I followed Rax King on Twitter for years and have always found her funny and insightful. Her collection of essays has the perfect touches of humor and self deprecation. It was not relatable for me but I didn’t need it to be—her experiences are her own and you can get something out of this book even if you don’t have a similar personal history to Ms. King. I was so pleased to receive this ARC. Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage Books for giving me the opportunity to provide a review.

There were many moments in the beginning of the memoir where King is asking why so many people around them were constantly never letting them fail or see the true colors of the person that was in front of them. I was hoping for the author to acknowledge some of their privileges in the world. Why their actions would not be accepted by anyone else that looked different from them. I wanted some accountability to be on the table but it seems like I was thinking to highly of what the author was going to present.

I never really know how to review essay collections, even when they're all by the same author. Sloppy has a narrative taking place across the essays that makes it feel more like a loose but complete memoir, which made it more satisfying. Really though, what made it so enjoyable was the relatability. This isn't typically something I seek out, I've generally had enough of myself and would prefer to disappear into someone else, thanks. The writer's candor and self-awareness (not too much, just enough) give the essays a sweet pain, like being very gently exorcised. I enjoyed her previous book, Tacky, on a more surface level so this surprised me in a wonderful way. Extraordinary tales that, as trite as it sounds, might give people who love addicts some insight into what's going on under the surface. Also really funny.

Solidarity with those who had sleepovers with people who didn't like them 🙏

I vaguely knew who Rax King was because I recognized her name from Twitter, but I didn't know much other than the few viral-ish opinions of hers I had taken in. I really liked this book! It was warm and thoughtful, but also funny and wry so the thoughtfulness didn't feel like too much, and had enough non-author topics that it didn't feel solely navel-gazing (which isn't an actual critique, whatever, people are interesting). The number one experience of personal essays for me is when I'm reading something extremely me (narcissist vibes) and this was not that, but number two experience of personal essays: seeing very clearly into the brain of a person who is extremely not me. Recommended for the slovenly amongst us, myself very much included!

A collection of essays about the author's addictions and struggles with sobriety. It contains all the humor and candor you'd expect from Rax King, but it's touching and thought-provoking too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

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.