Loud by Drew Afualo is part autobiography, part-self help. The book is written well, you can almost hear Drew narrating it with her infectious personality!

I overall felt this book was solid, and would highly recommend especially to teens-early twenties people who want a good way to get into feminist reading.

The main reason I haven’t scored it higher was that it didn’t flow seamlessly. At times it felt a bit like jumping from one thing to the next. However, a good book debut.

I love love love Drew Afualo. And I loved her book just as much. It was funny, thoughtful, motivational, and emotional at times.

Drew was thoughtful in what she shared in this book. I got more glimpses of her and it made me understand how she got to be this confident/beautiful person. The chapter about body neutrality was a tough one as I am a plus-size girl and have such a difficult time even thinking about my body.

I would highly recommend this book to those who (like myself) are trying to learn how to shut out the loud, obnoxious voices that make it difficult to love themselves.

I was so exited to get an ARC of this book. I follow Drew on TikTok and I love her content. This book is funny like her videos, but also tackles a lot of serious topics. From the failed 2000s “Body Positivity” movement, to unlearning all manner of internalized misogyny, Drew’s takes are inspiring and helpful. The only real complaint I have about this book is that many of the sections go on long after she’s made her point. It almost feels like she wrote out all her thoughts on the topic, and then never went back to pare down repetitive thinking. But other than this, I had a great time. Drew’s voice is SO clear in this. I can even hear her laugh sometimes as I read. I hope it haunts the dreams of all those horrible men.

As a long time follower of Drew on tiktok I was excited to see if her book would have a similar message and feel. Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I wish I’d had this to read 20 years ago. I will definitely be recommending this to some younger people in my life once it’s released.

I love Drew and I think this book has a lot of really great messaging. It feels like it is targeting a younger generation though, as none of the takeaways were that ground breaking for me as a fully developed adult woman.

I will start this off by saying I absolutely love Drew and I enjoy following her on social media and listening to her podcast. I was excited to pick this up and learn more about her. While I do feel like I have a better insight to some of her life and where she comes from, I felt like this book came across a little preacher than I would have liked. I agree with all of her points and love the way she empowers herself and other women, but I think maybe this book might be for a younger audience — readers who might be new to these concepts and learning about them for the first time. The points became repetitive after a while.

But that being said — Drew is inspiring and has such a great sense of humor and perspective on the world and I think especially young girls need to hear from a woman like her.

As a 30 year old I felt that this was something I needed to read 10 years ago. This book will be *life-changing* for many people, however myself like Drew have learned these lessons over the course of our 20’s so most of the book felt more of a reminder to me personally. I absolutely love love loved the space where Drew addresses her feelings towards motherhood. Her traumatic experience that helped her come to that realization made ME search deeper internally. Do need something like that to validate my feelings? Probably not. Thankful these words are on paper (figuratively) because like I stated I really think this book will change lives and teach lessons so many of us learned the harder way.

Thank you again to the Author & NetGalley.com for this Advanced Reader Copy 🫶🏼

I’ve followed Drew Afualo’s career for a couple years now, and this book feels like an extended cut of one of her videos. It is funny, personal, and inspiring. All those traits that make her a great content creator and woman to follow, you can hear this book in her voice with her laugh throughout. A very impactful read for fans of hers and anybody who believes in solidarity and diversity!

5/5 STARS!!!
Drew, this is an amazing debut book, the perfect blend of memoir and educational handbook. Normally, I binge a book in a day. While I wanted to do this SO badly, it was after the first chapter that I knew that this was a book that I needed to read chapter by chapter with breaks to reflect on what I discovered.

This book helped me discover pre-existing beliefs that I had so deeply rooted and suppressed in myself. I also (unfortunately) recognized many instances in my life where my friends and family, men and women, have displayed misogynistic behavior that I never would’ve identified before. While it hurts to process these emotions now, it is something that I am proud to have learned.

I would’ve always called myself a feminist, but now, I feel that I can behave fully like a feminist. In Chapter 11, Drew shares a quote from a friend, Tefi, that at times when they don’t want to speak up for themselves, they imagine that Drew is doing it. This is a similar sentiment to my newfound confidence where Drew has truly inspired me to stand up for myself and be confident in my actions.

