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Bulletproof
Maci Bookout was just a normal, slightly overachieving high school girl in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But then she got pregnant, and everything turned upside down. Even as she rose to fame on MTV's hit series Teen Mom, Maci was struggling to balance life as a single teen mom with her own hopes and dreams...all while honoring her own sense of independence.
This is the true story of how she took charge of the unexpected to build a life for herself and her son Bentley, and managed not to go crazy in the process. Because sometimes growing up is an act of will...and Maci's will is bulletproof.
This is the true story of how she took charge of the unexpected to build a life for herself and her son Bentley, and managed not to go crazy in the process. Because sometimes growing up is an act of will...and Maci's will is bulletproof.
188 pages, Hardcover
First published July 21, 2015
154 people are currently reading
2145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
July 23, 2015
already knew about everything that was in this book. Ive watched Teen Mom from the beginning and nothing really surprised me or got me excited. It was a little bland. Nothing like the other Teen Mom girls... but i kinda liked it nonetheless. I just wanted to know more about her and this book didnt deliver that
August 6, 2015
yawn yawn yawn. everything on the TV show is in the book. except the show does a good job of putting scenes together and making a cohesive product. this book was all over the place. overall just very boring
May 1, 2017
While I enjoyed some of Bulletproof, there was a lot of content that didn't "grab" my attention.
I liked being able to hear some of the story that happened before Sixteen and Pregnant and other little tidbits I hadn't known before.
I listened to the audio that Maci narrates, and I wouldn't say she's the best narrator. I didn't mind her monotone voice too much. As a consistent watcher of Teen Mom, I'm used to it. However, she didn't have a good grasp on tone. For instance, at the end of chapters, the last sentence never sounded final, and I would be confused when the next chapter started.
Also, there were little problems with the audio that I wouldn't count against Maci or the book, like there not being enough of a pause between the last sentence of a chapter and the introduction of the next. It sounded sped up. I also think she could have benefited from a better editor. I noticed a lot of poor word choice or sentences that should have been flipped.
Other things that bothered me were Maci's poems. Some of them sounded like they had never been read aloud. They just didn't flow well. Also, throughout the book, she would repeat a lot unnecessarily. I can't recall any specific examples, but she would say the same thing in two consecutive sentences, reminding me of myself trying to make a specific word count in my college papers. Something like, "While writing this review, I had many thoughts. Some of my thoughts while writing this review were......" Another thing that bugged me were the lists. They seemed so common knowledge that they were kind of pointless. I didn't find things like, "Listen to your heart" or "moms can find their kid's socks in five seconds after their kid has looked for them for an hour" to be very eye opening.
I will say that Maci came across as very genuine and sincere. I liked how her personality shone through. She didn't compromise her point of view. For instance, I liked hearing pieces of advice like, "If you keep thinking your situation is shitty, it will stay shitty" or that she didn't want to raise "a little asshole." Those clearly "Maci" comments were fun to hear and were what I was expecting from Bulletproof.
I really related to parts of her story, especially her feelings about her exes. I feel as though her exes and my ex have similar attitudes, so I really connected to the book when she was describing Ryan's absence or Kyle's nonchalance. I also feel the same in regards to having a need to prove I can do things on my own. I also really enjoyed hearing more about how she and Taylor met and grew their relationship.
I didn't hate the book, but it was definitely not the best it could be.
I liked being able to hear some of the story that happened before Sixteen and Pregnant and other little tidbits I hadn't known before.
I listened to the audio that Maci narrates, and I wouldn't say she's the best narrator. I didn't mind her monotone voice too much. As a consistent watcher of Teen Mom, I'm used to it. However, she didn't have a good grasp on tone. For instance, at the end of chapters, the last sentence never sounded final, and I would be confused when the next chapter started.
Also, there were little problems with the audio that I wouldn't count against Maci or the book, like there not being enough of a pause between the last sentence of a chapter and the introduction of the next. It sounded sped up. I also think she could have benefited from a better editor. I noticed a lot of poor word choice or sentences that should have been flipped.
Other things that bothered me were Maci's poems. Some of them sounded like they had never been read aloud. They just didn't flow well. Also, throughout the book, she would repeat a lot unnecessarily. I can't recall any specific examples, but she would say the same thing in two consecutive sentences, reminding me of myself trying to make a specific word count in my college papers. Something like, "While writing this review, I had many thoughts. Some of my thoughts while writing this review were......" Another thing that bugged me were the lists. They seemed so common knowledge that they were kind of pointless. I didn't find things like, "Listen to your heart" or "moms can find their kid's socks in five seconds after their kid has looked for them for an hour" to be very eye opening.
