One of These Things First A Memoir

“This is a memoir for anyone who loves Paddy Chayefsky and Hanya Yanagihara. Gaines has [written] . . . a lyrical, wry and precisely excavated book which zaps you back to that moment when you first wonder, ‘Is this really who I am? What does it mean to not be what I think I’m supposed to be? Can I change?’” —Carl Swanson, New York magazine
“A longtime journalist and artful chronicler of New York lives, Gaines’s look back at his own is shocking, funny, and sometimes shockingly funny. A real treasure.” —The Boston Globe
 
“Growing up gay in pre-trendy Brooklyn wasn’t always a joyride. . . . [Gaines’s] harrowing account . . . is eye opening, touching and ultimately triumphant.” —Michael Musto, author of Manhattan on the Rocks
 
“Dominick Dunne called Steven Gaines ‘a born storyteller.’ . . . Gaines was meant to write his own powerful, heart-wrenching, and funny life story. I could not put it down.” —Steven Petrow, The Washington Post
 
“A poignant and funny book that proves it does get better.” —Joy Behar, The View
 
“A beautiful and heart-rending testament. . . . Gaines’ irrepressible character comes through loud and clear. Leave it to him to find his way to Payne Whitney, the Harvard of mental joints, and then come out of it with honors.” —James Lecesne, writer of the Academy Award–winning Trevor