Party Of One

Dave Holmes has spent his life on the periphery, nose pressed hopefully against the glass, wanting just one thing- to get inside. Growing up, he was the artsy kid in the sporty family. At his high school and Catholic college, he was the closeted gay kid surrounded by crush-worthy straight guys. And in his twenties, in the middle of a disastrous career in advertising, he accidentally became an MTV VJ overnight when he finished second, naturally, in the Wanna Be a VJ contest, opening the door to fame, fortune, and celebrity-you know, almost. But despite all the close calls, or possibly because of them, he just kept trying, and if (spoiler alert) he never quite succeeded, at least he got some good stories out of it. In Party of One, Dave tells the hilariously painful and painfully hilarious tales-in the vein of Rob Sheffield, Andy Cohen, Josh Kilmer-Purcell, Paul Feig, and Augusten Burroughs-of an outsider desperate to get in, of a misfit constantly changing shape, of a guy who finally learns to accept himself. Structured around a mix of hits and deep cuts from the '80s, '90s, and '00s-from Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart" to Wilson Phillips's "Impulsive" to En Vogue's "Free Your Mind" and beyond-and punctuated with interludes like "So You've Had Your Heart Broken in the 1990s- A Playlist," this book is for anyone who's ever felt like a square peg, especially those who found their place in the world, as we often do, around a band, an album, or a song. It's a laugh-out-loud funny, deeply nostalgic memoir about never fitting in, never giving up, and letting good music guide the way.

About the Author :
DAVE HOLMES is a writer, comedian, and television personality based in Los Angeles. After working for five years as an MTV VJ, Dave has hosted shows for CBS, Bravo, Comedy Central, Court TV, E!, FX, History, TV Guide Network, and many more, most recently American Canvas for Ovation. He is a writer-at-large for Esquire.com; a contributor toaNew York Magazine's Vulture; an on-air personality on SiriusXM's The Spectrum, and a performer at Upright Citizens Brigade, IO West, and Second City theaters. He was recently named one of NPR's 10 Favorite Pop Culture Personalities, and is a frequent guest on such podcasts as Nerdist, Comedy Bang Bang, and Crybabies, as well as a commentator on clip shows all over the television dial. His monthly comedy game show, The Friday Forty, is currently running at Chris Hardwick's Nerdist Theater in Hollywood.

Review :
One of NPR's Great Reads of 2016 One of Esquire's Best Books of 2016 Goodreads Choice Award nominee "Dave Holmes's hilarious memoir will delight pop culture junkies.... What makes Party of One such a standout in this overcrowded genre is Holmes's voice, which is conversational, insightful about how the entertainment we consume informs our memories and, most important, really, really funny.... It will strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt inhibited or insecure. Which is to say, it will resonate with everyone." --Washington Post "[A] wonderful writer and comedian...[Holmes] has penned the funniest memoir I've read all year. Reading his book is like catching up with your favorite friend and music nerd." --Jessica Reedy, NPR "Dave Holmes's Party of One is the latest great gay American book.... While [it] is so consistently hilarious that it might deceive you into thinking it's a lighter, less serious read than the aforementioned literature-with-a-capital-L, do not be fooled: Party of One is every bit as deserving to be considered in this new wave of essential, unmissable gay writing." --Gawker "Equal parts funny and heartfelt...an absolute treat." --Entertainment Weekly (Must List) "Party of One is as charming as it is funny, and it's a testament to how pop music has the power to shape our lives." --Esquire "Holmes has a knack for breezy prose that's insightful and funny--i.e., the kind of writing everyone on the internet aims for, but seldom hits, because the humor is labored or the perspective isn't strong enough. Holmes' voice translates nicely to book form, particularly when reliving awkward and painful moments from his past." --A.V. Club "Holmes approaches his own story with warmth and a sense of humor...[in this] engaging tale.... He painstakingly makes sure each song rings true...