As spring quickly approaches summer, we’re rounding up some releases from the season. If you’re looking to add more books to your list, let this give you a reason!
“You’re That Bitch: & Other Cute Lessons About Being Unapologetically Yourself” by Bretman Rock (February 14, 2023)
THE Bretman Rock finally gives us the tsismis and peels back the layers of makeup to reveal his upbringing, coming of age, and maturation. The makeup guru and beauty influencer’s claim to fame might be his contouring talent, but his unfiltered confidence takes center stage in his memoir, “You’re That Bitch.”
What I find most illuminating in Rock’s storytelling is the way he is so honest and transparent about Filipino culture, and being an immigrant in the United States in the chapters following his youth. He shares about the strange connection he had with his father — who was both protective and desired ignorance about his son’s budding queer sexuality — and how Rock was the child left behind when his mother became an overseas worker. Rock follows chapters with short reflections on everything from “How to Celebrate Your Culture but Also Question It,” to “How to Handle Family Drama,” and to, dare I say it, “Douching Your Ass Like a Bad Bitch.” In later chapters, Rock doesn’t shy away from controversy and even admits that much of his beauty aesthetic is borrowed — some may call it, stolen — from Black culture.
The memoir feels like it is written by an influencer (don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying it wasn’t written by Rock!) in that the narration quickly jumps from one topic to another, and from one story to another, without much thought to themes or flow or depth. It’s an erratic read, but expected when Rock’s primary audience, and most social media users these days, have an attention span of 15 seconds or less. For me, it is always a proud moment to see a kasama fully embrace their Pinoy-ness — a side that Rock admits he hasn’t…
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