Rachel Bloom's new collection of personal essays hit pretty close to home and brought me out of a major reading slump. I've long been a fan of CRAZY EX GIRLFRIEND, the musical comedy in which she stars and writes. BUT, Rachel and I also went to NYU at the same time and traveled in the same social circles. So while this book didn't reference the show quite as much as I had hoped, reading about how she navigated our alma mater and its drama school, well - drama - brought me back to those old times.

In addition, Rachel writes a lot about growing up as the geeky theatre kid: something to which I certainly relate, as well. I feel like we lived very similar childhoods and I caught myself laughing out loud and shaking my head a LOT.

This was a quick read, and also very entertaining, especially the parts to which I could so closely relate. Near the end, however, the writing began to get a bit repetitive, and, throughout, quite a bit of it felt forced for humor. Still, all of the inside theater and NYU jokes made it enjoyable. Plus, how can you not LOVE that cover, which is reminiscent of The BSC and Judy Blume nostalgia?

I recommend this one as a lighthearted, quick read that creatively tackles some difficult subjects such as mental health, bullying, awkward sex stories, and threatened miscarriage. You'll especially love it if you were a theatre kid.

I LOVE RACHEL BLOOM! I waited for the audio version to come out and I have to say how much I love this book. It's funny, person, touching and I just want more!

A sweet, but slight collection of essays and other odds and ends from Rachel Bloom. Though it has some funny bits, it's best suited for diehard fans.

A fun look from Rachel Bloom about her journey to success. It was filled with Bloom's brand of humor and stories.

I've loved Rachel Bloom since the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend days and this memoir does not disappoint. It's the perfect balance of humor, heart and vulnerability.

To put it succinctly: It's 2020, nearly 2021, a grown woman encouraging body shaming of a teenager - bully or not - makes THEM the bully and is just truly unnecessary and not even remotely funny.

While I have always adored Rachel Bloom and literally squealed when I was approved for this book, I put it down and never looked back after seeing the childish and harmful way she "jokes" about damaging young girl's self-esteem. I'm sure I'll be the minority in a sea of pick-me women who thrive off this kind of humor but I just can't get behind it.

I had heard great things about this author and really had high hopes for it, but I found it lacking. I could not connect and did not feel for the character's experiences as I thought I would. Of course, it could just have been that I was not in the right place to truly appreciate this novel, and it very well could be enjoyable to the majority of readers, especially her fan base, which I hear is quite large. I did love the throwback nostalgic cover however!

I do appreciate the access to this title and may choose to re-read it in the future. I will be sure to share any changes of opinion I may have then.

Rachel Blooms book was like chatting with an old friend. Her essays were relatable and honest and the book was such a quick and lovely read.

Oh My Goodness. This book was everything I was hoping for and more. Rachel Bloom is funny and super relatable. This book is wonderful.

I love celebrity memoirs because I enjoy hearing all of the behind-the-scenes stories of their shows and films, as well as a glimpse into their private lives. Unfortunately, I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are by Rachel Bloom didn't teach me much more about her. It was written like an episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and while I do like that series, it didn't translate as well to paper. There were some parts that were great to read, but overall this memoir was filled with too many metaphors. I do think that this may translate better in an audiobook (especially if Rachel narrates!), but the book just wasn't for me. I'm not giving up on Rachel Bloom though!

This book is absolutely perfect for fans of Jenny Lawson, Amy Schumer, and Sarah Silverman. I don't want to just list female comedians/authors because I think that boxes them in - but I do believe that in a world of books written for men, this one DID feel like it was written for women (in the best way). I'm vaguely familiar with the show Crazy Ex Girlfriend, so I knew going in what Rachel Bloom is known for, but it did make me want to go back and watch it again with new eyes.

I'm not someone who has ever experienced struggle with mental illness - I'm lucky in that aspect, but I truly appreciate reading books that destigmatize the topic and help others feel seen through their writing. I have a feeling that this book, in the right hands, very well could help save a life. The most profound moment for me was when she sat down with a psychiatrist and said "I need help." - if that was the only chapter of the book that I read, it would have been worth it.

Will I rave about this book to everyone and anyone? Probably not, but that doesn't take away from that fact that someone poured their heart out into this book and I think it really shows.

I am in awe of Rachel Bloom - she's only 33, and has already delivered an amazing TV show (one of my favorites!) While I don't think I enjoyed this as much as other celebrity memoirs by women in TV, I did enjoy the peek into Bloom's life and creative process (along with learning about her struggles with mental illness).

Just what you would expect from Rachel Bloom: funny insights, quirky prose, and musical numbers to boot. Perfect for fans of her show, or those who grew up on Judy Blume (no relation).

