Kirkus
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The acclaimed comic finds the funny in sex, God, the loss of a parent, and high-stress showbiz. The essays in Tomlinson’s first book stick to the main themes of her comedy specials, including religion, dating, and her bipolar diagnosis. But rather than rehash old stand-up material, she drills deeper into it. Sharing journals and letters by her mother, who died when Tomlinson was 8, she explores how the loss fueled a life-long question: “What do I need to become in order to keep people?” One answer was going on stage: She began her career at 16, at first sticking to clean, Christian comedy, but a quasi-religious experience at a mainstream club all but forced her to expand her ambitions. While that’s made her famous, it hasn’t always been healthy: She’s open about her workaholism and how she sometimes misses the manic periods that drove her to push harder. She’s grounded enough, though, to recognize when drive starts to resemble self-harm: In a particularly potent essay about her stint hosting the late-night comedy game showAfter Midnight, she describes being physically worn down while still insisting on touring, then bungling her departure in ways that caused hurt feelings all around. Self-awareness is central to her comedy, and these essays suggest how hard-won it’s been, particularly in relationships, where for years she denied her bisexuality. She has plenty of advice for aspiring comics, especially women—Tomlinson herself mainlined Marc Maron podcast episodes for career tips. Fans of her comedy won’t lack for quips here. (“Men are like guns. It’s scary having one in the house, but it’s good to know how to use one, in case you’re ever in a bind.”) But the jokes work because she’s labored so hard to be honest about the darkest, most damaged parts of herself. Seriously funny. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
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Comedian Tomlinson debuts with a humorous reflection on growing up and coming into one’s own. “Whoever you are and however you feel, you are allowed to change your mind,” she declares in the introduction, setting the stage for a series of essays about transition and transformation. In prose that mimics Tomlinson’s funny, well-honed stage presence, the 32-year-old author unpacks her shifting ideas about family, religion, sexuality, and mental health. She discusses losing her mother when she was eight and growing up in a strict Christian household with her father and stepmother, tracing how her and her father’s once close relationship fizzled out as Tomlinson became increasingly skeptical of religion. Elsewhere, she recalls ending an engagement at 25 (“I went back to my psychiatrist, determined to get on the right meds and handle my shit, once and for all”), discovering her bisexuality, and receiving a bipolar II diagnosis. There’s plenty about life on the road, too, as Tomlinson extends the “change” theme to describe the blur of hotels and comedy clubs she encounters during a typical tour. Through it all, she remains unwaveringly frank and never less than endearing. The result is a rousing ode to indecision. Agents: Meredith Miller and Brandi Bowles, UTA. (Sept.)