We're All in This Together . . .

LOVED! Big fan of Tom Papa, and I forget just how great he is until I see a new special or in this case, read his book. He's just so funny, and even though I don't have kids, I still love his stories about his family. Filled with short essays, I just couldn't get enough of this book. HIGHLY recommended to anyone and everyone!

This is my first book that I have read by Tom Papa and certainly will not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this laugh out loud book of short essays that made me smile as I was digesting his humor. Highly recommended to all fans of humor, bravo Tom!

"We're All in This Together" is an absolutely sublime title for the latest book of observational and humorous short essays by comedian, actor, radio host, and author Tom Papa whose book "You're Doing Great!" revealed the comic's gift for literary humor that tackles universal themes with a personal touch.

The same is very much true for "We're All in This Together," a collection of 37 essays addressing such topics as drinking, pets, date nights, unfamiliar hotel rooms, and ducking your family even though you love them. While there's some thematic overlap with Papa's comedy, for the most part "We're All in This Together" offers fresh material from a refreshingly funny and surprisingly heartfelt comic whose background ranges from SiriusXM radio shows to two Rob Zombie-directed comedy specials (plus 3-4 others) to a wide range of television and film appearances.

If you know Tom Papa, you love Tom Papa.

While Papa occasionally tackles a political topic or two, it's typically from a more personal angle with the vast majority of "We're All in This Together" material finding its roots in family live with his wife and two children and his unique humor that somehow is both empathetic and often quite pointed. Papa's a comic who unites, not as a political statement or position but as a human being who seems to genuinely want to build a longer table. Papa's podcast "Breaking Bread with Tom Papa" is evidence of this and it's a spirit that poignantly and hilariously comes to life in this genuinely engaging and entertaining collection of essays.

If you've never listened to Papa's Netflix radio show with Fortune Feimster, "What a Joke," it's an absolute must. Quite simply, at least for me, Papa has become one of my "go to" comedians who never disappoints no matter the medium.

It doesn't hurt that Tom Papa is infinitely relatable. He's the kind of guy who feels like a BFF, admittedly a BFF who'd likely hide from you in the grocery aisle if he noticed you first.

But hey, he's far from my only friend who does that.

"We're All in This Together" features, once again, everything we've come to know and love about and from Papa. With heart and humor, Papa's 37 essays essentially respond to the call put forth by the book's title - "We're All in This Together ... So Make Some Room."

We're All in This Together by Tom Papa was my first experience of this author, and I must say that I can certainly understand his mass appeal. This collection of short essays is collectively witty, sharply observed, relatable, and guaranteed to leave you with a smile. I look forward to reading much more from this delightful author. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC.

life sucks and sometimes you just need a good laugh. thank you tom papa for bringing some joy in dark times. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute and fun collection of pick-me-up stories designed to bring a smile (both genuine and snarky) to your face. I want familiar with him prior to this, but his mass appeal is easy to understand. His writing is relevant, approachable, and clever. I couldn't read large swathes at a time - there's a feeling of similarity after a while, especially I felt with the early pieces - but a few here and there were just the thing I needed after a long day to bring a smile to my face.

Great variety of stories. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for the purpose of this review. I’m giving it four stars. I liked the wide range of collected essays.

Tom Papa is one of my very favorite comedians and this book didn’t disappoint!

The way Tom tells stories is unlike no other and was absolutely a joy to read! I worried some humor would get lost in written form, but that wasn’t the case at all!

This was cute and funny, some of the stories were definitely laugh out loud funny, especially those about growing up in NJ, my home state and where I still live. Plus we're the same age so the stories have a lot of relevance for me! The only downside is that I will say it seemed to be a little long, a few of the stories towards the end weren't connecting with me as much as those in the beginning. All in all, a good read to put you in a good mood.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. The author wrote humorous essays that can easily relate to the reader. It was easy to follow and the writer kept you interested and invested in the book. Would read more from the author

I really enjoyed these essays from one of the best comedians around, Tom Papa. He was funny and relatable, and I laughed a lot.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is very enjoyable collection of 37 essays addressing common situations we all encounter.

Tom Papa is highly observant and brings to the surface interesting commentaries about our reactions to life's ups and downs. He does this with humor and understanding - showing us that we are all human and make the same mistakes that others do in similar circumstances.

