Cover Image: Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse

Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse

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Member Reviews

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved reading and learning about Shane’s life. Through it all, he just wants people to understand he is just like everyone else. He wants to live a full life with love and laughter. His stories were so funny. Highly recommend.

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Eh some of it was funny but it just ok. Funny cover. I liked a couple of other books by Shane Burcaw. Why, I don't know.

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This is the first book I read from Shane Burcaw, but I watch his YouTube channel and was really excited to see that I could request this for review! Each chapter in the book is filled with stories about his life with a disability. Shane is able to spin even the most heartbreaking story into something hilarious. His personality, humor and light is contagious! After finishing this book, I purchased his first memoir, Laughing at my Nightmare, and I cannot wait to start it! I highly recommend this Strangers Assume My Girlfriend is my Nurse, I don’t think you will be disappointed!

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Too similar to his first book, Laughing At My Nightmare, and since I have that title in my classroom library already, I will not include this title.

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Shane Burcaw has a sense of humor and doesn’t shy away from any topic, be it poking fun at himself, his disability, his friends and family, or life itself for that matter. This is a very readable, quick, engaging look at someone living with a severe disability and how he uses humor, wit, and intellect to help cope with life as he lives it. I appreciate the fact that he tries to look on the bright side of things and that he is happy with his life, I wish him only the best and will recommend this book to my adult friends, especially when they need to learn how to overcome negative thoughts and look at their own struggles through a brighter colored lens. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance read copy, I am glad I read it!

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Shane's sense of humor has always been fantastic. He instantly comes across as your goofball friend. Shane shares his life with readers once again in this work. This was fantastic and eye opening all at once. Those that aren't familiar with Shane are missing out. He is not only hilarious, but also insightful, and has a great approach to life. It can be so easy to focus on the negative and what others think of you, but Shane shows readers that you are more than others thoughts about you.

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As snarky here as in "Laughing At My Nightmare," Shane Burcaw continues to develop his writing skill. He makes no bones about his unique perspective, but he's confident enough now to show some of his vulnerabilities and insecurities. A great read for anyone, but especially for teens.

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Eye opening and entertaining! Though I did not read the first book, I felt as though I followed everything well. His wit and humor makes me want to go back and read the first book though!

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I love Shane's snarky, sarcastic wit and humor in "Laughing At My Night" and it still shows in "Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse". Shane's preception of the world dealing with a disability, and life in general, is spot on .

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This book was a delight to read! Not only is Burcaw's tone hilarious, he covers so many topics deftly. So often, people who live with disabilities have to contend with "normal" people's pity, and Burcaw's work really emphasizes how unnecessary this is. Life with a disability isn't a death sentence or a prison, it's just different, and can be filled with as much joy and complication as any other life. It's refreshing to read about a person living happily, and not endure the tragedy porn that permeates the conversation.

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Shane Burcaw may have a debilitating condition but that doesn’t make him someone to pity and it certainly doesn’t mean you should stop him in the street to pray over him. With his token humor, Shane tells the nitty gritty details about the day to day but also makes sure you know he’s got a pretty good life going for him. Would definitely recommend.

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This book takes place after his first book and describes Shane Burcaw's life experiences in the wake of his popularity and in the growth of his activism. Shane delves further into his challenges and successes in becoming an independent adult. Burcaw has many of the uncomfortable experiences that other new adults have, like wanting privacy when making phone calls to his girlfriend and wanting to saw awake longer than his parents and caregivers. Shane modifies his world so that he can make the R-rated phone calls outside of his parents' hearing. As his speaking engagements became more popular, Shane was expected to travel more. It can be difficult for someone with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Shane finds ways to address these challenges and continue to live his life.

I love that Burcaw's books are real. Reading his book felt like I was sitting down for a cup of coffee with him and having a conversation. His humor can be a bit much at times, but that is what makes him so likeable and feel like a guy I could know. I think he addresses issues that the able-bodied majority may not realize or know and he does it in a way that gets readers thinking. I enjoyed this book as much as his first and can't wait for more to come.

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Students need memoirs that are interesting and honest and show them a life that either resembles their own and validates their experiences or shows them someone else’s life and builds empathy. This book does just that. It’s honest and raw and a bit inappropriate at times - everything a 7th grader (or older) seeks. Many of my most reluctant readers soaked up every word of Burcaw’s Laughing at my Nightmare, so I can’t wait to share this one with them once it releases. I’ve already told many of them that I was reading this title and they were so excited.

The chapters serve as snippets of experiences Burcaw lives with on a regular basis and really get readers thinking about their reactions and behaviors, Even as an adult, there were many things I learned and had never considered before. It’s embarrassing to think we live in a country that has done so little to make air travel more convenient for travelers in wheelchairs. This is exactly the text we need for today’s young people to be motivated to make differences in our world.

Thank you to Burcaw for his honesty, sense of humor, and willingness to share personal expereiences.

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The last few essays were the best and truly pulled the collection together. Some of the others were a bit too brief for my taste--more funny anecdotes than essays.

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