I have been following Gypsy's story for a long time and was anxious to hear her read her story. My Time to Stand is certainly Gypsy's story but I got the audiobook to hear her and there were parts that were clearly not her words. She'd go from sounding detached and sounding like she was reading someone else's words to sounding like "this is my story and I'm gonna tell it my way". Those were the best parts and I found myself wishing for more of those moments. I certainly do not want to judge her too harshly for detaching, given all she's gone through, but it did affect the listening experience. Also, there were a few technical issues with the audiobook. There were words and whole sentences that were repeated and one sentence was started, stopped, and re-started again. Nothing overly terrible but again, it affected the listening experience.
Overall, the audiobook was well written and certainly didn't shy away from the tough subjects. I had heard her story so many times through other people and mediums but now that she's spoken, I hope sincerely that she is able to move forward with her life. I highly recommend this book.

Loved being able to get a chance and hear her side of the story of her life and what she went through. Truly everything she endured is crazy to me

DNF! This story made me uncomfortable for Gypsy Rose. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it. There is so much sexualization in her story. It’s graphic and felt a bit unnecessary. She tells the story with adult language from the point of view of a child. It read weird and felt disingenuous.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up
I have been intrigued by the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case since a friend put me on to the Mommy Dead and Dearest documentary and from there, I have consumed a lot of media about her case both fictional (The Act) and nonfiction (Lifetime series, her prior book, etc.). I think that for someone’s introduction to her case with no background this would be extremely eye opening but because of the fact that I have an extensive knowledge of it already, the only big updates here are smaller details and getting up to the current with the epilogue. Overall still highly recommend for those that can stomach it, please check trigger warnings before reading if you feel so inclined.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the audiobook!

I tried going into this as blind as possible to Blanchard's story. I did know some of the basics, but I wanted to try to hear this without any bias or outside information. This is a hard story to read; it is impossible to imagine or understand everything she went through. It's hard to rate and review this. I can't say I believe everything Blachard says in this, but this is her story, however she chooses to tell it.

I can review this on what is presented, and unfortunately this isn't a well-written memoir. There were so many sections that felt brushed over, but then it would focus on sections that didn't seem as necessary. Overall, even despite the topic, it was not a story that I found myself thinking about when I wasn't listening, and I didn't find myself wanting to come back to it.

I would reccomend this to those who are already in the know or those already interested in her story, but maybe not those who only have a passing interest.

I love a good memoir and this one did not disappoint! Something about the author also narrating their own story is so immersive, and hearing a story like Gypsy’s is even more so. This story just goes to show how much we DON’T know about someone, even when they are in the public eye. The way she grew up, her family, the trauma she dealt with is indescribable. It’s so neat and insightful and I learned so much from this.

So I listened to the audiobook that Gypsy-Rose read herself. I didn't learn terribly much that I hadn't already knew. Honestly, I'm mostly left evaluating and trying to put a label on how it's all made me feel.

Is this case something that grabs at my morbid curiosity? Yes. Do I doubt all involved were subject to trauma and needed mental health resources? Not at all. But is Gypsy a reliable narrator? Highly unlikely.

I believe Dee Dee was unwell from an early age and learned to be a master manipulator. I have no doubt that G.R learned these same skills and probably uses them seamlessly to this day. I'm grappling with the feeling of guilt for my assumptions because this, in many ways, feels like victim-blaming.

However, listening to Gypsy-Rose matter-of-factly read about being physically, sexually, and mentally abused without emotion was a bit disturbing. She did the same with grisly details and even embarrassing ones. Is this a result of being traumatized or because of fabrication?

As the story unfolded it seemed to get less and less forthcoming about events as they became more recent. The way she fluttered from one topic to the next was dizzying and undetailed. For instance, she would allude to issues with Ryan but never really identified them. One moment she was talking about being out of prison, being happy about not having beige walls, receiving a lilac robe, and then without any fanfare, informed the reader she and Ryan broke up and she was pregnant with Ken's child. This leads me to assume that this whole book was a rushed cash-grab.

My Time to Stand provided an interesting perspective of a story that has fascinated so many. Hearing the story directly from Gypsy-Rose and in her voice by listening to the audiobook was a fascinating peek behind the curtain. This was a raw, emotional, sometimes disturbing read.

I listened to My Time to Stand By on audio and found it to be an okay read, though nothing particularly memorable after already being familiar with the case. A lot of the information was repetitive, and while Gypsy's story is tragic and disturbing, I was left feeling unsettled by the fact that she still hasn’t received adequate mental health care in prison. It’s frustrating to see how her circumstances continue to be mishandled. The book offers some insight into her life, but ultimately, I felt like it didn’t add much to what I already knew from following the case.