Sorta funny, sorta silly but sorta fun! Never heard of Tom Papa before but it’s seems he is really popular.

Tom Papa, an Italian American comedian shares stories from his life. From a young boy to present adulthood it was entertaining and enlightening to read. Being able to compare our own life experiences with those of Tom Papa made it open our eyes to various influences.

Tom Papa has become one of my favourite comedians over the last few years. He first came to my attention after his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience. After that he appeared several more times and I grew to love him more and more. I was excited to read his last book You’re Doing Great and I really enjoyed it so I was equally excited to get the chance to read this book.

Each chapter discusses a different take the author has on a myriad of topics. This ranges from family vacations, diets, relationships and more. I really loved the quick hits from each chapter and the humour Tom provides. As any comedian does he finds reality in his points of view and I found a lot of points to be very relatable. The book is similarly written to his last one in terms of style so if you enjoyed that one you will certainly like this one too. I would highly recommend this one to comedy lovers everywhere

Take on Italian-American father, mix in stand-up, NPR, and children to get an idea of Tom Papa. He opens this volume of 30+ essays with a ambling talk about connections. He then dives into his remembrance of being different in Kindergarten, an essay on what not to eat, why Mark Twain smoked cigars, marriage, love, regrets, and many more topics. Some of my favorite essays - "Cats: Ancient Menace" which is the topic that got me interested in this title, "Why We Return to the Sea" on time spent crabbing with his dad, and "What Gnomes Can Teach Us" regarding kids and nature. But all of these essays are enjoyable, nicely paced, and a reasonable length. Take the time to slow down and read these vignettes on life!

Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this title!

Good family fun to get us through temporary grumpiness or just for a healthy laugh!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

Tom Papa always makes me laugh. He is a great storyteller, and he knows how to make things like marriage and traveling funny without being mean or using bad language. He is witty and thoughtful, and one of the best comedians working today. I will read anything he writes.

Just as funny as his stand up with more insight.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Only recently having discovered Tom Papa on Netflix, it was a big thrill to receive this book. The stories/essays within range from amusing to thought provoking. The author really opens up on his own views in a way that keeps you reading and laughing out loud at some of the antics. Great break from some serious nonfiction reading and a motivator to go see him in person.

I don't think that essays like this are really my thing. The writing was good, there were some elements of humour, and they did resonate with me as an Italian-Canadian. But in the end, they felt very disjointed and I guess were not what I was shooting for. I was hoping for more humour from a comedian and more LOL moments which just didn't happen. And because of that, I kind of wanted this to then veer more towards the serious which it skirted at best.

Papa is a storyteller, so he does a good job when he gets into a story even with some exaggeration and attempts at funny. He is also well spoken so there is nothing to critique about his skills. I just felt like these essays were not very structured as a whole and as such felt very random. Glimpses into his youth. Glimpses into his young adulthood. Glimpses into his adulthood and now. But all kind of randomly jumbled together. I did appreciate the idea that we are all in this together. And I did appreciate his moments of trying to link situations with his lived experience to life lessons. Just not enough to really make up for my overall enjoyment of the book. It wasn't awful. It just wasn't great. Or wasn't great for me.

If you like Papa as a comedian and are a fan of his other writings, then I think you'll enjoy this one. If you are into essays about lived life without any major drama, then also a good pick for you.

I love Tom Papa's stand up and his previous book "You're doing great", so I wanted to love this book too. It's well written and interesting, but lacked the "lol" moments I was looking for. He has a distinctive voice and paints engaging, often touching vignettes from his past and his current life with vivid clarity. The tone and themes of this collection of essays just wasn't for me, but I think many other fans of Paps will enjoy it. He's a talented humorist and very funny stand up; I'll be looking forward to his next offering to see if it resonates more strongly for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars! This book was the perfect palate cleanser. Tom brings his comedic touch to lots of different topics with stories that are quite relatable and funny. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

Tom Papa is a very talented guy. The list of job titles on his resume is almost hard to believe: stand-up comedian, writer, movie actor, television actor, television host, radio host, and podcast producer. And what makes it more remarkable is that he is good at all those things, in addition to being very, very funny while doing them. I have long been a big fan of his work and his comedy specials available on various streaming services are among my absolute favorite things to binge when I need a quick pick-me-up from the daily grind.