***eArc provided by NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review***

There's no easy way to explain the kinship I feel with Rachel Bloom. Ever since I saw the pilot for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on The CW, I knew she was going to be my one to watch. I was initially hesitant about the show, as it seemed a lot of people were, based on the title. However, even with something as simple (but vitally important) as the title of the show, Rachel Bloom illustrated, certainly not for the last time, exactly what kind of humor and emotionality she was capable of as a writer.

Bloom's memoir is outstanding - any fan of the show will see that her brain just works like THAT. Regardless of if it's being produced for TV, or simply to exist on paper. (Side note: I very much want to get a copy of this audiobook if Rachel reads it. It's my ideal type of experience with this sort of thing, given how deeply you can just HEAR her voice from reading it.)

I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are is an exploration of Rachel Bloom, for certain, but it's also an exploration of what it means to feel like you don't belong. Regardless if that's because you're a theater(re) kid, have a mental illness, or have very specific romantic issues. (Reviewer's note: these things may not be true for everyone, but it's a venn diagram and your circle overlap may vary.)

Through the whole experience of reading Bloom's book I just need to take several deep breaths and sigh dramatically because I, as I'm sure many others will agree, feel so specifically seen on many levels. Maybe not EVERY level, but there's enough there for me to openly weep when I feel so inclined. I am so deeply enchanted by Rachel Bloom and ability to be hilarious in her relatable specificity.

I never saw Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and absolutely loved this book, so I can only imagine how much fans of the show will enjoy it! Bloom is hilarious, vulnerable, and real, just like telling stories with your best friend. Perfect fun read for these dark times.

Thank you so much! I am suuuuuuuper excited about this title because I loved Crazy Ex-Girlfriend so much. I'll be recommending this book on an episode of the Read Harder podcast for 2021 (part of Book Riot's premium Insiders program https://insiders.bookriot.com/?_ga=2.201177518.1218815625.1606153432-1674759145.1605759469). The episode will air in February.

I was a fan of Rachel Bloom going into this book, and I remain a fan after reading it.

I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are is an enjoyable memoir, though it's not without heavy content - her reflection on mental health throughout, and the current COVID-19 pandemic in the afterword, felt particularly poignant.

It took me awhile to get through the first several chapters on her childhood. Once I hit the teenage years, I read the rest of the book in one sitting.

I feel like Bloom is well aware of what my (and perhaps others') greatest criticism of the book is: I wanted more on Crazy Ex-girlfriend. I respect that that wasn't the scope of this book, and that she wanted to instead focus on her relationship to "normality," but that doesn't mean I didn't want to read more on CXG. I did! That's just because it was an important show to me personally. I also really think they did something special. What a treat it was, to crawl inside the head of one of its creators for a few hours.

Because this book isn't focused on CXG, I don't think you need to have seen the show to appreciate I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are. I'd especially recommend it to those who like Jenny Lawson's writing. And musical theater jokes - those did make their way in!

I'll start out with my main takeaway: this book was delightful and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to read it. (Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing!) This book that had me laughing out loud, but also had moments of great poignance.

The Afterward is the stand-out for me, as a 2020 reader. It is the perfect balance of honesty, pathos, and humor. It would be worth buying this book just to read that short section. (Looking back, I realize that some of my favorite sections came toward the end—her experience performing at the Emmys; her satire about relating to social media trolls, dealing with bullying at work (including a time-travel conversation) and finding peace with past experiences of bullying. I also appreciated Bloom's discussion of how OCD has manifested in her life and how she has found ways to move forward in a healthy way.

On a lighter note, it was fun seeing the reality of shape wear—including pictures! I loved the musical number that's available in audio online, and based on that, I believe a lot of this book would be ideally experienced as an audiobook. While Bloom is certainly a hilarious and talented writer, at her heart she is a performer. Hearing her perform the book would elevate the whole experience.

Again, I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review "I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are." Thank you so much for sharing it with me.

When I saw this book come up, I immediately downloaded it and moved it to the top of my pile. (If you don't know who Rachel Bloom is, you need to watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend immediately!) This book of memoir/essays touches on the show but is also about growing up strange, getting bullied, etc, etc. Same sense of humor, and same potty mouth. I laughed quite a few times. And I love the Apple paperback feeling of this cover.

One chapter is a full musical production that can be listened to on her website while you read the book. If there is an audio version, that might be the best way to read the book.

This was my most anticipated celebrity memoir this year, and I loved it so much. I was introduced to Rachel Bloom via Crazy Ex Girlfriend, which I obviously loved (a musical interlude with a wild music video speaks directly to me). This is exactly the kind of honest humor I expected it to be, and sometimes painfully relatable. Rachel is honest about her struggles and insecurities, about mental health, and the exact right amount to love Disney. This is quirky, funny, warm, and speaks truth, even when things get a little awkward or intimate.