A quirky and endearing narrative that collectively showcases middle age marriage at its best. With humor and some irony, essays about their old cat for the cat sitter and their art collection amassed over the years are easily related to. This is the first I have read of this author based on Ann Patchett's recommendation and it does not disappoint.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

If you’ve never read any of this author’s books, this is a great place to start. You’ll find warm, loving, and exceptionally funny essays to melt your heart and make you laugh. Her Southern Lady Code phrases, and cherished tales about her husband swept me away to another time.

I’m not going to go through each essay, because that’s why I want you to read this book. I’m just going to share that Helen’s observations are well-honed and the essays are particularly lovely. Authors like her are the kind who make reading so much fun. Her wittiness knows no bounds from “bedside drawers are full of hope” to her reverence for her cats. You’ll be fit to split reading her southern colloquialisms, and when it comes to keeping house, Martha Stewart and Marie Kondo don’t stand a chance with the tips Helen offers and the joy she finds in the mundane. If you set this essay to music, the world would be at peace. Her calendar and sticker situation is genius and delight all rolled into one.

Picture the quintessential Manhattan couple, with Ellis giving Elaine May (in partnership with Mike Nichols) doing their schtick. In real life, Helen takes jabs at her husband Lex, yet, make no mistake, he is not the butt of her jokes. She clearly adores him. And after being cooped up in their Upper East Side apartment during the pandemic, they found ways to brighten up their lives, rather than look at the doom that lay around them. While you might not find this book in the self-help or relationship sections of your local book shop, next time you’re fixin’ to do something and unsure of yourself, think, what would Helen do.

Oh, Helen Michelle, as your Mama said so succinctly, you can do that, and you did, with the gift of this book. Now, everyone, go and get yours because it is the best.

Thank you to NetGalley, Doubleday, and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was entertaining and fun reading. I like the format of quick essays on a variety of topics approached in a comedic way. Highly recommend!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for free advanced copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Helen Ellis is an American treasure. She is a sophisticated humorist with a dirty mind. She currently lives in New York City, but she grew up in Alabama, which is like hitting the lottery for a funny essayist. She and her husband have been married for over twenty years. They stayed in the city during the pandemic, and now not only are they still together, they are happier than ever. Her latest collection of essays, Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge, is Ellis sharing her happiness with us, and it’s filled with lots of color, memories of growing up, tips for plant lovers, and a lot of love for Dynasty’s Joan Collins.

Whether she’s writing a letter to her catsitter about her two fur babies and their very particular eating habits or remembering how her friends once hypnotized her at a sleepover, encouraging readers to clean drunk or listing all the times that things went wrong at weddings she’d been to, Ellis brings us into her life, gets us a cocktail, and tells us stories that make us laugh until our sides hurt.

Ellis has a way of making even ordinary things seems extraordinary, and extraordinary things seem like a celebration. And while not all of us can collect art alongside James Franco or turn our New York City apartments into a greenhouse, we can all take a closer look at our relationships and figure out how to make them stronger. As long as you’re both on the same page about what you want, then you don’t have to be the couple that runs or that swing dances or that kayaks together or that stays in your friends’ guest rooms.

Maybe you’re the couple who makes your own handmade Valentines or who has a gold Christmas tree or who sleeps in separate rooms because of the snoring. Or the couple who names their TV room the Coral Lounge and keeps a bag of cat food there because one of the cats is super picky and will only eat off the coffee table. Or the couple where the wife writes hilarious essays while also promising not to make the husband go ziplining just so she can write about it.

So if you’re in that kind of relationship, or want to be, the kind where each partner gets to be who they are without judgment or death threats, then this may be the book for you. Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge is not only seriously funny, it’s also a celebration of love and marriage in this post-pandemic world. It’s like a Valentine for readers, and a love letter to Alexis Carrington Colby and her fierce pot-stirring skills.

