addiction, I'm sure we can all relate in one way or another - I know I certainly can. There's certainly advice to be heeded that would benefit us all. Whether it's staying away from social media to avoid the "compare and despair" spiral (been there) to cutting people out of your life that can trigger you to act in a way you'll feel worse for the wear for later on (done that). Everything is easier said than done - but that does not mean it can't be done!
Thank you, Brianne, for being such an inspiration and providing me with this gifted audiobook.
July 5, 2021
** 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!
When @thebriannedavis reached out to me and offered me a copy of her book, I have to admit I was a little hesitant. First off, I’m not into all the Hollywood gossip, and second, she called it a roman á clef novel (Honestly, I had to look that up. For those in my boat, it’s a novel in which actual people and events appear but the names have been changed.)
What sold me is that I’m all for addiction recovery. It’s a lifelong journey, and whatever helps you, inspires you, and keeps you on the path of sobriety, one day at a time, I’m here for it.
Brianne Davis tells Roxanne’s story, a Hollywood actress who isn’t living the classy, glamorous life many think Hollywood is all about. When we first meet Roxanne, she is sitting in the basement of a church at a recovery meeting for Sex and Love Addicts. She doesn’t think she belongs there, but her therapist suggested it. As she hears the others tell their stories, she realizes these are people struggling just like her.
Roxanne’s story is one of how desperate her life had become as her choice of drug was men and adoration. Although there are some graphic sex scenes, I’ve actually read some romcoms that were steamier. If you think Roxanne just walked around having sex with anything or anyone that moved, that’s not what this addiction is about, and she explains it well.
Is this a memoir or a novel? It certainly reads like a novel, as Davis is a great storyteller, with humor and sass, but always focusing on getting well. [Don’t expect a lot of name-dropping, although she throws one of my favorite actors under the bus- noo, I don’t believe it]
Kudos to Davis for her transparency and her desire to be healthy and whole. And thank you for this opportunity to listen to Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict.
When @thebriannedavis reached out to me and offered me a copy of her book, I have to admit I was a little hesitant. First off, I’m not into all the Hollywood gossip, and second, she called it a roman á clef novel (Honestly, I had to look that up. For those in my boat, it’s a novel in which actual people and events appear but the names have been changed.)
What sold me is that I’m all for addiction recovery. It’s a lifelong journey, and whatever helps you, inspires you, and keeps you on the path of sobriety, one day at a time, I’m here for it.
Brianne Davis tells Roxanne’s story, a Hollywood actress who isn’t living the classy, glamorous life many think Hollywood is all about. When we first meet Roxanne, she is sitting in the basement of a church at a recovery meeting for Sex and Love Addicts. She doesn’t think she belongs there, but her therapist suggested it. As she hears the others tell their stories, she realizes these are people struggling just like her.
Roxanne’s story is one of how desperate her life had become as her choice of drug was men and adoration. Although there are some graphic sex scenes, I’ve actually read some romcoms that were steamier. If you think Roxanne just walked around having sex with anything or anyone that moved, that’s not what this addiction is about, and she explains it well.
Is this a memoir or a novel? It certainly reads like a novel, as Davis is a great storyteller, with humor and sass, but always focusing on getting well. [Don’t expect a lot of name-dropping, although she throws one of my favorite actors under the bus- noo, I don’t believe it]
Kudos to Davis for her transparency and her desire to be healthy and whole. And thank you for this opportunity to listen to Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict.
April 4, 2021
Bizarre "novel" that's really a memoir with all the names changed, filled with contradictions, misuse of terminology, and some bad advice.
A Hollywood actress claims to be an "addict" to "sex and love." Right there Davis is making some claims that, based on what she puts in the book, aren't true. She is simply a flirt that likes attention from men, and likes it all the time. It started in childhood, led to her career in Hollywood, and after getting caught by two men in fist fights after she tried to juggle both as boyfriends she realizes she has a "problem."
But problem isn't addiction. Her problems are self-centeredness, lack of moral foundation, being an attention whore, and her bad upbringing (with a dad who treated her like his wife and a mom who cheated while bringing Brianne to meetings with mom's secret lover). In any and every situation, she wants to entice men to give her attention, basically recreating the immoral childhood she grew up in.
Eventually she ends up going to a sex and love addicts meeting, filled with 12-step talk and sponsors that help her avoid men. As the book goes on she keeps calling her problems a "disease" and she's breaking her "addiction," when in truth she just established bad relationship habits from childhood and she's learning to grow up to become a healthy normal adult. People who use the words "disease" and "addiction" for bad choices show that they're really not taking responsibility for their own actions and actually giving themselves an out if they want to make those choices again. There certainly are a few people who are clinical sex addicts, but Brianne Davis is not one of them based on what she has written here.
Each chapter is another one of the ten rules from the sex and love addicts group. But instead of using those rules to share how a person can grow and change, Davis often uses them to brag about her sexual conquests. Rehashing old sexual escapades is sensationalizing her story, taking away from the help she could truly be giving people that have serious sexual problems. In her case she just was willing to allow herself to be used by men in order to get attention.
What's odd is how contradictory she is in the book, which may reflect the two different sides to her life. Early on she says she doesn't really even like sex that much, that she just wanted guys to desire her. Then later in the book, when she hasn't had sex in a year, she says how much she likes sex. Early on she says she doesn't like women (despite having some female flings) but by the end of the book all of her friends are female. She does the same thing with God--she denies having any belief but by the end of the book is praying to God and claiming He kept her from some bad decisions. She doesn't seem self-aware enough to understand those contradictions.