I will say that Maci came across as very genuine and sincere. I liked how her personality shone through. She didn't compromise her point of view. For instance, I liked hearing pieces of advice like, "If you keep thinking your situation is shitty, it will stay shitty" or that she didn't want to raise "a little asshole." Those clearly "Maci" comments were fun to hear and were what I was expecting from Bulletproof.
I really related to parts of her story, especially her feelings about her exes. I feel as though her exes and my ex have similar attitudes, so I really connected to the book when she was describing Ryan's absence or Kyle's nonchalance. I also feel the same in regards to having a need to prove I can do things on my own. I also really enjoyed hearing more about how she and Taylor met and grew their relationship.
I didn't hate the book, but it was definitely not the best it could be.
April 30, 2016
I wanted to like this book so much as Maci is one of my favorites from Teen Mom. Finishing this book, however, I'm completely underwhelmed and wished there would have been more insight, more emotion, and let's face it more drama! I was expecting more behind the scenes info a viewer of the show wouldn't have necessarily known...
September 7, 2015
Not very impressed by Maci's writing. There were a few times that she repeated things she had already written. I also feel like she didn't really share much more than what was televised.
August 18, 2017
If you have watched Teen Mom there really isn't much reason to read this book. For the mist part everything in this book you will already know from watching the show.
The only reason I can give to read this book is because you get to hear everything from Maci's perspective. It was like reading all her thoughts as she went through mkments that happened on the show. That is the best way I can describe this.
Some of the chapters are poems that Maci wrote. That was kind of neat. Basically every chapter was a stage of her life.
This was a very short read and it was like a recap of every season of Maci on Teen Mom.
There really wasn't too much new things to learn. It was just ok.
The only reason I can give to read this book is because you get to hear everything from Maci's perspective. It was like reading all her thoughts as she went through mkments that happened on the show. That is the best way I can describe this.
Some of the chapters are poems that Maci wrote. That was kind of neat. Basically every chapter was a stage of her life.
This was a very short read and it was like a recap of every season of Maci on Teen Mom.
There really wasn't too much new things to learn. It was just ok.
September 12, 2016
Following my recent binge-watch of all the Teen Mom episodes I couldn’t resist buying Maci’s autobiography as she was my favourite of the girls and her story was most interesting to me.
Throughout Teen Mom, Maci always seemed like the most together of all of the girls, parenting seemed to come very naturally to her but I often wondered how much of what we saw was her keeping a protective wall around her about how she felt in certain situations. Maci never seemed to lose her cool, even when her son’s father was being incredibly rude to her. So, she intrigued me.
Bulletproof covers everything that happened to Maci throughout Teen Mom but it gives much more insight into what was going on in her head. As I suspected, she was panicking and sad many times when she appeared so calm and in control. For a fan of the show it really gives much more rounded insight into Maci’s life.
Maci talks about her previous boyfriends – her son’s father, Ryan and also Kyle, but for all they didn’t treat her all that well, she mostly sticks to an account of what happened rather than bad-mouthing them. It is very apparent that what Maci wants most of all is for her son, Bentley to have stability in his life, and that includes her wish that his father would be around more.
It was interesting to read what happened in Maci’s life between the end of season four of Teen Mom and the start of season five. I started watching season five and had no idea that Maci and Kyle had broken up, that Maci had a new long-term boyfriend or that she was pregnant again, so it was good to be able to read what happened and fill in the gaps. It’s uplifting to read just how happy Maci is in her life, she’s an inspiration to young people.
Bulletproof is mainly straightforward autobiography but Maci has included some of her poetry within the book, which was fascinating to read. It’s very apparent that Maci loved creative writing and that it helped her work through her worries. I think so many people will identify with her poems, it’d be really interesting to read more of them.
This book is a great companion piece to the Teen Mom series. There isn’t a lot of new stuff in the book that isn’t seen on screen but it complements it very well in that we get to see Maci’s thoughts and feelings that she tends to hide on screen.
I’m sure fans of MTV’s Teen Mom, and 16 and Pregnant will enjoy reading this book. I found it to be an enjoyable read and rate it 7 out of 10.