[and] offers up his heart on his sleeve." --Newsday "Exceptionally funny and memorable.... This memoir will fill your summer with nostalgia, music, and laughter." --Bustle (13 New Memoirs to Read This Summer) "The greatest strength of Holmes' book is its specificity. He has a very keen ability to slow moments down and examine them to expose a nugget of truth.... There is a warmth and sincerity that carries throughout.... If you've ever felt like that aforementioned bee girl [from Blind Melon's "No Rain" video], this is great book that might also help you feel like you aren't partying alone." --Lambda Literary "Holmes' prose style is engaging and witty. For fellow addicts of pop culture, there is no better book to pack in your beach bag this summer." --Bookish "The best memoirs offer more detail on the parts of the subject's life you already know about, and then illuminate some parts you didn't. Party of One accomplishes both." --DCist "A sharp and sharp-witted reflection on what it was like to grow up gay and feeling like you never belong." --Daily Beast "A hilarious memoir and a great summer beach book." --Towleroad "Humorous, yet poignant.... Holmes doesn't shy away from discussing his early struggles with his sexuality as a closeted gay teen, often in a wry, self-effacing way." --Huffington Post "Holmes is all charm, and his self-deprecating style makes his story relatable and engaging without feeling self-involved. A hilarious and touching coming-of-age story that will strike a particular nerve among Generation Y." --Kirkus Reviews "While [Holmes is] inarguably a funny guy, he's also a thoughtful one who has interesting things to say about life away from the camera. And saying them, he's always good company. Welcome to his party." --Booklist "In Party of One, Dave Holmes goes deep into all the ways loving music warps you for life, from shaping your teen crush on Huey Lewis to putting you on MTV at the peak of the TRL era. But his book is also a tenderly hilarious and moving tale of trying to grow up--whether that means coming out at your Catholic college, hitting the hot tub with Kid Rock, or getting that sensation that the singer on your radio is the only soul who truly understands you." --Rob Sheffield, New York Times bestselling author of Love Is a Mix Tape "Who better to marry great storytelling with great songs? Dave Holmes's love of music and pop culture is infectious, and his stories are hilarious!" --Andy Cohen, New York Times bestselling author of Most Talkative "Party of One speaks a secret language to those of us who grew up at a time when being different was something to be hidden rather than celebrated. Holmes' masterful wit and colorful storytelling never obscures the soulful honesty underneath--which is exactly the lesson we "different" kids learned to live with. Fantastically fun and captivating." --Josh Kilmer-Purcell, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Not Myself These Days "Party of One is a perfect memoir--hilarious, moving, and full of beauty. Holmes writes at all times with great heart, brains, and courage." --Darin Strauss, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of Half a Life "I love this book. I felt so many of the things that Holmes describes with grace and candor, from our shared pop culture shorthand to our nearly unbearable love of music. There are also a million jokes packed in here. I went over each paragraph to laugh again and again." --Margaret Cho, bestselling author of I'm the One That I Want "While the soundtrack to Dave Holmes' young life may have been primarily composed of American and British Top 40, his glorious attention to detail has more in common with Bach. And I mean Johann Sebastian Bach, not the lithe, sexy bigot who sang for Skid Row. This is an exquisite music memoir that easily fulfills its goals of entertaining people young and old and helping them figure out where the hell they fit in." --Rob Delaney One of NPR's Great Reads of 2016 One ofEsquire'sBest Books of 2016 Goodreads Choice Award nominee Dave Holmes s hilarious memoir will delight pop culture junkies . What makes Party of One such a standout in this overcrowded genre is Holmes s voice, which is conversational, insightful about how the entertainment we consume informs our memories and, most important, really, really funny . It will strike a chord with anyone who has ever felt inhibited or insecure. Which is to say, it will resonate with everyone. Washington Post "[A] wonderful writer and comedian...