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Off with My Head: The Definitive Basic B*tch Handbook to Surviving Rock Bottom
Named one of Us Weekly ’s Best Celebrity Memoirs of 2022
The New York Times bestselling author of the “refreshing” ( The Cut ) Next Level Basic and fan-favorite alumna of Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules returns with the definitive Basic Bitch handbook for surviving your rock-bottom moments.
The year 2020 was going to be the best year of Stassi’s life. Besides getting engaged and feeling like she was on top of the world career-wise, she bought her first house and was planning her dream Italian wedding. The future showed so much freaking promise—until it all went to hell. Stassi may not be perfect—she may have made some (major) mistakes—but she does feel like she has some insight (and plenty of hilarious tales) about getting knocked up, called out, and learning from what went wrong.
Through stories, confessions, illustrations, and plenty of self-reflection and self-deprecation, this new book goes behind the scenes and addresses the experience of getting cancelled, getting that positive pregnancy test, and saying “I do” in the backyard instead of Italy. Stassi won’t hold back about her transformation from proud basic bitch to... proud basic bitch who has a deeper appreciation for what’s really important in love, relationships, mutual respect, and, okay fine, an Aperol spritz and some showtunes when you need them most.
Stassi hopes her story will help others see the light at the end of the tunnel in their own lives and make them laugh along the way. She writes about the importance of having a good cry (at work, in the shower, in your closet), ways to navigate social media responsibly (sometimes that means logging the eff off when crowds are chanting, “OFF WITH HER HEAD”), how to practice self-care when wine is not an option, and how not to become a Bridezilla—plus she’ll offer tips on marrying your f*ckboy, embracing pregnancy sweats (both cashmere sweats and night sweats), and styling baby OOTDs.
So roll up your bedazzled sleeves…or the sleeves of the tattered robe you’ve been wearing nonstop because you’re at rock bottom; grab a cocktail; and let your favorite (more evolved) basic bitch take you on a wild ride inside the bumpiest year of her life.
The New York Times bestselling author of the “refreshing” ( The Cut ) Next Level Basic and fan-favorite alumna of Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules returns with the definitive Basic Bitch handbook for surviving your rock-bottom moments.
The year 2020 was going to be the best year of Stassi’s life. Besides getting engaged and feeling like she was on top of the world career-wise, she bought her first house and was planning her dream Italian wedding. The future showed so much freaking promise—until it all went to hell. Stassi may not be perfect—she may have made some (major) mistakes—but she does feel like she has some insight (and plenty of hilarious tales) about getting knocked up, called out, and learning from what went wrong.
Through stories, confessions, illustrations, and plenty of self-reflection and self-deprecation, this new book goes behind the scenes and addresses the experience of getting cancelled, getting that positive pregnancy test, and saying “I do” in the backyard instead of Italy. Stassi won’t hold back about her transformation from proud basic bitch to... proud basic bitch who has a deeper appreciation for what’s really important in love, relationships, mutual respect, and, okay fine, an Aperol spritz and some showtunes when you need them most.
Stassi hopes her story will help others see the light at the end of the tunnel in their own lives and make them laugh along the way. She writes about the importance of having a good cry (at work, in the shower, in your closet), ways to navigate social media responsibly (sometimes that means logging the eff off when crowds are chanting, “OFF WITH HER HEAD”), how to practice self-care when wine is not an option, and how not to become a Bridezilla—plus she’ll offer tips on marrying your f*ckboy, embracing pregnancy sweats (both cashmere sweats and night sweats), and styling baby OOTDs.
So roll up your bedazzled sleeves…or the sleeves of the tattered robe you’ve been wearing nonstop because you’re at rock bottom; grab a cocktail; and let your favorite (more evolved) basic bitch take you on a wild ride inside the bumpiest year of her life.
288 pages, Paperback
First published April 26, 2022
641 people are currently reading
5043 people want to read
About the author
Stassi Schroeder
4 books408 followersStassi Schroeder is one of the stars of the hit Bravo TV series Vanderpump Rules. Originally from New Orleans, she now lives in Los Angeles, where she films and hosts her popular podcast Straight Up with Stassi.
