Binge

November 30, 2015
Social media pioneer Oakley, who gained fame as YouTube star in 2007 and has since become an advocate for LGBTQ youth, draws successfully from his unique blend of snarky candor and down-to-earth Midwestern accessibility in the audio edition of his memoir. Perhaps the most entertaining—and also affirming—sections of the recording involve Oakley’s knack for calling himself on occasional outbursts of diva histrionics through personal pep talks. These include a period of heartbreak and recovery surrounding his first serious college boyfriend and—more recently—his meltdown in front of mobs of adoring fans at a YouTube convention. The material includes some frank discussions of sexuality, and Oakley projects a tone of friendly irreverence rather than over-the-top rudeness or crudeness. A Gallery hardcover.