From this point forward, I want to join her in saying that “I. Said. Something.” I will no longer let these disgusting men and patriarchal societal expectations lead and have a hold on my life. I urge you to pick up this book when it is released in late July!

As per usual, here are some of my favorite quotes:
→ Chapter 5:
“There aren't just insensitive comments we hear once or twice a year from right-wing family members at Thanksgiving dinner. These are beliefs each one of us is forced to endure on a daily basis, and all of this messaging has a compounding effect, weighing behavior on our self-worth with each passing year on this earth."

→ Chapter 7:
“Masculine, feminine, it's all a complete hoax, because gender isn't real. It's a man-made invention, a by-product of colonization and religion, washed into our culture so that people coming up in society would be taught to hate themselves if they even dared to step foot outside of the very specifically curated gender binary that was imposed on all of us. Capitalism feeds off of that ideology as well.”

→ Chapter 8:
“You can talk all day to a terrible man, but you can’t make him see you as a human.”

“This man is describing basic human decency, but it’s being weaponized as a reason that women should settle.” (Drew’s thoughts on “nice guys”)

I think this book is so beneficial to every woman out there. It's a blend of a self help-ish book and memoir. There was really only one or two new to me moments as a deep fan of Drew's for years now! I loved getting insight to her life and her culture. I can't wait for it to come out on audiobook so I can hear her intonation and iconic laugh.

As a black, queer woman I have been aligned on the messages conveyed for almost a decade now. Not exactly super helpful to my everyday life reading this as I may be past the target audience, but absolutely truthful and potentially life changing for someone who does not know Drew and her content that she makes or just knows it in passing or might need a reminder on their self worth. She is not a professional in any of these topics so I feel like there are lots of other books I've read that might be able to articulate more if that's something someone is interested in, but definitely a good dip in the water. Intersectional feminism is actual feminism! All hail Queen Drew 🫶🏾

This is a bit of everything and oh my, Drew, you KILLED it. Just like you kill the egos of these crappy men (they deserve stronger descriptions). I can't wait to have a physical copy of this in my hands to go back and annotate. Part comedy, part memoir, part Drew Talk. I HIGHLY recommend picking this up!

ive been watching drew on tiktok since before she has 20k followers and her opinions never fail me so this book was a must for me. truly the voice of a generation of women who arent going to allow society to force us into a box. i loved this book and will be recommending it for book club

Unequivocally & utterly Drew. For those that follow Drew Afualo on social media, or who have watched her tiktok's--this book feels like a longer extension of her videos. i read this, but i could hear Drew saying the words aloud inside my head. Hard-hitting, honest, & impactful; Drew's writing has the ability to benefit any and every woman, no matter her age or point in her life. Part self help, part memoir--Drew writes about her family & her lived experiences and uses them to show the lessons she's learned, sprinkling in bits of wisdom throughout. she's careful to respect the privacy of her family & friends while still giving us a detailed, accurate background. my only qualms are with the way the story flows together (not smoothly, in my opinion) and the somewhat abrupt-feeling ending. oh, and I couldn't gone without the six mentions of being a Virgo she used to describe her personality & lifestyle.

thanks to Drew, Netgalley, & Farrar, Straus, Giroux Publishing for allowing me an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalleyARC. I didn't know too much about the author prior to reading this book but I definitely feel like I know more about her now and that I understand her better. I've enjoyed seeing her on social media and figured I would give this book a try, I'm glad I did. I appreciate the honesty and feelings behind the author's words and I finished reading it feeling empowered.

This is the Boss Babe's bible. The Ladies' Lexicon. The Good Book for the gagged. It's Mutha's memoir - straight from Drew to every woman and female presenting person who needs the reminder that we are worthy of the space that we take up, even when we don't think so.

'Loud' is from Drew's mouth to our ears, literally; it feels as though I'm a guest on her podcast or I'm on facetime with her discussing the latest man who dared overstep a boundary or digging deep, laying out our emotions because we got wrongfully terminated from that job last week. Although the book's main focus is uplifting women in the face of misogyny and how to stay strong and connected to ourselves while navigating a male dominated world, she also tackles the heavy topics of body image and positivity (and the toxic side of it - there is one!), confidence and "being mean" (because, honestly, we need to be. Way more than we are.), racism, and the pressure of the 'maternal ticking clock'. What was that again about women having it easy?

