Dangerous When Wet by Jamie Brickhouse | Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

As a note, this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Dangerous When Wet is a laugh out loud, side splitting, piece of humour in literature that was desperately needed. The voice projected in the narration is both dark, real and humorous -- in all the right ways. Jamie Brickhouse's memoir rings true and unique in the way he tells his story. It's honest, it's hilarious, it's the way many people need to approach their past and future, even if it's not of the lightest quality. Jamie's thoughts, his narration of memories, are so fun to read that I'm willing to bet that even people who aren't all that fond of memoirs will find themselves enjoying this one.

As we read his thoughtful and hilarious looks into his downward spiral, we root for him and cringe when he makes decisions that are unfortunate. I saw quite a lot of one of my best friends in Jamie, and I'm willing to bet that you will too -- his struggles are very, very real and it's a remarkable thing that he's able to tell us his story now.

We see a larger than life woman -- his mother Mama Jean and she's an intriguing addition to his memoir. There's something about her that is a swirl of a lot of things -- all I can say, really, is intense.


In these memories he shares with us throughout, in the way he was raised and who were his role models, it's easy to see why he had gone down the path which nearly killed him. One of the things that strikes me most about how it all began for him, was the moment he took a sip of alcohol and to him it felt/tasted like being an adult. I think we all have moments in our earlier years that makes us wish we were older and we go forth to seek that sort of maturity in peculiar ways.

For many, that path is dangerous and incredibly toxic and may shape your life in the worst ways imaginable. Jamie's life, at first, took this very path and it's just a thoroughly relatable beginning to any issues he's had in his life. And through his realizations, and through his growth, we see a picture of an incredibly strong man who has the power to be a helpful voice for many in this world. Jamie's story isn't over, and it isn't something uncommon -- the way he tells us it all, blunt and hilarious, is intriguing and helpful and just overall an entertaining read.

You won't be able to put it down. It's just a roller coaster. It's a tale of addiction, a journey, of embracing your past, of recovery, of struggle and of love in various ways. Dangerous When Wet provides us a strong, entertaining memoir that puts others to shame and will leave you desiring more writing from the wonderful Jamie Brickhouse. This memoir has everything imaginable and will certainly become a favorite among many.

If you find yourself wanting to read only a handful of memoirs in the next few years -- do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Jamie Brickhouse's gem of a story. You won't regret it.