Gary Janetti is one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram because he always has something hilarious and witty to say. He also frequently says things I think (but would probably never say out loud!). This collection of essays is similar to his first. He shares stories of his childhood and young adulthood, his struggle to come out, plus musings about life in general. One of my favorite essays in this collection was all about how annoying and frustrating destination weddings are. I also enjoyed his essay about the nun he befriended at his Catholic high school; he made up a lie about his parents being headed towards a divorce, just so he could meet with her every day and wouldn't have to go to gym class.

Janetti has one of those unique minds that makes his writing endlessly entertaining - and makes me wish we could be best friends in real life! Although there were a couple essays that missed the mark for me, I'll continue to be a huge fan of all of his work forever.

I love me some Gary Janetti! I finally got around to reading this while at the beach today. Worth the wait! Equal parts touching and laugh out loud funny on everything from love, making friends, travel and the love of movies. Superb!

I loved Gary Janetti's first book, so was so excited to receive an ARC of his new one. It definitely did not disappoint! I sped through this book in about a day and loved the shorter chapters. He has such a distinct voice and some of his stories made me laugh out loud while also being incredibly heartwarming. A quick, light read that would be perfect for the beach this summer. Can't wait to see what he comes out with next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I love Gary Janetti and what I love even more is that this book was short. I love when people don't ramble in books like this and he got right to the point while also keeping me entertained with the pure hilarity.

Gary Janetti is hilarious! He steals the things you're thinking right out of your head and says them in a more humorous way than I ever could. Start Without Me is a collection of essays about the small moments. It's witty, funny, and charming. Janetti has made a fan out of me. Highly recommended!!

Having read and enjoyed Janetti's last book, I was excited to read this one too, and was very happy to enjoy more of the same. This book's stories are focused mostly on his childhood. Quite a few times I found myself laughing out loud. If nothing else, there is a chapter devoted to graduating college students, that is pure perfection, in both it's funniness and stark honesty. Loved this book as something fun and lighthearted to read. Can't wait for his next collection of stories!

A fun, fast candid book of essays written by Gary Janettii. The author will say out loud your inner thoughts that you’d probably never say out loud. Snarky, with humor and heart, read this if you want to smile and need an amusing distraction from life. This was my first book by Janetti, but it won’t be my last one!

Thank you for #Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy for an honest review!

I listened to “Do You Mind if I Cancel,” so I was worried I would miss Gary’s voice while reading. But I heard him loud and clear. From the opening betrayal to the analysis of Wizard of Oz, everything is spot on. I especially love how we can share that our imperfect childhoods without overprotection and too much gloss are the ones that made of people who can value the lives we live now. The ending is perfect. Gary’s wit is cynical and searing…and warm and true. Highly recommend.

Disclosure I received a free copy of this book through netgalley . What follows is my honest opinion .

Gary Janetti has done it again with his second collection of essays. This quick read is an endearing reflection of Janetti's life as a young gay man and the unique perspective he has looking back at it now in his fifties. Full of the same humor readers of his previous collection would expect this set surprised me with a much more sentimental turn in some essays. It's a beautiful book that mixes hilarious hot takes and nostalgic tributes in a way that only Janetti could do. I laughed, I cried and I loved every second of it.

Gary Janetti has a way with words- his wit, charm and humour shine throughout this book. Loved the various tales and laughed throughout. A must read!

Absolutely hysterical and yet so touching at times. The variety of stories made it a delightful experience. I look forward to reading and listening to his other books.

I absolutely loved this collection of short stories. I loved Gary's first book, and think this one was even better. The talk of how much he hates destination weddings, only to end that story with the fact that his was one, was a great funny twist. The stories of Irene and those of his grandmother were heartfelt and touching, and two of my favorites in the book. I also truly loved the chapter on A Chorus Line, as an 80s baby who grew up listening to the OBC cassette soundtrack in my mother's car. A wonderful quick read, and I hope GARY (as Lisa Rinna likes to call him out) does another book soon.

I wasn't familiar with this author but I enjoyed this book a lot and will be reading other work by him. The short, snappy, true-to-life stories are a balance between funny and poignant.

If you just finished Randy Rainbow’s memoir Playing with Myself and are having withdrawal pains, this is the book for you. Both hilarious and painful in equal measures, Start Without Me explores much of the same territory that Randy did — growing up gay, but a decade earlier. Don’t worry about repetition. The anecdotes are unique and so is his perspective. His analysis of The Wizard of Oz alone is worth the price of the book.

Gary Janetti’s latest book is a delight. Cheeky memoirs have a special place in my heart and Start Without Me fits right in there. Gary is honest, sincere, hilarious and doesn’t take himself too seriously. He really embraces his quirks in a very relatable way. While the tanning essay was my personal favorite, I would recommend this to anyone with a love for The Wizard of Oz or who has left their home a little later than intended to avoid their neighbors. 😉

First off, this book was hilarious and entertaining. I also listened to the audiobook and loved that. Gary Janetti is a breath of fresh air. From the Carol Burnett story to Wizard of Oz chapter, I was crying laughing and also crying from some of the memories. I’ve already ordered this book for my housewives fans.

