What follows across 26 chronological and self-contained stories of the self is how hard this proclamation is to obey in an ableist and homophobic society. Not only is Emmett’s writing so incredibly beautiful - even poetic - his story is poignant and uplifting, and I commend his bravery for sharing it with the world. It sounds naive now but it hadn’t even occurred to me that there were other ways to be and that I could embrace being disabled as an identity. It's 1st January, which means you're probably being bombarded with lots of 'new year, new you' messaging and potentially feeling as though there's something about yourself you need to change or improve upon. Go the Way Your Blood Beats is a memoir about being born with cerebral palsy and the “strange and heartbreaking experience of becoming a charity poster boy as a young child”.

The deal marks M-Net’s first ever two-season acquisition of “Big Brother,” with the ninth season set to broadcast in 2024.

In wonderfully fluid prose, de Monterey charts his childhood through friendships, medical appointments, schools and first love. At his mainstream school, teachers refuse to schedule his classes on the ground floor, and at his college for disabled students, he’s told he will be expelled if the rumors are true, if he’s gay. Lauren, Rina and Gemma discuss how their own views on disability have changed and Emmett shares why owning and writing his story was so important. Growing up in southeast London in the 1980s, de Monterey is spat at on the street and prayed over at church.

Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at 18 months old, Emmett was raised by loving and liberal parents and yet he grappled for a long time with accepting his own identity. It sounds a strange thing to say given that I’ve got my happy ending myself but I think that, yes, it’s still very difficult for disabled people if they find themselves to be anything other than heterosexual – and even being heterosexual is quite challenging because ultimately society would still rather that we weren’t visible. His account of his first Pride had me smiling through tears, it was heartening and bittersweet in turns.

Along the way, he will speak to a variety of notable people who have looked their own demons face on to offer a glimpse into the reality of living with this condition. Emmott de Monterey's memoir is a fabulous read that chronicles his journey of growing up disabled and gay in the 1980s and 90s. This book is warmth and emotional, is such a intimate memoir that is so intense and so beautiful that could be one of my favourite memoirs this years.