Nowhere but Up: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom

Title:  Nowhere but Up: The Story of Justin Bieber's Mom

Author:  Pattie Mallette

Genre:  Autobiography

Format:  eBook

I know a lot of people will either be turned off or turned on to this book simply because it was written by Justin Bieber's mother.  I want you to know that her story is worth reading.  Regardless of your opinions about her son, about music or Hollywood, her story is worth being told and it is worth being heard.

Pattie's story is incredible.  I have read a lot of memoirs and autobiographies written by high-profile individuals and this one of the top 2.  

Calling Pattie's childhood rough would be an understatement.  Starting with abuse from a young age.  Then drugs and alcohol as a teenager.  Then an attempted suicide.

Yes, this is the story of Justin Bieber's mother.  She talks about raising him as a single mom.  She talks about the struggles and joys of raising Justin on his rise to fame.  But the story is much more than that.  

This is Pattie Mallette's story.  The story of a young girl who didn't believe she was worth being loved until she met Jesus.  The story of a woman trying to overcome the horrors of her past.  And the story of a single mom doing her best to raise her child.  

Public Relations Book Review

Title: Public Relations
Format:  Paperback
Genre:  New Adult Contemporary Fiction
Series: Stand Alone













This book is exactly what you would expect from two authors who work for Buzzfeed. 

There were some good moments in the book but they don't happen until at least 70% into the book. Up until then the book is slow and the characters are boring. I enjoyed reading about Rose's relationship with her boss but her relationship with her best friend fell flat. Her relationship with Archie was fun to read but they don't actually get together until about 80% into the book.  And even then, it wasn't great.  Just okay. 

One of my complaints is that Rose's second love interest is an attractive, 36 year old surgeon using Tinder to find a relationship. Not a fling but a relationship.  If that is how Tinder is actually used, then I have been grievously misinformed. The number of pop culture references were also a little much.  

Now onto my main criticism of the book: Archie is Harry Styles.  Someone who isn't a fan of One Direction may miss it but I felt like I was being bashed over the head repeatedly with HS references.  Allow me to list out some things that Archie and Harry have in common: 
1.) British 
2.) pop singer 
3.) long hair usually pulled up into a bun 
4.) two identical bird tattoos on chest 
5.) heart tattoo on shoulder 
6.) wears sparkly ankle boots 
7.) wears a flamingo shirt 
8.) dated an older woman at the beginning of his career. 
And those are just the things I noticed!  One or two I could've looked past but that was unbearable.  Sometimes it felt like reading really, really boring fanfic.

If you are looking for some easy to read chick-lit (or fanfiction), then Public Relations may be for you but, even then, its probably not.

And in case you didn't believe me:

Flamingos


Bird Tattoos

The Literalist's Love Poem

Roses are rose.
Violets are violet.
I love you.

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, B.J. Novak