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Michael Ausiello

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Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Other Four-Letter Words Hardcover – Sept. 12 2017

by Michael Ausiello (Author)

4.6 1,436 ratings

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In this evocative and gorgeously wrought memoir reminiscent of Rob Sheffield’s Love Is a Mixtape and George Hodgman’s Bettyville, Michael Ausiello—a respected TV columnist and founder and editor-in-chief of TVLine.com—remembers his late husband, and the lessons, love, and laughter that they shared throughout their fourteen years together.

For the past decade, TV fans of all stripes have counted upon Michael Ausiello’s insider knowledge to get the scoop on their favorite shows and stars. From his time at Soaps in Depth to his influential stints at TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly to his current role as founder and editor-in-chief of the wildly popular website TVLine.com, Michael has established himself as the go-to expert when it comes to our most popular form of entertainment.

What many of his fans don’t know, however, is that while his professional life was in full swing, Michael had to endure the greatest of personal tragedies: his husband, Kit Cowan, was diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive form of neuroendocrine cancer. Over the course of eleven months, Kit and Michael did their best to combat the deadly disease, but Kit succumbed to his illness in February 2015.

In this heartbreaking and darkly hilarious memoir, Michael tells the story of his harrowing and challenging last year with Kit while revisiting the thirteen years that preceded it, and how the undeniably powerful bond between him and Kit carried them through all manner of difficulty—always with laughter front and center in their relationship. Instead of a tale of sadness and loss, Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies is an unforgettable, inspiring, and beautiful testament to the resilience and strength of true love.

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Atria Books
Publication date

Sept. 12 2017
Dimensions

15.24 x 2.54 x 22.86 cm
ISBN-10

1501134965
ISBN-13

978-1501134968
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are Popular Highlights?

I was constantly in a rush to be somewhere other than where I was at in any given moment. And it was exhausting.
Highlighted by 142 Kindle readers
It felt good to love someone so much that literally nothing was as important as making sure that person was safe and comfortable and protected.
Highlighted by 130 Kindle readers
“He will go when he is ready to go. And if you’re not present, that means he wanted to spare you that moment.”
Highlighted by 109 Kindle readers

Product description

Review

“When a journalist as talented as Ausiello turns their focus inward, something special is bound to occur. Such is the case with Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies. A more heartbreaking, honest, funny, and insightful book on the subject of loss can be found nowhere.” -- J.J. Abrams, writer-director-producer, Lost, Alias, Westworld, Star Trek, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

“Engrossing, poignant, tragic, and hilarious – I couldn't put it down. Read this book. You are welcome.” -- Jenny Lawson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Let’s Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy

“Sexy and sweet, charming and funny, Michael Ausiello somehow manages to turn a story of loss into a hopeful tale that shines with warmth and wit.” -- Lauren Graham, star of Gilmore Girls and Parenthood and New York Times bestselling author of Someday, Someday, Maybe and Talking as Fast as I Can

"Like some of Michael's favorite TV shows, his book is heartfelt, smart, funny, insightful, and packs an enormous emotional punch. I can't recommend it more." -- Greg Berlanti, writer-director-producer, The Flash, Arrow, Everwood, Dawson's Creek, Brothers & Sisters

"Tender, profoundly poignant, and cleverly written with equal parts wit and integrity, the book is grounded in the realities of modern relationships and the grim fate of mortality. A heartbreaking memoir infused with dark humor and composed with true love." ― Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The ending is given away in the title, but the experience of reading it is something wholly unexpected . . . . a humorous, enlightening, and sometimes even sensual look at gay life in New York City…and a swoon-inducing romance that pulls no punches about how just how much work goes into staying with the love of your life until the end of his life . . . .The beauty of the book, however, is that the details don’t have to mirror a reader’s own life so eerily for the story to feel so personally powerful.” -- Kevin Fallon ― The Daily Beast

"Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies is a haunting and profoundly sad story, but it's brightened by witty writing, comedic interludes and the two charismatic, endearing and appealing heroes at the book's center." ― Shelf Awareness

"What Ausiello has done is made certain that Cowan’s one special life will never be forgotten. The hero died, but the spirit lives." ― Lambda Literary Review

"A poignant memoir." ― Entertainment Weekly

"As hate threatens to strangle our country, take a look at what love looks like." ― Newark Star-Ledger

“Spoiler Alert is both tender and raw. It almost feels inappropriate to be invited into such a deeply personal chapter of someone’s life. It’s a story about love and loss, joy and heartbreak. And in the midst of personal turmoil, we learn that bravery comes in many forms." ― The Washington Post

About the Author

Michael Ausiello is the founder and editor-in-chief of TVLine.com, a television entertainment website owned by Penske Media that launched in 2010. Ausiello began his publishing career in 1997 at Soaps In Depth magazine before moving on to TVGuide.com in 2000, where he debuted his signature, spoiler-tinged “Ask Ausiello” column and established himself as a major player in the world of TV journalism. In 2008, he jumped to Entertainment Weekly, where he penned a column in the magazine as well as an award-winning blog on EW.com (both titled “The Ausiello Files”). He currently splits his time between New York City and Los Angeles.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books (Sept. 12 2017)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1501134965
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1501134968
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 463 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.54 x 22.86 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #303,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #571 in LGBTQ2S+ Biographies & Memoirs
- #2,982 in Entertainer
- #3,363 in Actor Biographies

Customer Reviews:
4.6 1,436 ratings

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Amazon Customer

Spoiler Alert: Loved it!

Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2023

Verified Purchase

This book grabbed my attention from the first page until the last.

It made me laugh, cry, and think about what is real and what is important in life.

