By Cassandra Navratil
I was just hitting my early twenties when Amy Winehouse exploded onto the music scene, and I will never forget the first time I heard her on the radio. I will also never forget the day that she died—another brilliant musical talent gone at the young age of 27, just like Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain before her. Tyler James’ emotional memoir of his time with Amy, aptly titled My Amy, provides a peek into who she was prior to fame, and her eventual downfall into the reckless world of drug addiction.
Through his eyes, Tyler (we’re on a first name basis as he writes so informally that you really feel like you know him by the close of the story) depicts Amy as a moody, wildly talented yet depressed pre-teen; someone he could finally relate to in the world of peppy theatre kids attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London. Their connection is immediate and a lifelong bond is formed. Tyler becomes Amy’s confidant, best friend, surrogate brother, biggest cheerleader, roommate, and ultimately, her protector.
As she navigates her quick rise to fame, Tyler is with her each step of the way, and leads us along a tale that we all know does not end happily. For Tyler, though, having known her clearly left an enormous impact on his own self, career, and future. Amy’s eventual tragic demise is depicted as a testament to the immense and extreme pressures placed on young adults in the music industry as they top the charts.
My Amy is one of those books written in such a smooth and informal style, I really felt like I could have been a fly on the wall. It put me on an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, especially due to its beginning and reflection on Amy’s childhood and formative teenage years. As a huge music and Amy Winehouse fan, this book was a four out of five stars for me in terms of the writing style, story, and overall look at her life from the perspective of one of her closest, longtime friends.
Thank you to Publishing Group Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.