I like it. I’ve been a Samantha Irby fan for a while because she just gets me. Well figuratively that is because we’ve never met in person. She is funny in a way that meshes with my inner dialog and feels like she is typing out what my brain thinks about things even though we are very different people living very different lives.

While her last two books were an easy 5 stars for me this one didn’t quite hit that mark only because I never watched the Sex in the City reboot and a large section of this book I did not “get” because I was lacking context. I did really enjoy her story about traveling during the pandemic and being a step-parent. Sometimes when she writes situations I can play it out and laugh along. Always entertaining. I will keep reading Samantha Irby as long as she continues to write.

This is a book of essays by comedian and writer Samantha Irby. If you are not okay with potty humor and hearing about someone else's porn preferences, this might not be the book for you. If you like to laugh when life gives you a literal shit storm, you should pick up this book. I have a bowel disorder, so I absolutely related to the essay's dealing with this and aging. I did not relate so much to the essay detailing the changes the author would have made to Sex and the City (I've only seen a few episodes). Overall, I thought this was an entertaining collection of essays and laughed out loud more than once.

I've been trying to read this one for over two weeks. I have enjoyed some of the humor and chuckled at certain things, but mostly I'm left with questions. I had never heard of Irby before this book, so maybe she's just not my style. I gave it my all, but DNF'd at only 20%. If it's taken me two weeks to get to that point then it's not for me.

Samantha Irby does it again! This collection of essays is just as rawly honest, raunchy and raucous as ever. Her self-depreciating humor and cutting sarcasm sometimes have me laughing out loud and other times makes me want to cry. She has such a strong and fearless voice that I find inspiring.

Thanks to Vintage and NetGalley for the copy to review.

This was one of my most anticipated releases for the year and it did not disappoint! I love Samantha so much and relate so hard. So many of these essays made me laugh out loud, from the nuns to favorite Sex and the City episodes. I honestly didn't want it to end! She brings her usual wit and garbage person views (which I can say as a fellow garbage person). I did skip over the essay on her favorite Dave Matthews Band songs because I'm not a fan, but props to her. I would totally do the same with my fave band in my book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was an entertaining collection of essays! Some were more enjoyable than others; a few were so relatable and funny I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The sections I thought were the most well-done were the lists. I would love to read an entire book of list essays written by Samantha Irby (this was my first book by this author – if her other books have a lot of list essays I may read them!).

There were a few parts where I was left feeling unsatisfied and a bit disconnected, like I was missing something. This feeling crept up most when Irby mentioned she was a stepmother, because for the majority of the first part of the book I thought she only lived with her wife and her dog. I understand that some essays may be written in different time periods but I am under the impression the children are still in the her wife’s from a previous relationship (hence her use of the term stepmom). In the grand scheme of things this is a very small detail, but I felt this created a disconnect between author and reader.

I feel as though this would be great on film, as a comedy routine, or in a podcast. I think the natural voice of the narrator is lost in writing, and a visual (facial expressions!) and/or vocal (pauses, little laughs – don’t try to tell me Irby wasn’t laughing while writing these essays!) component would be a more enjoyable and complete experience than words on a page.

All of that being said, I would still recommend this book! Though there were elements that didn’t hit the mark or were completely missing for me, I would recommend for a light, humorous read!

“Samantha Irby invites us to share in the gory particulars of her real life, all that festers behind the glitter and glam.”

Samantha Irby pulls zero punches.

This book is hilarious and honest and eye opening and sexy and DUCKING FISTGUSTING.

I am not exaggerating, when I say I laughed, I cried, I threw up in my mouth.

I’ve read all Irby’s books, at this point. I’ve always loved her tell-it-like-it-is-no-holds-barred approach to storytelling.

This one, however, might have been just a little too gross, even for me.

I can handle a lot of things.

I can handle stories about sex.
I can handle stories of questionable relationship choices.
I can handle stories about bodily secretions.

I CANNOT, I’m learning, handle ALL THREE AT THE SAME TIME.

I’ll be pack for the next installment of Irby’s bonkers life, but I’ll be a little more careful about not eating and reading at the same time.

7/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Vintage Anchor for this ARC.

Samantha Irby is at it again with Quietly Hostile! If you've read her other books, you're well aware of what I mean. Her humor and candor show up and out in this book, per usual.

As a recovering people-pleaser, I was intrigued by the idea of being "quietly hostile." There are instances in my life where I feel I could be the same way. Unapologetic about food and drink choices from Starbucks? Relentless in expressing an undying love for an obscure band no one dares to admit they listen to publicly? I totally get it. Too bad I hold my choice words inside and think of the best things to say once I'm away from said scenarios and my overthinking mind is bullying me for not being more vocal. But, I digress.

All in all, Quietly Hostile is an enjoyable, easy read when you have a taste for something light and humorous. I nodded my head in agreement when she mentioned fake smiling during Zoom meetings (because I always
seem to need a nap afterwards), and I felt seen each time she noted adult things we should be doing that I have a hard time completing. Some essays were laugh-out-loud funny to me, while others made me cringe a bit. I do realize some essays just may not have been for me, or I may not have been in the mood for them. And that's fine.

Fans of Samantha Irby will enjoy this read and those new to her will appreciate her comical style of writing, for sure. I will admit, however, this: I've been randomly yelling, "What is my ****ing damage, Heather?" to myself during moments of irritation, frustration, slip-ups, and absent-mindedness since reading this. Do with that information what you will.

Special thank you to Netgalley and Vintage Anchor for the eARC!

