I hadn’t heard of this book, but grabbed it discounted from my local indie as it sadly just closed.

Up front I need to say that I was able to read this title for reviewing purposes.
I've been a huge fan of Zach Zimmerman for a little while now, so I was eager to read and review his book. One of the larger hurdles for a book of this style (memoirs, biographies, essays, etc.) that's been written by a prolific speaker or entertainer is ensuring that the text "sounds" like the author. Fortunately, Zimmerman clears that hurdle on page one. As a standup, Zach is able to go from sweet and wholesome to spicy and wicked at the drop of a hat and he's able to do so in print to great effect. I really liked the disordered way in which the book was presented; jumping around through Zach's life to reflect on the memories that built him. From his childhood in a family defined by their faith to an adult who has cast that lifestyle away to be his true self, the stories Zimmerman tells are touching and sad and funny all at once. I also like that so many of the stories happened to be set around various Thanksgivings. I really can see myself revisiting this book in Novembers to come. My one real complaint about the book was how short it was. Books written by comedians are never doorstops, but this one seemed especially short.

I think I found Zach’s comedy on TikTok about six months ago. When I was looking for some thing comedic and short to read or listen to this title came up. It’s equal parts humorous and touching.

✨this collection of personal essays, full of love and loss and laughter, might just be the biggest surprise of my life. i was able to read this as an eARC and yesterday i listened via audiobook and MAN, do i recommend the audio. when it comes to any memoir/autobiography situation it is always best listened to by the author narrating, in my opinion, so this was such a joy to listen to!

✨it was completely relatable for me in terms of the anxiety that came with learning about religion so young and having it follow you around when you’re older and with distance between you and it. if that makes sense. i also really related with having differences with family members as you get older and just learn more about the world and people around you vs being in the same place for the rest of your life.

✨then we had some truly funny moments in regards to zach’s personal love life, his younger years, but also some really sobering and sad moments as well. I wasn’t expecting to be so affected emotionally by these stories, but i truly was.

✨highly recommend, it’s also pretty unintentional but i finished this on the first day of pride month! so if you’re looking for personal LGBTQ stories this month, I’d pick this one up! zach speaks about a more personal relationship about being in the queer community and not completely fitting in which was really interesting to hear about.

✨thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for allowing me to read a free eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!