Wow, No Thank You.: Essays

This was a fun book with a singular voice. I liked the second half better than the first (or maybe I settled into the style more). I think the humor is definitely meant for folks in their 30s and 40s (as Irby is) but I still enjoyed the book a lot, especially when she was able to tie the funny and ridiculous to the profound.

Forget breath of fresh air, this book is a wind tunnel of realness! “Relatable” is a vast understatement for what lies between these digital covers. I laughed, I got the feels, I felt personally attacked–everything necessary for memorable book I'd recommend to all my friends. There will be more than a few re-reads of this book in my near and distant future.

Often as I read this I would have to put the book down and stare blankly into space for a moment to fully process the anxiety and embarrassment I was feeling on behalf of the author. I mean intentionally, she's very honest and open about her experience in a way that I applaud but also /o

I still love her memoir-y reflections and slice of life stuff but it was also very cool to read a bit about the making of Shrill and the iconic fat bikini party episode.

I was torn between 2 and 3 stars but felt more like 2. There were a few funny parts but I didn't love the chatty type of tone throughout the authors writing. It felt like reading intrusive thoughts or listening to an acquaintance trauma dump at a party. I found the author trying to be funny but not actually funny.

I don't know about you, but when I'm reading an authors third New York Times Bestseller and they're talking about how they're a lazy loser, all I'm thinking is how mean this is to all us non-bestselling non-bookwriting humans.

We're lazy losers AND unsuccessful.

That said, she's a refreshing voice. I know people who I will definitely be recommending her to.