(source: Amazon)
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 614 reviews
May 1, 2022
I appreciated getting to hear more insight into the events of 2020 and beyond from Stassi but felt overall this read like most of my own drafts of writing for class where I was trying to hit a page/word count and would realize I had talked about the same thing in only slightly different sentence arrangements to make that possible. I want more variety, I want more references! But still, the details about her starting to date Beau, you know those made it worth it to me personally.
May 4, 2022
How to survive rock bottom? Be rich, famous, and patient enough so that you don’t have to own up to or actually learn anything from your mistakes.
Another dumpster fire like her last book, read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Another dumpster fire like her last book, read my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August 26, 2024
I’m always looking for some easy listening for my walks, so last week when I saw the rumor mill was generating talk about Stassi Schroeder returning to reality TV via a stint on Lisa Vanderpump’s new(ish) Hulu show about her Villa and then perhaps getting a spinoff of her own my first thought was . . . .
Followed by “didn’t Stassi write a book????” Turns out she wrote two. I picked up this second one rather than the first to see exactly how Stassi had made a comeback after being “canceled.” Well, it turns out that this book appears to be her first attempt to regain what was lost and most likely was optioned since it was Covid and everyone and their dog was releasing books while we were all bored in the house and in the house bored.
The book I was actually looking for probably should have been written a couple of years from now if Stassi actually returns to the reality circuit A-list. Love her or hate her, I appreciate her embracing of her own main character energy and the fact that she was so willing to lean into being the villain. Maybe her Basic Bitch expounds on that stuff, but I’m just assuming that one was an attempt to prove “her brand” and that she has “so much more” than Stassi Schroeder to offer. After being canceled, I think she’s pretty aware that’s not the case and that “Stassi” actually IS the entire brand. Again, good for her! And also, how much money do you make from trademarking OOTD? Is it a lot? I don’t want to be a parasocial fan, but how did you (and your soon-to-be husband) have zero jobs and afford a mortgage????
This gets meh marks because it was pretty much just a Covid book. Talking about being isolated and missing out on her dream Italian wedding and being pregnant while in lockdown. Snore! Honestly, I only willingly to listen to my very best of friends talk about any of those topics and that’s just because I’m close enough to those people to tell them to shut the fuck up when I’ve had enough. She’s also mid-30s now and still using terms like “obvs” and “totes” and “cringe” . . . .
And god help you if you make every mention of “A F” a drinking game because you will die. She also was REALLY trying her best to make herself out to be the modern day Marie Antoinette (thank heavens she eventually stopped with that nonsense).
All in all this got me to lug my big ol’ dumper around for a few miles during my lunch break the past several days, but I was definitely ready for it to be over and move on to something else.
Followed by “didn’t Stassi write a book????” Turns out she wrote two. I picked up this second one rather than the first to see exactly how Stassi had made a comeback after being “canceled.” Well, it turns out that this book appears to be her first attempt to regain what was lost and most likely was optioned since it was Covid and everyone and their dog was releasing books while we were all bored in the house and in the house bored.
The book I was actually looking for probably should have been written a couple of years from now if Stassi actually returns to the reality circuit A-list. Love her or hate her, I appreciate her embracing of her own main character energy and the fact that she was so willing to lean into being the villain. Maybe her Basic Bitch expounds on that stuff, but I’m just assuming that one was an attempt to prove “her brand” and that she has “so much more” than Stassi Schroeder to offer. After being canceled, I think she’s pretty aware that’s not the case and that “Stassi” actually IS the entire brand. Again, good for her! And also, how much money do you make from trademarking OOTD? Is it a lot? I don’t want to be a parasocial fan, but how did you (and your soon-to-be husband) have zero jobs and afford a mortgage????