Throughout Teen Mom, Maci always seemed like the most together of all of the girls, parenting seemed to come very naturally to her but I often wondered how much of what we saw was her keeping a protective wall around her about how she felt in certain situations. Maci never seemed to lose her cool, even when her son’s father was being incredibly rude to her. So, she intrigued me.
Bulletproof covers everything that happened to Maci throughout Teen Mom but it gives much more insight into what was going on in her head. As I suspected, she was panicking and sad many times when she appeared so calm and in control. For a fan of the show it really gives much more rounded insight into Maci’s life.
Maci talks about her previous boyfriends – her son’s father, Ryan and also Kyle, but for all they didn’t treat her all that well, she mostly sticks to an account of what happened rather than bad-mouthing them. It is very apparent that what Maci wants most of all is for her son, Bentley to have stability in his life, and that includes her wish that his father would be around more.
It was interesting to read what happened in Maci’s life between the end of season four of Teen Mom and the start of season five. I started watching season five and had no idea that Maci and Kyle had broken up, that Maci had a new long-term boyfriend or that she was pregnant again, so it was good to be able to read what happened and fill in the gaps. It’s uplifting to read just how happy Maci is in her life, she’s an inspiration to young people.
Bulletproof is mainly straightforward autobiography but Maci has included some of her poetry within the book, which was fascinating to read. It’s very apparent that Maci loved creative writing and that it helped her work through her worries. I think so many people will identify with her poems, it’d be really interesting to read more of them.
This book is a great companion piece to the Teen Mom series. There isn’t a lot of new stuff in the book that isn’t seen on screen but it complements it very well in that we get to see Maci’s thoughts and feelings that she tends to hide on screen.
I’m sure fans of MTV’s Teen Mom, and 16 and Pregnant will enjoy reading this book. I found it to be an enjoyable read and rate it 7 out of 10.
December 21, 2016
One of the biggest things that kept me going with the show was when moms in their thirties and forties would come up to me to say, "I have a thirteen year old kid and if it wasn't for your show coming on every week, I would never have had such a good chance to talk to them about birth control." I often heard that the show made it easier to talk to their kids about sex, pregnancy, and protection without it being as awkward as it often can be. (74)
That's actually what got me curious about 16 & Pregnant in the first place. I've still never seen the show, but a couple years ago I heard a lecture by an economist who argued that the show (and its follow-up, Teen Mom) has actually reduced pregnancy rates in places because it's led to parents discussing these things with their kids when they might not have done so before. I've read a couple of these hacked-together memoirs so far, and this is...hmm. Both the most interesting and the most boring. It's the most boring because she seems to be relatively low on drama and also a little repetitive—there's a fair amount of padding, I guess. Some other reviewers have commented that the book didn't tell them anything that wasn't on the show, but since I haven't seen the show, it felt like the whole, oh, pregnancy and learning to deal with an infant part of things was skimmed over.
But it also was kind of interesting because of that partial awareness that Bookout shows: that idea of placing the show, and her experience, within a broader context. Part of this, I think, is because she was determined in the book (and, from the sounds of things, the shows?) to present herself in as positive/responsible a light as possible, and to represent the shows as documentaries, but it's still interesting. I just wish she'd delved a lot deeper into all that (this is where, perhaps, a ghostwriter might have helped). More research, more context...especially because Bookout's parents, too, were teenage parents, and Bookout says that she'd never talked with either her parents or her son's father about birth control or STDs or any of that. (I'm also assuming that, if she had sex ed at all in school, it was abstinence-only.) It felt a little as though she wanted to get to those places with this book but didn't have the resources or writing experience. So...about what you'd expect?
That's actually what got me curious about 16 & Pregnant in the first place. I've still never seen the show, but a couple years ago I heard a lecture by an economist who argued that the show (and its follow-up, Teen Mom) has actually reduced pregnancy rates in places because it's led to parents discussing these things with their kids when they might not have done so before. I've read a couple of these hacked-together memoirs so far, and this is...hmm. Both the most interesting and the most boring. It's the most boring because she seems to be relatively low on drama and also a little repetitive—there's a fair amount of padding, I guess. Some other reviewers have commented that the book didn't tell them anything that wasn't on the show, but since I haven't seen the show, it felt like the whole, oh, pregnancy and learning to deal with an infant part of things was skimmed over.
