Loved everything about this book. Perfect for people who don’t follow TikTok and know her there. She shares personal stories that she weaves well with her pro- feminist inspirations.

thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and drew afualo herself for the advanced reader copy of "loud".

i have been following drew afualo for a couple of years now, and have always admired her for her outspoken, brazen nature toward misogyny and disrespect. i will never forget the time she said this sexist man looked like a lollipop someone dropped on a carpet. when she first announced on her profile that she would be releasing her memoir in august, best believe i scrambled to netgalley to see if arc copies were being offered. given afualo's humorous content, i was expecting primarily a comedic approach to her life story, but it had so much more substance than that. afualo is so well-spoken and intelligent, and somehow she still made it feel like you were having a conversation with a good friend. not only does this book approach drew's life and upbringing, but she also presents some much needed conversations on misogyny, where it stems from, and how women and femmes should confront this behavior. "loud" has made me gain even more respect for drew afualo, and i cannot wait to see the world's reaction to her book.

some quotes i really enjoyed:
* "If comparing these dudes' teeth to the doors of a haunted house could bring at the very least a snap of joy into someone's day, while possibly helping a few others question why these men have any say in how they feel about themselves, then I would gladly crack jokes all day long."
* "Some people may say I'm being contrarian, but I say better to be contrarian than die a thousand little deaths of disrespect."
* "Don't dim your light so inferior men won't have to cover their eyes in your presence."
* "We expect women to be everything and take on more and more of the burden, while our expectations for men stay exactly where they are. Tell me, where's the equality in that?"
* "It's not our fault if we are born ignorant, but it is our fault if we die that way."
* "I committed to the idea that they were right about one thing: I wasn't like the other girls--I was going to be much, much worse."
* "You should never have to outsource the foundation of self-love. It was always meant to come from within."

3.5 stars rounded up for Loud; my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC.

I love Drew. I love her content and I love her impact on our cultural society.

But a book is not a tiktok video. It should have more depth. There was nothing groundbreaking in her feminist theory. She has a lot to say about a lot of topics, but the information was scattered. She'd be talking about her family and her parents relationship but then a paragraph later she'd have a rant about how the women in her life are the top dog in relationships. It made sense if you squint, but the path to the two points was a winding one.

I loved learning about her life and her family, though. You can feel the closeness to her sister and the bond they share is stronger than the opinion of a mediocre man.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Drew Afualo for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Loud coming out July 30, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was excited to receive this book! I’m mixed race Samoan and white. There aren’t a ton of books about growing up Pacific Islander. So I was definitely interested in reading about Drew’s background and life experience. I’ve watched some of her videos on TikTok and I appreciate her honesty in her personality. She has some funny and also strong content in that she doesn’t take anything from haters. I think a lot of her personality came out in the book. There were some honest stories about her past and some hard things she went through. I loved that her family is supportive and wants her to be happy in life. I think a lot of Polynesians are generally happy and love to be funny and laugh. I think Polynesian families can be very loving and it’s really a unique experience. Some of her experiences reminded me of growing up with my Samoan grandparents. There were also things in her book that were very different than my experience, but it was interesting to see her perspective. It was short, but overall, I really enjoyed it

I'm a big fan of Drew online and on her podcast, so naturally I wanted to read her book. I think she does a good job of weaving in personal stories with the message she's trying to send, and her voice is so strong in the best way possible. However, I think if you follow Drew online, or if you've been a feminist for any length of time, you've heard most of this already. There were a few things about her family/life experience I wouldn't have known if I hadn't read it, and I applaud her for being so open. But I don't think I"m necessarily the intended audience for this book. She spends a loooot of time explaining all the reasons that you shouldn't be a pick me, which, while I agree with, was just a lot for someone who came to this conclusion 15+ years ago. That being said, I hope the people who need to hear this message find this book.

I’ve been following Drew Afualo’s TikTok for a few years now and I love seeing her pop up on my for you page! When I saw that she wrote a book, I immediately requested to review it on NetGalley because I could not wait to get my hands on it!

Drew is so well spoken, so wise and someone I truly look up to. I loved learning a bit about where she comes from, how she became who she is and all the advice she has throughout this book. I aspire to have the confidence she has in herself!

I was not familiar with the author before I read the book but that didn't prevent me from enjoying it! She is very sharp, with a lot of wisdom and a way of framing ideas that comes across as insightful and at the same time relatable. I've encouraged both my teenage daughters to follow her on their social media platforms. I wish I'd had access to her kind of wisdom (from the mouth of someone I would listen to) when I was their age!

I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for access to a digital ARC. My honest review is my own opinion.

What can I even say about this? I stumbled across Drew ripping apart mediocre men, and I saw someone I wanted to be. This book is exceptional. Exceptional. As a white woman, the perspectives in here have given me so much to work on and as someone who has the misfortune of occasionally dating me, I strive to achieved a level of de-centring that brings me both consistent peace but also to never allow myself to give anyone the ability to impact my self respect.
I love Drew, and I love this book.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

As a fan of Drew, I was excited to see what this book was all about. And, let me say it did not disappoint. This book delves into many aspects of being a woman and dealing with misogyny, amongst many other things. I loved that this had aspects of Drew's life as some anecdote to help describe what she was talking about and let me say it worked. It helped the book come across as a friend talking to another. While this book contains advice, Drew never strays away from the fact that she too has been in many of the situations she writes about. It adds a more personal note to the book. Overall, I think this will be a good book for women and femmes everywhere, especially in the age bracket of teenagers to people in their 20s. I would highly recommend reading this!