This gets meh marks because it was pretty much just a Covid book. Talking about being isolated and missing out on her dream Italian wedding and being pregnant while in lockdown. Snore! Honestly, I only willingly to listen to my very best of friends talk about any of those topics and that’s just because I’m close enough to those people to tell them to shut the fuck up when I’ve had enough. She’s also mid-30s now and still using terms like “obvs” and “totes” and “cringe” . . . .
And god help you if you make every mention of “A F” a drinking game because you will die. She also was REALLY trying her best to make herself out to be the modern day Marie Antoinette (thank heavens she eventually stopped with that nonsense).
All in all this got me to lug my big ol’ dumper around for a few miles during my lunch break the past several days, but I was definitely ready for it to be over and move on to something else.
May 5, 2022
I enjoyed her first book and had no real expectations for this one since I phased out of VP rules when they brought new people on and didn't keep up with anyone on social media.
I had heard Stassi was "cancelled" and honestly feel like cancel culture sucks. It does the opposite of what the woke folks think it will do...but I digress.
I loved hearing her side of the story. I really enjoyed hearing the growth in her voice, whether from being cancelled, getting married, becoming a mom, or just growing up - I have to say I really like this Stassi.
She is so in tune with herself. She is high maintenance, yet lived in sweats and had no shame. She loves a bougie Nieman's lunch, but can appreciate a solid taco bell dinner.
I just really enjoyed this and if you go in knowing its Stassi's story about growing up, I think you'd enjoy it too!
I had heard Stassi was "cancelled" and honestly feel like cancel culture sucks. It does the opposite of what the woke folks think it will do...but I digress.
I loved hearing her side of the story. I really enjoyed hearing the growth in her voice, whether from being cancelled, getting married, becoming a mom, or just growing up - I have to say I really like this Stassi.
She is so in tune with herself. She is high maintenance, yet lived in sweats and had no shame. She loves a bougie Nieman's lunch, but can appreciate a solid taco bell dinner.
I just really enjoyed this and if you go in knowing its Stassi's story about growing up, I think you'd enjoy it too!
June 8, 2022
Ugh. She is the absolute worst. How to survive getting ‘cancelled’? Be white, wealthy, and connected and just wait for people to forget. 🙄
April 26, 2022
Stassi Schroeder’s follow up to her NYT best seller Next Level Basic covers her complete cancellation - from her reality series on Bravo, her podcast, book tour and animated series - all in one fell swoop.
Schroeder starts with an explanation and an apology, along with how she moved forward from her multiple racist remarks and complete ignorance regarding BLM and the #metoo movement (part of which was done by hiring a diversity coach.)
The rest of the book focuses on holding herself accountable and the ways her life changed by that cancellation - at the start of the pandemic and the beginning of her pregnancy. She covers meeting Beau, her husband, and of her difficult relationship with her mother.
Though OWMH is definitely not going to get Stassi another reality gig, it'll probably bring more haters out of the woodwork. But after reading this, I think shes's definitely mentally and physically prepared for that. And I also think she's finally grown up a bit.
Schroeder starts with an explanation and an apology, along with how she moved forward from her multiple racist remarks and complete ignorance regarding BLM and the #metoo movement (part of which was done by hiring a diversity coach.)
The rest of the book focuses on holding herself accountable and the ways her life changed by that cancellation - at the start of the pandemic and the beginning of her pregnancy. She covers meeting Beau, her husband, and of her difficult relationship with her mother.
Though OWMH is definitely not going to get Stassi another reality gig, it'll probably bring more haters out of the woodwork. But after reading this, I think shes's definitely mentally and physically prepared for that. And I also think she's finally grown up a bit.
October 23, 2023
After an irritating experience with Next Level Basic: The Definitive Basic Bitch Handbook, I'm happy to say Bossy Stassi has redeemed herself a bit. OWMH could have included more details people actually care about, but had enough to keep me entertained for a few hours and made me like her more as a person.
