My Time to Stand
Authors:
Gypsy-Rose Blancard
Melissa Moore
Michele Matrisciani
Narrator: Gypsy-Rose Blancard
Published: December 10, 2024
Audiobook: 6 hours 35 minutes

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: December 19-23, 2024
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

A victim of her mother’s Munchausen by proxy and child abuse survivor, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s unique and controversial case made headlines across the world.

Now, she’s finally free to start living her life on her terms—and to tell her own story as only she can.

Forced to use a wheelchair in public and endure a lifetime of faux illness, fraud, and exploitation, Gypsy was subjected not only to her mother’s medical, physical, and emotional abuse, but deprived of childhood milestones. Prevented from attending school or socializing, Gypsy’s formative years were defined by pain and isolation.

After serving eight years in prison for the role she played in her mother Dee Dee’s murder, Gypsy is embracing her fresh start—and reminding all of us that it’s never too late.

In this revelatory, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful memoir, Gypsy shares the painful realities she grew up with and the details of her life that only she knows, including:
The abusive cycle that began with Dee Dee’s abuse by her father
Gypsy’s fear that continued unnecessary surgery would leave her truly disabled
How she coped with guilt and accepted responsibility for her mother’s death
Memories of her final days in prison
What she learned upon reviewing her own medical records for the first time
How it felt to finally see her family again as her authentic self.

Featuring new facts about Gypsy’s life that she previously kept private, My Time to Stand offers an unprecedented look at the real Gypsy-Rose Blanchard, proudly embarking on her ongoing journey to recovery and self-discovery.

Jessica’s Review:

I will admit I had never heard of Gypsy-Rose until she was getting out of prison.  All of a sudden, her name was popping up everywhere I was thinking “Who is this Gypsy person?” How I missed the news of what happened I have no idea.  While listening to this audiobook, I did become fascinated and researched the case, and I even watched some crime television to not just have Gypsy’s side of the case.

Ultimately, My Time to Stand is not a true crime book, but a memoir of Gypsy’s life that she is telling from her memory.  Yes, her mother’s murder is detailed in the book along with graphic sexual encounters Gypsy had. This is Gypsy’s life from her memory and her version of events, accurate or not due to her memory or lies as people will say.

Blanchard had two co-writer to assist her with telling her version of her life.  The book does have some issues with inconsistencies throughout, which could be again from Blanchard’s memory.  The reader/ listener does pick up on those inconsistencies.

Gypsy-Rose also narrates My Time to Stand. I had no issue with her voice and give her kudos for being able to narrate this book, despite what people may believe or not.  

In the short time since this book has been released, Gypsy-Rose has given birth to her daughter with boyfriend Ken one year to the day of her release from prison.  I can only hope that she will decide to eventually live as ‘normal’ a life as possible and disappear from the limelight.

Would I have bought this book on my own?  No, and if I had not been granted a copy to listen to by the publisher, I would have at some point gotten the audiobook from my library to listen to for curiosity’s sake.  Many thanks to the publisher for giving me a chance to listen to and review this memoir.

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK