This book is so jumbled. There is no narrative flow or structure. While some portions were interesting, the book reminded me of a amateur blog post. Nico's description of themself just seems so performative. Their intent may be more genuine, but their descriptions of experiences and emotions, just seem so performative and contrived.

This book made me think more clearly about things that have felt a little out-of-focus until now. I know, that’s a huge claim. But gender fluidity and sexual fluidity is all very nebulous and can be a daunting subject. Don’t ever google it, you won’t get all that much helpful information and will probably end up more confused than when you started.

Tortorella’s story is a detailed and personal journey from the early days of feeling loved while wiping make-up from their mother’s eyes to an adult beginning to feel more comfortable in their own skin and with their own feelings and desires.

"I never felt like I was in the wrong body. And the more I realized I had been born into the wrong world, not the wrong body, the more things started to make sense." – Nico Tortorella in Space Between

This book is a remarkable story written by someone who is still an unfinished piece of work. The fact that Tortorella is writing a book this profound at such a young age makes me joyful about anything they may write in the future. Clearly, they have done a lot of soul searching and self-care. Equally as clear is that Tortorella has been through the wars.

"No one asks if you’re nonbinary or trans, or if you’re comfortable in your skin. You ultimately get reduced to who you’re having sex with. No one ever says, “Hey, who are you? What do you believe in? What do you care about?” These are questions that might actually get us somewhere, but instead, the focus is on what we do with what’s between our legs.". – Nico Tortorella in Space Between.

This isn’t just a memoir about early life… it’s the recounting of a journey that is both spiritual and personal. The author is candid about gender identity, addictions, homophobia, biphobia, sexual fluidity, relationships, Hollywood and the exploration and challenges as they navigated all of it. This isn’t a dramatic, Hollywood tell-all: this is a book that reads as though it’s someone’s truth, and that the pieces of the story are imparted with a hope that it might assist someone else to find their way.

"You don’t get to say who you are becoming. Really loving someone means you get to be a witness, blessed to be a part of their experiences, even if only sometimes." – Nico Tortorella in Space Between

Tortorella weaves together their internal dialogue with the exterior events in a way that enables the reader to see a glimpse of what their life has been like. Their life has been complex but full of profound learnings, some of which have a high cost.

This was so interesting and educational and I hope it will get a wide audience.

Nico is quite the character! Now I know this is an autobiography but he is just something else - and that has nothing to do with the gender identity or sexual preference aspect. A modern day hippie, artist, actor, poet... very diverse and fascinating person to read about.

I loved his family and how regardless of each other’s views and opinions there is still a wonderful bond of love, acceptance and forgiveness when needed.

One thing that definitely hit home for me was just the constant everyday struggle that it is for this community to just go about and live their lives. It is sad and eye opening and it must be tiring to have to always think and gage.

I have to say that my interest started to wane when he got into the jungle, self actualization aspects because it got away from the relationship aspects (though I suppose this was about his relationship to his self). After the second jungle trip (with Bethany) they are engaged and then married and then it was over. It ended too soon! The epilogue states that this is something they will have to discover how to navigate together but that’s hopefully the next story!

I hope that I have not said or used any inappropriate terms. I have a tremendous respect for the journey he has taken to get to this point and that he works tirelessly to make the world a more accepting and loving place for us all. Well done!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Crown Publishing for a copy in exchange for a review.