Writer Michelle Gurule’s debut memoir, Thank You, John, is no less than a must-read for young women and femme identifying people of this generation. Throughout her story, Gurule paints a picture familiar to many young women today – weighed down by family obligations, student loans, and a dream of financial stability. This pursuit of her dream ultimately leads her to exploring survival strategies in an increasingly inequitable economy, one of which is sex work as a means to stay afloat. Gurule writes her journey as a stripper–and as a sugar baby to the titular John–filled with compassion, honesty, and humor. She offers a nuanced take on sex work filled with both humanity and healthy critique.
While Gurule’s experience navigating power imbalances in the working world might not be uncommon, the author perfectly manages to maintain her unique voice and astounding authenticity. Her storytelling doesn’t shy away from the vulnerable, gritty details, but instead leans into them as an act of radical strength. Gurule documents how her specific life path might be familiar, but is also uniquely hers, shaped by her standing at the intersection of multiple identities and systems of power, such as her lived experience as a queer Chicana woman. Through her life story, Gurule composes a layered symphony of what it means to live in the United States at the crossroads of different arms of systemic oppression.
While the story of Thank you, John may appear as a somber one, Gurule offers readers a no-holds-barred view of life that is filled with relentless optimism. Not to mention, she writes with a sharp feminist lens that questions societal expectations at every turn. For fans of exploring the relationship between sex, power, money, and identity (or even if you’re just a fan of Alanis Morissette as Gurule is), you will certainly enjoy this generational memoir.
Image Courtesy of The Unnamed Press
