I thought this book was going to be something completely different, but I was very wrong. This just wasn’t for me.

I have to say, I am a Fan-tez of Chelsea Devantez.

I met Chelsea years ago at a wedding, and was blown away by her charismatic and sparkling personality. Since then, I have enjoyed following her career and rooting her on in the shadows.

First, I need to thank Netgalley, the publisher, and Chelsea Devantez for the honor of reading this ARC.

Chelsea's ability to tell her story, which is downright heartbreaking at times, with grace and humor is such a beautiful presentation. I am very excited for the release of this book- my preferred method for a memoir is to listen to the audiobook, especially when the author does the reading (which is the case with Chelsea's book). I am excited to hear her present this story, not only in her own words, but with her own voice.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to read some good gossip, loves comedy, loves memoirs, or just loves to learn about other people's stories. I know Chelsea says She Shouldn't Be Telling Us This.. But I am glad she did anyway.

I didn't know about this person before I asked to read this but I thought the story sounded intriguing. This isn't a straightforward single story but rather a collection of life stories, just like real life. I had trouble with some of them because they were too realistic and familiar, but this telling was honest and well done. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

DNF at 25% just because of how triggering the topics were for me. It is a hard read due to everything going on in the book.

Please check trigger warnings before reading. I personally found the read entertaining, but heavy. I liked the writing style, the comedy was top tier. Laughing out loud about heavy topics and crying over the same ones on the next page.

I would probably revisit it once I'm in a more stable mental state.

Super fun. A good filler thriller book. Nothing too crazy but I’m glad I was Able to read the ARC.

3 stars

Chelsea Devantez is funny, relatable, humble and someone I'm sure so many of us would love to be friends with!!

I really enjoyed this read and found the authors approach to be a great balance of humor along with sharing some of her tragic life experiences. It was a great peek behind the curtain at the things that so many people, especially women, must overcome to make it in this world and a poignant reminder that what we see on the outside is not everything. The black boxes acting as redaction were a bit confusing and frustrating at first but also served their purpose so I understand the choice. Overall this is one I definitely will be recommending to my favorite female friends.

Thanks to Chelsea Devantez and NetGalley for the advance copy!

"I Shouldn't Be Telling You This" by Chelsea Devantez is a candid and humorous memoir that offers a glimpse into the author's life, filled with embarrassing, confessional, and sometimes TMI moments. Through a series of anecdotes and stories, Devantez shares the highs and lows of her life, from her attempts to break a three-year spell of celibacy to surviving drive-by shootings and domestic violence.

Devantez's writing is witty and engaging, drawing readers in with her relatable and often humorous storytelling. The book is structured around the women who have shaped Devantez's life, from her mother to fictional characters and celebrities, highlighting the importance of female relationships in her journey.

One of the strengths of the book lies in its honesty and vulnerability. Devantez is unafraid to share her most embarrassing and difficult moments, creating a sense of authenticity that resonates with readers. Her stories are both entertaining and enlightening, offering insights into resilience, friendship, and the power of female connections.

Overall, "I Shouldn't Be Telling You This" is a refreshing and entertaining memoir that will appeal to readers looking for a candid and humorous take on life's ups and downs. Chelsea Devantez's storytelling is both relatable and inspiring, making this book a delightful read from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

First, I should tell you non-fiction books are mostly slow reads for me. Unless they are pithy audiobooks to be consumed like podcasts. Second, I still enjoyed this book despite it taking me over a month to read.

I first heard of Chelsea Devantez through her podcast, Glamorous Trash, when it was first called Celebrity Book Club. She and her guests would breakdown celebrity memoirs and really go into the details. It was fun and, yes, a little trashy. When I saw her book was available as an advanced reader's copy, I jumped at the chance. Chelsea, who made all memoirs fun, was writing a memoir I was in.

The book is comedic, but sometimes harrowing, essays about her life. I really liked the essay about an intense friendship called Rebecca. The chapter on her epic wedding called Bridesmaids, that she captured on social, was fun and light.

My only bump with the book was that there was a chapter that was mainly blacked out for legal reasons. It's explained and makes sense by the end. But as a reader, it made for a frustrating read.

Thank you, Hanover Square Press, for this advanced reader's copy.

This book was so funny! I was initially interested in it because I heard the author on a podcast and found her charming. I would recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed the Wreckage of my Presence, Bossypants, etc. I think it would be an excellent book club book, especially if the group included women aged 20-50. Even the often upsetting/heartbreaking personal stories about a tough childhood, horrific relationship, and even a hard friendship ending were engaging.

I’ve known for a long time that I adore Chelsea Devantez. As soon as I listened to the first episode of her podcast covering Jessica Simpson’s book and saw various deep dives on Instagram, I was hooked. I was absolutely thrilled when she announced her memoir and actually squealed when I received the notification that her publisher was sharing an ARC with me (thank you!!)

I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This (But I’m Going to Anyway) is raw, compelling, candid, and funny. Each chapter reveals snippets of Chelsea’s life, the moments that stuck with her, and the women who impacted her every step of the way. (Each chapter is named after a woman in her life). I laughed out loud, I cried, and my admiration for Chelsea increased. There were experiences she’s had that deeply resonated, and others that I read with awe and empathy in response to her grit, tenacity, and vulnerability.