My Time to Stand by Gypsy-Rose Blanchard is a memoir as complex as the life it chronicles. This book pulls no punches in recounting Gypsy’s traumatic childhood, her role in her mother Dee Dee’s murder, and her journey toward rebuilding her life after prison. As someone who listened to the audiobook, I found it a deeply unsettling yet compelling experience.

The rawness and grit of Gypsy’s narrative are both the book’s strength and its challenge. At times, the details are almost too explicit, forcing the reader to confront the harrowing reality of her experiences. Yet, this unflinching honesty feels like a genuine attempt to claim her voice and own her truth. It is as if Gypsy refuses to sanitise her story, and for that, I commend her.

However, the memoir also left me conflicted. There are moments where I couldn’t shake the feeling that certain events might have been misremembered or even fabricated. This isn’t necessarily a critique of Gypsy herself—her traumatic and abusive upbringing could understandably distort memory. Her perspective is both a window into her pain and a reminder of the complexity of truth, particularly for someone who has endured what she has. I want to be clear that I do not condone abuse or murder in any form. However, I do believe in redemption and rehabilitation. This memoir is an act of reclaiming agency, reminding us of the importance of hearing every voice, even those complicated by guilt and remorse.

Gypsy-Rose is a study in contradictions: both victim and perpetrator, impossibly naïve yet manipulative in ways that make her narrative fascinating and, at times, uncomfortable to navigate. This duality is central to the book and mirrors the conflicted emotions I felt while reading it.

The audiobook format added an additional layer to the experience, bringing Gypsy’s voice to life in a way that made her story feel even more intimate. Listening to her recount her life made her triumphs and tragedies more immediate, though it also magnified the sense of unease I felt at certain points.

Despite my ambivalence, I feel a 4-star rating is warranted. This memoir is not perfect, but it is undeniably powerful. Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s story is as much about survival as it is about reckoning with the choices that shaped her path. It is a testament to resilience and a reminder of the lasting scars of abuse. For those willing to delve into a memoir that challenges and unsettles, My Time to Stand is a thought-provoking read.

I was gifted a free copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and while I remain conflicted, I am glad I took the time to hear Gypsy-Rose tell her story in her own words.

Feels very odd to rate this as both someone's life story and as a source of information... so consider the three stars as a reflection of the writing and storytelling more than anything else.
I have very complicated feelings about Gypsy-Rose, which I think is common. There are a lot of questions I have about her story and the treatment of her co-defendant that will probably never be answered in any satisfying way. But at this point, Gypsy-Rose obviously went through some horrific stuff and she's out in the world, so we should probably wish the best for her.
As for the book... I can't say this was an enjoyable reading experience. This is ~graphic~, and I couldn't help but feel like I was complicit in some level of exploitation while reading it. Though Gypsy-Rose says she's writing this book to tell her side of the story, I can't imagine that she's had enough time in the real world as an adult to process all of this yet, and make an informed decision about whether or not she wants to tell her story, her side, and her analysis in a form as permanent as a book. She's published TWO books in the time since she's been released. Could she truly have had enough time to reflect and come to concrete conclusions?
I also just don't know what purpose this served. Gypsy says she dreams of her children reading it one day to understand her, but then why publish it? I don't think this revealed any new information, just added more incredibly graphic details to the stories we've heard before. The biggest questions and controversies surrounding her aren't addressed in any meaningful way.
Who is the audience for this? You would think that someone would have to be at least a little familiar/friendly toward Gypsy to be willing to hear her side at all... but anyone who is familiar with Gypsy will probably immediately clock that the writing doesn't sound anything like her voice. I am not anti-ghostwriter, but the writing in this has an artistic flair that does not feel authentic to the Gypsy on social media and reality TV (beyond throwing in an occasional, overblown "y'all!!!" or "oh hell no"). It was just bizarre to read about Gypsy feeling like she was "caught in a current" or "swept away by a wave" while in prison, when she made a TikTok about stepping into the ocean for the first time just this year. Why isn't "her story" in her words, drawing comparisons to her own experiences?
Anyway. I hope she (and all the ripple-effect victims of this case) can find peace. I don't know if reading "her side" is truly the best way to support her, but I also was curious enough to read it, so I guess I'm a hypocrite.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an early listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm really glad I had the opportunity to read this because I was curious. Some of the stories Gypsy-Rose tells about her childhood are horrific, and it really seems to be going for shock value. One of the things I was most curious about, though, is what led to the decision to take the mother's life. Unfortunately, there are a lot of inconsistencies and the story really felt dishonest. I doubt if we'll ever know the whole story, but Gypsy-Rose seems less like a victim when listening to her story.
She is the one who does the reading, and her style was kind of annoying too.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I always find memoirs difficult to review. I never want to negate the writer’s experiences. I am a true crime junkie and expected that from this story. I had to continue to remind myself that this is a memoir, not an investigative journalism piece. I think I would have enjoyed the latter much more.

