This book made me cry in the end. I could barely put it down, I think I read it in about five days. The topics in the book include suicide, drugs, and alcohol abuse. There are many ups and downs, I celebrated his achievements and mourned his losses.

I was happy that James never relapsed. I think that if he would have started drinking again I would not have enjoyed the book as much.

I picked up "My Friend Leonard" by James Frey. This book is the follow up to "A Million Little Pieces" which is the book that started such a furor last year. The one that the author claimed to be true and the Smoking Gun website discovered was more likely an exaggeration of the truth. Oprah went a lil crazy and everyone trashed the guy. What a lot of people didn't take into account is that "true" or "somewhat true" "A Million Little Pieces" was a great book. A story of the hell of rehabilitaion from drugs and alcohol that rings true whether or not some of the details are fabricated. There's a review of it somewhere in these blogs ) if you care to look for it. But bottom line, I highly recommend taking the time to read it. Now, "My Friend Leonard" picks up the author's life after he gets out of rehab and tells you how his life progressed from then on with the help, often uninvited, of his friend Leonard. Frey's frantic style of writing keeps the pages turning and before you know it the end is happening. The characters in Frey's books just kind of speak to you in a personal way. As I said before, the details that are fabricated don't matter, it's the kernel of truth that seems to shine through that keeps you interested. Leonard is entirely too much of a good thing wrapped in a bad package to be entirely real but it's inconsequential. Because I would give my left leg to have a Leonard and so would most of the people I know. James Frey is a better man for having a Leonard and he knows it. And this is his way of acknowledging it. Good for Mr Frey, I'm fuckin' jealous. I'm also glad he decided to share Leonard with me because it made me smile thinking that if a fuck up like James Frey could find a Leonard (real or not, something helped steer him towards life) than anyone can. Hopeful thoughts aren't necessarily plentiful these days so when a good one comes along snatch it outta the air and keep it for awhile.
I started this book on the bus Sunday and just finished it this afternoon. And I've gotta say, I kinda wish there was more of it to read

Whilst in rehab, James Frey finds a father figure in Leonard, a shady mafia boss. When Leonard returns to his dubious, prosperous life in the criminal underworld of Las Vegas, he promises James his support on the outside.

Tragedy strikes the day James is released and his world implodes. Unsure where to turn, he calls Leonard. It is in Leonard’s lawless underworld that James discovers the courage and humanity needed to rebuild his life.

Having read this book’s prequel earlier in the year, I had a feeling that this would not disappoint.

Oh, was I wrong.

It didn’t disappoint.

It exceeded my every expectation and so much more.

With no doubt or hesitation in my mind, I can say that this novel is one of the most beautiful and moving books I have ever, ever read.

I can not remember a time that I felt so connected to the people within a story. After spending the past few days with James and Leonard and all the wonderful people they’ve introduced me to, it’s hard to believe they’re not going to come walking through my door at any moment.

I adore these two men as though they are my very own friends. How can I not when I have so intimately shared in so much of their lives? Their joy, their sorrow, their pain? The highs, the lows, everything in between?

Having finished their beautiful story, my heart is broken but it’s also remarkably full, too.

I feel like there are very few books that can evoke emotion quite like My Friend Leonard has in me, and I doubt I shall ever read anything like it again. And, do you know what? I’m glad of that. Nothing could even come close.

To read a raw and intimate novel is one thing, but to read it in as unusual a writing style as this is another. The stream of consciousness manner in which James writes is baffling and difficult to read at times, but also fascinating beyond words. I truly feel that this is a form of narrative that only he, as a writer, can successfully pull off.

I’m so incredibly lucky to have discovered James, read his incredible story, and met his phenomenal friend, Leonard. I actually beg that you do too ❤️‍

Ever wondered what goes on in the mind of an ex-addict? or ex-prisoner?
This book is about second chances and living. The author and protagonist, James Frey manages to make you smile, laugh and cry. The book is written in such a way that James seems to be voicing out his thoughts and memories. So you definitely feel that connection.
Lesson that I learned:
"I don't do it because I like it, because I don't. I sit and I take the pain and I ignore the pain and I forget the pain because I want to learn some form of control."

I am so fucking behind on everything in my life. Here are my "private notes" I made for myself like a zillion weeks ago when I actually read this book. I though I'd have time to make them into an actual review, and maybe one day I will. Until then, here's some scribbley nonsense.

The quirky style gets in the way of the story with this one, unlike in A Million Little Pieces, where it meshed and pulled you in. Here it's overdone and kind of cripples the prose, makes it plodding and harder to read, not musical like he clearly wants. The story's good, and sad, but also maudlin and overdramatic and way too fairytale-is (if you can suspend your disbelief enough to call a story about recovering mobsters and suicidal women and despair and despair and despair fairytale-ish). Sorry, James. Not so good this time.

My finish date here is when I gave up reading this one… it got many good reviews, but I really did not like it! I found myself cleaning out a kitchen cupboard rather than reading it … that is when I gave it up….127 pages in …
Good bye to this one!

This book was riveting.

I remeber reading this book and kept wanting more. It is not a romance book by far which it took me way out of my elements cause that is what I'm partial too. I'm glad I gave it a chance though.

I normally would reserve the 5 star rating for a book that I think NOONE should miss...but I just have to give this book 5 stars. Some people might like it, some people might think it is just okay. I read it immediately following A Million Little Pieces, and it is a great sequel.
I love Leonard.
I love Leonard.
I love Leonard.
I cried harder at the end of this book than I have ever cried after a book or movie...maybe it's because I am a pregnant hormonal headcase right now...but I SOBBED.
Then I told my husband about it a couple of hours later and sobbed some more.
I really love this book.
It totally touched me and I loved it.

This reminded me of the worst things a writer can be: exploitative, narcissistic, lazy, disingenuous, saccharine, a vulture of the heart and human suffering, and a bad liar. It made me hate briefly the whole endeavour of writing.

AMAZING! tear wrenching at the end, and of course i was reading it in the middle of spanish class, literally bawling my eyes out. I really thought that a Million Little Pieces was great but this even topped it more, ughghhghghghghhg just soooooo good:)

Oh Oh Frey what have you done to me?
One doesn't need no bookmarks for this..
I highly recommend that before you read this , get done with the first book "A million Little Pieces" (trust me it would take a few hours only) so that you can ACTUALLY understand the intense relationship between James and Lilly and James and Leonard.
I am completely obsessed with your life James Frey, memoir or not!! This book is brilliant..it is not just a story, its an experience the readers will remember and hold on to for the rest of their life.
How I wish there were a million more books by my new best friend Frey.