Wow, No Thank You.: Essays (Lambda Literary Award)

Samantha Irby writes an immersive, chuckle-inducing commentary on herself and the social world she inhabits. My smiles keep coming as I read her humorous take on managing her existence without sweating too hard. Great for a time of living low key. The book flows like a running commentary from a BFF who is perfectly weird in a way that makes so much sense. Her writing style has some similarity to that of David Sedaris in that she shares thoughts and experiences that are unique yet highly relatable, and at times her voice feels like my own internal dialogue. I love her perspective and her writing, and I have no doubt that I’ll delight in her next book as much as I have in this one and those that preceded it.

Wow wow wow! It took me a few chapters to really get into it but once I did, this just took off. It's hilarious and irreverent and SO SO RELATABLE. There were times when I would stop to read bits out loud to my fiance because the passage fit him perfectly.This was exactly what I needed at this moment. There's nothing like a prolonged fit of hysterical laughter, especially when in public and wearing a mask and no one can tell if I'm laughing, crying, or having a seizure. I also appreciate the celebration of occasionally doing as little as possible. There's a move to be crazy-productive during the pandemic/quarantine and I felt a huge weight removed from my shoulders reading Irby's words.I'll happily inflict this upon all my friends!

A juggernaut of hilarity and heartfelt observation. I am a definite fan now. Her description of getting a book published was spot on.

I bought this book because of the big promises of hilarity, and I could see the points where I should have spit out my beverage in uncontrollable laughter. Sadly, I just didn't find it that funny. I think the book did not fit my demographic, by which I mean that I am not young enough nor urban enough for it.

I have now read 3 of Samantha Irbys books and they just keep getting better and funnier. I love her humorous take on her world and the craziness that is all around us. I laughed out loud so much that my husband thought something was wrong with me. I'm from Chicago and have seen her do the Sunday Night Sec show years ago and fell in love with her wit and sassy Midwestern humor. She's probably one of the best authors from the Chicagoland area (Evanston isn't quite Chicago and Kalamazoo is a bit outside of city limits too). I would give this book 6 stars if I could! Keep up the hilarity! The world needs it now more than ever.

Just the synopses of the top 19 best books of 2020 in The Atlantic filled me with helpless grief, except for this one. So, I read it and actually felt happy for the few hours it took me to read it over Xmas. Am carrying on silent internal convo with Sam,hoping she’ll like me and considering me part of her new family. Then, going into the kitchen and having mini hotdogs with mustard and a whiskey so small that my GERD won’t even know it was there, and realizing Sam won’t either, but that’s totally fine because I know if she met me, we’d be cool

Samantha is always a joy. I only have one beef- how is there not a Smiths song on the playlist? I'm sure everyone says "but what about this band?" But for reals, I'm sure this was just a gross oversight that will be corrected in the next book. Because I'm sure Samantha is reading this. Because she has a way of making you feel like she's your friend and would have hung out with you back in the day so you wouldn't be the only weird alternative black girl listening to the smiths. Thanks, Samantha.

So, I'll start off by saying that the weakest essay in this collection, to my view, is the first. When I read it, I was very MEH and ended up putting the book aside for a week because it didn't capture me. Pressed for reading material on a rainy Saturday, I picked it back up and thank goodness I did. From the start of essay #2 straight on to the end, its a wild, uprorious, and deeply human text. I absolutely adored reading this book and will pick up Irby's others now. Treat yourself to some healing laughter and buy this.