Egalleys for Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge were provided by Doubleday Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Omg I loved this book so much. A collection of essays, each so funny and smart, surprising, and sweet. Her writing reminds me of the great David Sedaris. There wasn’t a single essay that was a “Skip” - all wonderful. I’m buying this for everyone I know - truly there’s no better gift that this. Thanks to Doubleday for the copy. I loved every single word.

In this short story memoir collection, Helen talks about plants, her happy marriage, their pink painted living room, and life in NYC during Covid. Her stories are funny, and I loved the strong voice that came thru- you really get a feel for the author. Some of the stories were leaning a little too hard on the "we're quirky/ we're really funny" but nonetheless, this is a collection worth picking up.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

A great big thank you to NetGalley, Doubleday Publishers and author/humorist Helen Ellis for gifting me an ARC of Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge. In exchange I offer my honest review.

This is my fourth book by Helen Ellis and once again I was delighted and entertained, and even though we are similar in age, both married and adore our spouses and family we are leading very different lives. However that didn’t stop me from relating and enjoying this collection of life stories. Focusing on the past few years, living through a pandemic, Helen shares the joys of being a cat mom, discovering hidden gems in an abandoned building, attending girlhood sleepovers, family weddings & funerals, collecting stickers as an adult ( yes, please!) and the benefits of introducing Viagra into your marriage 😉All this is to say, this book is hilarious and authentic and one not to miss! Perfect to throw in your beach bag, or listen to on a summer road trip. And if you haven’t listened/read this author before be sure to pick up Southern Lady Code, American Housewife and my favorite Bring Your Baggage and Don’t Pack Light.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

This is a fun/funny book and a quick read. Helen Ellis and her husband Lex have been married for 20 years now and the life-long New Yorker (Lex) and the transplanted Alabama native (Helen) have put together a good life. No children, but two cats, Lex's family apartment where he grew up, and a big circle of friends, they are very happy to be in New York City and take full advantage of everything it offers.

The collection of short narratives, I wouldn't call them short stories, but more just random stories, is varied, ranging from the directions they leave for their cat-sitter, to how Viagra changed their sex life during the pandemic, are funny, thought-provoking, sometimes sad, philosophical, and everything else.

You will like Helen, her husband, her parents, her sister and all her friends!!

Thanks to Helen Ellis' hilarious, moving, wonderfully written KISS ME IN THE CORAL LOUNGE, my husband will enjoy his favorite chicken parmesan tonight. At times laugh-out-loud funny, her essays also illuminate the breadth, depth, and wonders of a long-time marriage, family relationships (I would give an arm to attend one her family's weddings--or funerals). Ultimately, her book is. one of the most frank and beautiful celebrations of our moments of genius studded by episodes of opinionated cats, neighbors, and what it is to live in a beloved city with one's best friend and soul mate. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

I wonder if Helen Ellis wants to be my friend? We're about the same age and have migrated reverse routes (me from the northeast to the south; her from the south to the northeast). In this book of short vignettes, she recalls life in her NYC apartment with her beloved husband, Lex, during the pandemic. She draws on past experiences, telling family and childhood stories. Hilarious and relatable, although I still tire of the myths perpetuated by some Southerners--e.g., that they are the true promulgators of good manners (insert eyeroll). She seems to have a genuinely happy marriage, although she should consider her IG thermometer for judging relationships. I'm still determining how I feel about a childless woman choosing to be a "housewife," but really it's none of my business. Bless my heart. #KissMeintheCoralLounge #NetGalley

Once again, Helen Ellis makes me laugh out loud as I read this book of essays about life in your 50's and marriage and NYC. It's almost like a friend is telling you stories at a long leisurely dinner and I was here for it. She's a great storyteller and I will read whatever she writes!

Honestly i DNF this book; it didn’t capture my attention.. I wish the author luck and this book is not just my cup of tea

A top 5 read of 2023 for me!

