Rax King's "Sloppy", a collection of essays on getting sober, shoplifting, and other vices and virtues is a standout. King's quick wit, empathy and willingness to be open about "doing it all wrong" make each essay unique. Never boring and always honest, Sloppy is an easy recommend for fand of King or for those looking for some of the best writing available this year.

As someone who has never read anything by Rax King, I find this book messy and inconsistent with its pacing and plotlines. It jumped around a lot and had plot holes. While I understand that this is a memoir and, of course, it's not going to be perfectly organized and formed, it felt like this book was made in a rush and never finished. In terms of the content of the book, I enjoyed Rax King's writing and the fact that she psychoanalyzed herself, which is shown in the book. Overall, I think this book could have used another round of editing, and some points could have been expanded on. Thank you, NetGalley and Vintage, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

The writers sophomore is release is much better than their last work which admitted a slog at some points. This book shows experience and pacing that is well done. However, there remains ever present oddball moments in the book that make you either roll your eyes, ponder how you can tell from writing that someone is chronically online, or consider whether the author is completely fabricating details.

At one point, the author accuses some their high school teachers of people that ‘wanted to work at Lockheed Martin’ but became teachers instead. I’m not sure such a person exists as most teachers pursue degrees in education and are community-minded but, if they did exist, I don’t think they would have been teach at her admittedly hippy dippy alternative high school.

Later comes the authors tale that two gentleman came to her strip club to talk about philosophy. In the course of this discussion, the author swooped into correct of the them on an obscure minor point of discussion. The guy in the club was actually a wise professor who then came to the club all the time to chat philosophy with the author. This strikes me as highly implausible. Adding these types of anecdotes always makes it seems like she wants her life to be more cinematic or interesting than it is and I always wanna say to the author: you were a stripper- that’s pretty out of the ordinary to most folks! You don’t have to embellish further.

Other strange inconsistencies pop up to- referring to people eating at an admittedly sub-par restaurant where she worked as “spoiled pets” whereas the authors own penchant for fine dining is a quirky “bad with money” habit. I suppose consistency is the hobgoblins of little minds but it comes across as a bit tone deaf.

Overall though, interspersed between these bits were well-written , poignant pieces about lying and infidelity, marriage and addiction that spoke to a higher truth and were worth reading.

Rax King is a very funny, unique, and sharp writer, and this collection as essays is as strong as Tacky, her first. “Proud Alcoholic Stock" was my favorite essay of the collection—it felt the most meaty and conceived. A few of the others read a bit as filler, but there was a loose narrative arc that supported the collection as a whole. Her strength as a writer is making you feel like your her friend, and the two of you are sitting together, heads close, sharing stories.

a sharp, hilarious, and sometimes gut-wrenching collection of essays. King covers everything from anecdotes of pop culture references to heartbreak and self-destruction, blending biting wit with brutal honesty. The essays explore identity, cultural nostalgia, bad relationships, grief, and the messy process of reinvention, all with a perfect balance of humor and raw emotion.
King’s ability to dissect both love and pain, particularly in how they shaped her, is deeply moving. The essays feel like a conversation—one that’s equal parts self-reckoning and catharsis.

Sloppy by Rax King is equal parts honest and exquisite. Everything she writes about is relatable even if you've never been addicted to drugs or lost as parent. Her writing style is easy, and unrushed and her essay collections feel like reading a lavish tale from a very good friend.

I’ll read any essay Rax King writes. She reminds me that, while I am able to relate to her on several levels, these experiences are more universal (and more humorous) than I originally thought. I love how she weaves millennial pop culture into her writing, and how she writes everything with equal parts reverence and levity. Great collection, can’t wait to read more!

Sloppy was a fantastic read -- I thoroughly enjoyed this series of essays, the writing style, and the overall tie in to the title and theme. King provides enough of the gorey details to make the reader feel like a close friend, while continuously surprising us with messy one-ups-manship. I will be purchasing a tangible copy for the shelf, and will recommend wholeheartedly for anyone who is a fan of memoir-style essay reads.

there are so, so many beautiful and poignant and knife-to-the-gut but in the best way moments about this non-fiction work… but ultimately, the time jumps and rapid switching between themes and motifs (which, to be fair, are very consistent throughout) are just a bit hard to keep track of and give it a bit of a blippy feel. It feels like an internal monologue in all the best ways but also in the ways that anyone who is an external person is missing key context. That’s the thing that kept it from ranking higher for me… but Rax is a lovable, funny, almost painfully real narrator, there’s no doubt about it.

GOODREADS REVIEW: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7294721109?book_show_action=false

BOOKTOK REVIEW: https://www.tiktok.com/@lucy_readss/photo/7468147083778805035

BOOKSTAGRAM REVIEW: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFt0OttNIaC/

This book was wild and sad at times but also showed a different side of a person. I found it to be insightful and a wild ride. I think everyone knows someone or is a little piece of this book.

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.