Helen Ellis' latest collection of essays, along with her back list of books, is perfect for a long day on a chaise while sipping mimosas (you can start early in the day). Ellis describes her married life with amid the pandemic, with refection on the years she has spent with her husband and their plans for their deaths. Plants, planners with stickers, jigsaw puzzles, cats, and of course, food, are all topics Ellis sprinkles with her unique humor. Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge is highly recommended for discussion groups. Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge is a vacation in a book.

Thank you to NetGalley and DoubleDay for this DARC!

I’m so glad that this is my first Helen Ellis book as it has begun my newest author obsession. Every chapter had me grinning like a mad woman on the subway, looking around NYC wondering where all of these hilarious tales came from. I enjoyed literally every page, at one point crying with laughter while my boyfriend asked me what on Earth could be so funny. Ellis’s humor is so on point that it makes even the most mundane topic (An Email to Our Cat-sitter) into a riot. I will be purchasing this book for my Southern mama, my snoring boyfriend, and all of my childhood friends who thought we were the only ones in Louisiana to try witchcraft at a sleepover. 5/5

I’ve already ordered my next Ellis book, and can’t wait to read more from her.

Helen Ellis's essay collections always hit on the perfect blend of funny and oddly sentimental, quirky and honest. Try not to laugh out loud while also being touched by the fierce love she has for her people.

Where is the Coral Lounge you ask? It’s a room. In Helen’s apartment in NYC. Its name comes from the brilliant color on the walls. The lounge is where the magic happens. Bawdy, outlandish, and so much fun!

When Covid hits the city, the lounge becomes the place to be. As she and her husband while away a lot of hours there they also learn that their love is still going strong.

Helen can make anyone laugh. Her essays are honest and funny and just real. This is one of those hopeful and funny books.

NetGalley/ June 13, 2023, Doubleday

A unique take on middle-aged love and settling into a life with another human being.

I loved how this book touched on the comedy of love and relationships while nurturing the more intimate and beautiful moments captured in the memories of a life built with a significant other.

Ellis wonderfully wrote each essay, and now I’m on the hunt for more of her work.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This short book of essays would get my vote as a great choice for a take-along book. The essays are clever, often funny and usually bite-sized, so a good fit for making waiting time less bothersome.

I read it straight through though, I love a comic escape, and Helen Ellis generally delivers.

Not *quite* as good as previous books, but still charming and funny. Love the image of the ‘Coral Lounge” as she describes it in the book. I can see that room in her house in my mind, in all its glory.

Helen Ellis does it again. I haven't laughed so hard reading a book since her last title. I started each morning with a story (or six) and laughed until I was late for work. She has the Southern nuance for story-telling with word pictures. I'll never forget "turtle orgy" and the "light switch in a neck pillow" descriptions. Trust me, you've GOT to read this. She is a gem and I only wish she would write faster!

Helen Ellis is a must read for me. This collection of short stories - mostly from the beginning of the pandemic to current are witty and hysterical. My favorite chapter was ‘What’s in the Box’ - it was just hilarious and I couldn’t believe how many people she had guess.

This is the first book I have read from this author and I found that I really related to her essays. I feel like a lot of this was inspired by the pandemic to hilarious results. I identified a lot with being part of an "old" married couple and all the foibles and ridiculousness that goes with being part of a marriage for decades. If you are looking for an escape and some laughs, this book is for you. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. This was a fun one.

This collection of short stories was so fun and refreshing! I enjoyed reading them between heavier reads, and tasks. It was easy to get an essay or two in here and there – and before I knew it I was done. I loved how they all had the theme of a happy marriage. The essay about taking care of the cats was by far my favorite – loved it. The wedding day story was also a lot of fun. Some of the stories made me laugh out loud, some made me reflect, and most made me think of why I still love my spouse. It was fun to read this book which is way out of my realm of typical.

If you’re looking for a delightfully funny break, then check out this collection June 13.

Thank you so much to Doubleday Books and Netgalley, @netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

My second book by this author, I found it amusing and witty, enjoying it all the way through. I read Southern Lady Code in 2019 and liked it as well. The essays are good for shorter reading bursts at night.

Only Helen Ellis can tell it like it is while maintaining the "Southern Lady Code". You will find yourself giggling madly while being insulted but it is done with such charm you can't help yourself but join in. Helen shares her viewpoints on life and love from her vibrant living room during the pandemic on topics such as notes for the cat sitter, long marriages, snoring and her planner and sticker obsession. Pure joy, escapism and deep belly laughs - priceless. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Once again Helen Ellis has delivered a fabulous and humorous book to her fans. I love her honesty and she picks great stories to share. Some entries have you laughing along with her, others make you stop and think. I am alwasy excited to see a new book from her.

Witty, funny, and touching. Stories that give you an unfiltered glimpse into someone else's life, and make you feel good about your own life.

Thank you #Netgalley

Another hilarious read from Helen Ellis! Finished this one in a day, could not put it down! These essays revolve around our covid lock down days and how Helen and her husband navigated. So many funny stories, one highlight is What is in the box? A story her husband shared with her that they then utilized with other people they met and ultimately turned into a psychoanalysis of each person. Also, as a pet owner, I especially appreciated her Email to the cat sitter and the commentary associated. I could see myself doing this as well!

My first Helen Elllis book, though there are many. Laugh-out-loud funny “memoir” in essays written by a completely neurotic (and completely typical IMHO) New Yorker of a certain type and class. I like that all the snark is pointed (in a loving way) at herself and not at others. I also love that I get to both laugh and read about an actual happy marriage at the same time. Humor is the best lens through which to see the world if you can manage it.

Great storytelling, some insight and evolving personal understanding, but mostly just funny and not stupid. The stories do not feature lovable f-ups which is wonderful because, honestly I never find f-ups that lovable and don’t enjoy reading about them. Think of this book as a kind of more articulated and less curated instagram series. So much more depth! So many more laughs! A modern Nora Ephron.

Just a few funny quotes to give you the flavor:
“I gasped the kind of gasp that leaves your face looking like a cornhole board.”

“Papa likes to say, ‘your mother is such a good audience, she listens to a waiter list the specials like she’s in the front row of a Rolling Stones concert.’“

“My husband can’t lie. The man is less animated than a documentary on soap.”

“I wear my heart on my sleeve like a grenade. I wasn’t put on this earth to walk on eggshells. The world is my western omelette and everyone in it is diced ham.”

“I want to wear make up so heavy it exceeds JetBlue‘s carry-on limit.”

I need to remember not to read Helen Ellis’s books during my lunch break or I will choke to death laughing. This is at least the fourth book of hers I’ve nearly died reading. Please consider a warning label on future titles.

Yet again Helen Ellis manages to delight, entertain, and gently provoke us with her hilarious and unique voice. Her writing is a total tonic

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I love Helen Ellis and can't get enough of her work! She is so real, raw and relatable and every story is funny. A must read in my book!