MV Rating: 10/10
• hilarious and insightful short stories on marriage and other life topics.
•the stories really are short - this was a very quick read.
•I truly laughed out loud at the tone of some of these stories, and found them to be just as insightful as they were funny
•I will be buying the physical copy of this book to share with friends

I enjoyed how she wrote the book, it is about her thoughts, her life, and even after 20 years of marriage, their love was still strong, and it is broken down into short stories., When the pandemic hit, they were in New York and their refuge was the Coral Lounge.
This book had me laughing, made me think about things, like my spouse snores, is it time for separate rooms? This was lighthearted, filled with, the things she learned along the way, and was willing to share them all with us. I kept thinking, don't take life so seriously, and her life is lots different from mine, but I loved how she thinks.
I received an ARC from Doubleday through NetGalley,

I recently had the pleasure of diving into "Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge: Intimate Confessions from a Happy Marriage" by Helen Ellis, and let me just say, it's a five-star read that completely took me by surprise.

As someone who typically gravitates towards thrillers and historical fiction, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I absolutely loved this book. Helen Ellis, with her masterful storytelling skills, invites readers into a world of intimate confessions and the complexities of a happy marriage.

One of my favorite chapters was the poignant exploration of the cat sitting instructions. It beautifully captured the nuances of love, trust, and connection within the context of pet care. It's just one example of how Helen Ellis skillfully weaves together moments of humor, heart, and genuine emotion throughout the book.

"Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge" is a remarkable testament to the power of love, commitment, and the unexpected surprises that come with a long-term partnership. It's a book that challenges preconceived notions and reminds us of the beauty in the everyday.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to readers looking for a refreshing and heartfelt exploration of marriage and all its intricate layers.

Helen Ellis has a wicked sense of humor that I appreciate as a southern woman. In her latest essay collection, she focuses on her 20+ year marriage with stories about their NYC apartment, their cats, a game they call "What's in the box?", death, devotion, and more.

I learned what intertwangelism (enjoyable!) and appreciated these witty musings on her marriage through the lens of COVID-19 lockdown.

Thanks to Doubleday for sending an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge is scheduled for release on June 13, 2023.

I inhaled these short essays about thoughts on life, love, and all the in-betweens! A few of the chapter titles are: An Email to Our Cat Sitter-hilariously detailed! We Are Not That Couple-realizing who they really are-with humor! May I Hold Your Grudge for You?-all about why she would hold a grudge, but then decided it wasn't worth it (unless it was!). Hang-ups-you know back in the day when you used to call someone and not say anything and then hang up on them-fun times!

The humor she writes with is so refreshing! I enjoyed the format and the short essays flowed well in the book. She reminded me a Jenny Lawson--but without all the crazy animals--but animals are lightly involved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday books for the complimentary e-copy of this book.

KISS ME IN THE CORAL LOUNGE is the first book I have read of this authors, and I loved everything about it! Her style, her humor, and her voice, she has such a refreshing and hilarious way with words. A wonderful escapism, this book is purely delightful, marvelous, and splendid! I'm thankful for the author letting us dive into her life and her marriage of over twenty-five years. I devoured it in one sitting and enjoyed every page of this tastefully written, colorful collection of essays. Even as a single 28-year-old, I found myself connecting and resonating with the author. So happy to have come across this author!

Much gratitude to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

Within the first three pages, I was laughing out loud and strongly identifying with Helen Ellis and her descriptions of married life. The Coral Lounge is an eye=popping color for a room, but Helen, her husband and their friends find all kinds of kooky activities to do in there including a jigsaw puzzle of a beheaded priest. When Covid hits and the couple are staying home more, they binge watch Dynasty for fantasize about living like Joan Colllins' character. Entertaining and very funny.

The Coral Lounge is a room in Helen Ellis’s house that is painted such a bright shade people often ask her for the color. In this fun book she discusses in great length about love, marriage and middle age. The book takes place during Covid in New York when life is really slow paced for everyone. The book will have laughing out loud.