Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve is what I’d call “the portion of hanging out with friends where we talk about real deep shit.” Because this book is read by Drew, I felt like I was sitting down with her and talking about what she knows best. It could be about empowering women and tens, calling out the actions of bigotry of men, and of her own life and its experiences.

Drew is a voice that we need to all hear. Whether you are the target audience of her content or your not — let’s all listen. She talks about things that many can relate to and of things some may not relate to but she’s caught your attention hasn’t she? She deserves to bring what she has to say to those who need to hear it. You deserve to have a friend or in this case a book that can start to give the support you’ve needed.

You will hear Drew’s wit and banter in her book but most importantly, you’ll hear what many women and fems have needed to hear.

A bad bitch is still a bad bitch”
Thank you so much NetGalley for the arc. I devoured this book. I chuckled and I cried. I loved reading about Drew’s family dynamic. It’s beautiful and I wish everyone had this level of support. Hearing about her ups and downs, mistakes and achievements has me so inspired. I will be buying the physical copy.

𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐟𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐨 𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 (𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰—𝐈 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠), 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐎𝐖. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭! 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬; 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐫. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞—𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞—𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬) 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐱 𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐈 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐘 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

𝑳𝒐𝒖𝒅: 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑳𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝!

𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒟𝓇𝑒𝓌 𝒜𝒻𝓊𝒶𝓁𝑜, 𝑀𝒶𝒸𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝓃 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜, 𝒜𝒰𝒲𝒜, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.

i am not a memoir girlie, and i think that really dampened my experience. it’s not super long, i didn’t MIND listening to it, it just wasn’t as engaging as i wanted it to me. i was expecting (hoping for) something more like her podcast, but this seemed more formal (it’s a book, though, so obviously).

one part that really stood out to me was when she talked about her own journey towards accepting that she doesn’t want to have children/be a mom. i think it really hit home for me, and i appreciated her being so vulnerable!

🎧 listened to audiobook (read by drew herself!)
#netgalley

Narration: A-
Content/Memoir: B+
Story Telling/Writing: A-
Best Aspect: Strong female who speaks the truth.
Worst Aspect: Best for younger, still dating people, but insightful regardless.
Recommend: Yes.

I knew I was going to love this book because I love everything Drew says. What I wasn't expecting was the raw emotion and honesty Drew gave us. I thought I was going to laugh throughout this book, not cry lmaooo.

This book gave everything it set out to give, and I truly didn't know it was possible for me to love Drew more. But I've already decided once this is published, it is going to be a gift for every woman close to me.

Her realness really shone through here and Drew is someone I needed when I was younger. I hope young women and girls can live their lives by Drew's rules, not the Patriarchy's.

There were so many good parts but here's a few that stood out to me that I saved:

"I think the universe has a really funny way of giving us what we want, not when we want it, but when we're ready to receive it. And I know now with the utmost confidence that I found my person because I was ready to. My self confidence was at a point where, with or without a partner, I was going to be okay. I was going to live a long, fulfilling, and beautiful life regardless of my relationship status and because I arrived at that state of mind, I was finally ready to be with my soulmate."

"No matter how many women you try to step on to be seen by the world's most mediocre men, you will never be taller than any man. You will always be one step below. And how can they respect you when they're always looking down at you?"

"He won't stop if you're not interested. It's within his power to get you to change your mind, that you don't know what you really want. But he does. If you don't like him, he intends to make you feel guilty to the point of acquiescence. How dare you not even give him a chance? But your succumbing to this coercion is his goal. DO NOT CAVE."

Having seen Drew on tiktok, I immediately knew I needed to read her book! Her amazing laugh brought me in and the content made me an instant follow.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy!

Heading in I expected memoir but it was more so a self help book - not my typical genre to reach for but I'm so glad I did. I listened to this audiobook with my 17 year old daughter and we wholeheartedly enjoyed it. Drew is confident, funny, and unashamed. I needed this book in my teens, 20's, hell even my 30's and of course now. With chapters like Confessions of a Teenage Pick Me, and I'd Rather Die Alone, we found this book so encouraging and relatable - reminding us to be our authentic selves and to always, always F the patriarchy.

Drew Afualo is an impressive young woman with a no-nonsense POV: woman and femmes need to stand up to misogyny in all its forms, and call out the fragile and despicable men who troll us online and IRL.

I was not familiar with this Tik-Tok influencer prior to listening to the audiobook. I simply saw the bright, colorful cover and the title, LOUD: Accept Nothing Less than the Life You Deserve, and requested it from #NetGalley. And I’m glad I did.

The author has built a nice living calling out men for their bad behavior, clapping back at them, and holding their actions up for ridicule. The situation means she has received no shortage of insults and even death threats. Yet, She Persists. And fortunately for women everywhere, she helps point out unacceptable behavior directed towards women and, even more important, points out the negative thoughts that women often have about ourselves, and why this also is unacceptable.

Ms. Afualo shares details about her upbringing in a strong Samoan family where she received unconditional love and support. Her parents demonstrated a practical equality. There was no “woman’s work,” just things that needed to be done for the family. And while it would have been more “on brand” for Afualo to eschew the company of men, she is in a committed relationship with a man (so trolls should stop calling her a man-hater).