But it also was kind of interesting because of that partial awareness that Bookout shows: that idea of placing the show, and her experience, within a broader context. Part of this, I think, is because she was determined in the book (and, from the sounds of things, the shows?) to present herself in as positive/responsible a light as possible, and to represent the shows as documentaries, but it's still interesting. I just wish she'd delved a lot deeper into all that (this is where, perhaps, a ghostwriter might have helped). More research, more context...especially because Bookout's parents, too, were teenage parents, and Bookout says that she'd never talked with either her parents or her son's father about birth control or STDs or any of that. (I'm also assuming that, if she had sex ed at all in school, it was abstinence-only.) It felt a little as though she wanted to get to those places with this book but didn't have the resources or writing experience. So...about what you'd expect?
March 8, 2016
While I was reading I could picture Maci telling her story. It was nice to read what she was thinking and what was going on in her life, particularly when Teen Mom was on the air.
June 14, 2019
Teen Mom has been a guilty pleasure show of mine for 10 years now, and I'd read about half of the casts' memoirs a couple if years ago. Recently I was given freebie copies of the ones I hadn't read yet and having recently cut the cird from cable and going through MTV withdrawal, I decided they'd be a fun way to kick-off symmer reading. Maci is definitely one of the most "normal" folks on MTV, and surprisingly, a completely decent writer (comparatively, the other Teen Mom memoirs I've read had ghostwriters or were pretty awful in terms of... Everything to do with narrative writing...). This one wasn't bad, and even haf some not terrible poetry that Maci wrote at different times in her life. Suppose her minor in creative writing was a good choice. Going to read the sequel next (these are so short that they can be read in a sitting, btw- no significant time investment- at least no more than an episode or two watching the show would be). 3 stars.
April 29, 2021
me empezó gustando y creo que maci es una poeta talentosa pero en varias partes el libro se sentía tan aburrido y la historia que estaba contando era extremadamente innecesaria.
March 30, 2016
Personal Response:
I really enjoyed this novel. I watched her on 16 and Pregnant, where it all began, and on Teen Mom. She has always been my favorite teen mom out of the four girls. I loved her book. I did not know she wrote novels until I read her book. I loved getting her own opinion on her life, instead of seeing it through TV which may have scenes not represented good. I also loved how she included poems of which she wrote herself.
Characterization:
There are three main characters throughout this novel, Ryan, Maci, and Bentley. Ryan was the baby daddy. Ryan was not ready to be a dad and still wanted to be a teenager at the time when Bentley was an infant. He did not want to have any responsibilities. Maci was the teen mom. She was very grown up for age, because of having Bentley. She graduated from high school and then went on to graduate from college. She was very dedicated to her schooling. She was also very family orientated. Bentley was the son of Maci and Ryan. Bentley was such an adorable little boy. He played baseball and also enjoyed school like Maci did.
Plot:
In the beginning of the novel, Maci talked about the struggles she went through being a teen mom and on TV. Ryan wanted nothing to do with Bentley which also caused a lot of stress on Maci. Ryan later came into Bentley’s life and started acting like a father to him. The novel then went into where Maci was at the present moment. She was with Taylor. Maci found out she may be infertile because of the birth control she was on. She was surprise when she found out she was pregnant with a little girl. Taylor was excited to become a dad. Maci was excited to be having a little girl. They ended up naming her Jayde. They lived happily ever after.
Impacts of Setting:
This novel took place in Maci’s hometown, Chattanooga, Tennessee in modern day time. The setting impacts the story line because this was where everything took place and where Maci grew up.
Thematic Connection:
The thematic connection for this novel is to believe in yourself and to not let other people’s opinions jeopardize your outlook on who you are. This book demonstrates this by Maci saying she is bulletproof because of never letting people get in the way of her dreams.
Audience:
I would recommend this book to any gender of age 12 years old and up. I say this because people under 12 may not understand what was going on in some of the situations.
