I’m a fan of Tom Papa. He’s smart and funny and learns from his own mistakes. These days, I mostly hear him as a guest on NPR’s Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, so I was excited to read this book and get a bigger dose of his comedy. Almost immediately, I was really surprised by this book.

In We’re All in this Together . . ., there are stories about growing up and about acquiring stuff, about drinking too much and why your cat will eat you if you die and how he would go out crabbing with his dad and sisters when he was a kid. He talks about how we all make mistakes and and drink too much and embarrass ourselves at parties and have regrets. He talks about how we can learn from all that and be better people.

In these essays, Papa shows us who he really is, a dad who thinks about exercising but doesn’t actually do anything about it, a New Jersey kid who chose to go to Manhattan to find a bigger life, and a stand-up comedian with the heart of a philosopher.

Papa’s humor is gentle and intelligent, and he speaks from the experience of middle age. He sees us all for who we really are, flaws and all, and he’s okay with that. We all have problems. We all have challenges. We all struggle with jazz. And we all need a friend who helps us face things with laughter and compassion. Papa is that friend in these short essays filled with family stories, warnings about pirates, a little self-loathing, bad haircuts, and life lessons that are surprisingly insightful for a book written by a comedian.

I really enjoyed We’re All in this Together . . . I did expect it to be more punchy and a little offensive, but it turned out to be lovely and kind and honest in a way that felt tender and warmhearted. This would cheer me up if I were down and help me get a more balanced perspective on life. This book would actually be a great gift for someone graduating or starting a new chapter in life. Papa brings smiles and encouragement to help us be better, because as he says, We’re All in this Together.

Egalleys for We’re All in this Together . . . were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

Overall this was a fun book that felt more like a conversation than a book. It was a bit all over the place and definitely something I'd need to be in the mood for, but for the right time and person, it's a winner.

Thank you for access to this ARC!

This book honestly took me a long time to get through. There were some chapters I enjoyed, a few times I laughed out loud, but many of the stories struck me as very dry or strange. The chapter on wine was my favorite.

This was my first taste of Tom Papa with We're All in This Together, and I can certainly see how people are drawn to his work. When I first started the collection of essays, it took a bit of time to get into his style, I was not a fan right off the bat. However, his writing style grew on me and I think he offers a unique point of view that would resonate with a large audience for being highly relatable.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

This collection of touching and funny essays will make you chuckle and want to remember some of your own teenage shenanigans.

A collection of comedic essays about life – from cats to childhood to being a parent. Some of the stories had been smiling and others were a bit boring to me. He is a curmudgeon and I tend to like this type of humor. I did like the essays that focus on universal annoyances about other people (like Larry David) so felt relatable on many levels. Obviously because he is writing from his own perspective, I could not relate to some of the “being a guy” stories. But there is a good mix for all audiences.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Comedian Tom Papa discusses a variety of topics(20+) from relationships to your cat plotting to kill you to general musings on life. I did laugh in many places(not deep belly laughs but the jokes still made their mark) and it was a nice lighthearted read.




Publication Date 06/06/23
Goodreads Review 06/06/23

I’m a long time fan of Tom Papa and I was eager to read his collection of essays. We have the same views on lots of things although some of his were a little more cynical than expected and at times, just mean, but overall an easy, fun read. If you’re looking for depth this is not it but if you’re looking for simple reads to pass the time, it’s for you. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

We’re All in this Together…So Make Some Room by Tom Papa ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A big thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC. This one comes out June 6.

Organized as a series of essays, this book humorously explores what it means to be human. You can read these in any order. Read a few, sit this down, pick it back up later - it’ll all work.

I found myself laughing out loud a few times, and I also found myself reminiscing on my own life and people who have made an impact on me. Some of my favorites were:

Dad is Flying the Plane
Quit Complaining
Cats - Ancient Menace
Some Things That Can Kill Us
A Wise Ancestor Called Grandpa

All in all, if you’re looking for a light read to make you laugh and give you some other mixed in emotions about being human, this one is for you.

This is my first time to read a book by Tom Papa. The book is a series of humorous essays. I like that it’s a book you can just dip into when you need a little pick me up. Sometimes I just don’t have the time to delve into a story and like a short essay.

Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Always funny, I enjoyed this latest collection of essays by comedian Tom Papa.

Papa has a way of getting to the heart of real people, trying as hard as we can to get through this messy life. His humor is thoroughly relatable, laugh out loud funny, and self-deprecating enough to hit the perfect balance of interest and reality. The section about choosing wine was my favorite, so honest and real.

I listened to this as an audiobook with the author narrating. This allows the listener to hear his inflection and the emphasis he puts on various things, which makes the book even more funny overall.

If you're looking for a light, enjoyable, humorous collection of essays, then look no further because Tom Papa always delivers.

