Reviews

Quietly Hostile: Essays by Samantha Irby

allthemisfits's review against another edition

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4.0

I love Samantha Irby’s writing, but I had a more difficult time with this one. However, it’s not every day you find someone who was also born in 1980 to a mom with MS, so I will always feel a kinship with her. The essays were mostly fun, and I’m a TMI person as well, but whew those constant gastric descriptions are a bit much, even for me. I love her pop culture devotion and I love that she wrote the pool ep of Shrill. So I will always enjoy reading something new from her, even if it means reading lists about Dave Matthews Band and Sex and the City (two previous loves of mine, but still, that was tedious after awhile.)

literarymarie's review against another edition

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5.0

My braids were falling out of my loose bun from nodding and laughing so hard at this new essay collection from Samantha Irby titled Quietly Hostile. Her successful career has only enhanced her comedy and newfound glam. Just like all of us, Sam is just trying to keep her life together. Making fun of herself is not only relatable but also hilarious!

Sam Irby deserves all the flowers. She is writing for television, publishing her 4th essay collection written mostly during the pandemic. Ah, the early days of working remotely on Zoom. The essays can be read in any order and include walking the red carpet with "Sex and The City" cast, diarrhea details, how to interact with teenagers, fridge shelf compatibility, and more random shit. The essay I related to the most was trying to soak off gel polish with acetone (IYKYK).

You want a good laugh? Pre-order Quietly Hostile: Essays and anticipate the giggles it will bring.

Happy Early Pub Day, Sam Irby! Quietly Hostile: Essays will be available Tuesday, May 16.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie

eimearc's review against another edition

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4.0

"Quietly Hostile" is hilarious and terrible in a good way (usually at the same time). Irby's humour is savage enough to have reduced me to tears. In one episode I was crying so hard with laughter that my partner thought I was unwell. They thought I was choking, that is how funny this book is. Her narrative style is hugely relatable, and she writes it how it is from going out, to dealing with younger generations, to sex and the city. There is a huge amount to be said for someone who can capture the thoughts of a generation so well, someone who on paper is hugely successful but genuinely also just trying to keep their shit together. It is an absolute banger of a read, as well as a balm to the "Am I the only one who thinks this?" moments in life.
From understanding the strategies used to survive public restrooms (we all know that one stall...we all know that it is trapped), to how health management in middle age works, particularly with chronic illness, there is little that Irby is unwilling to exam. I enjoy her almost too much information style of sharing insights.
The one drawback for me was that I found the sex and the city chapter to be incredibly long, it was funny but sometimes it felt too stretched for me.
Overall, a very solid read and one that I'll be recommending to friends.

dllluebbe's review against another edition

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5.0

Hilarious as always

linzgaff's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 stars

lisat01's review against another edition

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5.0

Oh how I love thee Samantha Irby! Always one to make me laugh and to be like guuuurlll...are you in my head!? This book is SO good! The chapters on what to say to teens and what you should in your guest bathroom had me nodding and laughing and then wishing that my MIL had read the chapter about the bathroom. haha The only thing that would make this better was if I had the audio version so I could listen to Sam tell me about it in her voice.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC, it is MUCH appreciated.

bubblemonkey's review against another edition

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4.0

The Sex and the City “rewrite” was TOO LONG but the rest of the book made me laugh out loud which is exactly what I would expect from Samantha.

magstorm's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars. This was hysterical! She definitely uses the word “diarrhea” far too many times for my taste but made up for it with wit and hilarity.

ladybrik's review against another edition

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4.0

I read many parts of the poo chapter out loud to Brian through fits of uncontrolled laughter and the SATC essay was spot on. I will continue to read everything Sam writes.

geeky_erin's review against another edition

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3.0

Like many collections, this ended up being a mixed bag for me. I found a few essays straight up hilarious but others weren't my speed.