I really struggled to engage with this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

If you loved the amazing TV series Big Boys shown earlier this year (2022) based on the early life of the author Jack Rooke then this is a must read!

This is a truly emotional and honest memoir about Jack Rooke's early life. The traumatic events that helped shape him and the special relationships that he made along the way.

Jack writes about how it was living as a young gay man, dealing with grief whilst growing up and finding his feet in life.

This was a real honest, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious account that actually made me take stock and remind me to 'check in'with those I love more often. Part memoir, part mental health guide, Jack has a great way giving advise that he's gained along the way.

I'll admit it wasn't completely what I was expecting, most of the funny parts were shown on the TV show and at times it felt rather flat BUT it's definitely worth a read.

3.5*

Thanks to netgalley and Ebury Publishing, Penguin Random House for the ARC.

I had no clue who the author was, but it was the title that hooked my attention. As soon as I started reading, I was drawn in by the author’s personality and humour, and it was like I was sitting next to an old friend talking about our lives.

It was funny - like seriously. Despite some of the heavy subjects, the author still brought humour into the equation (very fitting for a comedian!). I learnt new things, picked up advice and throughly enjoyed myself along the way. Such a brilliant book packed full of fantastic storytelling, sound advice, and many laughs! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

"My Get Out of Class card expired at the end of the school year, in July 2009. It’s funny that there almost was an expiration date on my grief, but, come September 2009, I forged the card so it looked like it expired in 2010 to buy myself an extra year’s worth of crying in the disabled loo."

- Cheer the F**k Up by Jack Rooke

You may have watched new comedy series, Big Boys, on @channel4. This book is where it all started. In Jack Rooke's memoir, he talks openly about the impact grief has had on his life. He studied it, he worked professionally with people experiencing it, and has had his own (un)fair share to deal with in his first 25 years of life.

Rooke is part poet, part comedian, part writer so as you'd expect the memoir is in fairly equal parts amusing and moving. The writing style is very accessible, which is essential, given that his mission is to educate his audience about mental health, especially issues surrounding grief and suicide.

It's difficult to know where it sits in this respect. My overall impression is that it is aimed at people younger than Rooke himself. It assumes a certain lack of life experience on the part of the reader, and takes the occasional side swipe at millennials. I enjoyed this book, as someone sitting firmly in the middle of the millennial age bracket, but I'm certain I would have benefitted greatly from having it pressed into my hands as a teen or in my early twenties.

I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for gentle advice on supporting others who have been bereaved, or exploring their own grief through someone else's experience of it. Rooke is also very open about his experience of coming out as gay, and the sense of security provided in other people's acceptance of his sexuality.

Thanks to @netgalley, @eburybooks and @penguinrandomhouse for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

First things first, I have never (and still not heard) of Jack Rooke. If he is a comedian (and based on his literary style, see no reason to doubt this) is one that has crept me by.

The mix between memoir and advice was spot on and handled complex topics such as the death of a parent, someone taking their own life and 'coming out' with grace.

Unlike other books on similar topics, this provided advice and guidance on how you, as the reader, can help a friend rather than help yourself.

Whilst we are all encouraged to talk more about mental health to friends, family and trained professionals, we aren't taught how to listen and support. This book attempts to solve that.

The only reason it didn't get a 5-star review was that I was expecting a few more laughs from a comedic author, which I imagine is quite a challenge given the topics covered.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin Random House for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The author takes you on journey of his life and with his anecdotes and, life experiences he puts forward some well put advices for this generation who are too steeped in the arms of modernity. He talks about mental health and grief, wonderfully writing them down in this book. Amazing.

An incredibly honest and emotional journey with some special relationships and tragic events that shaped the authors early years. This is full of great advice for not just young people but anyone who has struggled with the complexity of modern life and especially the impact of bereavement. Maintenance of our mental health is so important, tackling many serious situations and subjects with a good dose of humour this book is full of emotional and eye opening insight.

Part comedic memoir, part advice guide, this book is a fresh and timely take on a huge issue very close to Jack’s heart – in 2015, while working as an ambassador for a male mental health charity, he lost one of his best friends to suicide.

Taking you on a journey through his life and experiences with grief, sexuality, depression and more, Jack offers his own frank and powerful advice on how best to have meaningful conversations about a loved one’s state of mind.

A little different than what I was expecting when I chose this book but still overall a decent read on mental health wellbeing.

Really not sure what to make of this book.
Based on the tagline I thought it would be right up my street, but it ended up being more of a memoir of Jack Rooke, and it took a while to get to the mental health side of things.
Also, based on the title I was expecting a book that took on mental health in a light hearted way with a lot of humour - I just didn't get that! Not sure if it just wasn't my sense of humour, or if it just wasnt funny in the first place.

There are a lot of better books on the topic of mental health out there - I wouldn't recommend this one.