Namely, the book is confusing and misguided. But the author, if questioned about it, can simply say, "Hey, it's fiction!" Yet from the start she lets the reader know that this is really her own story and by the final chapters she is revealing first person information. In truth this should be categorized as a memoir.
There are a few fun inside-Hollywood stories, stars unnamed of course. But it makes you realize how bad the industry is by accepting sexual promiscuity, cheating, and harassment. What she used to put up with in her old days, smiling and laughing at it all, goes away quickly after weekly group sessions and counseling. She turns into a very obnoxious feminist who slams men for even making a slight positive comment about her pretty looks. She seems to have changed filters and some of that is not for the good. Not every compliment is an attempt to place a woman in a sexualized box.
Ultimately this reads like a bunch of therapy sessions, with the actress spewing her feelings without providing proper context or understanding. This will absolutely help a few women out there who are trying to gain support to stand up to their flawed way of thinking about using sex to gain attention. But otherwise it's unsuccessful at communicating how a woman is responsible for her own actions and needs to have a moral compass in order to have a happy life.
A Hollywood actress claims to be an "addict" to "sex and love." Right there Davis is making some claims that, based on what she puts in the book, aren't true. She is simply a flirt that likes attention from men, and likes it all the time. It started in childhood, led to her career in Hollywood, and after getting caught by two men in fist fights after she tried to juggle both as boyfriends she realizes she has a "problem."
But problem isn't addiction. Her problems are self-centeredness, lack of moral foundation, being an attention whore, and her bad upbringing (with a dad who treated her like his wife and a mom who cheated while bringing Brianne to meetings with mom's secret lover). In any and every situation, she wants to entice men to give her attention, basically recreating the immoral childhood she grew up in.
Eventually she ends up going to a sex and love addicts meeting, filled with 12-step talk and sponsors that help her avoid men. As the book goes on she keeps calling her problems a "disease" and she's breaking her "addiction," when in truth she just established bad relationship habits from childhood and she's learning to grow up to become a healthy normal adult. People who use the words "disease" and "addiction" for bad choices show that they're really not taking responsibility for their own actions and actually giving themselves an out if they want to make those choices again. There certainly are a few people who are clinical sex addicts, but Brianne Davis is not one of them based on what she has written here.
Each chapter is another one of the ten rules from the sex and love addicts group. But instead of using those rules to share how a person can grow and change, Davis often uses them to brag about her sexual conquests. Rehashing old sexual escapades is sensationalizing her story, taking away from the help she could truly be giving people that have serious sexual problems. In her case she just was willing to allow herself to be used by men in order to get attention.
What's odd is how contradictory she is in the book, which may reflect the two different sides to her life. Early on she says she doesn't really even like sex that much, that she just wanted guys to desire her. Then later in the book, when she hasn't had sex in a year, she says how much she likes sex. Early on she says she doesn't like women (despite having some female flings) but by the end of the book all of her friends are female. She does the same thing with God--she denies having any belief but by the end of the book is praying to God and claiming He kept her from some bad decisions. She doesn't seem self-aware enough to understand those contradictions.
Namely, the book is confusing and misguided. But the author, if questioned about it, can simply say, "Hey, it's fiction!" Yet from the start she lets the reader know that this is really her own story and by the final chapters she is revealing first person information. In truth this should be categorized as a memoir.
There are a few fun inside-Hollywood stories, stars unnamed of course. But it makes you realize how bad the industry is by accepting sexual promiscuity, cheating, and harassment. What she used to put up with in her old days, smiling and laughing at it all, goes away quickly after weekly group sessions and counseling. She turns into a very obnoxious feminist who slams men for even making a slight positive comment about her pretty looks. She seems to have changed filters and some of that is not for the good. Not every compliment is an attempt to place a woman in a sexualized box.
Ultimately this reads like a bunch of therapy sessions, with the actress spewing her feelings without providing proper context or understanding. This will absolutely help a few women out there who are trying to gain support to stand up to their flawed way of thinking about using sex to gain attention. But otherwise it's unsuccessful at communicating how a woman is responsible for her own actions and needs to have a moral compass in order to have a happy life.
February 22, 2022
I was excited to read this one when Brianne reached out, and knew from the title it was not going to be an easy read, but I am a sucker for anything Hollywood and celebrity related so I was in. I started this on a Sunday and could not put it down until I was done. Addiction is not an easy subject for anyone to talk about, and this is an incredibly honest, raw, and witty (y’all know I love when humor is mixed in with heavy) account of her addiction and the toll it took. As with any recovery, there is progress and relapse, but Roxanne surrounded herself with a good group of people that were there for her in good times and bad, and I liked how she was honest with her journey to recovery in this book.
Addiction is a powerful struggle that I would not wish on anyone and I applaud the author for this fictionalized account of her story, and am beyond grateful she shared it.
This is NSFW and there are trigger warnings which should be self-explanatory, but just in case, I wanted to make a note.
Thank you to Brianne Davis for the free copy to review.
Addiction is a powerful struggle that I would not wish on anyone and I applaud the author for this fictionalized account of her story, and am beyond grateful she shared it.
This is NSFW and there are trigger warnings which should be self-explanatory, but just in case, I wanted to make a note.
Thank you to Brianne Davis for the free copy to review.
August 6, 2021
Framed as a raunchy tell all, the author didn't hold back any juicy details about her sex life. However, what really struck me about this audiobook was the way she honestly told her struggle with sex and love addiction. She acknowledges that most people don't believe it's a real addiction, but speaks from the heart about just how deadly this addiction can be, and how painful recovery is. You'll be cheering for her by the end, hoping she was able to successfully "sober date", and find a meaningful connection after her recovery.
