I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Jamie Andrews takes a witty yet emotional journey into her adolescence in the book “The Brink: A Memoir”.

The Synopsis

Andrews unblinkingly delivers this tale of her troubled adolescence, detailing her descent into depression, promiscuity, drugs and institutionalization – all before the age of 18. Told from the point of view of a teenage sociopath, The Brink is funny, harrowing, lurid and absolutely true.

A deep, dark look at growing up in 90s suburbia, The Brink is eminently relatable to the ostracized youth of today, those who have been there, and those who enjoy gawking at car wrecks.

Jaime Andrews has been a comedic commentator (TruTV’s World’s Dumbest), an album cover-girl (My Chemical Romance), a columnist (Backstage, New Thinking), a commercial queen, a theater manager and, most recently, an award-winning filmmaker (Division). Way before that, though, she was the big mess you’ll find in these pages.

The Review 

What immediately struck me when reading this incredible book was the depth of honesty and the casual tone in which the author wrote. The steady progression from teenage outbursts to more steady streams of depression and the harrowing experiences in institutions allowed the reader to connect with the author and their life. 

The way the author organized this memoir was terrific. The book takes readers through her life as she experienced it, allowing the reader to feel the buildup, tension, and shocking events as they unfolded. The emotional weight of these experiences perfectly underscored the witty and direct writing style and speaks to the harsh realities that many young people face every day. 

The Verdict 

Poignant, concise, yet emotionally compelling and incredibly witty, author Jamie Andrew’s “The Brink” is a must-read memoir. The heart and charm that went into the writing of this story and the inspiring way her story reached out to others who have experienced similar events made this a remarkable story to get lost in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out this book today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

On the outskirts of popular culture for over 20 years, Jaime Andrews started acting professionally at the age of 12 at Arena Playhouse on Long Island. Best known for her work as a comedic commentator on TruTV’s World’s Dumbest, she has been a billboard model (Stoli), an album cover-girl (My Chemical Romance), a columnist (Backstage, New Thinking), a commercial queen (she shipped her pants for K-mart and has hung out with the Geico gecko and Chester Cheetah, among dozens of others), a theater manager (Sacred Fools) and, most recently, an award-winning filmmaker (Division, now available on several platforms). She was a recurring Guest Star on Good Girls Revolt, whose premature cancellation started an online firestorm at the dawn of the Me Too movement.

Jaime’s memoir, The Brink – about her tumultuous teen years – will be published in 2023, and she has several projects in the works through her production company, jaimation. She is also working on a graphic novel, Cookie & the Monster, adapted from her play which won best show in the Ensemble Theatre category at the 2015 Hollywood Fringe Festival.

http://www.jaimeandrews.com/