And yes cookies, there’s a psychic moment!

Instead of reading a memoir, I felt like I was having a long overdue catch up with an old friend. You know the ones with the person who just knows you at your core, where you weave seamlessly between deep, intense conversations about traumatic experiences, sprinkled with gossip and advice, and the next thing you know you’re in a fit of side splitting laughter and/or tears that won’t stop flowing?
Like that.
In book form.
From a writer & comedian who hosts a podcast about female celebrity memoirs.

I loved this book and devoured it in the span of a few hours.

Thanks again to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun and iquick read. It is always interesting to read the stories of other people to see where they come from. I enjoyed this book.

I loved this book. It gave me everything I could want for a memoir - honesty (especially about the hard parts), self-reflection, female friendships, a realistic love story, a great mother-daughter relationship and a laugh-out-loud sense of humor.

Like me, Chelsea grew up in domestic violence and I love how honest and unflinching she is about the experience and the cPTSD healing process (it’s never over)!

This book has whole pages covered in black bars, I assume because of court case and documents relating to what Chelsea calls the “big scary domestic violence” thing. As a podcast listener, I’ve heard this story (I think) and I hope one day she gets to tell it publicly (if she wants to).

If you like strong women, funny women and crazy female friendship antics (her godmother!!), read this book.

I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This by Chelsea Devantez was a book I chose to read purely based on the title & I am so glad I did! Very honest & raw - this book made me want to check out Chelsea’s podcast immediately. This is definitely one of my favorite memoirs to date!

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, & Hanover Square Press for an ARC copy of this book.

As a fan of the podcast, when I saw this on Netgalley I jumped on it. I tried to read it slowly but around the 60% mark I couldn’t put it down. We are very different women but I found so much connective tissue throughout the book that I deeply felt passages that I wouldn’t have thought I related to and highlighted at couple of lines every few pages. I liked the tone of the writing, more conversational like a friend telling you a story one on one rather than a public figure. I imagine the audiobook would be really enjoyable for that reason but it’s also good in print.

It was a quick read and I do wish there was more to every story rather than short vignettes but that’s just me wanting every decade to be its own book. Greedy! I laughed, I cried, she was vulnerable, and she shared her truth.

I had a hard time really getting interested in this book but because it's written where each chapter is it's 'own' story it was fun to read piece by piece. I didn't know who this author was before jumping to the book, the cover drew me in. The book is written is multiple drama filled stories but each story retelling feels very raw and like the author puts a lot of trust in her audience. The communication style in the book comes off as close conversations between friends and even had me laughing multiple times. The author follows her life story and her rise in the comedy world and all the hardships that came with it. This was a good book and it's written well, it just wasn't the book for me. I would recommend this if you like memoirs or have Intrest in the behind the scenes of the comedy world.
I received an ARC through NetGalley.

First, I want to say that I didn’t know who the author was before reading this, I went solely on the vibes I got from the book cover (honestly thought it was a thriller at first glance). Second, this isn't my usual book pick, but I must say, I was impressed by the writing and honesty of the author. Great memoir, I'd like to hear her read as an audiobook.

Funny, emotional, and raw. As a fan of Devantez, it was interesting to hear about some of the things she details in the book- and makes me an even bigger fan of her in the present. I didn’t care for the redacted sections, although I understand the point of them and the statement being made by leaving them in. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the arc.

First of all I am so happy to have been given the opportunity to read this book early. I am a fan of Chelsea's podcast but really didn't know much about her history or career before reading this book
If you don't know Chelsea has a podcast that discusses celebrity memoirs. So she's read a lot of them! I was very cognizant of that while reading hers. I think her thought process in putting together I Shouldn't be Telling You this, payed off. The book is not chronological but each chapter has a specific theme. This really worked for me.
The point of a memoir is to get to know someone and to see their growth. This book did that in such a fun and entertaining way! Childhood trauma, abandonment, violence, career challenges, friendship, family relationships and her relationship with her body and food. I related with her in many of her stories. She managed to make me feel sad and heartbroken but also be entertained and laugh on the flip side. Open about her struggles with mental health, Chelsea is very raw but polished in her writing.
She is a comedian and has a sarcastic and self deprecating nature that laces her stories,, which is totally my cup of tea.
I read this book in one day. My favorite chapters were the one's about her godmother and the one about her mom. ( I read this chapter twice and sort of wish I could have attended her grandmother's funeral.)
I find many memoirs to be pretty insufferable but this one is NOT AT ALL.. It is worth a read!!

this was so good. real and raw and honest, funny in places, with a tone that made the writer feel like a friend sat down to coffee to discuss life. i really enjoyed this.

I Shouldn't Be Telling You This: But I'm Going to Anyway is Chelsea Devantez's captivating memoir. Her book is a compilation of essays, each one dedicated to a woman who has made a significant impact in her life.

Through these stories, readers are given a glimpse into the good, the bad and the ugly moments from Chelsea's upbringing. Her recollections of growing up in abusive homes, her years of pursuing her passions, an abnormally large tumor and even her time as a drag queen.

If you enjoy memoirs or are just in need of an amazing read, you need to pick up I Shouldn't Be Telling You This! It broke me, made me laugh hysterically and inspired me. Everything I hope for when reading memoirs.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the honor of reading a digital copy of this book ahead of its publishing date. Opinions are my own.