June 21, 2022
Wow this book was bad! I’m a sucker for reality tv star’s books because I’m always hoping for some gossip about the show or the inside scoop. This was just Stassi rambling. The number of excuses she gave measured against the number of times she claimed she was learning was wild. The premise of the book - how to survive rock bottom - was sooooo loose, I don’t know why she didn’t just write a tell all of her side of the story instead of trying to mask it under this premise. I regret making my library system spend a single cent on this trash
May 2, 2022
4.5 stars.
I was both excited and nervous going into this book, because I do love Stassi, and I knew depending on the direction she went with this book, it could give me a different view of her. After the incident that came to light that resulted in her being fired from Vanderpump Rules and losing pretty much every other professional piece of her life (podcast, agents, upcoming projects), and becoming the newest victim of "cancel culture," there was potential for her to strike the wrong tone.
I should have known better, though, because I have continued following her since that very public cancellation. I have had many conversations with friends about not at all supporting what she did, but her punishment for a past mistake being taken too far. The problem with cancel culture is it allows little chance for redemption, or the ability to learn from our mistakes - and if we're not going to allow people the chance to show they can learn and be better, then what's the point? I feel that I, as an individual, have the right to decide if I will or will not support a public figure (or just a person in my life) based on their behavior and mistakes. And if I deem their behavior bad enough to stop supporting them, then I will do that - I don't feel like it's necessary to take everything away from them, giving themselves no real way to support themselves anymore. Honestly, if what they did was egregious enough as a public figure - lack of support from past fans will be enough to tank their career over time anyway. But I digress...
Stassi had a lot to prove with this book, and I think she successfully proved it. The book centers around her cancellation - which coincided with the beginning of the pandemic lockdown, and finding out she was pregnant - and how she dealt with and tried to move on with it. She acknowledges her background of privilege and inability to understand the implications of her actions, and how little she knew until this happened and she had to learn and work to be better. I think one of the things I appreciated most about this book was how vulnerable she was in discussing her mistakes and faults. Even as she recognizes she had (and has) a lot to learn, she also acknowledges that she's not, and never will be, perfect. None of us are.
Obviously, as a new mother myself, I could really relate to her discussions of pregnancy and motherhood. There are a few points when she talks about her experience that brought me RIGHT back to my own pregnancy, and were things I never could have understood before experiencing it myself. The idea of going through one of your life's lowest moments at the same time as one of your happiest experiences is a lot to try and imagine. The triple whammy of your career imploding, a worldwide pandemic shutting down the world, and being pregnant is overwhelming just to imagine, and it was hard to try and put myself in her position.
That said, Stassi never tries to present herself as a victim - she admits her wrongdoing (and other past indiscretions) and seems truly remorseful. At the same time, she addresses the extreme nature of cancel culture, and how hard it was to try to even think about bouncing back from a situation in which there were many that felt she could NEVER come back from or would want her to even try. Her resilience and ability to find positive things to hold onto as she tried to rebuild her confidence and her life is admirable.
Moral of this rambling review: A candid book full of nuance but also not without her signature brand of humor. Strikes just the right balance, and contains significantly more substance than her debut.
I was both excited and nervous going into this book, because I do love Stassi, and I knew depending on the direction she went with this book, it could give me a different view of her. After the incident that came to light that resulted in her being fired from Vanderpump Rules and losing pretty much every other professional piece of her life (podcast, agents, upcoming projects), and becoming the newest victim of "cancel culture," there was potential for her to strike the wrong tone.
I should have known better, though, because I have continued following her since that very public cancellation. I have had many conversations with friends about not at all supporting what she did, but her punishment for a past mistake being taken too far. The problem with cancel culture is it allows little chance for redemption, or the ability to learn from our mistakes - and if we're not going to allow people the chance to show they can learn and be better, then what's the point? I feel that I, as an individual, have the right to decide if I will or will not support a public figure (or just a person in my life) based on their behavior and mistakes. And if I deem their behavior bad enough to stop supporting them, then I will do that - I don't feel like it's necessary to take everything away from them, giving themselves no real way to support themselves anymore. Honestly, if what they did was egregious enough as a public figure - lack of support from past fans will be enough to tank their career over time anyway. But I digress...