I really enjoyed how the author narrated this book herself, you could really feel her emotions as she hit rock bottom.
I really enjoyed how the author narrated this book herself, you could really feel her emotions as she hit rock bottom.
March 12, 2021
We start off following Roxanne (Roxie) through her ups and downs of recovery from being a love and sex addict. Now while I found the writing hilarious and engaging I can't help but feel a bit disconnected from this novel. While I am not a sex addict, I can relate to the love addiction aspect of the book. Although I enjoyed this novel I did knock off two stars. One because this was not a writing style I am too keen on and secondly because while being in the character's head is fun, I feel like it was a bit all over the place timeline-wise.
This would be a great read for fans of Sex In The City! Roxie is a fun character to follow due to her witty comments. Brianne did a great job of keeping you engaged by all the drama within this book. Definitely a fast-paced book that keeps you wondering how Roxie is going to get past all the turmoil that is her life with her addiction. Will Roxie stay sober? Read to find out!
This would be a great read for fans of Sex In The City! Roxie is a fun character to follow due to her witty comments. Brianne did a great job of keeping you engaged by all the drama within this book. Definitely a fast-paced book that keeps you wondering how Roxie is going to get past all the turmoil that is her life with her addiction. Will Roxie stay sober? Read to find out!
February 14, 2022
While, this book may be about "Sex" addiction, I do believe that anyone suffering and recovering from any type of addiction can and will be able to relate to things that Roxanne went through in this book. I have not experienced an addiction, but I can imagine that the range of emotions that Roxanne had are very real.
I have read many memoirs and nonfiction books where the author shares their personal story. While this book format was different in that with Brianne did not refer to herself and used Roxanne as the voice; Brianne still shared her experiences in a no hold bar prisoner attitude. Thus, the reason that this book felt more personal and "raw".
There were two quotes towards the end of the book that stood out to me:
"No more vices to numb my shit out"
"Sometimes, you have to let go of what was not working to make space for what will"
I have read many memoirs and nonfiction books where the author shares their personal story. While this book format was different in that with Brianne did not refer to herself and used Roxanne as the voice; Brianne still shared her experiences in a no hold bar prisoner attitude. Thus, the reason that this book felt more personal and "raw".
There were two quotes towards the end of the book that stood out to me:
"No more vices to numb my shit out"
"Sometimes, you have to let go of what was not working to make space for what will"
January 19, 2022
When I first started my recovery, I struggled through the textbook-like material on the subject. I wanted to make the addiction and the recovery from it accessible and relatable to more people by telling it in an entertaining way. If I can help just one person find a solution or at least realize that
they're not broken or alone... then writing this has all been worth it.
I hope you enjoy the gnarly ride!
they're not broken or alone... then writing this has all been worth it.
I hope you enjoy the gnarly ride!
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September 5, 2021“They say you’re only as sick as your secrets. If that’s true … I’m f*cking dying” - The Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict
A huge thank you to Brianne Davis for providing me with a copy of this book and for writing such an emotional and raw novel that was such an impactful read.
This book centres around an emotional journey from struggling to acceptance, and movement towards healing and self-love; this is so far from what I normally read but the exploration of addiction and recovery was so fascinating to read and highlights the lack of awareness there is surrounding it. What’s more is that it is so raw and real as it delves into the vulnerable side of a person who initially appears so confident and unfaltering within the Hollywood life that they have built themselves, which acts as a clear reminder to any reader that the struggles that others face are not always visible on the surface.
The novel opens on protagonist, Roxanne, in an overwhelmed and conflicted state where she is desperately struggling against her addiction and the implications it’s having on her emotions and wider life. Through the book, Roxanne progresses towards acceptance of her addiction through flashbacks to her past experiences which allows her to reflect and therefore, grow and develop as a person. Reading about a protagonist that’s so unsettled within themself and learning about the challenges they’re facing within their life is so difficult to consume because I almost feared for them as their mental state suffered from the addiction, but the progression throughout the book demonstrated the importance of acceptance and movement towards recovery.
A huge thank you to Brianne Davis for providing me with a copy of this book and for writing such an emotional and raw novel that was such an impactful read.
This book centres around an emotional journey from struggling to acceptance, and movement towards healing and self-love; this is so far from what I normally read but the exploration of addiction and recovery was so fascinating to read and highlights the lack of awareness there is surrounding it. What’s more is that it is so raw and real as it delves into the vulnerable side of a person who initially appears so confident and unfaltering within the Hollywood life that they have built themselves, which acts as a clear reminder to any reader that the struggles that others face are not always visible on the surface.
The novel opens on protagonist, Roxanne, in an overwhelmed and conflicted state where she is desperately struggling against her addiction and the implications it’s having on her emotions and wider life. Through the book, Roxanne progresses towards acceptance of her addiction through flashbacks to her past experiences which allows her to reflect and therefore, grow and develop as a person. Reading about a protagonist that’s so unsettled within themself and learning about the challenges they’re facing within their life is so difficult to consume because I almost feared for them as their mental state suffered from the addiction, but the progression throughout the book demonstrated the importance of acceptance and movement towards recovery.
October 15, 2021
Sexual addiction is often misunderstood, and remains largely a taboo subject. The shame that comes with it can damage you for life. And expose one of your deepest and darkest secret in the hopes that someone can benefit from it is truly brave and inspiring.
