From my Wordpress Blog, "Chris Drops the Books":

It’s memoir and reflection, it’s full disclosure, it’s honesty. It’s keeping it real in the realest way. It’s going through some rough times, but no one makes as much sense of it all as Rax King.

Go ahead and judge this book by its cover if you’re the squeamish sort. Yes, you name it, we got it: drugs, alcohol, abuse, heartbreak, and the stinging boredom of sobriety. She’s known from her podcast, “Low Culture Boil,” to delve into some risqué topics, so you probably wouldn’t have signed up for this one anyway. But I was taken with the hilarious take on pop culture and intimate sharing in Tacky: Love Letters to the Worst Culture We Have to Offer. King has a genuine, observant, and raucous sense of humor, and a wonderful style of sharing and relating to us, so I grabbed this ARC when I could.

This one takes a step deeper into the author’s life and she doesn’t hold back. It’s a huge confessional, but one that doesn’t ask for any pity, so don’t give it. And she’s not making excuses, either. Instead, she writes from the “id,” telling us what’s happening when she’s shoplifting or picking up randos at the bookstore almost from a place of detachment. She felt like the flawed narrator in a story, the Dostoyevsky-like MC who’s recapping what happened, but never letting go of her accountability. Sure, I felt icky reading some of it. But A. The title kinda TELLS me this, and B. It clued me into a new perspective, a deep look at someone baring her soul, and that’s always valuable.

This one also gave me a bit more about her family. Again, it’s direct and honest. Not hateful, either, despite the problems and misunderstandings and crazy ravings. No, she’s not a saint, but we can all learn from her ability to reflect, to consider why her loved ones did what they did. More importantly, she describes her role in it. I loved her final chapter on sobriety, so much that I highlighted parts. There were sections I read more than once, since they were brand new ideas to me. Like I said: there’s trauma and pain and sadness and even self-inflicted slapstick humor, but no one analyzes it with such laughter and clarity than her.

And I love DC, too! Lived there for an unforgettable semester in the Clinton years. Saw every damn museum they had. Went to Camden Yards when it had just opened. Breathed clean air. Love it!

Of course, this doesn’t have quite as much pop culture reference as I’d have liked. Because I need to debate this whole Cheesecake Factory thing. Sorry, but that place sucks: I can’t see anything, the menu’s too long, and the food isn’t any better than Chili’s. Oh, and the cheesecake isn’t that good. COME AT ME.

If you have to even say, “content warning,” forget the whole thing. But if you like reflective and thoughtful memoirs, grab a chalupa and a Mountain Dew and join us.

Rax is hilarious as always, and honest to a fault. I love that nothing is sugar coated, Rax isn't bullshitting herself, but gives herself grace at the same time.

Like Tacky, I'm juuuust below the cut off for a lot of the pop culture references (born in '95). The names are familiar, but I can't place them enough for it to add value.

I was disappointed to not have enjoyed this more, but I don't think that's by any fault of Rax.

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Rax King and Vintage for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!}

Funny and honest! Reminds me of a younger and sexier David Sedaris perhaps?!?? Loved the honest essays about addiction

This is the second book I’ve read by Rax, and this book lives up to Tacky. I enjoyed this collection of stories, especially as a millennial whose internet addiction began at a young age. These stories were humorous and so enjoyable to read - I wish I read it more slowly!

If you’re a fan of Jenny Lawson’s Let’s Pretend This Never Happened or anything by Samantha Irby, check this one out.