Some of the points that Drew asserts are that an incels' bread and butter is the belief that gender roles are still being perpetuated and should be the natural order of things - a woman's work is domestic and a man is the breadwinner. This is a myth because no work is lesser, and any person who has cared for children of any age for a day or is in charge of all the household work will tell you it's less difficult than a typical 9 -5 job, and most likely even harder.

When I came across Drew on Tiktok it only took one sixty second clip to get hooked, and when I heard she had written a book it was as good as mine. It did not disappoint, and in fact, it's my reference guide for whenever I'm feeling down or my confidence takes a hit. Whenever I finished a chapter I felt as though I'd had a venting session with my best friend and left inspired and empowered to move forward through the word, leaving it in a better way than I found it.

Thank you to Drew, NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Drew Afualo's "Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve" isn't your typical self-help book. It's a firecracker of a read, packed with Afualo's signature humor, feminist wisdom, and empowering calls to action.

A Powerful Blend: This book seamlessly blends memoir, self-help, and a healthy dose of social commentary. Afualo shares personal stories that illuminate the challenges faced by women and femmes, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds. Her experiences resonate and inspire, reminding readers they're not alone in their struggles.

Unflinching Voice: Afualo doesn't shy away from difficult topics. She tackles issues like societal expectations, navigating toxic relationships, and dismantling the patriarchy. Her voice is bold and unapologetic, encouraging readers to find their own voices and own their power.

Actionable Advice: While the book is a powerful call to self-love and acceptance, it doesn't stop there. Afualo provides actionable advice and strategies for readers to implement in their lives. Whether it's setting boundaries, advocating for yourself, or simply learning to say "no," Afualo equips readers with tools to create positive change.

A Must-Read for: This book is a must-read for anyone who feels like they've been silenced or underestimated. It's a call to embrace your individuality, challenge the status quo, and live life on your own terms. Afualo's message is particularly powerful for young women and femmes navigating the complexities of the world.

Final Thoughts: "Loud" is a breath of fresh air in the self-help genre. It's honest, funny, and fiercely empowering. Afualo's message will stay with you long after you turn the final page, urging you to raise your voice and live your most authentic life.

"I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

This book is a great one to put in the hands of the teen girls in your life. I wish I’d had it when I was in high school; I think it would’ve given me the pep talk I needed to step into myself unabashedly. It reads as a good reminder of your worth and value at any age, but would be especially hard hitting when you’re coming of age.

I couldn’t resist asking for this ARC when I saw it, as I’ve followed Drew on TikTok for ages. The way she absolutely annihilates terrible men on the internet will never not make me cackle and cheer.

Thank you Netgalley for the free E-ARC! I'm not really a memoir or self-help kinda gal, but I've been a big fan of Drew for some time now - so I was very excited to read this. Drew's personality and humor is woven throughout this entire book. The way she speaks about her family and culture is admirable. She shared some extremely important knowledge, and was also vulnerable about her own personal experiences, and it gave me that much more respect for her. Whether she's talking about patriarchy, feminism, self worth, body neutrality, or relationships - there are some true gems in here. My only disappointment is that younger me didn't get to read this. I've learned quite a bit about these important topics in my 30 years, but learning them a lot sooner would have altered my life immensely.

In LOUD: ACCEPT NOTHING LESS THAN THE LIFE YOU DESERVE, Drew Afualo combines personal experience with hard-won advice, in service of uncovering misogyny, both subtle and overt, racism, body shaming and anything that robs a person of self-respect, autonomy and self-love. Dismantling the patriarchy, so to speak, a system which harms everyone. She’s passionately devoted to saving women and femmes, even ones unaware of how far they’ve bought into the oppression. Her explanation of the “pick-me” girl syndrome was incisive. She claims she “makes a living by fumigating the internet of these roaches,” the hostile male contingent in her audience. The book reads as though it has its origins in speech, certainly passionate, often repetitive, but at this moment in history, some things bear repeating.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review