No one makes me laugh like Gary does. His instagram feels like my inner thoughts and his book was the same feeling.

His book is a collection of honest and candid short stories from his life that are funny and sassy while also heart warming.

I may be biased since I relate to Gary a lot. He feels like a kindred spirit and parts of him remind me of me. Fellow born and raised New Yorker, with a sarcastic dry humor. He speaks to the anti-social parts of us who do anything to avoid conversations with their neighbors. But also the the parts of us that would have a conversation with a doorknob.

Those that growing up choose to spend summer days watching TV in the AC with intense tv schedules that cannot be interrupted.

He provides the true humbling advice we all should’ve received when we graduated college.
And how there is no excuse off limits if it helps you get out of gym class.

And he speaks to the parts of us when reading in public, are more concerned with how you look reading than the actual book itself.

“Meryl Streep put less thought into her performance as Karen Silkwood than I did as ‘person at counter with book”.

A few favorites were ‘Sister Wilda’, ‘Carol Burnett’, ‘Teaching Little Fingers How to Play’, ‘Gay Restaurant’, and ‘Irene’. So practically the entire book.

If you like to laugh, then I highly recommend this book and Gary’s first book ‘Do You Mind if I Cancel?’. This one was equally as funny but also had some stories where there is no punchline but I loved just as much. Both books brought me so much joy and I can’t wait to re-read again soon. 💛

Thank you so much @henryholtbook for the gifted copy and package. Gary, thanks for being you.

Rating: 5/5

Going into this book I was not super familiar with Gary Janetti, but I am a sucker for a memoir and anything pop culture, so couldn't wait to dive in!
Hilarious! This book had me cracking up from the jump. It's summertime in Queens and he is praying each day it'll rain so he won't have to play outside. Gary is my people!
Full of pop culture references and plenty of sarcasm, Start Without Me was the perfect read for a rainy Sunday at home. Each story brought the laughs but was also full of heart. The commencement address got me.
At just over 200 pages it's a super quick + super fun read. As enamored as I was by this stories in print, I'd really love to listen to the audiobook and hear him tell each story. Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 4 stars.

Will and Grace writer and creator of the BBC hit series Vicious has once again put a group of humorous, scathing, lighthearted yet warm book of essays together which will make some who are old enough laugh even harder!

In this new collection, Gary reminisces about some memories from childhood, and as a young adult as well as, and in Gary’s classic style, complains about what irks him, and quite frankly many things do. A loner since he left his mother’s womb, he will easily admit to never being a people person. I believe because of this his other senses have taken over and his outlook on life is a bit quirky, but funny in all the right places.

As someone who would rather spend time alone, Gary spent his younger years with his best friend, the television. He would spend summers in front of the tv rather than being outside. Later, as a young adult he would change this as he continually tried to perfect the perfect tan, but that’s another funny essay. One summer his mother made him go to summer day camp. It lasted three days. Then he was back to watching all his stories down in the basement again, constantly asking his mother to please put the air-conditioning on and her replying, we had it on yesterday.

In another essay he tells a witty and truly genius story getting out of gym. In high school Gary really had no friends and he was not athletic, so when it came to a quarter of football in gym, Gary was adamant he would not take that quarter. Now Gary went to a Catholic high school with nuns. So, he decided to go to the guidance counselor during gym time and tell her this story about how he was upset with his home life because his parents were divorcing (they were not) and his mother was drinking (she was not). She was so taken aback by his story that she continued the whole quarter to give him a pass from gym class so he could come talk to her. As he began to run out of drama, he would throw in bits from the soap operas he would watch when he got home from school! The nun was mesmerized.

I think my favorite essay was “Irene” about the first neighbor they met when they moved into the house his parents still live in over fifty years ago. She came over to introduce herself and told them she had lived on the street the longest of any of the neighbors. Her mother became best friends with her through the years and she became Gary’s second mother, telling her things he perhaps would not say to his parents. It’s a beautifully written piece and shows Gary actually does have a heart!

An extremely funny story is the one in which Gary tells the reader he moves constantly. The reason being he does not want to talk to the neighbors. It’s too much pressure for him. He would rather be late for an appointment than go outside when one of the neighbors is out there. And when he has accidently actually conversed with a neighbor? Well, you will just have to read the essay!

Start Without Me is a truly hilarious look at Gary Janetti’s life. For some, the essays some of which span the 1980’s and 90’s will be incredibly relatable! Janetti is a quiet man who does not appreciate interacting with people, which in the business he is in is quite the oxymoron. He sometimes writes what we all sometimes feel with incredible style and incredible timing!

Thank you #NetGalley #HenryHoltandCo. #GaryJanetti #StartWithoutMe for the advanced copy.

Gary Janetti is hilarious and this book delivers. It is a perfect, light read to take your mind off the world and help you laugh out loud. This book is full of wisdom and heart - don't miss it!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. Start Without Me is out 4/26/22.