Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Like a lot of others, I decided to pick this one up because I am familiar with the author’s story. This audiobook was read by the author, and I believe she is the perfect narrator for this memoir as she retells painful memories and traumas. I believe that it is not my job as a reader to try to fact-check every single detail in a memoir as the story itself is based off of the author’s memories and personal experiences, especially in a story such as this one. As such, I read memoirs at face value and I believe this was well written. At no point in the audiobook was I bored or felt inundated with details, which is usually a downfall for me. I would recommend picking this one up if you are familiar with this author and are interested in hearing her story in her words.

Please note this book discusses a variety of sensitive topics, so please check any relevant trigger warnings before picking it up.

I will always give a memoir 5 stars because it’s someone’s life story and who am I to judge.

That being said, we all know Gypsy’s life story is crazy and therefore the memoir will see absolutely unbelievable but unfortunately we all know it is.

I don’t know what I expected from this memoir but I guess it would have been a little more behind the scenes/ the unknowns and there’s no new information in the book.

Say what you want about Gypsy but she was dealt a horrible hand, helped commit a horrible crime but she did her time and now she’s here to tell her side

Did we need this book? No. But I was interested in hearing what Gypsy had to say. She seemed to contridict herself several times in the book which made me wonder how her co-writers felt since they didn't change her recollections. She did do a good job narrating as I wasn't sure if her voice would be condusive to audio but it did give an interesting perspective.

When I first learned that Gypsy Rose had written a book, I thought it was part of her social media; look at me kind of deal, but this book has changed the way I looked at her. I didn't know the full extent of what she had gone through as a child with her mom. I didn't know that her mom was the one who always looked at me and gave me full attention. After listening to this book via audiobook, I found that Gypsy-Rose was trying to escape the hell that she endured and be a normal person. While she may never have an everyday life, I give her a lot more respect than I did before. I am looking into purchasing the book just to reread it or listen to it.

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and RB Media for an advance copy of this audiobook!

I'm so glad I could experience this as an audiobook, because having Gypsy-Rose tell her own story aloud is quite interesting.

This is a memoir, and I think more people need to remember that. It's from her perspective, so I'm not sure why people are going into this expecting anything else.

I can only imagine what it must be like to have a childhood like Gypsy-Rose's. It doesn't mean that I condone how everything unfolded with her mother, but I also can only imagine how powerless she felt for so long.

I would definitely recommend this in audio form.

As a rule of thumb I do not like rating Memoirs less than 5 stars unless they are truly atrocious as far as the writing goes (which I will also outline why), because who am I to judge someone and their life experiences? Gypsy Rose has obviously been sensationalized, especially following her release from prison. I know she’s a very polarizing figure for her crimes, I am under the understanding though that desperate people do desperate things. What Gypsy did was wrong but I think it’s important to offer her some grace. I think this was well put together, and I know a few people said they saw some inconsistencies surrounding when she was pulled from school, I only noticed her referring to that time frame as preschool/kindergarten- and stating she wasn’t positive. For someone that thought she was 4 years younger than she was for an extended period of time I’m not sure why we are surprised that she doesn’t have an accurate grasp on her childhood time frame? Just because she was actually found to be pulled in second grade (I believe that’s what another review listed), does not mean that she was aware of the actual time frame. I took it more as her saying she was pulled from school in elementary school- which whether it was after kindergarten or in second grade was still far too young to remove a kid from education and not provide them with any alternatives or true homeschooling opportunities. I don’t know this was absolutely an interesting read though, and it was very difficult to hear about some of the abuse she underwent. I can’t imagine having had all of those surgeries and not having needed a single one as well as being so isolated from the world.

Memoirs are not something that I typically read. It is something I am wanting to get more into as people like Gypsy-Rose are starting to tell their own story. So glad she narrated it herself. There’s always more than one side to every story, and I enjoy being able to hear as many sides to it as you can. With her story being so popular for so many years now, it felt appropriate for her to, as the books title states, take her stand. I’m not here to determine what happened all those years with her mother and what finally led to her mothers murder. But I also understand that some things like what Gypsy went through force people into a corner where they feel like they had no other way out. I’m never one to justify taking someone’s life. But it’s very evident there is an element of self-defense in this too. Nothing truly surprised me in her memoir as so much is already told. I do think I understand Gypsy a bit better. I’m sure there are so many people out there that can relate to her story and will hopefully choose a different route of getting out. Hopefully Gypsy’s story will give those people the strength to be more outspoken against the abuser.

Thank you to @netgalley, RB media, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard, Melissa Moore, Michele Matrisciani for the advanced audio copy.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard's My Time to Stand falls flat as a memoir, leaving readers disappointed and frustrated. The book lacks depth and meaningful insights into her life experiences. It feels hastily assembled, almost like a cash grab rather than a genuine attempt to share her story. The narrative is disjointed and fails to engage, making it difficult to connect with Gypsy's journey beyond the sensational aspects of her past.
Moreover, the writing comes across as superficial, glossing over the complexities of her traumatic upbringing and the implications of her actions. Instead of a reflective memoir, it reads more like a series of disjointed conversations that offer little new information or emotional resonance. Overall, My Time to Stand misses the mark, leaving readers yearning for a more substantial exploration of Gypsy's life and struggles.

I went into this thinking it was going to be a book of trauma porn or "woe is me" but it's absolutely not. It's a story of sickness, poor decisions, reflection, and growth. A story of a young girl that only wanted love and was taken advantage of or ignored at every turn.

