Unconventional Success: How I Achieved Triumph by Defying Conventions, Challenging Myself, and Ignoring the Rules

Leila DelBonis: I had gotten this on audible first and loved it so much i had to get the physical copy. She does not hold back. She is factual and honest. I have always been a fan of hers and to hear and read what she went through is truly inspirational. If she can go through all that and reach her goals then we should try too.

United States on Sep 12, 2023

christa: This read was funny, heartwarming and honest..i remember AJ and honestly she does not get enough credit for her accomplishments in the ring as she deserves. I recommend to all wrestling fans esp fans of women’s wrestling.
Great book! thank you AJ for all you did to break barriers and sharing some key insights into your life to inspire.

United States on Aug 16, 2023

Dilara das: Großer Aj Lee Fan und das zu lesen und mehr über Sie als Person zu erfahren ist wirklich nice. Mag Sie jetzt noch mehr :)

Germany on May 27, 2022

Patricia: I laughed, smiled, and cried happy tears.

This book moved me.

This book reminded me to be proud of who I am and to dream BIG.

All I can say is: THANK YOU AJ. 🙏♥️

Canada on Jan 27, 2022

Anonyme: April Mendez nous parle de son enfance et de comment elle a su réussir malgré les embuscades. C'est un livre très touchant, qui nous parle de l'importance de la santé mentale, et qu'il faut se battre malgré tout. Attention, le livre est en anglais.

France on Dec 20, 2021

K. G. A. Alavi: A very good book. I actually bought this book, as it appeared on my recommendations list, the title instantly caught my attention. Then on closer inspection I realized the author was the wife on one of my favorite wrestlers CM Punk, even though I stopped watching wrestling a few years ago, and have never seen one of Aj's matches, (I will remedy that with youtube), why not give it a go. I am really surprised how much I actually did like the book, and I think definitely has important messages about mental illness. I especially like the way AJ personalizes the illness calling it the darkness and the villain of the story to be defeated.

I think I am not main target audience, but I proved my geekhood by recognizing every comic book storyline and character mentioned in the book. On this notes AJ's geeky jokes are great. AJ talks very passionately about mental illness, the way outcasts like freaks and geek are perceived. Though she does all of this from the female point of view. Apart from some message/warnings to depraved men, she does not talk about the same for the males. I understand this as she writes about what she knows. The other thing is she asks a question is you are not...

United Kingdom on Apr 28, 2017

Andrew Hunter: This is just an incredible book. Unfamiliar with AJ's personal life story beforehand, I was shocked by how harsh her life was growing up. Throughout the book, AJ remains witty, engaging and at no point did I feel anything but a desire to keep on reading.

It is a true testament to her astonishingly strong will that she suffered such abuse growing up, only to emerge as a strong, incredibly inspiring person, who is arguably one of the greatest female performers of all time. That just shows what a remarkable human being she is.

When talking of her time in the WWE, AJ stays classy at all times. When telling any stories that reflected her fellow WWE employees in a bad light, she does not mention anyone by name.

This book will shock you. It will make you laugh. It will make you feel heartbroken. It will make you feel joyful. It will make you feel a whole range of emotions. It is truly from start to finish, the ultimate thrill-ride. It is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone.

United Kingdom on Apr 25, 2017

Timothy Lee: Before cracking this book open, I honestly thought about quickly reading and returning it. I had always been a fan of AJ Lee when she was in the WWE, so I really wanted to read her book. However, I was surprised that it was less than 300 pages while several other wrestlers' autobiographies are nearly double that amount. I knew I could finish this in a few hours.

That said, I found this book to be a very engaging read. First, I can't believe that in the Reality Era the WWE is currently, AJ's story has not been promoted for her character because it is truly a rags-to-riches, pull-yourself-by-the-bootstraps type of story that the company fawns over. I was surprised how tough her life was growing up and felt for her as she recounts the hardships in her family. Second, as someone who deals with mental illness (depression), I found her story not only authentic and refreshing, but also gave me words to describe and call out the modern day stigma of mental health issues. Third, her journey through the company is amazing. Not only does she share about the obstacles she faced as a woman in the company, but also by not fitting the Diva mold like many of her peers. It's very...

United States on Apr 10, 2017

Kali: I am a big fan of CM Punk and by extension I became a big fan of AJ Lee in the WWE so I was very excited when I heard that AJ Mendez Brooks (FKA AJ Lee) was going to write a book. I read this into the wee hours of the morning and the main thing I take away from this story is just how resilient and tough the human psyche can be when faced with severe emotional and sometimes physical trauma while growing up.

I had an almost similar type of relationship with my mother growing up. My mom also struggled with mental illness and I watched as she spiraled into a person I could no longer recognize and I ended up having to parent my own parent. I too experienced the demoralizing effect of only having a conditional love that was dependent on what I did for her lately. I felt while reading those chapters that I could relate to AJ, although what she went through growing up was such an extreme that I amazed she came out of it as the hugely successful and strong person that she is today, because for most people who were to go through what she did, those people would end up broken...but not AJ.

If you go into this wanting the usual wrestling autobiography written with a ghost writer...

United States on Apr 05, 2017