So apparently I have been living under a rock, because I didn’t really know much about Samantha Irby. I’d heard of her books when they came out, and I had been vaguely interested (I think I have a copy of one of her other titles buried in a pile of books somewhere around here that I’ve yet to read), I hadn’t picked any up. This seemed like a good place to start. I wasn’t at all prepared for Irby’s writing, though!
Irby is a comedian who (as I now know) has a trademark style which consists of brutal honesty about everything, especially the gross stuff. It is not for the faint of heart. In this book she discusses sex, illness, and bodily functions (including a particularly memorable account of explosive diarrhea that is still sticking with me). It was an interesting experience because it was humorous. She’s a funny person, and has great comedic timing in some of her pieces.
And yet, it was also incredibly difficult to read because some of it was way, way past TMI. I’m not someone who minds reading about sexual situations or uncomfortable truths about how someone feels. But I do not love hearing the most graphic accounts of bodily functions, so that was a bit of a challenge for me.
I was glad to have read this, despite the icky bits. I do appreciate Irby’s willingness to share her most awkward and embarrassing moments, I liked that she shared some of the challenges she faced socially and with her self-confidence, and her discussions of what it’s like to live in a body that often doesn’t do what you want it to and can be downright uncomfortable. Not for the faint of heart, but also a book I’m really glad exists in the world, and that I hope finds the readers who need it most.
Sometimes you just have to laugh, even when life is a dumpster fire. With We Are Never Meeting in Real Life., “bitches gotta eat” blogger and comedian Samantha Irby turns the serio-comic essay into an art form. Whether talking about how her difficult childhood has led to a problem in making “adult” budgets, explaining why she should be the new Bachelorette–she’s “35-ish, but could easily pass for 60-something”–detailing a disastrous pilgrimage-slash-romantic-vacation to Nashville to scatter her estranged father’s ashes, sharing awkward sexual encounters, or dispensing advice on how to navigate friendships with former drinking buddies who are now suburban moms–hang in there for the Costco loot–she’s as deft at poking fun at the ghosts of her past self as she is at capturing powerful emotional truths. – Goodreads
Book Title: We Are Never Meeting in Real Life
Author: Samantha Irby
Series: No
Edition: Audiobook
Published By: Vintage
Released: May 30, 2017
Genre: Non-Fiction, Essays, Humour, LGBTQ+
Pages: 275
Date Read: April 26-May 7, 2023
Rating: 6/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.91/5 (42,585 ratings)