Brianne Davis tells the story of Roxanne, a sex and love addict. The author was so emotionally up front and graphic regarding Roxanne’s sexual encounters with men, that you could really feel Roxanne’s struggles with her addiction. She laid it all out there for us to see and feel. It felt so real that I often wondered what was fiction, and what was not.
The humor added to the story made this heavy topic be something entertaining and fun to read. The Hollywood background made it even better!
Loved the awareness Brianne shined on this. The book was extremely enjoyable and I learned a lot reading it!
"𝑀𝑦 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦'𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒."
Brianne Davis tells the story of Roxanne, a sex and love addict. The author was so emotionally up front and graphic regarding Roxanne’s sexual encounters with men, that you could really feel Roxanne’s struggles with her addiction. She laid it all out there for us to see and feel. It felt so real that I often wondered what was fiction, and what was not.
The humor added to the story made this heavy topic be something entertaining and fun to read. The Hollywood background made it even better!
Loved the awareness Brianne shined on this. The book was extremely enjoyable and I learned a lot reading it!
"𝑀𝑦 𝑔𝑜𝑎𝑙 𝑖𝑛 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑗𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑧𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦'𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑒."
November 2, 2021
Talk about brutally honest.
This part memoir, part novel dives into the absolute truth of being a love and sex addict.
This is like listening to your best friends spill their juiciest stories of their dating and love lives. The good, the bad, and the ugly parts of sex and love are laid bare in all of their glory.
There are definitely some cringeworthy moments that reminded me of my own cringeworthy moments in life.
Although the main character, Roxanne, isn’t always likable, I thought she was completely relatable.
Structured by steps of recovery, this isn’t just scandalous stories, its a raw healing journey.
Admitting that you have a problem is just the beginning. It takes time, effort, and honesty to accept responsibility over your actions and to move forward in life.
The lessons learned here could apply to many kinds of healing journeys with the ultimate goal of self love.
If your working on self growth this is a juicy stop along the way.
Thank you @thebriannedavis for the #gifted audiobook in return for a honest opinion!
This part memoir, part novel dives into the absolute truth of being a love and sex addict.
This is like listening to your best friends spill their juiciest stories of their dating and love lives. The good, the bad, and the ugly parts of sex and love are laid bare in all of their glory.
There are definitely some cringeworthy moments that reminded me of my own cringeworthy moments in life.
Although the main character, Roxanne, isn’t always likable, I thought she was completely relatable.
Structured by steps of recovery, this isn’t just scandalous stories, its a raw healing journey.
Admitting that you have a problem is just the beginning. It takes time, effort, and honesty to accept responsibility over your actions and to move forward in life.
The lessons learned here could apply to many kinds of healing journeys with the ultimate goal of self love.
If your working on self growth this is a juicy stop along the way.
Thank you @thebriannedavis for the #gifted audiobook in return for a honest opinion!
February 8, 2022
A brutally honest examination of a sex and love addict. It’s not all glitz and glam, and there are some definite painful moments. It’s amazing to see the hard work that was done in the name of recovery and learning to love yourself. There is something we can all learn from this book, and you might be surprised as to what you learn about yourself.
TW: mentions of CSA, emotional/verbal abuse, 18+
Thank you so much to Brianne who sent me an ebook copy herself! I’m personally proud to have watched your journey unfold and see you grow.
TW: mentions of CSA, emotional/verbal abuse, 18+
Thank you so much to Brianne who sent me an ebook copy herself! I’m personally proud to have watched your journey unfold and see you grow.
June 30, 2021
I don't usually read Non-fiction, but when Brianne reached out to me to ask if I'd give this one a go, I agreed. I was immediately drawn in my the synopsis, and I was not disappointed!
It was hugely interesting to read about the ups and (mostly) downs of sex and love addiction.
The author is a fantastic writer and goes into just the right amount of detail when describing each scenario.
I really recommend this one to those who like to read non fiction, and even to those who don't ; like me, they might enjoy it anyway!
It was hugely interesting to read about the ups and (mostly) downs of sex and love addiction.
The author is a fantastic writer and goes into just the right amount of detail when describing each scenario.
I really recommend this one to those who like to read non fiction, and even to those who don't ; like me, they might enjoy it anyway!
July 22, 2021
When I started reading, I was wondering if Brianne “Roxanne” Davis could make me understand her plight. She more than accomplished that goal. Davis is raw and truly authentic while telling her story. She’s giving advice and making it relatable to people who want to feel heard. Her experiences are on full display and her humor as she deals with them will suck the reader right in. Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex and Love Addict is a fast paced and wild ride.
July 8, 2021
This was intriguing, real and raw. You find yourself rooting Roxanne on and trying to figure out whom the other famous people could be. This is fast paced and not for the faint of heart. This book gets in your face, it makes you feel. This addiction is real. Everyone isn’t as perfect as they seem. Everyone is struggling with something. Thank you, Brianne for showing us your raw and beautiful heart.
“To Love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance” - Oscar Wilde
Thank you, Brianna Davis for sending me this beautiful journey.
“To Love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance” - Oscar Wilde
Thank you, Brianna Davis for sending me this beautiful journey.