In We’re All in This Together, Papa gives us his unique take on a wide variety of topics involving life’s mundane occurrences, including the travails of traveling with your family, the useless stuff we tend to accumulate, unexpected things that can kill us, the joy in several glasses of wine, bug infestations in the house, picking up roots and leaving home, rules for the food we eat, the art of not complaining, and even how cats can be conniving jerks. Written in more than three dozen short essays, collectively this volume is a little hard to classify—it is not quite a memoir, not quite a set of philosophical musings, not quite a lot of rants on random peeves. What it does add up to is one man’s easy-going and cheerful insights on the modern human condition.

I enjoyed reading this book, which is hardly surprising given my regard for virtually everything I have seen the author do. Papa is a good writer, but mostly where he excels is as a great storyteller. I did not find any of the essays to be enthralling or even side-splittingly funny—it seems very hard to be as humorous in writing as one can be in person—but each was interesting in its own way, whether dealing with events from the past (his boyhood) or the present (his current family life). Although somewhat haphazardly organized, this collection of observations is an easy one to recommend, whether you are a long-standing follower of the author or someone discovering his work for the first time.

Fun anecdotes about life. Nothing earth shattering in terms of humor, but a humorous way to see the every day mundane. Enjoyable to read.

As a stand-up comedian, Tom Papa knows how to make his audience laugh. This book combines his smart humor and human observation in 37 essays that tackle relationship issues, family, pets, drinking, and much more.

“ Tom Papa’s books make readers laugh, but–crucially–feel better about themselves while doing it.”

Comedian, author, actor, and podcaster ("What a Joke" with Fortune Feimster) Tom Papa's newest book "We're All in this Together: So Make Some Room" (St. Martin's Press, 2023), is chock full of essays and humorous tidbits, I thought I was a comedy fan (maybe I didn't know as much about Papa due to his "clean comedy" label?!) but with his keen observations and slice of life retellings I laughed and chuckled because he was so spot on in far too many instances. In a chapter about cats and their special mystical powers of control over households (terrifying accurate), he referenced cat owners as Cat Ladies. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Tom is sitting on a goldmine pet co-owner/parent name: Cat Papa. He should take it out for a spin!

Good day? Read a bit from this book! Crappy day? Read a bit more from this book! Grab a drink, a snack, and sit with your cat (or dog). And let your worries roll on by since "we're all in this together!"

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

I've watched Tom Papa's standup comedy specials so many times, I have them memorized. There's something about listening to stories about his family that make it feel like there's someone else out there who understands. I doubt other people have his stories embedded into their brains the way I do. That's important here because his books are those same stories with a lot more detail. Plus, there are plenty that even I haven't heard before.

Readers of Generation X age who grew up before cell phones and the internet will easily relate to a lot of the life lessons and anecdotes in We're All in This Together...So Make Some Room. If you also happen to be a New Jersey reader, you'll find a bit extra in the nostalgia department. Papa's fondness for his home state, the Garden State, is discussed often in his books.

If you were surrounded by drunk family or simply crazy people even when sober, essays like Quit Complaining and Don't Swim Alone will strike a chord. It could be that wacky grandma who morning drinks with her bridge club or your dad who never consumed a glass of water in his life. Bonus points for relating if there was always food. Food and drinking—the two mainstays of family interactions.

Something that became clear to me when reading We're All in This Together...So Make Some Room that I didn't garner from Papa's standup specials, is that he has a beautiful imagination and has had it since he was a child. Most kids have this until they're forced to be serious and grow up which our society sees as being mutually exclusive from playing in the woods and visiting the fairies. The chapter, What Gnomes Can Teach Us, is a breathtaking look inside the child's mind. It's a reminder that Once Upon a Time, we believed. We may not have believed in Santa Clause, but we believed in something. Unicorns. Magic. Gnomes in the garden. Or that our cats know exactly what we're saying. Tom Papa was connected to the natural world as a child in New Jersey's woods and shores. A copse of trees wasn't just a place waiting for the next buyer to chop them down and build a strip mall or condos. Those trees were places where a kid could climb, spy, play Tarzan, and get away from adults—all without the worries of things like Lyme Disease. You didn't need marijuana or shrooms as a kid.