Read
October 19, 2015I'll admit it. I've seen most of the episodes of 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom that centered around the original girls filmed. While many would say it was "trash tv" or a "guilty pleasure" I watched it to see how the people involved reacted to their situation. I have heard many people say that the show promotes teen pregnancy. I strongly disagree. I cannot fathom watching it and thinking that I would ever want that life for someone I care about. I think it has shown [a somewhat] real version of that reality. I don't think reality tv is "real" or honest but I think the show provided a real, honest platform to discuss teen pregnancy with. It opened up an opportunity for conversations. With that being said, Maci was always my favorite because she seemed the most "real" and relatable. I was interested in knowing what she actually had to say. Can I say I took something valuable away from reading this? No, not really but I can respect her more. While she will forever be connected to MTV, she will not always be a "teen mom." She's not one anymore. She's an adult that has tried to provide the best life for her child and make the most of her situation. She deserves credit for that. As a society, while yes, it would probably be better in practically every situation for parents to be older and more established in their lives before having children, we need to stop bashing the ones that try to make it right and that try to create a good life out of a mess. We need to stop looking down on the ones that take responsibility for their actions. We need to support them and respect what they are doing now. We need to remember that they were young and dumb and they have had more obstacles put in their way and more to overcome and prove than others. Was is their fault? Yes. Should it be a defining factor in how you judge them for the rest of their lives? No. Does it matter that they had a child "before they were supposed to" in the judgement of their character? No. Respect the effort they made to fix what everyone else calls a "mistake." Maci, you go girl. You keep living your life and making those kids a top priority.
August 9, 2021
OH MY GOD FINALLY. I have been wanting to get my hands on this book for so long but my local library doesn't have it and I have just been procrastinating buying on the google play store. Finally I downloaded Audible and this is one of the ones I downloaded with a free trial. I literally could not stop listening. I have absolutely loved Maci since the very beginning. I remember when the episode aired I accidentally clicked on it thinking that it was this movie I had seen previously. Much to my surprise I was thrust into her world and I haven't gotten enough since.
Obviously there were things in the book that I already knew had happened from watching 16 and Pregnant and all of the Teen Mom I could handle but there was a lot more backstory here. There were a lot of things that the cameras never captured and a lot of answered questions. For instance why her and Kyle actually broke up so suddenly (or so we thought so suddenly.) All of the lonely moments after Ryan and the downfall of their relationship.
I loved how she brought up MTV and all the weird fame it brought her. I know that if I ever met her in person I would definitely want a picture with her but it also makes me realize that they are normal people too and just because she is famous to me doesn't mean she feels any different. It was kind of baffling to me how she says that people would ask her personal questions about her relationship with Ryan and trash talk Ryan in front of Bentley. Like really? How rude. You don't know anything except for what makes it past the editors on MTV. Is Ryan winning any father of the years awards? Probably not... but to trash talk him in front of his son who doesn't understand why you are judging his fathers character just makes it all the more confusing. anyway -end rant-
There were also several poems written by Maci that were beautifully written. Since I listened to the audiobook narrated by Maci herself I actually felt like she was just my friend sitting here telling me her life story. I gobbled it up. Also it ends on a happy note with the story of her and Taylor (FREAKING SWOON) Anyway I absolutely loved her story and I will definitely read/listen to it again.
Obviously there were things in the book that I already knew had happened from watching 16 and Pregnant and all of the Teen Mom I could handle but there was a lot more backstory here. There were a lot of things that the cameras never captured and a lot of answered questions. For instance why her and Kyle actually broke up so suddenly (or so we thought so suddenly.) All of the lonely moments after Ryan and the downfall of their relationship.
I loved how she brought up MTV and all the weird fame it brought her. I know that if I ever met her in person I would definitely want a picture with her but it also makes me realize that they are normal people too and just because she is famous to me doesn't mean she feels any different. It was kind of baffling to me how she says that people would ask her personal questions about her relationship with Ryan and trash talk Ryan in front of Bentley. Like really? How rude. You don't know anything except for what makes it past the editors on MTV. Is Ryan winning any father of the years awards? Probably not... but to trash talk him in front of his son who doesn't understand why you are judging his fathers character just makes it all the more confusing. anyway -end rant-
There were also several poems written by Maci that were beautifully written. Since I listened to the audiobook narrated by Maci herself I actually felt like she was just my friend sitting here telling me her life story. I gobbled it up. Also it ends on a happy note with the story of her and Taylor (FREAKING SWOON) Anyway I absolutely loved her story and I will definitely read/listen to it again.
July 27, 2015
I borrowed Bulletproof by Maci Bookout from work and this is my honest review.
I have been watching 16 & Pregnant as well as all of the different Teen Mom shows that were out there. A lot of people I knew always put this show down. Many people said these girls just wanted attention and they were really horrible people. Hearing people say this about these shows always shocked me and made me feel uncomfortable about admitting that I watched every single episode of every single season. But those were the old days, now I am completely comfortable admitting that I watch all of these shows.