While Gypsy-Rose did not write this book, she did have (what I assume are) professional authors who did. Unfortunately, they did not do her story justice. The story was written out of order. There was so much repetition, and the story was just not chronological.

The issue with medical malpractice is ridiculous. Her mother gamed the system. There are so many government issued insurance cards with incorrect information. Would she rather have been denied care while they waited to sort this out?

I truly hope that Gypsy-Rose is getting the mental health care that she needs and that the income produced from this book will allow her lifelong mental health care.

Overall, this is not a great memoir, and I did not gain any more information than what I had already read from available sources about this story.

She really expressed in this book and was very vulnerable and open no matter the judgment of others she still stood her ground!

Loved this I remember watching the story on some crime tv show and i have seen some of her reality TV show. What to read this to see it from Gypsy Rose’s point of view. Also to see how she’s doing now etc and was more excited about knowing the audiobook is read by her I love when authors narrate their own books. This was great to get her side of everything before and after and her life story the pacing was great perfect length to tell the story never felt slow gypsy does talk like she’s very well educated which is ironic since her mum didn’t even let her go to school. It’s sad to think prison was the closest to freedom and school she got. The story did make me feel for her and grateful for her sharing it with us. It was very well done.

NOTE: I I did try to leave my five star review on Goodreads but it’s not letting you right now due to review guide guidelines as of people saying nasty things who aren’t even reading the book when able to leave review I will just letting you know why my is not on Goodreads

I've watched documentaries, The Act, and I've even followed Gypsy-Rose on Instagram. So I feel like I know a decent amount about her story but hearing it straight from the source makes a difference.

I was nervous about GR's writing but fortunately she had some help which I think all memoir writers should have. I could tell some parts where it didn't seem like the usual thinking of GR but in others, you could clearly see she had freedom to write in her own way. Some parts are cringey and awkward and I think that's true to who she can be.

Gypsy-Rose's voice is well known and I know some people may find it annoying. I think her voice is actually pretty standard and can definitely be toned down. I never found myself irritated over it.

I think she showed remorse and concern over the people she hurt alongside her mother. I have my own personal opinions on her case but at the end of the day, she was tried and she did her time. Let's just leave her alone if we don't like her. A lot of the reviews on her book are extremely hateful and nasty. Obviously some trolls have decided to review books without reading them or decided to read the book even though they already knew they hated her.

Only time will tell how GR chooses to live her life and do the things she says she wants to rpotect other children in similar situations. I truly wish her the best and I'm glad I read the book. Thank you to NetGalley, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard, Melissa Moore, Michele Matrisciani, and RB Media. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.

This memoir elicited so many emotions and thoughts, questions, ethics etc. I enjoyed how it made me think about my own thoughts and beliefs, but it left me with mixed thoughts on it overall and I had a hard time remaining interested at certain parts

Thanks to the publisher/RB Media, viaNetGalley, for an audiobook listening copy in exchange for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I’m providing stars on NetGalley because it's required, but will not post stars anywhere else. At the time of submission of this Netgalley feedback, I was unable to leave a review on GoodReads, so this is not posted there. (note: was able to post it the next day after submitting this originally)

This is Gypsy-Rose’s account of the abuse she endured and the events that led to her imprisonment. If you’ve followed her case in other documentaries/media interviews then you’ve heard the gist of everything she shares in this book.

The two authors that wrote this for Gypsy put together a well-written book, so props to them. As far as the actual content of the memoir, I naively expected Gypsy to show SOME level of accountability for her actions, but I thought wrong. I have a lot of thoughts, but that’s neither here nor there and irrelevant to reviewing the book.

If you’re going to read this, be prepared for some very detailed information that nobody needed to know (especially when it’s about other people and not involving her). It’s clear that some of the trauma she endured has led her to have an overly sexualized lens about many things. I hope all of the people involved in her life/past get the support they need.

As someone who never really like Gypsy rose I finally understand her side. She’s a poor girl who was taken advantage of by several people who just wanted a normal life bless her heart

I couldn’t get into this. I’m not sure why. I didn’t mind her as the narrator; I was interested in hearing her story. I know almost nothing about her. I don’t remember her arrest on the news and haven’t watched any documentaries or films about her (for example) sorry