Naya RiveraSorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up

For years I only had this book on audiobook it was the only book that I really listen to on audio on repeat. It’s one of my favorite celebrity books and now it feels even more special to have because now Naya is gone and I can read her thought she really was passion about at the time

I read the whole thing in one sitting. Not at all what I was expecting, but 100% worth it. Ms. Rivera comes across as intelligent, funny, frank, and quite authentic. There's some pretty good gossip (engagement to Big Sean, fights with Lea Michele/Ryan Murphy, etc.) that you can probably snatch from reviews on the typical celebrity websites, but in my opinion you'd be missing out by not reading this thing in its entirety.As someone to whom Glee is very near and dear to my heart, I was of course the most interested in the parts of the book that dealt with that period in her life. And, although she doesn't linger on it nearly as long as I thought she would, there is still plenty here to read. Lots of fun anecdotes, reflections, and a quite sobering/touching passage about the death of Corey Monteith. The parts that weren't about Glee, though, were equally as good: for starters, there's lots of boy drama. She talks openly about issues such as abortion, anorexia, being a minority, and a girl's right to be a whore (yes, you read that right. It's awesome.) I was particularly surprised by her openness about her Christian beliefs; she brings up her relationship with God quite frequently throughout. Not in a preachy way at all. In fact, even though I'm not religious I think it would have been a shame if she hadn't included it. It's clearly a major part of who she is.In summary, the book does an effective job of stripping down the star that you've read about in the tabloids and instead painting a portrait of a living, breathing woman who has experienced joys and sorrows just like anyone else. Why, then, should you read it? For me, it's because whether I like it or not, Naya Rivera became a part of my life when I started watching Glee in 2009: her work, her voice, and her talent have entertained me for countless hours in the last seven years. She was one half of Brittana, which changed countless young queer women's lives forever and opened doors for more (hopefully not-accidental this time) LGBT representation on television. I don't know her at all and I never will, but I care about her, god damn it. If any part of what I said speaks to you, then you should definitely buy this book.

This book is very real. If you are looking for a tell all book about Glee then look somewhere else. Although she does touch on Glee and the importance it had in her life, the book doesn't revolve around the show. Also if you are looking for a book full of trash talk, move along. She is quite respectful, if not blunt (which if you know anything about Naya is usual) about the different people in her and how they affected her.I personally loved this book and read it in one day. Naya presents herself as a normal human being who has made some amazing decisions in life and some really crappy decisions. She discusses what she has learned and how she has moved on. She never presents herself as the perfect human being, which I personally think is amazing. She does discuss some extremely personal and controversial issues in her book, but she also discusses the pain that accompanies those issues and for that I respect her even more so.Now for my grammar nazi's out there. Let's talk real quick. Naya writes exactly as she speaks. That means that if you are looking at her book from a grammatical point of view her sentences can be a little choppy. That being said her sentence format does not distract from the content contained within. Read for content and not grammar, and you shall be just fine.I gave this a five star rating because I personally think the book deserves it. I am not a die hard Glee fan, but I did enjoy her character of Santana. From the interviews that I have watched she seemed like a very professional person, but I felt that the articles and videos revolving her book were misleading and I was correct. Naya is professional, and a control freak, but she is not cold, mean or spiteful. She truly has a big heart. Read the book and see the person that Naya truly is and not what the media present her to be. Great read.

“Even in my worst moments, I had to trust that God had a plan for me. I might make mistakes, but He doesn’t.”I have not watched one episode of Glee at all. The years that it aired on TV was my early 20’s where I was all over the place and not stable/able enough to sit down and watch anything. Will I watch it now? Yes, especially after reading her book. Especially after listening to her truth and how she explains her authentic faith in God!I enjoyed reading about her early years of being thrust into the entertainment business at only a few months old, to wincing at her pain when she had to return to a regular life in grade school, to giving up ever acting again, to being open and honest about those few years after high school before the fame as she dodged the sketchy Southern California streets. To getting her life together, fixing up her credit, completing a film course in NYC all by herself away from home and giving acting one more try after her mind was set against it...which led to her big breakthrough.She speaks with genuine love, care and honest reflection on every person/situation she’s ever encountered. To hear her speak on racial issues in 2016 gives you an eerie chill, because of what’s happening in 2020.I love how she dispelled all the rumors and exposed the truth behind the tabloid features regarding her. When you actually hear her side, you are happy for her and admire that she didn’t need to defend herself back then. I’m glad I read her book. I pray for God to always be with her family!