You need to seek professional help to deal with it seems some seriously bad issues that are deep routed instead of doing this fictional writing. Also, I enjoyed Jonathan talking about Ireland thright the 80s and into 90s and thought that added a touch of realism to the story. But I can see it as an applaudable first book and it really does seem to mean a lot to the author writing it, which I can appreciate. It has since been released in eBook and paperback edition formats; while cover art differs slightly between editions, all cover art features a photo of Jonathan Joly as a young child in his British school uniform, presenting as male; this photo was chosen because Joly claims that at the time he was that age in school, he felt like a girl and resented being made to wear a boy's uniform. I hope that he’s managed to get the help he needs and can continue being his authentic self with his family, who sound lovely.

I'll be interested to see what the trans community think of it, and to hear if the ending is elaborated on at all.It is certainly thought provoking but makes you question whether it is entirely healthy for someone with such a large platform to be conveying such messages. I urge anybody reading this book, or contemplating it, to please seek professional help if you have imaginary friends, worlds or hear voices as an adult for the first time. A curious book which left me with a lot of questions about whether the author might have done better doing some work on himself off the page first.

I am aware that the author suggests that people shouldn't seek mental health help as mental health issues "do not need to be fixed, but accepted". Would also definitely recommend reading cover to cover (the acknowledgements in particular) because its fantastic! Overall it is very confusing and personally I don't think if someone is suffering from MH should read this book as it won't help them. School Uniforms are the New Black: Jonathan Joly, like other students at his school, had to wear a uniform all the time.

I always knew Jonathan was suffering but the fact he has let us into his world and opened the box for us is incredibly brave and I’m so proud of him for finding that courage. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. I feel like a lot of celebs and non celebs bring out a book as it's the next step for them, but sometimes just because you can doesn't mean you should. I will say that this book is a page turner and does make you want to know more about Jonathan and his life. One should not gender everything these days, but the book feels as if it were the confidences of a woman.

Firstly, the opening chapter really grabbed me and I had high hopes but then it seemed to just change from there, with no warning. It's unsettling that he places so much emphasis on materialistic things being for boys and girls, which he says other people put onto him but again these seem innocuous things that I can't imagine anybody else having umbrage with. It shows as just another influencer jumping on the bandwagon and is an insult to all of those who are struggling with their gender and mental health. As someone whose mental health is always up and down I really felt the line, “I’m not sure how much longer I can keep floating, before I drown.

My reason for rating this book four out of five stars is simply that I was unable to envision the scenes and characters. The author describes Domdie, his make-believe world where he goes to escape reality (and worryingly seems to encourage impressionable followers on his online platforms to do the same. If he claims to have been traumatised to such a horrific extent, I have to question why he allows millions of people to watch his children online grow up and watch many private and sensitive moments.

Whether the book fits into whatever box you're trying to squeeze it into is irrelevant, whether you understand or relate, is irrelevant. In Joly’s psyche, Jonathan and Giselle are one person in two physicalities, and in Domdie they are able to gambol and play, far from the criticisms and cruelties of others. I have said many times since Eduardo expressed his interest in being more girly you jumped on that like yes, now I can use this to my advantage. what did you gain from this apart from income through sales, exploiting your young son, and how humiliating your family, is it fair that they now are going to be exposed to being spotted and potentially abused for your stories.

All My Friends Are Invisible deals with themes of psychology, queerness, the digital gig economy, fatherhood, gender identity and conservative social norms. I also found it hard to follow - we started the book in almost current day (a couple of years ago) at an airport, and then the entirety of the book after this was set 30+ years ago. I got so absorbed into this book I could not put it down, I found it fascinating and sadly heartbreaking to read at times, I ended up reading into the early hours of the morning to finish it.