The Story
Hilarious and bawdy musings on disability, sex, family, and Hollywood, from Emmy-winning writer and creator of the Netflix series Special.
For years, Ryan O'Connell wished he was different. Raised in a small Southern California beach town described as "Laguna Beach with meth," his dad had taken off for greener pastures, and his alcoholic mom packed him lunches that wouldn't win any Top Chef: Quickfire challenges. On top of that, he had to be disabled and gay?! Luckily, Ryan always had a love for writing. There, he could "construct the narrative of my life before anyone can construct it for me." In essays that range from the poignant to the side-splitting, Ryan takes us along as he grapples with addiction, navigates the early days of writing for online media in NYC, and uses his voice to gain entrance into the cutthroat world of Hollywood, where he becomes a sought-after writer and creator. In other essays he asks the very important question: "Are Straight People Okay?" (short answer is no), explores the battle between your IRL vs URL identity, and ruminates on the healing power of being gay and on vacation. Finally, Ryan opens up his committed relationship and becomes a slut for the first time, keeping a diary of his sexual misadventures, and bravely healing his soul through his hole.
Author: Ryan O'Connell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 05/26/2026
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.74lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.80w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781250376244
Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 03/01/2026 pg. 107
Publishers Weekly 03/16/2026
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2026
About the Author
Ryan O'Connell is the Emmy-winning creator, writer, and star of Netflix's Special, which is based on his memoir, I'm Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves. He's also written for other TV shows, including Will & Grace, Awkward, and Peacock's Queer as Folk revival, which he also stars in. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner, Jonathan Parks-Ramage.
Description
Hilarious and bawdy musings on disability, sex, family, and Hollywood, from Emmy-winning writer and creator of the Netflix series Special.
For years, Ryan O'Connell wished he was different. Raised in a small Southern California beach town described as "Laguna Beach with meth," his dad had taken off for greener pastures, and his alcoholic mom packed him lunches that wouldn't win any Top Chef: Quickfire challenges. On top of that, he had to be disabled and gay?! Luckily, Ryan always had a love for writing. There, he could "construct the narrative of my life before anyone can construct it for me." In essays that range from the poignant to the side-splitting, Ryan takes us along as he grapples with addiction, navigates the early days of writing for online media in NYC, and uses his voice to gain entrance into the cutthroat world of Hollywood, where he becomes a sought-after writer and creator. In other essays he asks the very important question: "Are Straight People Okay?" (short answer is no), explores the battle between your IRL vs URL identity, and ruminates on the healing power of being gay and on vacation. Finally, Ryan opens up his committed relationship and becomes a slut for the first time, keeping a diary of his sexual misadventures, and bravely healing his soul through his hole.
Author: Ryan O'Connell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 05/26/2026
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.74lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.80w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781250376244
Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 03/01/2026 pg. 107
Publishers Weekly 03/16/2026
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2026
About the Author
Ryan O'Connell is the Emmy-winning creator, writer, and star of Netflix's Special, which is based on his memoir, I'm Special: And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves. He's also written for other TV shows, including Will & Grace, Awkward, and Peacock's Queer as Folk revival, which he also stars in. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner, Jonathan Parks-Ramage.