[Holmes] has penned the funniest memoir I've read all year. Reading his book is like catching up with your favorite friend and music nerd." Jessica Reedy, NPR "Dave Holmes's Party of Oneis the latestgreat gay American book.... While [it]is so consistently hilarious that it might deceive you into thinking it s a lighter, less serious read than the aforementioned literature-with-a-capital-L, do not be fooled: Party of One is every bit as deserving to be considered in this new wave of essential, unmissable gay writing." Gawker Equal parts funny and heartfelt...an absolute treat. Entertainment Weekly(Must List) "Party of One is as charming as it is funny, and it's a testament to how pop music has the power to shape our lives." Esquire Holmes has a knack for breezy prose that s insightful and funny i.e., the kind of writing everyone on the internet aims for, but seldom hits, because the humor is labored or the perspective isn t strong enough. Holmes voice translates nicely to book form, particularly when reliving awkward and painful moments from his past. A.V. Club Holmes approaches his own story with warmth and a sense of humor...[in this] engaging tale.... He painstakingly makes sure each song rings true...[and] offers up his heart on his sleeve. Newsday Exceptionally funny and memorable . This memoir will fill your summer with nostalgia, music, and laughter. Bustle(13 New Memoirs to Read This Summer) The greatest strength of Holmes book is its specificity. He has a very keen ability to slow moments down and examine them to expose a nugget of truth.... There is a warmth and sincerity that carries throughout.... If you ve ever felt like that aforementioned bee girl [from Blind Melon's "No Rain" video], this is great book that might also help you feel like you aren t partying alone. Lambda Literary Holmes prose style is engaging and witty. For fellow addicts of pop culture, there is no better book to pack in your beach bag this summer. Bookish The best memoirs offer more detail on the parts of the subject s life you already know about, and then illuminate some parts you didn t.Party of Oneaccomplishes both. DCist Asharp and sharp-witted reflection on what it was like to grow up gay and feeling like you never belong. Daily Beast A hilarious memoir and a great summer beach book. Towleroad Humorous, yet poignant....Holmes doesn t shy away from discussing his early struggles with his sexuality as a closeted gay teen, often in a wry, self-effacing way. Huffington Post Holmes is all charm, and his self-deprecating style makes his story relatable and engaging without feeling self-involved. A hilarious and touching coming-of-age story that will strike a particular nerve among Generation Y. Kirkus Reviews "While [Holmes is] inarguably a funny guy, he s also a thoughtful one who has interesting things to say about life away from the camera. And saying them, he s always good company. Welcome to his party. Booklist In Party of One, Dave Holmes goes deep into all the ways loving music warps you for life, from shaping your teen crush on Huey Lewis to putting you on MTV at the peak of the TRL era. But his book is also a tenderly hilarious and moving tale of trying to grow up whether that means coming out at your Catholic college, hitting the hot tub with Kid Rock, or getting that sensation that the singer on your radio is the only soul who truly understands you. Rob Sheffield, New York Times bestselling author of Love Is a Mix Tape Who better to marry great storytelling with great songs? Dave Holmes s love of music and pop culture is infectious, and his stories are hilarious! Andy Cohen, New York Timesbestselling author ofMost Talkative Party of Onespeaks a secret language to those of us who grew up at a time when being different was something to be hidden rather than celebrated. Holmes masterful wit and colorful storytelling never obscures the soulful honesty underneath which is exactly the lesson we different kids learned to live with. Fantastically fun and captivating. Josh Kilmer-Purcell, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Not Myself These Days Party of One is a perfect memoir hilarious, moving, and full of beauty. Holmes writes at all times with great heart, brains, and courage. Darin Strauss, National Book Critics Circle Award winning author of Half a Life I love this book. I felt so many of the things that Holmes describes withgrace andcandor, from our shared popculture shorthand to our nearlyunbearable love of music.There are also a million jokes packed in here. I went over each paragraph to laugh again and again. Margaret Cho, bestselling author of I m the One That I Want While the soundtrack to Dave Holmes' young life may have been primarily composed of American and British Top 40, his glorious attention to detail has more in common with Bach. And I mean Johann Sebastian Bach, not the lithe, sexy bigot who sang for Skid Row. This is an exquisite music memoir that easily fulfills its goals of entertaining people young and old and helping them figure out where the hell they fit in. Rob Delaney "