Stassi had a lot to prove with this book, and I think she successfully proved it. The book centers around her cancellation - which coincided with the beginning of the pandemic lockdown, and finding out she was pregnant - and how she dealt with and tried to move on with it. She acknowledges her background of privilege and inability to understand the implications of her actions, and how little she knew until this happened and she had to learn and work to be better. I think one of the things I appreciated most about this book was how vulnerable she was in discussing her mistakes and faults. Even as she recognizes she had (and has) a lot to learn, she also acknowledges that she's not, and never will be, perfect. None of us are.
Obviously, as a new mother myself, I could really relate to her discussions of pregnancy and motherhood. There are a few points when she talks about her experience that brought me RIGHT back to my own pregnancy, and were things I never could have understood before experiencing it myself. The idea of going through one of your life's lowest moments at the same time as one of your happiest experiences is a lot to try and imagine. The triple whammy of your career imploding, a worldwide pandemic shutting down the world, and being pregnant is overwhelming just to imagine, and it was hard to try and put myself in her position.
That said, Stassi never tries to present herself as a victim - she admits her wrongdoing (and other past indiscretions) and seems truly remorseful. At the same time, she addresses the extreme nature of cancel culture, and how hard it was to try to even think about bouncing back from a situation in which there were many that felt she could NEVER come back from or would want her to even try. Her resilience and ability to find positive things to hold onto as she tried to rebuild her confidence and her life is admirable.
Moral of this rambling review: A candid book full of nuance but also not without her signature brand of humor. Strikes just the right balance, and contains significantly more substance than her debut.
January 21, 2023
90% of this book is silly AF
It’s extended multi cosmo articles
Does cosmopolitan still make a magazine?
But where it’s interesting is in its Soviet style indoctrination.
You see Stasi got cancelled for going mean girl on someone who had slept with a friend’s beau.
Big mistake was the subject of her annoyance was black.
Major cancellation
So Stasi began her r education camp time
“Faith felt it was about race because there is an actual serious problem between the Black community and the police in America. I understand that now, but I didn’t then. I had a lot to learn.”
Ah the brainwashing
“An apology that not only had to get approved by Bravo (ironic considering they fired me two days later)”
The Soviet level apology that’s never enough
“She wasn’t just my publicist, she was my manager and my friend. We both sat there crying on the phone, and I assured her it was all going to be okay. We could still be friends after all, right? She sobbed through the conversation and said of course. I never heard from her again.”
Friends are not friends bc knowing you would get them in trouble
“For those couple of weeks, we focused on Black history. She assigned me documentaries to watch (like Henry Louis Gates Jr.’ s The African Americans: The Many Rivers to Cross), podcasts to listen to, and books and articles to read (like So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo and “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh)”
Like the character in clockwork orange with his eyes grafted open forced to receive the indoctrination material
“ I couldn’t even believe I had questioned Black Lives Matter.”
The brainwashing is complete
“At one point, I was even worried that people might look at the fact that I was pinning cake recipes on Pinterest and take that to mean that I was an evil baker who wasn’t taking my canceling seriously”
The offender is now ready to apologize for ANYTHING
Oh on a lighter note Stasi uses AF, as fuck on every other page.
Other than the revealing take on what brainwashing and social ostracism looks like in the Soviet Union 2.0, this book would make me not want to read books if this was what books were.
It’s extended multi cosmo articles
Does cosmopolitan still make a magazine?
But where it’s interesting is in its Soviet style indoctrination.
You see Stasi got cancelled for going mean girl on someone who had slept with a friend’s beau.
Big mistake was the subject of her annoyance was black.
Major cancellation
So Stasi began her r education camp time
“Faith felt it was about race because there is an actual serious problem between the Black community and the police in America. I understand that now, but I didn’t then. I had a lot to learn.”