January 26, 2021
What a book. I really wasn’t sure what I was going to read when I downloaded this book to my kindle. Yet when I started reading I was intrigued. From the name she chose down to the feelings she exposed, I was hooked. Roxanne was definitely a character. One who was obsessed with the flutter of emotions and feelings you get when you first enter a relationship. Just like the first time you have sex with someone, your emotions are running wild. It makes every sense that much more heightened. I could relate to some of the stories and stages in her life. The guys emotions caught me off guard though. Usually, it is men who cheat and we met several who were cheated on and acting as though their favorite toy was taken away. Some of the stories were humorous and some had me angry at the way she disposed of human emotions as though they were trash. All in all though this, I believe, was a story waiting to be told. If you want to read a story that will hold your attention as well as help you understand why some women love sex and attention like a boy loves a puppy, then this is a story that has to be told. Roxanne has a lot of stories to tell. Are you ready?
Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 1, 2021
Well written and engaging throughout the whole book. Such an amazingly fast ride through the life of a sex addict. I just couldn’t put this down. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 16, 2022
This isn’t one of my usual reads, so i was unsure of what to fully expect, but this was nothing short of amazing. I’m so grateful Brianne reached out to me, this was one of the most wonderful, raw and brutally honest books I’ve read.
I was completely hooked by the story and was immediately invested in ‘Roxanne’s’ journey, a character both so incredibly witty and confident but underneath someone who is constantly struggling with addiction and recovery. Although there are times Roxanne comes across as unlikeable she is always still painfully relatable and this book is definitely a big reminder that the real struggles people face are not always so visible on the surface.
the candour in this book was everything, and i think this story will definitely stick with me and i’ll think about this for a long time. Brianne opening up about something so personal is incredibly brave and I’m so glad she shared her inspiring story, and Im grateful I was given the opportunity to experience it through her wonderful words.
This book shows you that you can rise from anything, hitting rock bottom just means that you can only go up, with self love being the ultimate goal.
I was completely hooked by the story and was immediately invested in ‘Roxanne’s’ journey, a character both so incredibly witty and confident but underneath someone who is constantly struggling with addiction and recovery. Although there are times Roxanne comes across as unlikeable she is always still painfully relatable and this book is definitely a big reminder that the real struggles people face are not always so visible on the surface.
the candour in this book was everything, and i think this story will definitely stick with me and i’ll think about this for a long time. Brianne opening up about something so personal is incredibly brave and I’m so glad she shared her inspiring story, and Im grateful I was given the opportunity to experience it through her wonderful words.
This book shows you that you can rise from anything, hitting rock bottom just means that you can only go up, with self love being the ultimate goal.
July 28, 2021
4.5 rounded to a 5.
I’m going to be honest, this isn’t the type of book I normally would have picked up, but when the author approached me to review it and I read the synopsis, I was like what the hell. And I’m glad I did.
Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict is a bit of a memoir with a dash of fiction and a lot of Hollywood dirt (with names changed to protect the innocent). Like the author, MC Roxanne is an actress with an addiction to love and sex that had, over the course of many years, been destroying her. After an unfortunate confrontation in her driveway involving two men she was dating at the same time (whoopsies), Roxanne finally acknowledges she has a problem and joins SLAA (think Alcoholics Anonymous for sex and love addicts). Just like AA, participants attend meetings and follow steps on their path to recovery. These steps are incorporated in each chapter, which I thought was a nice touch.
My Review
Okay, so I was promised a gnarly ride, and I certainly feel like the author delivered on that promise. The book was well-written, and I was thoroughly engaged in both the wild situations Roxanne finds herself in as well as her actual recovery process. It’s clear the author pulled no punches in telling this very personal story, which I suspect is similar to the story of many others in her shoes. Roxanne took responsibility for all her choices, past and present, even if they didn’t paint her in the best light. At no point were you supposed to feel sorry for Roxanne. On the contrary, it was clear that the author wanted you to experience a wide range of emotions. There were several times when I wanted to strangle Roxanne, but also times when I wanted to pat her on the back as she came to terms with her faults and made positive changes in her life. There was also some humor sprinkled in to break up the heavy subject matter, making the book hard to put down at times.
All in all, this was an insightful read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys memoirs, a pinch of self-help, and some good old-fashioned entertainment.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
I’m going to be honest, this isn’t the type of book I normally would have picked up, but when the author approached me to review it and I read the synopsis, I was like what the hell. And I’m glad I did.
Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict is a bit of a memoir with a dash of fiction and a lot of Hollywood dirt (with names changed to protect the innocent). Like the author, MC Roxanne is an actress with an addiction to love and sex that had, over the course of many years, been destroying her. After an unfortunate confrontation in her driveway involving two men she was dating at the same time (whoopsies), Roxanne finally acknowledges she has a problem and joins SLAA (think Alcoholics Anonymous for sex and love addicts). Just like AA, participants attend meetings and follow steps on their path to recovery. These steps are incorporated in each chapter, which I thought was a nice touch.
My Review
Okay, so I was promised a gnarly ride, and I certainly feel like the author delivered on that promise. The book was well-written, and I was thoroughly engaged in both the wild situations Roxanne finds herself in as well as her actual recovery process. It’s clear the author pulled no punches in telling this very personal story, which I suspect is similar to the story of many others in her shoes. Roxanne took responsibility for all her choices, past and present, even if they didn’t paint her in the best light. At no point were you supposed to feel sorry for Roxanne. On the contrary, it was clear that the author wanted you to experience a wide range of emotions. There were several times when I wanted to strangle Roxanne, but also times when I wanted to pat her on the back as she came to terms with her faults and made positive changes in her life. There was also some humor sprinkled in to break up the heavy subject matter, making the book hard to put down at times.