There's also a chapter akin to the show The Good Place which starred Ted Danson, Kristen Bell, and William Jackson Harper. It's called The Good and the Bad. It shouldn't take a tragedy like 9/11 to bring people together and be a little nicer to each other. Tom Papa has had enough experience mingling with other humans in airports, hotels, resorts, and the streets of New York and LA to know that people are gross and selfish. He says the world would be better if we just had better manners. And I agree.

However, I only say "Sir" or "Ma'am" when I'm being facetious and snarky to people who don't know that inside my head, I think they're annoying d-bags. As Papa says, the world is also filled with scumbags who use politeness as a weapon. Those people are courteous and put-together as they revoke basic human rights from others. The difference is whether you can be genuine in your politeness. Say "Excuse me" when you knock into someone; hold the door for the person behind you (if they aren't 50 feet away of course); essentially, don't be a Grade A a-hole.

Summary:

Tom Papa's We're All in This Together...So Make Some Room is the kind of book that would make a great gift. Father's Day is coming up. The recipient doesn't need to know who this author is. They'll be fine going into it without any pre-conceived notions. Some of the chapters are the perfect word count for one of Dad's trips to the bathroom.

I like a memoir, whether I know the author or not, so when I was offered this in ebook to read and review, I accepted and started reading on my kindle… picking up and putting down each short story, as it’s not one of those intertwined novels that needs to be read sequentially or quickly to keep it fresh in my brain.
But, I realized I’d rather hear the audio narration of Tom Papa himself and when I saw the audiobook up for review, I had to request it. This did not disappoint.
His cadence was great. His delivery calm and genuine. He isn’t crude and doesn’t scream like some comedians, so I appreciated that. His stories were interesting and heartfelt, talking about his grandparents and breaking out of his small town and his love of Christmas.
I’ve never really watched any of his standup, but I’ll definitely look him up now and I think this is a great set of stories that pretty much anyone would enjoy. Definitely recommend.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this collection of humourous essays by one of the funniest comedians working today.

With som much going wrong in the world it is very hard to be a nice person, especially in comedy. Punching down seems to be the trend now, or going out on tour and making fun of all the horrible things that one has been accused of. Observational humor is tough, because observing the world right now is a miserable experience, and people are trying to get away from that. Which makes Tom Papa a rarity and important to comedy. Papa is funny, without the slander, and generally seems to like humans, which is something that comedy has always had a problem with. Papa limns his own experiences, and makes them universal. I'm not a father, nor married, but still laugh at his jokes about parenting and marriage. Papa makes people laugh, and is kind. Which is a rare strength today. This collection We're All in This Together . . . So Make Some Room shows this.

The book consists of thirty-seven essays, many about him, his family relations and experiences on the road and life. A few might seem familiar from his podcast or comedy shows, but are given a lot more room in essay form. All are funny and are really nice pieces to start the day, or even better too wind down from a day of just getting through life. Some of my favorites was one on cats, which for some reason I kept laughing through, and on how he dodges people he knows in public, something that I am quite guilty of and again made me laugh out loud. Others range on how long pants can be worn before washing, cars, kids and family problems.

I enjoyed the writing quite a bit. The essay form really gives Papa a chance to broaden some ideas, give more examples and expand on some themes that a regimented stand-up show or even podcast might not allow. The language, the way Papa uses words and phrases, setting up the joke and carrying the reader through the piece, until he hits with a big laugh, surrounded by smaller chuckles. This kind of writing takes real skill, some honed from working in front of crowds, but being able to translate this to the written page is quite impressive. I have read a lot of books by comedians, some are just their sketches written down, some are just a series of jokes, almost a laugh a page. These essays take time, and really deliver. Papa seems very comfortable in writing longer pieces, I hope he tries his hand at novels as I think he would be quite good at them.

A great book for a bad day. There is a pleasant feeling that comes from reading these essays, something that is rare in comedy now. I mentioned that one can read these after bad days, and I think that is the nicest thing I can say. A very funny collection, and one that will make a lot of people quite happy.

This book is not what I was expecting. Actually, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I thought it would be like his standup act. What I found is a very compelling, relatable, and poignant book that is very funny, but offers more than just laughs. A self-described middle-aged father, he talks about random stuff that we all deal with, offering a fresh perspective that may make, say standing in line at the airport, less onerous. He offers insight into his own life but made it relatable to my own. In a weird way, even if it’s not a self-help book in any way, it made me think. His style is hilarious and fun and funny. It is not political in any way, so no one will be aggravated. I’m not sure how to write this review, so I’ll just say that the book is fantastic, emotional, and full of laughter.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#St. Martin's Press!