Ah the brainwashing
“An apology that not only had to get approved by Bravo (ironic considering they fired me two days later)”
The Soviet level apology that’s never enough
“She wasn’t just my publicist, she was my manager and my friend. We both sat there crying on the phone, and I assured her it was all going to be okay. We could still be friends after all, right? She sobbed through the conversation and said of course. I never heard from her again.”
Friends are not friends bc knowing you would get them in trouble
“For those couple of weeks, we focused on Black history. She assigned me documentaries to watch (like Henry Louis Gates Jr.’ s The African Americans: The Many Rivers to Cross), podcasts to listen to, and books and articles to read (like So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo and “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh)”
Like the character in clockwork orange with his eyes grafted open forced to receive the indoctrination material
“ I couldn’t even believe I had questioned Black Lives Matter.”
The brainwashing is complete
“At one point, I was even worried that people might look at the fact that I was pinning cake recipes on Pinterest and take that to mean that I was an evil baker who wasn’t taking my canceling seriously”
The offender is now ready to apologize for ANYTHING
Oh on a lighter note Stasi uses AF, as fuck on every other page.
Other than the revealing take on what brainwashing and social ostracism looks like in the Soviet Union 2.0, this book would make me not want to read books if this was what books were.
April 3, 2023
Next Level Bad.
I should have read my review on her first book and realized that Stassi is just not much of a writer.
I am actually shocked that people would actually go see her on a book tour!
This book was just one long apology that wasn’t needed.
Cancel Culture is just an 🙄 to me. Why do people care so much about what other people say? Why did Stassi feel like she had to write a whole book apologizing for doing something pretty stupid. She said she was wrong for what she did to Faith…. And she was indeed wrong…. But honestly, no need for her whole world to crumble around her.
I have no idea why her comment about Faith was played out by Faith as a race thing. It had nothing to do with race and everything to do with Stassi trying to stir up shit because she was pissed that Faith had screwed her good friend Brittney’s boyfriend Jax. Faith could have just as easily been white or purple. The whole event was Next Level Ridiculous. I find it hard to believe that Brittney would even marry Jax knowing he was a serial cheater, having cheated on Stassi and every other girlfriend he had. Faith was just another thirsty girl hoping to build up a storyline for the show.
Stassi then felt the need to go on her quarantined Apology Tour apologizing for everything from being white to having a small bit of fans from being on a low level cable show.
I honestly didn’t even know she had written this second book. It popped up in my suggestions from my public library and I downloaded it. I read enough to know Stassi should rename the Book Next Level Ass Kisser.
I should have read my review on her first book and realized that Stassi is just not much of a writer.
I am actually shocked that people would actually go see her on a book tour!
This book was just one long apology that wasn’t needed.
Cancel Culture is just an 🙄 to me. Why do people care so much about what other people say? Why did Stassi feel like she had to write a whole book apologizing for doing something pretty stupid. She said she was wrong for what she did to Faith…. And she was indeed wrong…. But honestly, no need for her whole world to crumble around her.
I have no idea why her comment about Faith was played out by Faith as a race thing. It had nothing to do with race and everything to do with Stassi trying to stir up shit because she was pissed that Faith had screwed her good friend Brittney’s boyfriend Jax. Faith could have just as easily been white or purple. The whole event was Next Level Ridiculous. I find it hard to believe that Brittney would even marry Jax knowing he was a serial cheater, having cheated on Stassi and every other girlfriend he had. Faith was just another thirsty girl hoping to build up a storyline for the show.
Stassi then felt the need to go on her quarantined Apology Tour apologizing for everything from being white to having a small bit of fans from being on a low level cable show.
I honestly didn’t even know she had written this second book. It popped up in my suggestions from my public library and I downloaded it. I read enough to know Stassi should rename the Book Next Level Ass Kisser.
May 3, 2022
About what I expected. First book was better.
May 12, 2022
If you thought I would give my big sis Stassi anything less than 5 stars you thought WRONG.
May 22, 2022
3.75⭐️ this book is what it is. is it the greatest thing i’ve ever read? obviously not. but stassi was one of my fav VDP Rules cast members and it was interesting hearing about her cancelling.
