by Kate Siegel
First published 2016
Kate Siegel wakes up on her twenty-sixth birthday to a text from her mother: "Happy birthday, spawn. Welcome to the wrong side of twenty-five. The expiration date on your eggs is officially in sight. Tick tock. Love, Mom." This message represents decades of maternal interference that began before Kate was even born. Her mother pushes her to study harder, dump boyfriends she deems losers, and move away from dangerous neighborhoods. The advice often proves both hilarious and surprisingly wise. Kate's decision to share these maternal messages online attracts over 700,000 Instagram followers to @CrazyJewishMom. The mother-daughter pair gains global media attention for their exchanges. Kate recounts memorable moments like shopping for her first bra at a drag queen specialty store, her mother stalking a Princeton admissions officer across state lines, and discovering her mother created fake dating profiles in her name. This collection captures the brilliant humor and deep affection between a daughter and her fabulous, eccentric mother.
Genres: family, humor, contemporary, memoir, comedy, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: found-family
272 pages · Paperback · Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd