DJ Envy and Gia Casey's must-read new book is needed in the culture right now
Let’s just keep it 100 - there are way too many breakups happening in the spotlight these days and in all genres of entertainment. We can look at the shocking split between Steph and Seth Curry’s parents Dell and Sonya calling it quits after 33 years of marriage in the sports world or the crushing divorce of Dr. Dre and Nicole Young. While it might appear breakups are trending more than ever, the much-needed solution has come in the form of hip-hop veteran DJ Envy and his ride or die Gia Casey’s new Real Life, Real Love must-read book.
It’s a must-own even if you’re critical of relationships
Just to be completely transparent, I am a proud bachelor for life. With a non-stop busy lifestyle and my own personal interests, dating has really been perfect for me these past few years. Of course having gone the relationship route, there are so many gems learned from reading the ‘Life Lessons on Joy, Pain & the Magic That Holds Us Together’ - the book’s full title - I can appreciate it and could have used during my serious dating days.
From the trust factor to understanding the value of having one another’s backs, Gia and Envy don’t hold back - at all - in their book. There are raw truths and undeniable facts scattered from the front to back. Gia mentions as a key reference, ‘I still loved my husband, but I wasn’t going to be anyone’s fool.’
Coming from myself - someone who prides himself in not even thinking of marriage as something I would even lose an ounce of sleep considering - I picked up so many gems from here and can appreciate the messaging in here. If you cherish friendship goals, then you already know you have people in your life leaning on you for some form of relationship advice.
The best part is the fact this is not coming from only Envy’s perspective or having this feel like a tell-all by Gia. They both stepped up and delivered their own opinions, thoughts and beliefs during their span of decades together.
You’re not being preached to, thankfully
One of the toughest things you might deal with when seeking out the advice of others or even reading guidance literature is feeling like you ‘have’ to do this and ‘have’ to do that in order to propel and live a happy life. It’s actually not the case at all with this book.
Reading about their experiences together, it feels more like having the luxury of being a spectator and getting a glimpse - and much more - into what it really takes for marriages to last months, years, decades to generations and how some of these experiences might have exact parallels - for better or worse - to what you’re experiencing or could go through in the future.
Marriages aren’t going to stop anytime soon
Whether it’s ‘90 Day Fiancé’ to blame or just seeing the hype of celebrity engagements and weddings, marriages aren’t going to slow down no matter who breaks up - even if it were the iconic JAY-Z and Beyoncé. There’s something about believing you have something no one else has in a life partner and wanting to spend the rest of your life with this person.
Hence, a book like Real Life, Real Love is vital to keep in the bedroom.
One of the biggest points about this being an exception to other relationship books is who it’s coming from. This comes from a couple which have experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows all in the public eye and have pushed through the digital storms.
They’ve grown stronger as a result and their partnership looks as solid as ever.
From their growing family to how much they thrive off of their own support for one another, it makes their words speak even bigger volumes than getting advice from someone not from the hip-hop culture which you could argue there’s no real connection to.
It’s more than just holding hands
If it wasn't expressed enough above, let me point out there is no holding back in the book. Of course you’ll understand just how the cheating drama happened, but even better is a Q&A portion of the book which takes real questions from men and women about introducing topics or thoughts to their loved ones.
Whether it’s about bringing toys into the bedroom or dealing with potential performance anxiety, both Envy and Gia come through with a level of comfort on topics you might have at best only thought of in your head but never presented them publicly.
All in all - I am still blown away by this read and how it plays as much more than a must-read but also a must-reference whether you’re at the start of your serious relationship and possible marriage or you’re going years strong with your ride or die.
Real Life, Real Love is officially available for purchase.
