Real Housewives of Salt Lake City has morphed into such a unique cast of real housewives characters that it's become one of my favorites in the whole franchise. Heather emerged as a likeable character right away- she's fiercely loyal with a sense of humor that will keep you in stitches. As most Americans, when I think of Utah, I do think of the Mormons, which being from the South, we associate with very strict religious people who ride their bikes door to door seeking people they can indoctrinate into the church. Heather's book brings an explosive perspective and uncovers some basic tenants of Mormonism. I love how candid she is in explaining everything, and while it's true we see her endure some painful times through her divorce and eventually break away from the church, she remains hopeful and puts a hilarious spin on just about every situation that comes her way. I rooted for Heather each chapter of this book as I do with each episode! There's not much Real Housewives gossip until the very end, and even then, it's mostly things we've already heard about it. I would have liked to have heard some more about her distant cousin and fellow castmate Whitney Rose more than anything. I learned so much about Mormonism from this book- from the sacred garments to the shunning of cross displays. As we continue alongside Heather's journey exiting the church and navigating life with her siblings and children, I wish that she experiences even more success with Beauty Lab and her life in general. She's got a big personality, and even bigger heart, and you can tell that she would go to the ends of the Earth for those she loves. I loved this book and thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read it!

I’m a fan of the “celebrity” memoir, and this is possibly the worst one I’ve read. Certainly the worst book this year.
That it’s badly written is a given, but it is so BORING. This is very likely ghostwritten and it is so dense with mixed metaphors and heavy-handed references, it was almost painful to read at points. This is not the story of someone who has fundamentally struggled with her religion, who has to grapple with the understanding that faith is not enough to keep her tied to a church that is actively harming its people. Gay reiterates (ad nauseum) that, while she was ambitious and outspoken, she was still very tied to the Mormon religion. She deeply felt a communion with god and had sublime religious experiences; any moments of embarrassment or confusion were quickly glossed over.

Gay is an odd duck on RHOSLC and her memoir does nothing to flesh this out. Her marriage fails because, as Gay mentions, they are fundamentally incompatible but she gives examples in the most unflattering ways. Her epiphany comes because her husband walked out of a particularly gross scene in Scream 3. She realized her marriage was a failure on her honeymoon bc her husband walked out of an empty theatre during Scream 3. My god. She also complains about how he doesn’t spend his family money, and doesn’t agree with her throwing money around to out-do the Joneses. Obviously, if you can afford a pj and you choose Southwest, you’re a horrible husband who borders on abuse.

The only interesting parts of the book were towards the end when she starts covering RHOSLC. She manages to shittalk all her cast mates while also kissing their asses. Just like the show.

As a true super fan of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, this title does not disappoint. Easily one of the most-liked cast members of all of the franchises, Heather Gay has written a heart-felt, honest and captivating book that makes it easy to understand why she is so beloved. Her wit and bravery shine through from the first few pages and it's a wonderful addition to the housewife memoir genre.

I've watched all of the Housewives franchises with an equal measure of delight and horror. I have watched SLC sporadically but enough to know that Heather Gay is my favorite. I enjoyed learning her back story and the experiences that have brought her where she is today. Bravo Heather. Bravo.