heartbreaking love story...the hero actually dies...

All the feels. Every single one. 

This is my first time even hearing of Michael and I'm actually glad for it. I was able to go into this book with no knowledge of his writing style or personality and I loved it! This brutally honest, ridiculously real account of his life with Kit amazed me. I was sucked into their life together. From the awkward first date to the devestating last breath, I felt it all. No tells you exactly what to expect when you're loved one is dying but Michael put it all out there for the world. Every. Dirty. Detail. It didn't feel like I was reading his book, it felt like I was reading his diary. The dark humor, the heartwarming way Kit and Mike were with each other, the heartbreaking battle with cancer, all of it was there. Remarkable. 

My only criticism is the final chapter. I'm really not sure what to make of it, but it doesn't change my opinion of the book.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for my honest review...but I will be buying it. I will buy it for me, I will buy it for my family, I will buy it for everyone I know that has a loved one going through this fight because even though there isn't a happy ending it is important to have someone to give you a realistic outlook on what to expect. 

Seriously, if you only read one book this year, make it this one!

*temporary review*

Can't open the digital file..

Now that I've finally stopped crying, I'm ready to review my latest read. I received an ARC of Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies for an honest review, though I pre-ordered it months ago and was getting impatient to get it in my hands. (Release date: September 12. Get those pre-orders in now at your favorite bookstore!)

I've followed Michael Ausiello to get all the latest TV scoop since his Entertainment Weekly days (read: YEARS). I was well aware of his Smurf obsession, Diet Snapple love, and his main squeeze Kit Cowan.

After 13 years together, however, Kit was diagnosed with an aggressive form of neuroendocrine cancer and passed away 11 months later.

This memoir is a story of their love, Kit's cancer battle, Michael's support along the way, and so much more. This is Michael's ode to Kit, and we should all be so lucky to have a love like they shared. At times both hilarious and heartbreaking, this touching tribute will remind you to love those around you a little harder, seek out the light in the darkness, and be thankful for the time you have.

Whatever you do... when reading this book have your tissues ready! I have enjoyed Michael Ausiello's writing since his days at Entertainment Weekly and I am an avid follower of his ask Ausiello column at TVLine. I have always enjoyed his particular brand of wit and humor. While this book showcases that same brand of humor it also showcases how great a writer Michael is. Reading this was like being given front row seats to the Mike & Kit show.

Michael documents his husbands nearly year long struggle with cancer and his subsequent death. He does it with dignity, grace, truth and so much honesty. Not only does he share the good times, he also shares the bad. Their relationship wasn't always great. He is able to convey the difficulties of being a caregiver without sounding resentful . They had issues like everyone else but their love for each other shines through in this moving memoir. If you have ever experienced a life threatening illness with your spouse or partner, this will most definitely hit home with you.  It will make you smile, laugh, and cry. Mostly cry, but it will be well worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an ARC for review.

Spoiler Alert: this book will make you laugh and cry and feel guilty for laughing and give you more emotions than you've been in touch with in a very long time. Ausiello's writing is so friendly and conversational, it really is more like somebody is talking to you than it is like reading a book. I am glad I spent a few hours experiencing the beautiful and heart-wrenching story contained in this book. It was well worth the read, and well worth the tears.

Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies was such a deeply moving memoir and dedication of love. I've been a fan of Michael Ausiello and TVLine for years, but had no idea about his husband's illness and death. Ausiello made me feel so many emotions, from joy, to sorrow, to amusement and hilarity, to grief and deepest sympathy. Above all, it reminded me how important it is to be present in life and shower your loved ones with love while you are able. I'd highly recommend this book!

i've been reading michael ausiello's work for years. i've followed him from tvguide, to entertainment weekly, to his start up television focused website tvline. it's not just because he is good at getting scoops on my favorite shows, although that is part of it, but also because so often his views on shows meshed with mine. sure, maybe it set up some implicit bias, but when you are reading takes on the entertainment you are consuming you want to find someone who has a similar world view. beyond that, however, is also the fact that he is snarky and funny and good at telling stories. and i kind of love someone who isn't afraid to give away the ending. 

i am one of those rare birds who doesn't care about spoilers. nine times out of ten i read the end of books before i'm a quarter of the way through. i still read the whole book, but i like to take surprises out of the equation, for me reading or consuming television isn't about the ending, but about how we get there. in spoiler alert: the hero dies, michael ausiello takes us on a journey from the moment he first met his partner-in-life/future husband, kit cowan to the moment kit succumbs to a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer. 

this story was heartbreaking and sad and funny and honest and brutal and just a love letter to kit. there is grief and loss and anger and so much love that your heart feels full and shattered all at the same time. the way michael can put himself, his insecurities, the imperfections that abounded in his relationship, and the immensity of his love for kit out into the world is kind of wonderful. this is a story worth sharing, a love worth witnessing even when it wasn't easy or beautiful or kind. the reality of living with and loving someone who isn't perfect, but is still the only person for you somehow makes the loss more wrenching, absolutely gutting. 

this is not just another memoir about cancer. michael is unflinching in his descriptions about the ravages of kit's disease, and certainly it's a big part of the story here. but when i think back on what i read, i'm not thinking about the horrors cancer and the therapies meant to cure it put the body through. i'm thinking about love. in every remembrance, every word he writes about kit, even when he's detailing kit's flaws, you can feel the love michael felt for him. and that's what i took away from this. it doesn't matter that the story ends with kit dying, because he loved michael and michael loved him, and love is all you need. 