All in all, this was an insightful read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys memoirs, a pinch of self-help, and some good old-fashioned entertainment.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
February 16, 2021
As an addict myself, I tend to read these stories of recovery with an open mind and heart. This book, however, did not need an open heart because it captivated me instantly and encouraged me to read on until the very last page. The author writes of Roxanne's story, which is one of strife and struggle but also one of triumph and victory. The reader unknowingly embarks on a titillating and exhilarating journey with Roxanne as she takes us through the many ups and downs associated with addiction and recovery. There is something about the way the author tells this story, however, that affords us confidence in the outcome. This creates a feeling of connection between the author and Roxanne. I found myself cheering them on with every turn of the page. I not only felt a connection, but I also felt a kinship with the Roxanne as I too know what it is like to begin such a journey.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is, regardless of whether you are an addict, in recovery, or just a person reading for entertainment, there is something in this book for everyone. I will say, however, if you are the shy type, beware, this book is also very sexy and definitely daring. The author's vulnerability in writing the most intimate secrets of a sex and love addiction is incredibly courageous. I applaud her and anyone who is willing to share the parts of themselves most people choose to keep hidden. The author, through Roxanne, instead chooses to expose herself and her vulnerability in the hopes of removing the negative stigma associated with addiction. By doing this, she will undoubtedly help others who may not yet have the confidence to take on their own addictions. Bravo to the author! We need more of you in this world.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is, regardless of whether you are an addict, in recovery, or just a person reading for entertainment, there is something in this book for everyone. I will say, however, if you are the shy type, beware, this book is also very sexy and definitely daring. The author's vulnerability in writing the most intimate secrets of a sex and love addiction is incredibly courageous. I applaud her and anyone who is willing to share the parts of themselves most people choose to keep hidden. The author, through Roxanne, instead chooses to expose herself and her vulnerability in the hopes of removing the negative stigma associated with addiction. By doing this, she will undoubtedly help others who may not yet have the confidence to take on their own addictions. Bravo to the author! We need more of you in this world.
October 12, 2021
3.5/5 🌟 (rounding up to 4 🌟)
This is definitely not what I usually read, but I was intrigued by the synopsis and had to dive in. I was positively surprised how raw and honest this story is. Also surprisingly relatable in some aspects like "compare and despair", social media struggles and self-love.
For obvious reasons actual names of ppl. aren't revealed. Author even assigned herself new name - Roxanne. However I'd prefer the "normal/regular names" names had been given to some of the characters insted of: NYC, CEO, Coolgirl, Superstar... I felt detached from all side characters. Although as the book progressed I got used to "nicknames" Insted of "regular names".
The book is written that every chapter covers one aspect of recovery program, so actual time-line is a bit scattered. It's full of: humor, vulnerability, truth, struggles, obviously the s*x. It's a path to self-love and healthier life. Many ppl. (including myself) struggle with self-love sometimes, which is relatable thing no matter the storyline.
I knew very little about sex and love addiction, and I'm glad I've read more about the subject, from this perspective.
Thanks to the author for sending free e-book in exchange for my honest toughts.
Quotes and parts I liked:
💬 I was comparing my home to her home. I was comparing our lives. I was comparing my worth to her filtered picture.
💬 Blame equals pain. Lies equal pain. Secrets equal pain.
💬 I’m my own f*cking soulmate. I’m the only one who’s going to be there my whole life. Not my parents,not a partner or children...If you really think about it, from birth to death, you’re always with you.So why wouldn’t you want to love yourself first?
💬 Every night, I ask myself right before I fall asleep—Have I given God my whole life? Have I done wrong today? Do I need to make amends anyone? Where could I have been better? Was I loving to myself and others? Did I let my character defects run my life? If so, which one? Then I write down three things I’m grateful for before I go to sleep. It’s the best way for me to live in a healthy reality.
This is definitely not what I usually read, but I was intrigued by the synopsis and had to dive in. I was positively surprised how raw and honest this story is. Also surprisingly relatable in some aspects like "compare and despair", social media struggles and self-love.
For obvious reasons actual names of ppl. aren't revealed. Author even assigned herself new name - Roxanne. However I'd prefer the "normal/regular names" names had been given to some of the characters insted of: NYC, CEO, Coolgirl, Superstar... I felt detached from all side characters. Although as the book progressed I got used to "nicknames" Insted of "regular names".
The book is written that every chapter covers one aspect of recovery program, so actual time-line is a bit scattered. It's full of: humor, vulnerability, truth, struggles, obviously the s*x. It's a path to self-love and healthier life. Many ppl. (including myself) struggle with self-love sometimes, which is relatable thing no matter the storyline.
I knew very little about sex and love addiction, and I'm glad I've read more about the subject, from this perspective.
Thanks to the author for sending free e-book in exchange for my honest toughts.
Quotes and parts I liked:
💬 I was comparing my home to her home. I was comparing our lives. I was comparing my worth to her filtered picture.
💬 Blame equals pain. Lies equal pain. Secrets equal pain.
💬 I’m my own f*cking soulmate. I’m the only one who’s going to be there my whole life. Not my parents,not a partner or children...If you really think about it, from birth to death, you’re always with you.So why wouldn’t you want to love yourself first?
💬 Every night, I ask myself right before I fall asleep—Have I given God my whole life? Have I done wrong today? Do I need to make amends anyone? Where could I have been better? Was I loving to myself and others? Did I let my character defects run my life? If so, which one? Then I write down three things I’m grateful for before I go to sleep. It’s the best way for me to live in a healthy reality.
