Listen, I'll read anything that R. Eric Thomas thinks about writing. I adore his weekly-ish newsletters, have enjoyed his plays, and will always pick up his books.

This one was definitely more emotional and heartfelt in many ways than Here For It, which I wasn't expecting. It kinda fit the vibes of the time though. It's hard to think about pandemic times without getting a bit more serious.

However, his signature humor is always there and I found myself laughing out loud so many times.

In short, read this and be prepared for some emotion to go with your laughter.

There are so many ways that I could demonstrate to you my love for this book. For one, I finished a chapter pulling into Barnes & Noble and immediately pulled out my phone to text my best friend that she and her fiancée simply have to read a specific chapter as soon as humanly possible because I just know they'll both love it. (That chapter, btw, is about R. Eric Thomas's goal of making his therapist laugh and various other things. It was excellent.) Then, upon leaving Barnes, I finished the last hour of the audiobook stuck in stand still (literally stopped, not moving, had my car turned OFF) traffic and honestly didn't even notice because I was riveted to the end of this book. Third, my sister called me wanting some nonfiction recommendations and was looking for like, nonfiction that helps her learn things, and I just kept telling her to read this instead. This essay collection was absolutely incredible. R. Eric Thomas is actually funny and his narration made this book even better than I think it would have been reading with my eyeballs. He talks a lot about the beginning of the pandemic, how depression can truly suck the life out of you, how going outdoors voluntarily can be a very baffling concept, racism, and so, so much more. If you've ever moved to a place and had to like, forcibly make your own community, this is a great book for helping you feel a bit less alone about it. Truly, if you're in the mood for an essay collection that will make you laugh and maybe (probably) cry, I cannot recommend this one highly enough.

I didn't read Hear For It, but its on its way to me!
I enjoyed his essays so much in this book. His essays were able to make me laugh and cry!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Sometimes when I’m reading a book I keep a list of bullet points in my phone with what I’m thinking about in real time. For R. Eric Thomas’s Congratulations, the Best Is Over I wrote:

-he’s just so funny
-also loves Ann Patchett

I truly think that’s all you need to know prior to picking up this delightful and poignant collection of essays.

Very tender. Very relatable.
I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

i enjoyed thomas' first book, here for it, so i was looking forward to more of his writing. i was not disappointed. i liked the story where he moves back to his hometown. thomas has a way of writing where he talks to you like a friend telling a story.

3.5 stars! I really enjoyed Thomas’s first book a few years ago and so was excited to read more from him. While I did still enjoy this collection I wonder if it was too quick of a turnaround from the first book. There are some really tender essays about grief and the pandemic, but others where I was less invested.

I listened to this on audio and it does have Thomas’s distinct voice and humor, which I so loved! A quick listen that had me giggling on my walks.

I'm not sure if I should have read his first book first, but I have it so I'll read it next! I loved Thomas's stories. About pandemic life, grief, depression, changes, etc.

I felt like this book was so real, mixed in with some comedic relief and it really felt like a perfect balance to me.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book!

I will read any and everything R. Eric Thomas writes. His essays are the perfect blend of hilarious with the right amount of poignant, and i loved being able to follow up on his life experiences since the end of his previous book, Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

A phenomenal collection of essays from R. Eric Thomas. Introspective, hilarious, engaging, and relatable, with stories about a wide range of topics including hope, grief, anxiety, and pop culture. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I actually ended up listening to most of this on audiobook of this after publication and oh my goodness I am going to listen to all of this author’s books that way from now on. He is a hilarious writer but his vocal delivery makes it even better. These chapters alternate from ridiculous to serious which somehow works.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't familiar with the author before I read this, and I really enjoyed these essays. A few I skimmed over (as I do with essay collections), but most held my interest, and I even chuckled during parts of it. Well worth reading!

Oh how I love R. Eric Thomas, both in his first memoir in essays, Here For It, and here, in Congratulations, The Best is Over! I recommend his books to everyone I know. He beautifully balances laugh-out-loud humor with deep catharsis as he shares his stories as a Black, queer man in America with a huge, vibrant, beautiful personality.

This book feels like going out to dinner with a good friend you haven’t seen in a while. You sit down and say tell me what’s going on with you! And suddenly you look up after a long night of laughs and more serious topics and suddenly, somehow, it’s midnight. R Eric Thomas feels like my friend after listening to these essays and I can’t wait for more from him. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free ebook and PRH Audio for the free audiobook.

“I’m not as good at making friends, mostly because I insist on inserting references to Salieri into casual conversation and calling white couples same-sames. “ ~ R. Eric Thomas

I am as ever fashionably late in my NetGalley review of Congratulations, The Best Is Over! by @oureric but I loved it just as much as I knew I would.

His second collection of essays touches on mid life crises and global pandemics while still making me giggle out loud while reading. He always navigates flawlessly from the silly to the serious and never feels heavy handed.

We graduated from high school the same year and I think that’s part of why his humor hits so dead on for me. Thoroughly enjoyed this one!

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC.

This memoir was equal parts funny and poignant. Thomas has such a distinct voice and I enjoyed seeing life through his eyes. It was a good glimpse into what it’s like to be a gay black man as well as the struggle we can often have about the cities we come from. I also like the way he addresses depression and loss while always remaining hopeful. I’ll definitely read more from this author!

As a big fan of R. Eric Thomas' previous essay collection, Here for It, and his YA debut Kings of Bmore, I was both eager to read this and nervous that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. I'm happy to say that not only did it live up to them, it exceeded them! This collection is officially my favorite of his, and he is for sure an auto buy author. I think part of why I loved this one so much is it resonated with where I am in my life right now: middle age (gosh that's painful to type). So much of the things he talked about and the feelings he felt were highly relatable, even though our lives and experiences are vastly different. I also loved how much of Baltimore was in it. There were so many places where I nodded my head or felt like we were sharing an inside joke as Baltimoreans. And there were lots of places where I laughed out loud. I highly recommend this if you're a fan of his, like essay collections, or are approaching/in mid-life. I both read this in print and listened to it, which made for a fabulous reading experience.

I wasn't expecting to laugh my ass off but also sob at the familiarity that it tugs on within me. It did feel a bit slow here and there but all and all it was a really great heart warming book. I'm not sure if I would recommend it to people as I would, say Quietly Hostile, but all and all if someone is looking for a pretty funny, heart warming little collection of essays then I would send them this way. It wouldn't be at the top of my list but it wouldn't be at the bottom either.

As far as I am concerned, R. Eric Thomas can do no wrong! Is this one even better than his first? I hestitate to say yes, because I loved Here For It so very much, but my goodness, I laughed, I cried (just a wee little bit) and I loved every word.

I'll read anything R. Eric Thomas writes, and this is once again proof of why that's just a good life rule. This was such a fun and tender rumination on life and had the added benefit of being laugh-out-loud funny.