⭐⭐⭐🌠

Look, no one is as funny as Sam Irby. As soon as you understand that, you'll be less disappointed with everyone else. This book is silly, sharp, smart and gross. If I'm being honest, I don't even like funny, especially in books, but Irby transcends funny, because she taps into these dry observations that're just like, true. Yes there are jokes, but QUIETLY HOSTILE is more about taking stock of the absurdities of the world around her. I think Sam Irby is one of our most astute critics of the mundanity of life. It works. I even liked this one better than WOW, NO THANK YOU. So wether you love Sex and the City, or lesbian nun porn, or anaphylaxis, or QVC, or not talking to teenagers, or whatever, this book has something for you!
•
•
I read it on audio, and Irby's narration is superb. Her delivery is 10/10.

We do not deserve Samantha Irby, and I am eternally grateful for her creative, hilarious, intelligent work. I would read and re-read her work forever, and I will.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Samantha Irby's books and was excite that netgalley.com provided me with a copy of the ebook to read. I really enjoy hearing her voice though, so I did wait until I was able to get the audiobook from my library to finally jump into the essays. The chapter about her re-imagining of classic "Sex and the City" episodes was fantastic. There was a good mix of humorous tales of pandemic/lockdown life and being married mixed with more poignant stories about life with chronic illness and saying goodbye to her mom.

Samantha Irby is at the height of her writing powers.

I don't think I've ever truly LOL'd while reading a book, laughing so genuinely hard and from my gut that my mother, in the next room, asked about what the hell I was doing that was generating such a reaction from me. In this collection, Irby does what she does best but everything is dialed up several degrees. All the punchlines and jokes are punched (no pun intended?) upwards to make for a satisfying, lacerating, and deeply personal read. I truly don't think that Irby will ever run out of material for her own writing as she continues to unflinchingly mine her own personal life -- the most disgusting, hilarious, unsexy, unfun anecdotes -- and turning them into peak comedy.

Two of my personal favorite essays is the urine-soaked "body horror!" and the gut-punchingly tender "o brother, where art thou" which discusses Irby's rekindling of her relationship with her brother, an essay that was a welcome reprieve from the comedy hit after hit that Irby presented with this book.

Thank you endlessly to Netgalley, Vintage, and Irby for the privilege of getting to review this book!

There are some laugh out loud moments, especially about toilet paper and toilet seats. Also, some cringe worthy essas. Fans of Sex and the City will like the commentary on episodes. A fairly good collection.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Like most people who have spent anytime looking at lists of acclaimed essay collections online, I knew about Samantha Irby's work but had never read one of her books. So, of course, I just had to see what the hype was about by requesting this ARC. Within the first few essays I was sure that I'd need to go back and grab at least her other two essay collections with the similar cover aesthetic. I enjoy Irby's particular brand of self-deprecating but owning it humor. A few lines made me quite literally snort or laugh out loud. There were a few essays that felt a tad long for my taste, but that is the only "complaint" I have.

Ahhhh…Samantha Irby.
If you know, you know.
If you don’t, you should.

A raw and hilarious read that once again knocks it out of the park.

The aptly named Quietly Hostile features 17 essays with a common thread I'd describe as inner angst with a smile. Irby's ability to share such stories about the most romantic Dave Matthews songs, dealings with a maniacal Covid rescue dog, bowel issues, inappropriate dinner attire, and more in 304 pages only highlights her skill as a writer.

If you don’t think that's enough to tickle your funny bone, add to it her naughty carte blanche inner dialogue.

I'm a fan of real, raw, and brutally honest truths, so Samantha's books are and always will be a win for me. If that's your vibe too, run out and grab it upon its release on May 16th!

Thank you to #samanthairby #netgally #vintage for the advanced copy.

Samantha Irby is hilarious! I laughed out multiple times while reading this! I never realized that she was a writer for 'And Just Like That' either! I loved her critique on Sex and the City and hearing about her experience being a writer for the show. Definitely made me want to go back and watch the series again. Overall, Samantha Irby's latest book is definitely worth reading if you're looking for something light and funny. Would recommend!

Irby is back with a new collection of funny essays that don’t keep any secrets of her everyday life. She takes us through how she would rewrite Sex and the City episodes as well as her struggles with IBS and food allergies. For fans of TMI and oversharing.

I really wanted to like this book. I really wanted Irby to grow more, and not belittle herself every page. As I have read her books over the years, I have found that they're getting worst imo, and I am not sure if that is because she is now a 43 year old fat woman who portrays herself as gross and sad or that her books are pretty much all the same.

Now, if you're looking for the same kind of humour from her other books, go ahead. This is the book for you, but Irby is not for me anymore.

I was really hoping that she would grow, flourish, and possibly go to therapy and be kinder to herself.

I don't like the stereotype if that you're fat you must hate yourself and that you're gross and sad. It isn't a good take, and it isn't true.

Laugh out loud funny, as always, filled with relatable essays as well as stories that could only have happened to Samantha Irby. If you enjoyed her previous books, you've probably already ordered this one, and it will not disappoint. I loved it.

I decided to DNF this one because it was not my vibe.

Pros:
As a woman who grew up very close to Charlottesville, VA, I cackled at the Dave Matthews section. Specifically the girl dancing in gravel part.

Cons:
There was a lengthy chapter about porn that was honestly kinda boring to me. I listened on audio and I was like why are we STILL talking about Irby's favorite porn. I never skip chapters in books but I was BORED. I skipped the whole rest of the chapter because it felt like it would never end.

I recognize that Irby is funny and if she's your brand of humor, that's awesome! I don't necessarily think she's mine so I think this might be my last Irby book. I thought Wow, No Thank You.: Essays was very fine and I think I liked this book less.