To be completely honest, I started watching back in high school because I thought it was a good idea. I figured it would be a good way to make sure at least I never became a teen mom. Not that I had many boyfriends in high school but watching the show ensured that I was more responsible than I already thought I was. Watching these girls get pregnant at a young age, and struggle through their lives with new babies, and schools, and jobs really opened my eyes at such a young age. I was very inspired by each and every one of these girls for different reasons.
Anyways lets get to Maci's story at hand. Out of all the girls I watched on TV Maci has by far always been one of my favorites. I loved how much of a good mom she was to Bentley no matter how hard it was to get pregnant and have a baby at such a young age. She was responsible enough to finish high school before she even had Bentley. As well as getting jobs here and there and going to school on and off until she finally graduated college recently. Her graduating really inspired me to work hard at school even though I do not have a baby.
I am so glad I got to read her story. From falling in love with Ryan all the way to falling in love with Taylor and having Jayde. I feel even more connected to her more now after reading her story then just after seeing it on TV. Definitely give this a read, its really inspiring.
I have been watching 16 & Pregnant as well as all of the different Teen Mom shows that were out there. A lot of people I knew always put this show down. Many people said these girls just wanted attention and they were really horrible people. Hearing people say this about these shows always shocked me and made me feel uncomfortable about admitting that I watched every single episode of every single season. But those were the old days, now I am completely comfortable admitting that I watch all of these shows.
To be completely honest, I started watching back in high school because I thought it was a good idea. I figured it would be a good way to make sure at least I never became a teen mom. Not that I had many boyfriends in high school but watching the show ensured that I was more responsible than I already thought I was. Watching these girls get pregnant at a young age, and struggle through their lives with new babies, and schools, and jobs really opened my eyes at such a young age. I was very inspired by each and every one of these girls for different reasons.
Anyways lets get to Maci's story at hand. Out of all the girls I watched on TV Maci has by far always been one of my favorites. I loved how much of a good mom she was to Bentley no matter how hard it was to get pregnant and have a baby at such a young age. She was responsible enough to finish high school before she even had Bentley. As well as getting jobs here and there and going to school on and off until she finally graduated college recently. Her graduating really inspired me to work hard at school even though I do not have a baby.
I am so glad I got to read her story. From falling in love with Ryan all the way to falling in love with Taylor and having Jayde. I feel even more connected to her more now after reading her story then just after seeing it on TV. Definitely give this a read, its really inspiring.
December 25, 2015
Since I watched the season (and that season alone) that she was on Teen Mom, and I suffered through Farrah's book, it's only right that I should read this too.
It wasn't a bad read. She knows her blessings as far as her family support and financial situation. She had a good example in her mom, who was also a teen mom but still graduated from high school and college on time.
In the beginning I liked that she didn't throw Ryan under the bus when describing how they got together. But it was strange that she was writing about how much of a comfort it is to her that Bentley was too young to realize what was going on with her and Ryan, but then she writes about it? Does she expect Bentley to never read this book?
A Few Quotes from the Book
"This is the story of a regular teenage girl who found herself with a life she never expected - two lives, to be exact."
"my story started decades ago,
but life as i know it...
began when yours did."
Find all my reviews at:http://readingatrandom.blogspot.com/
It wasn't a bad read. She knows her blessings as far as her family support and financial situation. She had a good example in her mom, who was also a teen mom but still graduated from high school and college on time.
In the beginning I liked that she didn't throw Ryan under the bus when describing how they got together. But it was strange that she was writing about how much of a comfort it is to her that Bentley was too young to realize what was going on with her and Ryan, but then she writes about it? Does she expect Bentley to never read this book?
A Few Quotes from the Book
"This is the story of a regular teenage girl who found herself with a life she never expected - two lives, to be exact."
"my story started decades ago,
but life as i know it...
began when yours did."
Find all my reviews at:http://readingatrandom.blogspot.com/
July 8, 2016
OK, I will confess that Teen Mom is one of my only guilty pleasure/trashy TV shows that I watch. Somehow I got sucked in and never missed an episode. I always liked Maci the best because she seemed to really put her child first and not herself, so when I saw this book I added it to my pile. While it wasn't terrible, it didn't really reveal anything new that you didn't see on Teen Mom. It was basically a re-cap of her life from Sixteen & Pregnant through the end of the last season of Teen Mom. She does talk about how freaked out she was on the inside, especially in the beginning, and how that didn't translate to camera and everyone thought she was so calm and mature. But, the book kind of reads the same way - she seems very put together and on top of things. Despite things not working out with her son's father, she had a very strong support system with her family that helped her get her life together and be a good mom. Overall, it was OK, but if you've seen all the Teen Mom episodes then you don't really need to read her book.