This book features a collection of 37 different essays which range wildly on topics, from drinking too much to trying to avoid people you know in public. Some were in the 3 star range, most were in the 4 star range, and a few hit the 5 star range. While Tom Papa is known as a comedian, this book didn't have quite as much humor as I was expecting. However, many of the essays were very relatable and struck a chord with me, and I'm sure they'll strike a chord with anyone who reads it. I think that's what makes this collection so good. There's at least one essay that everyone can relate to. It may be a different essay for each person, but everyone will be able to see themselves in at least one, if not multiple, essays. I haven't listened to or read much of Tom Papa's work, but I will definitely check more out after this.

I didn’t really know much about Tom Papa. A funny comedian’s take on things we all deal with everyday in our lives. It’s a fast paced and funny read, I did find myself laughing out loud at times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest opinion. 3.5⭐️

I enjoyed reading Tom Papa’s essays. I felt like they were entertaining and observant, based on “everyday” things.

Tom Papa has created and entertaining book of 37 short essays and I enjoyed reading them all. He style of observational humor is a favorite of mine and I love when there is something that I really connect to from my own experience. This is a book you can drop in and out of and doesn't have to be read in order. I had fun picking through some topics I thought I would enjoy at first.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy to enjoy. This is my honest review.

I rarely read books that are a collection of essays. I had just seen Tom Papa live doing his stand up routine so I decided to read this book. This is a funny, poignant book that contains humor, but is very personal..

Tom Papa is highly observant and writes about relatable situations with a unique perspective. He does this with humor and understanding. Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This comedy book features 37 essays of the comedy of everyday life, truly DO bring us all together, as we laugh at our shared experiences and daily life. If you can't laugh at the absurdities in life, what CAN you laugh at? Tom brings his irrelevant humor to the written page with ease- it's very hard NOT to hear his voice, or see him in your head, performing these essays as part of his comedic act. Best taken in small bits, I'd recommend reading 1 or 2 essays at a time, and letting the book last longer. They're quick reads and perfect for killing time while waiting for appointments, for the kids to get out of class/daycamp etc. Also great for gift giving this Father's Day- many a dad just might recognize themselves in these funny essays!

Always funny, I enjoyed this latest collection of essays by comedian Tom Papa.

Papa has a way of getting to the heart of real people, trying as hard as we can to get through this messy life. His humor is thoroughly relatable, laugh out loud funny, and self-deprecating enough to hit the perfect balance of interest and reality. The section about choosing wine was my favorite, so honest and real.

I listened to this as an audiobook with the author narrating. This allows the listener to hear his inflection and the emphasis he puts on various things, which makes the book even more funny overall.

If you're looking for a light, enjoyable, humorous collection of essays, then look no further because Tom Papa always delivers.

We’re All in this Together…So Make Some Room by Tom Papa ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC. This one comes out June 6.

Organized as a series of essays, this book humorously explores what it means to be human. You can read these in any order. Read a few, sit this down, pick it back up later - it’ll all work.

I found myself laughing out loud a few times, and I also found myself reminiscing on my own life and people who have made an impact on me. Some of my favorites were:

Dad is Flying the Plane
Quit Complaining
Cats - Ancient Menace
Some Things That Can Kill Us
A Wise Ancestor Called Grandpa

All in all, if you’re looking for a light read to make you laugh and give you some other mixed in emotions about being human, this one is for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Comedian Tom Papa discusses a variety of topics(20+) from relationships to your cat plotting to kill you to general musings on life. I did laugh in many places(not deep belly laughs but the jokes still made their mark) and it was a nice lighthearted read.




Publication Date 06/06/23
Goodreads Review 06/06/23

We’re All in This Together is a lighthearted and humorous collection of essays about growing up, dating, marriage, vacation, family, and more. Whether you are familiar with Tom Papa's comedy or not, I recommend this to readers looking for a quick and diverting read.

Thank you very much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I had never heard of Tom Pappa before this book. I am so grateful to receive a copy of this one and be introduced. I loved his antics throughout this story. It was haha funny at times and other times had me laughing out loud.
A quick, fun read for anytime that you need a laugh or something different.