Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies

A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Other Four-Letter Words

By: Michael Ausiello

Narrated by: Michael Ausiello

Now a major motion picture starring Jim Parsons! A “heartbreaking but surprisingly hilarious memoir” (People) about the lessons, love, and laughter of the fourteen years a respected TV columnist shared with his late husband before he succumbed to cancer.

For over a decade, TV fans have counted upon Michael Ausiello’s insider knowledge to get the scoop on their favorite shows and stars. From his time at Soaps In Depth and Entertainment Tonight to his influential stints at TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly to his current role as cofounder of the wildly popular website TVLine, Michael has established himself as the go-to expert when it comes to our most popular form of entertainment.

What many of his fans don’t know, however, is that while his professional life was in full swing, Michael had to endure the greatest of personal tragedies: his longtime boyfriend, Kit Cowan, was diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive form of neuroendocrine cancer. Over the course of eleven months, Kit and Michael did their best to combat the deadly disease, but Kit succumbed to his illness in 2015.

In this heartbreaking and darkly hilarious memoir, Michael tells the story of his harrowing and challenging last year with Kit while revisiting the thirteen years that preceded it, and how the undeniably powerful bond between him and Kit carried them through all manner of difficulties—always with laughter front and center in their relationship.

“Engrossing, poignant, tragic, and hilarious” (Jenny Lawson, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies is “a story about love and loss, joy and heartbreak. And in the midst of personal turmoil, we learn that bravery comes in many forms” (The Washington Post).

Must read for anyone with a heart!

This is one of the best most complexly loving book written this year. The passion and love can be felt in every heart felt word and the authors voice as he tells the story of his great love. Micheals depth of love for Kit was so deep as was the love Kit had for Micheal and those who knew him. I cried, I laughed I revealed in such a glorious love story! This is an absolute must read!!

God That Was Sad

So incredibly sad...I lost my husband of 10 years when he was just 59 so I know the horrible pain. This relationship between Kit and Michael was so wonderful, so deep, so amazing! I loved these two and this book so much.

Beautifully heartbreaking truths!

I lost my husband this past October to heart failure so for some dark reason (I guess I like to break my own heart) I just had to read this book. Let me say a very heartfelt thank you (though I doubt he will ever read it) to the author. It was almost like reading the last year I lived. The humor, the heartbreak, the pain of watching your other half struggle, the moments of dementia and the moments of clarity, the joys of those little moments that matter mixed with the hurt, the pain of previous loss of people so important to you, so much of it. You put into words much of which I don't even know how to put into words. I am so sorry for your loss. No one (especially so young. My husband passed at 35 and I am 33 so I understand the feeling that it is all too soon) should ever have to watch their person taken, especially in such a cruel way. All I can say is thank you. It is somehow in a dark and twisty way a comfort or therapudic to know someone else out there has experienced much the same and gets it. Actually knows how you feel. It was so hard to get through this as it triggered so many memories, but I could hardly put it down at the same time. I have loved taking part in this tiny slice of your life. Thank you!

Heartbreaking and Heartwarming

The narration’s tender and filled with humor and sadness. A great personal love story well told.

Loved the book & movie

I just watched the movie and I didn’t realize there was also a book. I loved both. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking. It’s been awhile since I’ve cried while listening to book.