August 9, 2021
Have you ever had a book take you by complete surprise? Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex and Love Addict did for me. Of course, it sounded sexy, steamy, titillating, and hot. Who isn't intrigued by the title? I know I was! This book is so much more, it brings to light all the darkness someone who is suffering from this addiction. I am still floored after gently flipping the last page. Brianne Davis writes a raw, emotional, deep, and profound book. She leaves her heart utterly open, and her soul bared to all. This is a hard subject to broach and she does it stunningly. Davis overcomes the stigma of having a sex and love addiction, she brings it to the forefront and does not apologize. `
It is a journey of self-discovery and the steps one must go through to lead a happy life. Where you can love yourself and finally be loved fully by someone. It is not an easy journey, buckle up because you are in for one hell of a ride. Roxanne the main character of the book, has not just hit rock bottom, oh no, no, no. She has crashed face first, and when you think she cannot go much lower, she does. Roxie is so full of self-hatred and loathing. She must be to do this to herself over and over again. She finally realizes she cannot keep doing this to herself and seeks help. You are taken through the process of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. You see Roxie's highs and lows. The struggles that she must overcome to curb this addiction, and the work that she will have to put into it for the rest of her life.
Davis does a fantastic job of making this book relatable to everyone and anyone. Of course, we have all Facebooked stalked someone...haven't we? There is laughter, sheer embarrassment, sadness, despair, this book covers all ranges of emotion. The entire time you will be cheering on Roxie, she may take a misstep here and there, but she is a powerhouse to be reckoned with. What are you waiting for? Stop debating if you should read this book, and dive in.
It is a journey of self-discovery and the steps one must go through to lead a happy life. Where you can love yourself and finally be loved fully by someone. It is not an easy journey, buckle up because you are in for one hell of a ride. Roxanne the main character of the book, has not just hit rock bottom, oh no, no, no. She has crashed face first, and when you think she cannot go much lower, she does. Roxie is so full of self-hatred and loathing. She must be to do this to herself over and over again. She finally realizes she cannot keep doing this to herself and seeks help. You are taken through the process of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous. You see Roxie's highs and lows. The struggles that she must overcome to curb this addiction, and the work that she will have to put into it for the rest of her life.
Davis does a fantastic job of making this book relatable to everyone and anyone. Of course, we have all Facebooked stalked someone...haven't we? There is laughter, sheer embarrassment, sadness, despair, this book covers all ranges of emotion. The entire time you will be cheering on Roxie, she may take a misstep here and there, but she is a powerhouse to be reckoned with. What are you waiting for? Stop debating if you should read this book, and dive in.
July 30, 2021
Oooolala I don't think I've ever blushed while reading a book before, I mean it's not like I'm a virgin or a prude but this books starts with such an explicit bang that while reading some sentences I did find myself looking over my shoulder to make sure nobody could see the words I was reading....I think my jaw was hanging open during parts of the first chapter and I may even have mumbled "Cor blimey guvner" to myself.
When @thebriannedavis approached to read her book I was over the moon, straight away I knew it was not at all my usual genre... In fact I tend to sidestep any book that does sexy because it's not my usual bag... But when I read the blurb on this story it was like someone offering me the secret diary of a Hollywood actress and I was like "Hell yeah, I'm so up for that".
As with any stories of addiction this book was graphic, raw and real. I'm no stranger to overcoming an addition myself and I've experienced the reality of having to hit rock bottom and recognising that you have a life shattering problem and your life has got so messed up that you're out of control... Roxanne the protagonist is in this situation and it's a unique, tough and sometimes uncomfortable ride we join her on as she goes on her journey to save herself ... From recognising she needs help, to joining SLAA (The sex and love addicts version of AA 12 steps) to coming out the other side and to start believing in herself again.
Kudos to Brianne Davis who is such a brave lady and I admire her for her brutal honesty and truths. She says in her authors note that she has revealed her ugliness in the hope of helping others who are struggling with the same disease.
In her acknowledgements Brianne Davis reveals that, like me, she is dyslexic, shes inspired me to think that maybe I could one day follow in her footsteps and write a book myself.
When @thebriannedavis approached to read her book I was over the moon, straight away I knew it was not at all my usual genre... In fact I tend to sidestep any book that does sexy because it's not my usual bag... But when I read the blurb on this story it was like someone offering me the secret diary of a Hollywood actress and I was like "Hell yeah, I'm so up for that".
As with any stories of addiction this book was graphic, raw and real. I'm no stranger to overcoming an addition myself and I've experienced the reality of having to hit rock bottom and recognising that you have a life shattering problem and your life has got so messed up that you're out of control... Roxanne the protagonist is in this situation and it's a unique, tough and sometimes uncomfortable ride we join her on as she goes on her journey to save herself ... From recognising she needs help, to joining SLAA (The sex and love addicts version of AA 12 steps) to coming out the other side and to start believing in herself again.
Kudos to Brianne Davis who is such a brave lady and I admire her for her brutal honesty and truths. She says in her authors note that she has revealed her ugliness in the hope of helping others who are struggling with the same disease.
In her acknowledgements Brianne Davis reveals that, like me, she is dyslexic, shes inspired me to think that maybe I could one day follow in her footsteps and write a book myself.
August 27, 2021
I went into this audiobook blind -- I only knew what to expect from the title. And this book isn't my usual fare. I rarely read books that are so open about sex, as I don't enjoy romance. And I didn't know the author from her acting work, before starting, so I had no preconceived ideas about who she might be.
Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict is the autobiographical story of Roxanne, a Hollywood actress. Roxanne isn't hitting it big, living life on the red carpet, wearing glamorous gowns... When we meet her she is sitting on a hard chair in the basement of a church while attending a recovery meeting. Roxanne is an addict. Unfortunately, she doesn't quite believe it, and is only there because her therapist suggested she should go. But she listens to the stories of those in attendance and soon realizes that their stories are familiar.