August 18, 2023
I mean obviously this wasn’t Pulitzer caliber but what can I say I love stassi and will do anything to learn more insight into vanderpump rules lolz
December 9, 2024
i just imagined she was reading this to me while we shared a bottle of pinot grigio in the back alleyway of sur
September 30, 2024
I’m a fan and it was interesting. However, if I heard her say “supes” instead of “super” one more time, I probably would have screamed.
May 12, 2022
I had to give it 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was so much better than her first book, and I enjoyed that one too.
Whether you love Stassi or you hate her, you can't deny her growth. I hate when I see comments about how the VPR cast shouldn't be parents, yada, yada. They were like 23 when they started the show. You can see their growth. Yes, they still do and say stupid shit but television exacerbates that. You can literally feel the love Stassi has for her daughter and you can hear how much work she has put in to make herself a better person and parent.
I remember when I first heard Stassi tell the story about what they did to Faith. It was on a podcast. It was a couple years before George Floyd was murdered by police. I remember thinking, this could be considered racist. Did I think that was Stassi and Kristen's intent? Nope. They were literally being paid by Bravo to be extra and mean girls. And their was more going on behind the scenes to fuel that mean girl spirit. I don't like mean girls and I don't agree with what they did but I also don't like people who take part in affairs (and I loathe Jax entirely).
My point is, I really do think she is doing the work. Obviously, I can't be a de facto judge on that but this book is pretty telling.
Its a great read and or listen. She is still Stassi, basic b AF :), but she is shows her growth and is very authentic to who she is.
I think Hartford will be happy when she reads it one day.
Whether you love Stassi or you hate her, you can't deny her growth. I hate when I see comments about how the VPR cast shouldn't be parents, yada, yada. They were like 23 when they started the show. You can see their growth. Yes, they still do and say stupid shit but television exacerbates that. You can literally feel the love Stassi has for her daughter and you can hear how much work she has put in to make herself a better person and parent.
I remember when I first heard Stassi tell the story about what they did to Faith. It was on a podcast. It was a couple years before George Floyd was murdered by police. I remember thinking, this could be considered racist. Did I think that was Stassi and Kristen's intent? Nope. They were literally being paid by Bravo to be extra and mean girls. And their was more going on behind the scenes to fuel that mean girl spirit. I don't like mean girls and I don't agree with what they did but I also don't like people who take part in affairs (and I loathe Jax entirely).
My point is, I really do think she is doing the work. Obviously, I can't be a de facto judge on that but this book is pretty telling.
Its a great read and or listen. She is still Stassi, basic b AF :), but she is shows her growth and is very authentic to who she is.
I think Hartford will be happy when she reads it one day.
April 16, 2023
I appreciated Stassi on Vanderpump Rules and was saddened to see her go. After reading this book in it's entirety, I respect Bravo's decision.
She has such a surface level understanding of just how irresponsible and racially insensitive she's been. I was skeptical of this book in the first place as I don't feel it's the best move to release a book profitting off of finally being called out for being wreckless, but I didn't think it would get this bad.
Her entire understanding of what happened to get her fired is based on "It was a dumb joke and people overreacted to me- I'm the real victim here!" She even has a whole section on using crying as a way to manipulate others and zero mention on how her white woman tears have gotten her this far without having been held accountable for her actions prior- even while recognizing that she's used her tears to manipulate situations. She dives into other people's reaction and how hurt she was to being cancelled instead of owning up to the harmful actions she's done to lead to people being angry with her.
Should have left this book in the vault.
She has such a surface level understanding of just how irresponsible and racially insensitive she's been. I was skeptical of this book in the first place as I don't feel it's the best move to release a book profitting off of finally being called out for being wreckless, but I didn't think it would get this bad.
