
If you don’t know beloved broadcaster and social media star, this memoir is the perfect introduction to Bree Tomasel! Equal parts candid, funny and raw, Bree shares the unfiltered story of her life and the experiences that have shaped her - from growing up in conservative Queensland to becoming a media sensation.
In Unapologetically Me Bree recounts a memorable Wednesday at a fancy nail salon, where she feels out of place in her casual clothing. As she gets her nails done, an older, elegant woman keeps glancing at her which makes her feel self-conscious. Unexpectedly, the woman approaches her and asks if she’s Bree from radio and TV? She thanks her for being so open about her life and the woman reveals how her candidness about her sexuality helped her understand her own daughter’s coming out. This is just one moment that inspired Bree to reflect on why she shares her life so openly - to connect with people and make a positive impact.
Behind Bree’s humour and public persona is a powerful story of resilience. In Unapologetically Me, she opens up about surviving a traumatic childhood attack, living with anxiety and ADHD, and navigating her sexuality. While the book brims with Bree’s trademark wit, she tackles these subjects with honesty and compassion. Her unique ability to infuse even the darkest moments with lightness makes her debut genuinely uplifting.
“It’s a book that’s taken me on an emotional year-long journey. It’s been fun to remember the funny situations I’ve been in, but it’s also given me a newfound appreciation of the people in my life who’ve stuck with me even when I’ve been a complete basket case.
I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t realise how exhausting it would be dragging out a shit-ton of secrets and demons from nooks and crannies I’d hoped never to see again. Often I found myself waking in the night, the book popping into my mind and me whispering ‘This is a bad idea’ as I lay awake in a cold sweat. But by the morning I’d have remembered another part of a story or reflected on something with a different perspective, and I couldn’t wait to get into it again.
I love and hate this book in equal measure. I hate it because there’s nowhere to hide, and that’s confronting. But I love it because parts of my story feel important, to me anyway, and mostly because I hope my stories might help someone else” says Bree.
Even if you’re not familiar with her work, Bree’s story is universally relatable. It’s about embracing who you are and finding strength in vulnerability.
“When I was a young, awkward kid muddling through life, I always had a sense that I was alone. I felt like the only weird kid at school. There was something different about me. I didn’t look right; I didn’t fit in. In my teens, I wondered if there was something inherently wrong with me that made me the way I was. And in my twenties, I kept secrets so big that they bred shame like nothing else. If I’d known then that others were going through stuff too, I wouldn’t have felt so alone. And isn’t that what all of us are chasing? That feeling of not being alone?”
Long time fans will devour Bree’s tales from her ‘perfectly imperfect life’ and if you’re new to her world you’ll be inspired by her raw honesty.
Bree Tomasel is an Australian radio and television host who moved to New Zealand in 2018. She is the award winning co-host of Celebrity Treasure Island and is on radio ZM's Bree & Clint show. Bree lives in Auckland with her partner Sophia, and their dogs Meryl Streep and Whitney Houston. Follow Bree online.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy
Allen and Unwin