I have not seen the movie based on this book. Maybe one day I'll watch it, not sure.

If you like romantic fiction and 'happy ever after'; well, this may not be the book for you.
If you like a story about real, flawed people with genuine love, jealousy, anger, loss, and even hope.. and are willing to risk crying (because you will cry), over a couple who deserved so much better. Then buy this book.

If you watched the movie, buy this book and listen to the words of the man that lived the story.. I have no doubt it will enhance whatever the movie did.

I love this book; it reminded me about what really is important.

Helpful

Carolyn

two people who love each other right until the end

Reviewed in Canada on May 1, 2023

Verified Purchase

Excellent book that tells the story of a gay couple who truly love each other. The book tells so much more than the movie does. Michael takes care of his terminally husband Kit right to his demise. If you enjoyed the movie you will love the book.

Helpful

Ahmet

Heartbreaking but yet heartwarming as well

Reviewed in Canada on October 15, 2022

Verified Purchase

at times it was hard to read the story without getting a emotional. Every time i put it down my mind was occupied with Kit and Mike. Although you know what’s going to happen, this charming love story makes you read every word. Ahh the ending…be prepared for tears.

Reviewed in Canada on February 22, 2023

Verified Purchase

Way more detailed than the movie. Loved the book so much more!

Helpful

MMD

Heartbreaking and Uplifting Memoir

Reviewed in Canada on September 28, 2017

Verified Purchase

My copy arrived the day before the official release date and I was half way through it the first night,. It is a powerful piece of writing and when I wasn’t sleeping I was lying awake thinking about it. It is a brutally honest, thought provoking, at times painful and sometimes really funny tribute to the great love that Michael and Kit shared. We should all be so lucky as to find such a love. No tv for me until I finished.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. There isn’t anyone who can’t relate to some part of it.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

A.

My life has been changed thanks to this novel

Reviewed in Canada on October 18, 2023

I don’t normally read memoirs but I picked this one up on a whim without really knowing what it was about and thank god. Had I known what I was getting myself into I probably wouldn’t have started reading it. Had I known I would become so emotionally invested in the lives of two people I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have believed it. Kit comes alive on these pages with his courage and strength for his eleven month journey and Mike for his undying love for his partner. This book was heartbreaking but also inspiring. This is a story of true love that will stay with you long after your read the final paragraph. This memoir came to me at the perfect time in my life. I am forever changed for having read this and I thank the author deeply.

Helpful

Brian Edwards

I laughed. I sobbed. It's perfect.

Reviewed in Canada on September 17, 2017

Verified Purchase

This book brought be to tears, sobbing, more than once all while also making me smile and even laugh. A heart-breaking beautiful story, impeccably told. Everyone should read this. Everyone.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

nedc2701

A great novel!

Reviewed in Canada on June 18, 2019

Verified Purchase

Great great read, heartwarming and funny, a beautiful story!

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

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Sheila Anaya

love…love… love this book (and movie)

Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2023

Verified Purchase

I watched the movie first and cried at the end. This book has been amazing. Michael’s story telling is amazing and so heartfelt. Love…love…love this book!!!

Andrea

Love it

Reviewed in France on November 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

I loved this book! Full of emotions.

Cliente de Amazon

Amazing. It will make you cry and laugh

Reviewed in Mexico on November 30, 2017

Verified Purchase

Very honest account of what a relationship is. Sad and funny at different times. You can't miss it. Greetings from Mexico

One person found this helpful

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Greg Dunn

Do yourself a favour and read this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 16, 2019

Verified Purchase

Charting the course of an entire relationship, from its fairytale highs to its lowest ebbs, this is a searingly honest, profoundly moving, deeply sad and yet at times hugely funny account of love not only surviving, but thriving against the odds. At times it is easy to forget that this is a memoir, not a work of fiction, and that its two 'leads' are (or in the case of the eponymous hero were) real people, but that is testament to author Michael Ausiello's skill as a storyteller - one who has a strong sense of narrative and what works on the page to draw the reader in.

Ausiello is never manipulative, however: being this open about his life and the 13 years he spent with his partner (latterly husband) Kit before his untimely death makes that impossible. While crafting the story cleverly, he never shies away from telling it like it is, giving events an undeniable raw edge that is both challenging and gratifying. That he does so with his heart on his sleeve, never trading on mawkishness, but giving us everything, warts and all, is to his credit. And also what makes it so sad and so life-affirming simultaneously.

This is only the second book in my life I've read with tears in my eyes, and not just because I identify so much with the author (having lost a loved one to cancer myself, and also being a gay man of the same age in a similar relationship and with similar hang-ups). It simply touches the heart, and I defy any reader not to be affected by it. From its quieter domestic moments to its more confrontational scenes, through to its heartbreaking but beautiful and unexpectedly hopeful final chapters in the wake of Kit's death and flash-forward coda of a life never lived, it is as transformative an experience for the reader as it clearly was for those involved.

One person found this helpful

A_Book_A_Day

Beautiful memoir

Reviewed in Australia on December 5, 2023

Verified Purchase

“What we lacked in common interests, we more than made up for in snark filled chemistry.”

From their first meeting at the gay sports ball, heartfelt humor, emotion and witty banter filled the pages. The story of their lives, laid out for all, gripped me from page one.

Kit, taking notes, literally, about Michael’s likes and dislikes, they were larger than life. We knew the outcome before opening the first page—life’s not always a HEA—but how Michael portrayed their time together, leading you on a merry ride, was thought provokingly beautiful.

This is a must read memoir, with a beautiful story of love and devotion.

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Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Other Four-Letter Words Hardcover – Sept. 12 2017

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Michael Ausiello

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