February 9, 2017
If you know me at all you know Teen Mom is my favorite show, I've never missed an episode. Maci is my favorite on the show and since Nikki and I decided to read all the books written by the moms I've been looking forward to hers the most. I don't want to say too much until Nikki reads this and we talk about it. A very quick and interesting read. Teen Mom 4eva!
September 21, 2015
This was a quick and easy read but that didn't make it good. There was absolutely nothing that people who watched the show hadn't already seen. There wasn't even much new with regards to the range of emotions she might have been feeling, something she wouldn't have been able to explain on the show very easily. This is her autobiography so of course, it's going to paint her and anyone she holds in high regard. I kept thinking that I would have loved to have been there to see the reaction from Ryan or Kyle when they read about themselves. Furthermore, I would have loved to read a counter novel from Ryan's perspective. The advice was pretty standard and straight forward. The entire chapter with her justifying not being on birth control and getting pregnant with her second child just felt like lip service. Overall, this was very clearly a quickly churned out piece of fluff to capitalize on the Teen Mom fame and extend her fifteen minutes.
April 5, 2016
It was a quick read as expected. It took about 3 hours to get through. The book went through all of her relationships and milestones before and after her baby Bentleys birth. I felt like her story was told in a matured voice describing her life since 16 and pregnant. She was on the TV show Teen Moms on MTV and is known by many from there.
Personally, I can't say I enjoyed the book. It was interesting to see that she really did make it through quite easily because of her parents help and financial assistance. I felt as if there was no remorse for her actions that lead up to being 16 and pregnant. I think my morals played a huge role in how I saw this book.
Genre-Biography
Language- A few here and there, mostly regional.
Violence-None
Sexuality-Not too detailed but it's there.
Similar to-My Teenage Dream Ended
Personally, I can't say I enjoyed the book. It was interesting to see that she really did make it through quite easily because of her parents help and financial assistance. I felt as if there was no remorse for her actions that lead up to being 16 and pregnant. I think my morals played a huge role in how I saw this book.
Genre-Biography
Language- A few here and there, mostly regional.
Violence-None
Sexuality-Not too detailed but it's there.
Similar to-My Teenage Dream Ended
September 10, 2015
As a huge fan of Maci's from 16 & Pregnant and then Teen Mom, I was excited to read this book. Say what you will about her or any of the other Teen Moms, Maci's book was nothing short of honest, enlightening, and empowering. You don't have to be a mother to appreciate her struggle; part of what I like so much about her story is her willingness to admit her shortcomings and question what she could have done better while still giving herself the well-deserved credit for all that she has accomplished. I'm not usually one to read nonfiction books, and don't really have any interest in reading any of the other Teen Moms' novels but I knew Maci had a passion for writing from the show and that is definitely reflected in the quality of her writing.
January 7, 2016
We've seen her on 16 and Pregnant, we've seen her on Teen Mom and Teen Mom OG, she's strong, she's bullheaded, and she's full of spunk. She's one of the only ones who seem down to earth and not fake while on tv. She's one of two "teen moms" that I wouldn't mind meeting.
This book takes us on her behind the scenes journey of being a teen mom (like myself), her journey on becoming an adult and her journey with love, loss, school, and motherhood.
I think as a teen mom we all have to make ourselves bulletproof but in all actuality we are not...we just have to grow up faster than most and learn how to put someone else's life ahead of our own. Maci from teen mom is inspiring and courageous. A fantastic read. I actually enjoyed the book...two thumbs up
This book takes us on her behind the scenes journey of being a teen mom (like myself), her journey on becoming an adult and her journey with love, loss, school, and motherhood.
I think as a teen mom we all have to make ourselves bulletproof but in all actuality we are not...we just have to grow up faster than most and learn how to put someone else's life ahead of our own. Maci from teen mom is inspiring and courageous. A fantastic read. I actually enjoyed the book...two thumbs up
April 10, 2016
I have been reading a few celebrity books lately and each time I am very disappointed. I always think to myself why did I think this was a good idea?!? That did not happen with bulletproof Maci did a really good job of sharing her story and emphasizing her values. The book did not just witter along like many celebrity books do. It's true that everything in the book you learn off of teen mom. But right from the beginning of the book Maci said she wrote the book to explain how she felt during these situations and show more of the struggle she had. I feel she did and shared some words of wisdom for women everywhere. I'm not a mom but I still very much enjoyed the book. It was a quick easy read but it was very genuine.