I worship at Drew’s alter. Longtime follower, dedicated podcast listener. All around fan. She’s the big sister every girl needs, and I authentically love everything she does. This book is no exception. I’m so thankful that Drew used this new medium to take a deep dive into her background and walking through the fundamentals of some key feminist ideas that we’re all familiar with through her other content. I can’t wait for this to come out so I can grab a physical copy.

I was first introduced to Drew Afualo by a younger co-worker. I was instantly a fan. While she was considerably younger than me, I felt like she was speaking directly to me. I love when there is a strong, confident woman who knows exactly what to say.

Loud is part memoir, part self-help and part-powerful manifesto that is much needed for the young women of today. Drew holds back on nothing. It's a testament to her family that she is so outspoken, so confident and has the intelligence and personality to back it up.

I think this book is a perfect example of a good role model and even at her young age, Drew Afualo will likely be a voice for women in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you, Net Galley, for this e arc.
Loud by Dre Afualo was more than just a funny memoir teaching women how to tell men how to fuck off. Afualo used her own and friends' personal experiences to help women and femmes find self-confidence, self-reflection, and most importantly to look at the bigger picture, I thoroughly enjoyed the thought and care Afualo used to explain intersectionality as well as ways women especially BIPOC women are oppressed. Afualo humor was woven throughout the book but the main message of women and femme finding their voice was never lost. Also, Afualo reading her book brought emotion and care to the story making it feel like you are talking to an old friend. I would suggest this book to anyone, especially the audiobook.

I loved this book! It was a perfect mix of great writing while also being informal enough to feel like you’re having a conversation with Drew. This being said, I would have preferred listening to this as an audiobook - but that’s just my preference as an audiobook lover (especially with memoirs). If you decide to read this, I recommend the audiobook version, as the written version can be repetitive and somewhat dry.

I am such a big fan of Drew so I was so thrilled to get an ARC of her book! Just like her videos on TikTok, what you see is what you get, but I really enjoyed "getting to know" her in a deeper way. I wish there would have been girls like Drew out in the media when I was a teenager - someone who encourages the girls, gays and theys of all ages to love themselves wholly and completely and not let society and the misogynists and bigots that control it tell you that you are anything less than amazing.
THANK YOU to Drew Afualo, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my feedback.

I LOVE DREW AFUALO!!!!!

I am such a huge fan of Drew and her movement on TikTok. Standing up to misogyny and toxic societal norms has been her goal for quite some time, stitching shitty men and their invalid opinions of women. When I saw she was publishing a book with FSG/AUWA, I SCREAMED. I am so thankful to the publishers, Macmillan Audio, Drew Afualo, and Netgalley for granting me advanced digital and audio access to this gem before it hits shelves on July 30, 2024.

In her memoir, Drew walks us through the values she embodies in her day to day, paying homage to her Samoan upbringing, and how she works to educate those who've been harboring internalized misogynistic virtues, working to break that pattern.

There are some laughable moments, and there are definitely some *facepalm* moments, as Afualo recounts the hateful instances both she and those she knows have encountered at the hand/mouth of small, small, infantile men.

I have been a huge fan of Drew since she started putting mediocre men in their place on TikTok. Always just loving how she stands up for women and femmes, and overall just wanting to protect those who have a hard time standing up for themselves.

Drew’s energy that she has online totally translates into this books, but also has a softer more emotional side. I literally almost cried this entire book! I had to read this book so slowly because it had a pretty intense emotional impact on me. She honestly makes you feel so seen!

While memoirs and self help books are low on my list of things I want to read, this book is now one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. I will be recommending this to literally everyone, because it is truly fantastic.

Cannot wait to see her on her book tour and get my hands on a physical copy of this book!

Full 5 ⭐️’s

This was a stellar memoir, particularly by someone as young as Drew. It was personal, but it also educated readers about dismantling the patriarchy in a way that is relevant to women and femmes in 2024 navigating the misogynistic world of our time. It was of course infused with Drew's signature sense of humor, but it also gave great context for her videos & platform.

This was a great read. I liked the way she approached what her platform is and how she used her real life experiences to talk about de-centering from men. I don't think this being qualified as a self help book, I saw it more as a memoir. I love Drew and her brand.

I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Great book, so excited to see her on her tour! And get my hands on the physical copy, such an easy read & drew keeping it real like always.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I’m usually not a fan of a memoir by someone in their 20’s. What could they possibly have to share at this point in their life?

Drew’s memoir is a bit different which I think is the reason why it works. First, I can tell it’s most definitely written by her. I can hear her voice as she writes about her experiences. It feels authentic and honest,

I think Drew is an excellent role model for women young and old and how she approaches working amongst conflict is something to be remembered.