Gypsy has resilience. She easily could've given up, tried to frame herself as the victim, tried to blame others, but she did not. Instead, she discussed her role in every situation, what she learned, and what she will do going forward. You can tell she has put a lot of work into bettering herself and getting well, and it reflects in the story.

Now, regarding the audiobook specifically: yes, it is read by the author. Yes, she has a distinctive voice and it did take a minute to get used to, but by the end I felt like I was listening to a friend opening up to me.

Gypsy is a bright and strong young woman. I can't help but root for her. Though what she did was wrong, she's remorseful, and her situation felt so hopeless. It's difficult to put yourself in her shoes and judge, and I don't think a lot of people are comfortable admitting that to themselves because they see things in absolutes.

I enjoyed hearing this as I always do with Gypsy. I will continue to follow her and cheer her on.

I listened to the audio version of this book. I felt the narration was very good and easy to listen to. The story was heartbreaking. I felt bad for both what Gyspy and her mother went through. As a health care worker it is always interesting to read about munchausen by proxy. It is hard to rate a memoir but this one was very interesting. I wish the best for Gyspy as she navigates this life. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook.

I found this case with Gypsy rose very interesting. I’ve seen the act and read a lot of the articles, so when I saw this book was coming out I needed to read it.
I listened to the audiobook and Gypsy narrated it herself. It was nice to get her perspective on what she went through. I did wish there was more on her divorce from Ryan but I guess that is in the lifetime show.

I wanted to read this as the story interests me and I've followed bits and pieces. I found it to be contradictory, so it made me wonder what was true and what was just for the publicity. Was hoping for more of an honest account. Either way, she went through something terrible. Wouldn't say I'd recommend it to others, but glad I read it to say I did.

Very enlightening insight into how Gypsy viewed her life and things that occurred in her life instead of how things are portrayed in the media. I think s he was brave to share her story and she did great with the narration

I went into this audiobook skeptical that I was going to enjoy it. While “enjoy” maybe isn’t the right word, It’s very well written and eye opening. This is Gypsy’s story from her perspective. While parts were very graphic and difficult to hear, I can’t imagine how much more difficult it must have been to live it. Whatever your opinion of Gypsy Rose, her life has been so traumatic and this book really opened my eyes to her story and difficulties. Overall very well done! I received a free copy of this audiobook from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed listening to gypsys life it was tragic and heartbreaking but also beautiful and hopeful the audiobook being narrated by gypsy was incredible

Winter is for sad girl memoirs. This was a very emotional book that really sheds light on this case.

I have been following Gypsy Rose Blanchard's story since it captured headlines in 2015. Her tumultuous relationship with Dee Dee is a rare case that defies simple explanations—it's messy, controversial, and downright shocking. Gypsy's book, "My Time to Stand," dives deep into her life before and after the events that left everyone stunned.

One line that resonated with me was, "If I had been allowed to walk, it would've been on eggshells." This perfectly encapsulates the suffocating and oppressive environment in which she grew up. Dee Dee's actions were horrific; they were a calculated web of lies, control, and abuse that most people can hardly comprehend. Her mental instability was evident, but the extent of her power over Gypsy was chilling.

However, this story isn't solely about Dee Dee's abuse; it also explores Gypsy's choices and the complex moral gray areas surrounding her case. Gypsy's involvement in her mother's murder is still a hotly debated topic—even though she is a convicted murderer. Dee Dee's abuse cornered her into a desperate situation. The book doesn't sugarcoat anything; it exposes the manipulation and tragic complexity of the problem. It's a stark reminder that life isn't always black and white—sometimes, it exists in a very uncomfortable shade of gray. While this book is Gypsy's narrative, and I don't doubt her experiences, I do feel some aspects might be more about manipulation, leaving me questioning its overall accuracy.

In "My Time to Stand," Gypsy recounts her traumatic childhood, the lead-up to her mother's murder, and her subsequent life. Some parts will feel familiar to those who have followed the case or watched the documentaries.

Fair warning: this is a heavy read. The book delves deep into themes of abuse, manipulation, and murder. I found myself needing breaks, especially when listening to the audiobook. Hearing Gypsy narrate parts of her own story made it even more impactful. Something is haunting about her voice as she recounts her experiences.

Overall, "My Time to Stand" is a gut-wrenching book—gripping, emotional, and thought-provoking, yet leaves lingering questions. Even with the details Gypsy shares, it feels like pieces of the story are still missing—like there's more to it than anyone, even Gypsy, can fully explain.
Thanks to RBmedia | Recorded Books and NetGalley for the Audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio!

What a good book! I liked hearing Gypsy-Rose’s story. Hearing it in her voice also made it so much better! I really do hope she comes out with another book!

I always enjoy a memoir more when it’s being read by the subject/author. That being said…. This story was incredibly sad and it’s unfortunate that no one stood up for Gypsy rose or noticed the inconsistencies in her medical records etc, until it was too late and the consequences were deadly.
It was very crazy to hear the story being told by Gypsy and to listen to what she had to endure at the hands of her mother who was extremely unwell.
I feel bad for everyone who had a part in this story.
I’m not sure how to “rate” this memoir because how do you give stars to someone’s tragic tale.
The story was well written, and told in an organized manner which made it easy to follow… I hope she finds peace now that she was released and can live a relatively normal life