Just by Looking at Him

A Novel

By: Ryan O'Connell

Narrated by: Ryan O'Connell

From the star of Peacock’s Queer as Folk and the Netflix series Special comes a “funny, tender, and beautiful” (Gary Janetti, New York Times bestselling author) novel following a gay TV writer with cerebral palsy as he fights addiction and searches for acceptance in an overwhelmingly ableist world.

Elliott appears to be living the dream as a successful TV writer with a doting boyfriend. But behind his Instagram filter of a life, he’s grappling with an intensifying alcohol addiction, he can’t seem to stop cheating on his boyfriend with various sex workers, and his cerebral palsy is making him feel like gay Shrek.

After falling down a rabbit hole of sex, drinking, and Hollywood backstabbing, Elliott decides to limp his way towards redemption. But facing your demons is easier said than done.

“With his singular voice and unforgettable wit” (Steven Rowley, author of The Guncle), Ryan O’Connell presents a candid, biting, and refreshingly real commentary on gay life, laugh-out-loud exploration of self, and a rare insight into life as a person with disabilities.

©2022 Ryan O'Connell. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

It’s an OK book

It’s an OK book. Overall . It makes sense and it’s cute. Is it a masterpiece? Absolutely not. But it works .

I hope the author went to therapy

The whispering was hard to hear.

It was enlightening to hear the author's perspective on his experience with a disability and being gay. I truly hope he received professional help for his low self-worth and self-loathing.

Waaaaao! What a read!

Great book! So happy I read it! Super funny. He is a genius to narrate and i can not imagine this book wothout his voice to read it. Also a book that touches so many important topics! Great representation for the minories as well. Just great read. You have to listen to it! ❤️

Cock 🙈🥰

I was on the set of Miracle Workers with Steve Busemi 10 feet away slapping muscles guys asses in an episode. one of the set boys was reading this book and I saw the cover and thought that sounds/looks interesting and on my way home I looked it up. I heard the first paragraph read aloud with him describing his boyfriends dick on audible here and I was hooked. The narration is so cute and the whole book was very lovable and funny and real. I liked how everything worked out in the end too. Him impressed by his perfect clean asshole and his eating lunch with his dad and a fling in the bathroom were some parts that stood out. I think of it as a sweet bedtime story I was told when I think back. ❤️

Couldn't put it down!

Love hearing Ryan's books in his voice. Inflection, reflection, humor. A+ would listen again

Transformational

The author takes a journey to accept (or not no spoilers) his disability. As a 50 year old disabled woman, I enjoyed this novel although I think non-disabled people would get a lot out it too as author reflects on relationships (romantic, familial, work, friendship) One warning do not get if you’re squeamish about descriptions of bodies or sex.

Memoir?

I'm familiar with the author and actor. The story seems like a autobiography; He's quite talented, but as the author of the book I have some issues. He talks too fast, and I found it difficult to understand some of his prose. I'm from NYC, so I'm used to fast talk, but this is much to fast, and often not understandable. I found little that brings this book an interesting read. I do like the author/actor personally, but can't recommend this read, even if LGBTQ or disabled persons are the main the theme. I recommend you skip this for BB now, unless you're interested in his casting in Queer as Folk. I was hoping for more.

Beautiful journey

Wonderfully read & written by Ryan O’ Connell! This book is witty, endearing and is relatable to all! I strongly recommend it! ❤️❤️

Such a great listen!

This book had me laughing out loud quite often and also tearing up at times. I loved listening to Ryan read his own story. It really brought it home for me.

Must read

I think Ryan O’Connell is an essential voice in media today. I have loved everything he has written and his show Special. His work, expounding the experience of otherness, of being a minority within a minority, while showing the vulnerability and uncertainty that is universal to all. Brutally honest, sexy, funny, embarrassing, heartwarming, and heartbreaking. I was sad that this book ended. Looking forward to his next work.