I looked up her Instagram feed and don’t think I’m going to be following her. But I will strongly support her messaging and her advocating for women to support and love each other. I’m from a generation that experienced (and was held back by) the men who allowed only one (token) woman at the table. It took decades for my colleagues and me to create our own “girls club” to support and promote each other. We can never go back.

As for LOUD, the author reads the audiobook and does an excellent job. It’s an inspiring book with a focus on unpacking societal expectations, self acceptance and body positivity. Be who you are, not who others expect you to be. It will be difficult for girls in middle school and HS to understand, so it’s very important that their parents (yes, men too) become familiar with the ways we limit our daughters and granddaughters so we can be more encouraging and supportive of their needs.

My thanks to the author, @Dreamscape_Media and #NetGalley for the advance copy of this audiobook for review purposes. It is now available for pre-ordering!

Drew’s fans, especially younger ones who may be encountering feminist ideas for the first time, will find this really relatable. Her advice is solid, and I think people will be able to actually implement some of it in their lives. An empowering book from an inspirational tiktok star.

In a fun and friendly voice, the author mixes personal and social science facts and experiences to encourage listeners to be loudly themselves despite living in a culture that encourages them to be meek. The author came to fame through social media but the book will appeal to people who have never heard of her just as much as it will to fans

Definitely not what I was expecting. I was hoping for a humorous memoir with some heartfelt life lessons. This was kind of like Beginner’s Feminism 101 told incredibly earnestly from someone with the exact same viewpoints as me.

If you had a healthy childhood led by a powerful mom, this will probably just repeat the phrases you’ve heard your whole life.

TY to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook.

Thank you to @NetGalley for letting me listen to the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I love Drew! I've followed her on TikTok forever and love her takes. This book was fantastic, self help, self love with a little information about her family and her life. A few parts were repetitive, but overall it was great. Hearing Drew read this book was like having a chat. She gave some great points and ideas on how to do better, be better and grow as a person within the partiarchal society.

This was fantastic. I love Drew but she's still fairly young so I wasn't sure what to expect from a memoir. I'm several years older than her, but this is written like a big sister offering advice on life, dating, finding your voice, being true to yourself, and what to do when you mess up. Sprinkled in with pieces of her life. It's something I would hand to young women in their late teens and twenties quite readily. The feminism is intersectional in terms of race, sexuality, and gender identity and she talks about being Samoan throughout the book. The standout thing to me that I think applies when you're looking at criticisms of the content she makes is this- misogynistic men are afraid of being made fun of while women are afraid of being sexually assaulted or killed. These things are not the same and I find what Drew does to be incredibly empowering. Well worth a read and she reads the audiobook herself which is fun. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an early audiobook copy!

I found Drew’s TikTok during the Pandemic and was instantly a fan. I loved the fact she didn’t hold back in tearing into awful, misogynistic men and put them in their place. So when I got this early copy of her book I was ecstatic.

As a 33 year old woman who has learned over the years not to take any 💩 from men and be confident in myself, I wish I could have given this book to my younger self. I really enjoyed her touching on growing up around a close knit family and how close of a bond she has with her sister. But ultimately I feel this book is meant for teenagers and those in college that are just starting to grow their confidence and come into their own. She gives great advice on how to not let men break your spirit and how to remind yourself you’re worthy of great friends, a great partner, and a great career.

My only qualm with this is I felt it was too long. Sometimes I felt like she would say the same thing but just in multiple ways. Could it be she was really driving her point home? Perhaps. But ultimately there were times where I felt she was repeating herself and I’d start to zone out.

This an excellent book and exactly what we’ve come to expect from TikTok sensation Drew Afualo. Part memoir and part instruction manual on navigating the perils of the patriarchy, Loud reminds women and femmes of their power and gives realistic and actionable advice on how to reclaim the power we think we lost or don’t have. Afualo’s deep heart and passion bleed through the pages of this book. She also did a fantastic job narrating, and I was SO happy that the final seconds of the audiobook included Drew letting loose one of her signature laughs! This is essential reading for young people and a book that will be enjoyed by all and leave everyone with something to think about.

I love Drew Afualo! This book was half memoir/half self help book but not in an annoying. I love how much she sticks up for women and femmes and the whole queer community.
My favorite chapter was the one where she talked about her sister’s coming out journey.
I highly recommend the audiobook because Drew’s personality shines through.

Drew is one of the most realest and baddest woman I have ever read about. I loved her vulnerability in this and it turned my confidence high!

Drew Afualo deserves all of the love, kindness, and success in the world. I was so moved by her story - I am sure that they girls/gays/theys who choose to embark on this read with find things to relate to within the pages. I especially loved Drew's uncomplicated way of explaining internalized misogyny and what can be done to fight it. 5 stars, she's a queen, and I would pay taxes to her.

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!

Ok, I listened to half of this absent-mindedly before deciding to turn it off. It's extremely feminism 101, which a lot of young women need to hear. Afualo does a good job of knowing she is not only writing for cis women, and she critiques her own past misogynistic and non-ally-like behavior. A good listen for younger readers.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.