This is the story of a desperate life. Roxanne uses sex and the promise of love as her drug of choice. She wants men to adore her. She expels all of her energy in the chase for sex and love. Warning: some of these scenes are quite graphic. But what I really enjoyed was that the author does a fantastic job of showing the addiction, and the work it takes to recover.
This book reads like a novel. It is funny, sarcastic, and real. The story flows easily, and keeps the reader engaged. Most celebrity memoirs are chatty, voyeuristic and openly drop names ... this book doesn't do much of the latter. It is a unique cross between novel and memoir. I loved the transparency, and I could see the author's efforts to grow, change and recover.
The book is hopeful. It shows well the work that it takes to acknowledge and change our personal addictions.
Secret Life of a Hollywood Sex & Love Addict is the autobiographical story of Roxanne, a Hollywood actress. Roxanne isn't hitting it big, living life on the red carpet, wearing glamorous gowns... When we meet her she is sitting on a hard chair in the basement of a church while attending a recovery meeting. Roxanne is an addict. Unfortunately, she doesn't quite believe it, and is only there because her therapist suggested she should go. But she listens to the stories of those in attendance and soon realizes that their stories are familiar.
This is the story of a desperate life. Roxanne uses sex and the promise of love as her drug of choice. She wants men to adore her. She expels all of her energy in the chase for sex and love. Warning: some of these scenes are quite graphic. But what I really enjoyed was that the author does a fantastic job of showing the addiction, and the work it takes to recover.
This book reads like a novel. It is funny, sarcastic, and real. The story flows easily, and keeps the reader engaged. Most celebrity memoirs are chatty, voyeuristic and openly drop names ... this book doesn't do much of the latter. It is a unique cross between novel and memoir. I loved the transparency, and I could see the author's efforts to grow, change and recover.
The book is hopeful. It shows well the work that it takes to acknowledge and change our personal addictions.
February 9, 2021
We’ve heard people say that they are addicted to men or addicted to sex, but do they truly realize the definition of what they’re proclaiming? Just like any other addiction, being addicted to sex and the need to feel loved is a more common condition than one may think. And it’s a real diagnosis that can lead to negative effects if one lets it get that far. Brianne Davis, a Hollywood actress, who has firsthand experience with this condition has penned an impossible to put down story loosely based on her experiences.
In this book, fictional character, Roxanne takes us on a journey of her many highs and lows dealing with her addiction to sex and love. At times hilarious, and others quite sad, we get a glimpse of how it would be to suffer from such a disorder. Although some may think it’s a “sexy” disease, one that could only bring pleasure and self-gratification, we get to see another side that many don’t know about. The side that’s desperately searching for love, and many times not in the proper ways or with the right people. We witness as Roxanne hits rock-bottom and works to heal herself and hopefully come out on the other side.
Full of information that I was unaware of, I found this book not only extremely enjoyable and hard to put down, but giving me knowledge of a disease that Hollywood has glorified through movies and TV shows for as long as I can remember. It’s an honest and raw look at the life of a person who is desperately seeking love and acceptance in the form of sex and physical connection.
In this book, fictional character, Roxanne takes us on a journey of her many highs and lows dealing with her addiction to sex and love. At times hilarious, and others quite sad, we get a glimpse of how it would be to suffer from such a disorder. Although some may think it’s a “sexy” disease, one that could only bring pleasure and self-gratification, we get to see another side that many don’t know about. The side that’s desperately searching for love, and many times not in the proper ways or with the right people. We witness as Roxanne hits rock-bottom and works to heal herself and hopefully come out on the other side.
Full of information that I was unaware of, I found this book not only extremely enjoyable and hard to put down, but giving me knowledge of a disease that Hollywood has glorified through movies and TV shows for as long as I can remember. It’s an honest and raw look at the life of a person who is desperately seeking love and acceptance in the form of sex and physical connection.
July 22, 2021
I was immediately intrigued by the title and premise of this book, but this is definitely not my typical go-to book genre. But when the wonderful Brianne Davis reached out and asked if I would be interested in reading and reviewing a copy of her book, I said sure, not yet knowing how deeply I would connect and learn from this book. And if you are saying, yeah but I'm not a sex and love addict, well honestly it doesn't matter because to me the biggest thing I learned from this book is that I need to love myself more and I think everyone will find a connection to this book. Thankfully Brianne has done a lot of the work through therapy, SLAA, and this book, so I now have a toolbox of honest, sassy wisdom and supports to learn the foundation of recognizing when and how I need to practice self love and care. This book was so raw and emotional; part memoir, part fiction, and part self-help. Some of the experiences of the character we follow Roxanne, a Hollywood actress trying to recognize and recover from her sex and love addiction, parallel those of Brianne's experiences and some differ but their journey to recovery is both courageous, honest, and inspiring. A definite MUST READ!
Here is one of the most impactful to me quotes from the book (which was hard to narrow down btw) about social media: " I was comparing my home to her home. I was comparing our lives. I was comparing my worth to her filtered picture."
Snatch this book up ASAP and then go check out her podcast "Secret Life Podcast"! I started listening as soon as I finished!
Here is one of the most impactful to me quotes from the book (which was hard to narrow down btw) about social media: " I was comparing my home to her home. I was comparing our lives. I was comparing my worth to her filtered picture."
Snatch this book up ASAP and then go check out her podcast "Secret Life Podcast"! I started listening as soon as I finished!
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