June 4, 2016
Teen Mom Fan to Maci Bookout fan...
I alongside every other young girl in the nation started watch Teen Mom when the series first aired.
One of my favorites was Maci Bookout. I felt like despite being pregnant at a young age, she was the one who would continue to excel through life and do what's best for both her and her baby. And she did!
Now a Mother of three and a fiancée to an amazing guy, she has hit the ultimate personal goal for herself.
This book shared all of her thoughts from being a teen mom, to relationships, PCOS and pregnancy struggles, etc.
I highly recommend.
Oh, and her poems in some of the chapters are absolutely beautiful and flow so eloquently.
I alongside every other young girl in the nation started watch Teen Mom when the series first aired.
One of my favorites was Maci Bookout. I felt like despite being pregnant at a young age, she was the one who would continue to excel through life and do what's best for both her and her baby. And she did!
Now a Mother of three and a fiancée to an amazing guy, she has hit the ultimate personal goal for herself.
This book shared all of her thoughts from being a teen mom, to relationships, PCOS and pregnancy struggles, etc.
I highly recommend.
Oh, and her poems in some of the chapters are absolutely beautiful and flow so eloquently.
July 27, 2015
I've followed the original Teen Moms since their beginnings on MTV's 16 and Pregnant. I actually managed to get my hands on an autographed copy of Maci's book as she was always my personal favorite of the girls. I felt that her book went a lot into how she was thinking just like Amber did. She talked about both the good and the bad and wasn't afraid to admit when she was wrong about something. This book was a very fast read (took me about 2 and a half hours to complete), but Maci teaches a few life lessons in her writing about growing up and embracing adulthood.
July 1, 2016
Judge me..... I know. I'm a disappointment to myself for reading this.
I'm a closeted (until now) fan of the Teen Mom franchise. I was looking for a quick read and noted this at $.99 on Amazon Kindle, so I took the leap.
As to the merits of the book itself there aren't many. Ms. Bookout did not offer any information that was not easily accessible by just watching her television show. I don't feel that I gained any insight into her life. It just seems to be a rehash of all the seasons of her show.
I'm a closeted (until now) fan of the Teen Mom franchise. I was looking for a quick read and noted this at $.99 on Amazon Kindle, so I took the leap.
As to the merits of the book itself there aren't many. Ms. Bookout did not offer any information that was not easily accessible by just watching her television show. I don't feel that I gained any insight into her life. It just seems to be a rehash of all the seasons of her show.
Read
April 29, 2016I have never watched the show but see stuff in magazines and like keeping up with current shows/celebrities/ect. I pictured Maci totally different, she seems to have a good head on her shoulders. I was a single Mom (not a teen but still young) and could identify with a lot of her struggles and feelings of loneliness. It's hard when the other parent is free to do as they please and also when none of your friends have kids yet. It was worth it and changed my life for the better, there were struggles though!
August 11, 2016
This book was interesting. I wasn't expecting to learn anything about the actual filming of the show or anything like that. I liked that she put her own spin on things in the writing and had poetry and made lists of things she appreciated. I just didn't like how after she said something she would explain it like the people reading it are complete dumbasses. While granted I'm sure that's true but it got annoying after awhile and the poetry was just ok. However overall I liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who watches teen mom or any of those shows.
October 31, 2015
While I was on a very long plane (and train) ride, I saw that all the Teen Mom books were available to download from my library and I just couldn't resist reading them.
I like Maci, but this book was pretty pointless. She didn't share anything that we didn't already know from TV, and I found myself bored by a lot of it.
That being said, Maci supposedly wrote this book by herself. If that's true, I'm impressed and have to give credit where credit is due, because the writing was pretty decent.
I like Maci, but this book was pretty pointless. She didn't share anything that we didn't already know from TV, and I found myself bored by a lot of it.
That being said, Maci supposedly wrote this book by herself. If that's true, I'm impressed and have to give credit where credit is due, because the writing was pretty decent.
November 21, 2015
I would recommend this book to anybody that has followed Maci's Journey from 16& Pregnant to Teen Mom. This book basically will tell you on what was going in Maci's life on and off camera. I know this was her first book I thought she did a great job but could write more about herself if she ever decides to write a second book.. But overall it's a great book for any teen mom fans that are out there.
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