You will laugh and you will cry, but you won’t be able to put down
You Can’t Get Rid Of Me, an unflinching reveal of growing up LGBTQ in the 1970s, and a quest for belonging. Jesse Scott’s memoir chronicles his 50-year search for his birth family, blending humor, resilience, and ancestry, offering hope and inspiration to all.
Do you know your roots? DNA results and a search for his birth family take author Jesse Scott on a wild and rocky pursuit of his past as he uncovers the truth one piece at a time, a journey that redefines his identity and reshapes his understanding of what family truly means.
Jesse and his biological brother Lee were adopted as children and led challenging lives—from a stint in a mental institution to sex work and addiction. After years of looking for his birth parents, the technology of DNA and social media, plus a hearty tenacity, help solve the mystery of his birth, while creating new questions. A story of survival told with humor, courage, and unsparing honesty. Scott’s memoir is a triumph of the human spirit, offering hope to anyone who’s ever had to fight to be themselves.
You Can’t Get Rid of Me is one of the most honest, raw, and beautifully told stories I’ve read in a long time. As a friend and journalist, I’m so proud to see the way Jesse doesn’t hold anything back, and what unfolds as a result is a journey full of pain, humor, survival, and ultimately, self-acceptance. Growing up gay in the ’70s, navigating adoption, institutions, and identity – this book is more than a memoir, it’s a testament to what it means to fight for who you are. I laughed, cried, and rooted for him every step of the way. This book will stay with you.
-Bianca Rae, Journalist
From foster homes to found families, from heartbreak to healing, Jesse Scott’s story is a courageous embrace of life’s toughest roads. In this unflinching and deeply human memoir, Scott invites readers into the raw truth of his journey- navigating the child welfare system, searching for belonging, and ultimately discovering the strength within to not only survive but to thrive.
With honesty, grit, and unexpected moments of grace, You Can’t Get Rid of Me is more than a story of endurance-it’s a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of never giving up.
-David Brinkman, Chief Executive Officer, Desert AIDS Project Health
This impressive first book effortlessly dances across time, beginning with the opening scene of Scott hunched over the computer, studying Ancestry.com. Despite growing up in a strict home while wrestling with his own queer identity and braving time in a mental hospital, sex work, and addiction, Scott never wavers. His courage to continue his quest for belonging is the beam of inspiration that makes this memoir intimate, comforting, and thought-provoking. — Abby McCabe, Booklist
Jesse Scott & Keri Ault