Her entire understanding of what happened to get her fired is based on "It was a dumb joke and people overreacted to me- I'm the real victim here!" She even has a whole section on using crying as a way to manipulate others and zero mention on how her white woman tears have gotten her this far without having been held accountable for her actions prior- even while recognizing that she's used her tears to manipulate situations. She dives into other people's reaction and how hurt she was to being cancelled instead of owning up to the harmful actions she's done to lead to people being angry with her.
Should have left this book in the vault.
May 7, 2023
I didn’t have high expectations for this book, but I was hoping it would be funny like her podcast. Instead, it was super defensive about the events of 2020 and her fall from grace. I know that was the point of the book, but it went over the top. I bought the audible version, and it took me almost a month to finish it because I kept picking other audible books over it.
November 23, 2022
Remember when you were in college and you had to hit a word count so you just kept rewriting the same ideas in different ways over and over again? That was this book. Although repeatedly saying she “didn’t think she was a victim” and she “didn’t think she had it worse in COVID than anyone else”, she sure does spend most of this book trying to make you think that on your own
March 22, 2023
Oof. I liked hearing from her about the learning she has done since the Canceling, but this book is so ridiculously self-indulgent. And I’m saying that after having decent feedback for her first self-indulgent book. It’s a huge miss for me and I skimmed the last 5 chapters because I couldn’t do it anymore.
May 5, 2022
I don’t often get too excited about memoirs, but every once in a while one grabs my attention & this was one of them.
August 1, 2022
I love Stassi but this felt like a surface level class paper. Couldn’t wait for it be over. 🫠
January 15, 2025
AUDIOBOOK: I think I should start off this review by saying that I am VERY emotional today, had three glasses of wine, and I’m getting my period soon.
I remember when Stassi got cancelled and believe
that she fucked up majorly and deserved repercussions for her choices. I will say though, I think “cancel culture” is just as toxic as she spoke about, and I could really acknowledge and appreciate the fact that she knew how wrong she was and took the steps to become a better person (she totally still has white privilege, but no one is perfect). That’s just honestly my truth and if it doesn’t age well, sorry america.
I remember when Stassi got cancelled and believe
that she fucked up majorly and deserved repercussions for her choices. I will say though, I think “cancel culture” is just as toxic as she spoke about, and I could really acknowledge and appreciate the fact that she knew how wrong she was and took the steps to become a better person (she totally still has white privilege, but no one is perfect). That’s just honestly my truth and if it doesn’t age well, sorry america.
February 9, 2024
I adore Stassi. Her unapologetic personality speaks to me on another level, and I feel like she’s come so far since her Vanderpump days, but there are definitely some things reality stars should keep to themselves.
Hearing her talk about Beau gave me the ick. This man really wanted to hang the nudes (plural, as in multiple) he painted of his exes in the new house he was sharing with his pregnant wife-to-be? I strive to have the blind confidence it took to share that information with the public.
Hearing her talk about Beau gave me the ick. This man really wanted to hang the nudes (plural, as in multiple) he painted of his exes in the new house he was sharing with his pregnant wife-to-be? I strive to have the blind confidence it took to share that information with the public.
July 27, 2022
I would say 3.5.
Read
May 16, 2025Felt like listening to a podcast, so it was an easy book to listen to as I walked. Kind of repetitive, she made a lot of the same points over and over again
May 21, 2024
This book has interesting pieces of information but it was so repetitive!
May 4, 2022
What can I say? I love Stassi Schroeder. Even when she's bad, she's great- because we all make mistakes, we all deserve a path for growth. I'm thrilled she decided to open up about being cancelled for a second time. But this time around, I think she really made big developments in her life. She is really seeing what consequences come with ill-informed action. She really opened up about what was going on in her life at the time and how she pushed through the dark days that sometimes got even darker, and all that was set to happen but never came to pass. For her editors: I know Stassi likes the whole "AF" thing, and it's part of the vibe, I get it. But cutting back on that usage in this book and ones in the future will make this a book that can be passed down. I don't know that my future daughter would have an easy time getting through lines that include "AF" without a serious eye roll like I did. Loved the overall message though!
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