I enjoyed the first half of this book a lot, and then I got an email from the publisher regarding a disclosure of the use of AI as a narrative element and a creative experiment. Then I became more interested, and also more critical because I know that in the book world at least, AI can be controversial.

STORY--I enjoy this genre of books where the author shares their unconventional life path and the nuggets of wisdom they picked up along the way. This book fit solidly into that category and I connected enough to enjoy the experience. As the book went on, I began to feel like things got a little repetitive, as in new scheme, same result. It may just be that I didn't relate as well to some of the later schemes as I did to the first.

WRITING-- The author conveyed emotion in the narrative, and there were a couple of times it made me giggle out loud, or feel true empathy. There were, however, other times when I felt the writing veered into eye-roll territory. Maybe other readers may relate well to the author's recounting of his first experience with meditation, but for some reason I found it annoying. It felt a little bland at times and I didn't feel like there was a real message for me, the reader.

THE USE OF AI-- I have no problem with people using AI as a writing tool and it sounds like that's how it was used in this case. I know there are many facets to AI and look forward to reading about the many arguments that I'm sure will be made for and against it.

LASTING IMPRESSIONS--I am left with some lingering questions after reading this book. I didn't love it or hate it. I guess I'm wondering what I got out of it. It definitely wasn't a how-to book so I don't expect to win a million dollars any time soon. Was this book ultimately another product in the author's scheme to "win a million dollars"?

I'm glad I read this book so I can be part of the conversation.
Thanks to netgalley for the advanced listening copy of this book.

#netgalley
#howtowinamilliondollarsandbeepglitter

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This book grabbed me first with the cover design. Once you get past the first chapter or two, I’m not sure the “How to Make a Million Dollars” part of the book really goes much further. While the audiobook reader was good, I’m not sure he was the best fit for the book. The book wasn’t my cup of tea.

dnf'ed at 48%

I hate to do this for my first NetGalley review but I cannot support a book which makes use of generative AI for any means. My husband is an author and editor, generative AI threatens his career and worse than that, it steals directly from works like his. You would think the author of this memoir would understand this given that he himself is also an artist.

I was listening to the audiobook which at the time of writing, does not disclose the use of AI to aid in the writing of the book until the end. Instead I found out via an email from the publishers which was sent in response to feedback from other ARC reviewers. While it is important to disclose the use of AI in media, it is also important to ensure the writing industry as a whole does not begin to replace the jobs of hardworking editors with machines. The whole bookish community must come together to call out authors and publishers that so willingly make use of AI in their works.
Safe to say, if I had know about the use of AI in this novel, I would not have requested a copy for review which is a shame considering there were elements of this book I quite enjoyed.

I had considered continuing my review to talk about the things that I did enjoy but then I started to research the publisher to find that it is owned by Stoffel and that they also sell NFTs so I don't think I will.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook arc.

I’m a bit conflicted about this book. I don’t think the synopsis gives an accurate description of the plot or even the overall vibes. I felt a bit disappointed by that.

The first half of the book is pretty interesting and easy to get invested in. The story of a kid discovering who he is alongside deciding what he wants from life. There’s humour, love and hope in those early chapters.

Unfortunately it kind of derailed after that for me. There are some very emotional and tear jerking moments as well as some seemingly pivotal/exciting aspects that were swept over way too quickly in my opinion.

Also the fact that the author admits to using ai at the end of the book instead of the beginning doesn’t quite sit right with me.

On the plus side, I enjoyed the narrator a lot.

I received a digital copy of the audiobook from NetGalley and Cinderly Press. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I don't know who wrote the synopsis of this book, but it is definitely NOT "David Sedaris meets Heartstopper, told as Ready Player One." That was what drew me to the story, but besides one story about his first sexual experience with a boy, there's not an overarching narrative about being a gay man living his life.

Instead, the narrative is about how the author tried repeatedly to win/make a million dollars, working as an artist for a while, then having enough money to go to Paris and live there for a while, then returning home and trying something else for a few years, then traveling again and spending all his money. Wash, rinse, repeat.

At one point, Stoffel is once again taking a break from working and invests $100,000 of his own money in a venture, and all I could think of is "FROM WHERE?!"

At the end of the book, the author admits to using Chat GPT to write the book. That should be mentioned in the synopsis and at the BEGINNING of the book.

The narrator was good, but seemed kind of young sounding, when the author is just a few years younger than me based upon his childhood stories.