This comedy book features 37 essays of the comedy of everyday life, truly DO bring us all together, as we laugh at our shared experiences and daily life. If you can't laugh at the absurdities in life, what CAN you laugh at? Tom brings his irrelevant humor to the written page with ease- it's very hard NOT to hear his voice, or see him in your head, performing these essays as part of his comedic act. Best taken in small bits, I'd recommend reading 1 or 2 essays at a time, and letting the book last longer. They're quick reads and perfect for killing time while waiting for appointments, for the kids to get out of class/daycamp etc. Also great for gift giving this Father's Day- many a dad just might recognize themselves in these funny essays!

I rarely read books that are a collection of essays. I had just seen Tom Papa live doing his stand up routine so I decided to read this book. This is a funny, poignant book that contains humor, but is very personal..

Tom Papa is highly observant and writes about relatable situations with a unique perspective. He does this with humor and understanding. Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 enjoyable stars, rounded up to 4
“We belong to something greater – an ongoing story that has been written throughout time and has now been handed off to us. Whether we like it or not, we’re all in this together.”

We’re All in this Together is a collection of essays, most entertaining and/or thought provoking. Papa’s humor is generally subtle, not ROFL. (Rolling on the Floor Laughing.) He picks everyday things and expounds. “And where have all the electric can openers gone? There was a time when they were on every counter, now it’s been decided, without a single meeting, that the handheld works just fine and the counter space should be used for the latest air fryer they say we can’t live without.”

I enjoyed what Tom said about beer. “Beer is your unpretentious friend. Beer blends in. Beer doesn’t impose. Beer is comfortable on a back porch.” Contrasting the light and entertaining, I like that he speaks his mind about serious stuff. “People who don’t laugh go to war with themselves, with their neighbors, with their enemies, because they lack a release valve.” He also mentions, “I never saw Trump laugh once.”

Tom throws in his thoughts about current events and serious stuff. “As institutions change, human rights are challenged or taken away, and digital isolation cuts us off from one another, we need to find new ways to connect.” We’re All in this Together can help us do that. (I also think it would be an excellent road trip book for a couple. While generally clean, some of the material is not suitable for elementary school children.)

“To laugh at oneself is to protect oneself and at least make survival more enjoyable.” Thanks, Mr. Papa, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and making survival more enjoyable.

Tom Papa has created and entertaining book of 37 short essays and I enjoyed reading them all. He style of observational humor is a favorite of mine and I love when there is something that I really connect to from my own experience. This is a book you can drop in and out of and doesn't have to be read in order. I had fun picking through some topics I thought I would enjoy at first.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced readers copy to enjoy. This is my honest review.

Thank you St Martin's for We're all in this together from Tom Papa (via netgalley), this is a fun read, just right for someone wanting a summer by the pool kind of book, something you can pick up and read an essay and then pick up again later, not worrying about losing the thread of the book since it is a fun set of related but individual essays.

There are themes that resonate with many readers and a deft touch that made me laugh often but also feel like someone sees the silliness that I see in the world around me; adulthood is an odd time and I love observational humor, it validates all the random thoughts I have in my head.

This was a nice change of pace for me, I tend to read a lot of longer novels and thrillers and romcoms in the Summer, it was great to have something different to read at bedtime in particular!

I enjoyed reading Tom Papa’s essays. I felt like they were entertaining and observant, based on “everyday” things.

I didn’t really know much about Tom Papa. A funny comedian’s take on things we all deal with everyday in our lives. It’s a fast paced and funny read, I did find myself laughing out loud at times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest opinion. 3.5⭐️

This book features a collection of 37 different essays which range wildly on topics, from drinking too much to trying to avoid people you know in public. Some were in the 3 star range, most were in the 4 star range, and a few hit the 5 star range. While Tom Papa is known as a comedian, this book didn't have quite as much humor as I was expecting. However, many of the essays were very relatable and struck a chord with me, and I'm sure they'll strike a chord with anyone who reads it. I think that's what makes this collection so good. There's at least one essay that everyone can relate to. It may be a different essay for each person, but everyone will be able to see themselves in at least one, if not multiple, essays. I haven't listened to or read much of Tom Papa's work, but I will definitely check more out after this.

This book is not what I was expecting. Actually, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I thought it would be like his standup act. What I found is a very compelling, relatable, and poignant book that is very funny, but offers more than just laughs. A self-described middle-aged father, he talks about random stuff that we all deal with, offering a fresh perspective that may make, say standing in line at the airport, less onerous. He offers insight into his own life but made it relatable to my own. In a weird way, even if it’s not a self-help book in any way, it made me think. His style is hilarious and fun and funny. It is not political in any way, so no one will be aggravated. I’m not sure how to write this review, so I’ll just say that the book is fantastic, emotional, and full of laughter.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#St. Martin's Press!