by Ann Leary
First published 2024
Ann Leary examines her decades spent attempting to please everyone around her. From her current vantage point in midlife, she looks back at the chaos and comedy that defined her earlier years. Leary chronicles domestic disasters like bat invasions in her home and her compulsive need to take online personality quizzes. She recounts the embarrassment of ballroom dancing lessons with her actor husband and the awkward moments that come with red carpet appearances. The author moves between lighthearted observations about fame's sidelines and more serious reflections on her battle with alcoholism. Throughout these personal essays, Leary weaves together stories about her deep affection for her family and her dogs. Her candid storytelling reveals the absurd situations that arise when someone constantly tries to avoid conflict and keep others happy. The collection balances moments of genuine emotion with sharp humor about the contradictions of modern life.
Genres: humor, autobiography, contemporary, memoir
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
240 pages · Hardcover · Scribner
Content warnings: addiction, alcohol-abuse