(n.b.—i'm a total romantic at heart, so there is that. but i think most people would agree with me.)

Michael Ausiello has written a frank, honest, and emotional story about his relationship with Kit and Kit's illness.

I had heard about this book from following his work from TV Line, and since I enjoyed his snarky and entertaining writing there so much I thought I would check it out.

He approached Kit's cancer with such detail and unflinching honesty that you felt that you're right there with them suffering through the difficult times. It was heartbreaking to read about some of the experiences they had, but inspiring to see the joy that Michael could find in small moments.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful storytelling. I've been a fan of TVLine and Michael Ausiello since the Gossip Girl days, and I truly appreciate this memoir. Make sure you have your tissues ready, and be prepared to laugh and cry.

Spoiler alert: this book made me ugly cry. I've been a fan of Michael Ausiello since he was writing  for Entertainment Weekly and TVGuide.com - he's one of my go-to's for tv related news and gossip. What I didn't expect was for this book to make me so emotional. I laughed and cried and cried some more. This is a moving memoir of his relationship with his partner Kit, and how the two navigated Kit's terminal cancer diagnosis.

On one hand, this was a fast read, with a lot of the snark and humor I've come to expect from Michael Ausiello - I've been a fan of his for years and years so I was excited to hear he had written a book. And yes, it was a sad story but for more than just the death of his partner. Yes, parts of it made me smile but too much of it made me think, this is too much information. Nothing is held back, everything is now public information and I guess good for him for putting himself out there but some of what I read felt like it should've stayed private, I felt uncomfortable reading some things. Yes, death is uncomfortable but I'm not even talking about that - it's more just a lot of information about their relationship. Part of me is glad that he doesn't portray Kit as this hero, as the title would suggest, he exposes the flaws in both of them and their relationship, which make the story more relatable. But I wonder if there was just a few things that could've been left out. Maybe they were in the final version. Or maybe it's just me. 3.5 stars

I'm familiar with Michael Ausiello through his work on TVLine however I had no idea about his personal life and his husband,. Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies is a touching memoir that shows us the realistic nature of taking care of a partner who is dying. It is well written, and funny yet also heartbreaking at the same time. And while I did end up tearing up more than I laughed, I definitely enjoyed this one. A movie tribute to his late husband, I also found the epilogue at the end incredibly fitting given how Ausiello is known as a "TV" guy.

I absolutely devoured this book in less than a day. I've been reading Michael Ausiello's writing since he was working at TV Guide, but I was in it for the gossip, behind the scenes stories and scoop on my favourite TV shows. I didn't ever think of him as a writer until I read this book. This is a phenomenally well written memoir. It was beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking, gripping and funny too. It was a tough read at times, as I have personally watched a loved one die from cancer, so it brought back a lot of tough memories. Ultimately this was a fantastic book and nice to see a more personal side of someone whose career I've followed for many years.

Touching and full of ups and downs.  You become enthralled and wrapped up in both Michael and Kit and their love for one another.

I actually read this book not realizing it was a memoir and it changed my opinion. Initially I enjoyed it, though when reading a book I like to connect to the characters as i feel it makes me get lost within the story and I dont feel like I did, hence the 4 stars. That said, its a beautifully written and heartbreaking memoir and one that I will recommend to friends who I think would enjoy it.

We need more diverse books. This book talks about a very hyped topic and spreads much needed awareness. As a reader I've never come across same sex romance but I LOVED this book. it gives us insight on how different relationships are but at the same time they as important than any other. I sobbed and laughed my way through this book and it was worth it. I binge read it in one sitting and i would definitely recommend this book to all the readers out there.

It is near impossible to not be a sobbing, ugly-crying mess after reading this. This memoir was so harrowing, inspiring, and incredibly heartwrenching. It was so REAL; as the reader, I felt a lot of overwhelming feelings while reading this. It's so funny yet so sad. This deals with the themes of love, illness, and loss. While this isn't a light read, I would still recommend this to everyone. It opens your eyes and brings perspective to the common things we see every day in life, and does so in the most emotional and funny ways.

this is a story about death. but, more than that, it's one hell of a love story. i picked up the ARC via NetGalley partly because Michael Ausiello has long been of of my favorite TV critics, partly because the blurb felt like a heart wrenching love story. Both things turned out to be exactly the reasons one should read this book.

Ausiello's writing is so full of emotions and the way he paints us the picture of his longtime love has the reader feeling the empathy and connection to Kit and to their story together. More than that, it takes us to the center of the rollercoaster that Kit's last year was to him, but, most importantly, to Michael himself. It's tragic, it's full of love and friendship and pain. Would recommend thius both to people who are familiar with Michael's personality (it's very apparent in the book) and new readers. 

Also, I love Keri Russell as well.