Many times when I read a memoir, I feel like a voyeur on the author's psychotherapy session. I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin is no exception in that way. I appreciated Carla's snarky dark humor and ability to reflect and laugh at her younger self. As someone who has been called out on her own self-deprecating humor, I also see it as a defense mechanism of sorts... if I am loud and proud about something I am insecure about, it deflects others from being able to laugh at me and makes me feel like they are laughing with me. It is a way of taking the power to hurt back. But it is also exhausting. At times, I sensed her exhaustion at always trying to minimize or avoid her insecurities.

Despite having no connection to the author, I chose this book because I was interested in hearing her perspective on growing up with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. As a pediatric clinical pharmacist, I always seek out opportunities to learn from patient and parent perspectives so that I can hopefully do my best for them in a way that is medically appropriate but also respectful of patient autonomy and preferences. I enjoyed the beginning of the book where she spoke of her childhood experiences, both medical and social through her peer interactions. However, the book quickly devolved into a soapbox on fat phobia from a person who wasn't particularly limited much physically or in ability based on being somewhat overweight. I am not discrediting her experiences being larger or of a different shape that what is considered "average", but I think there are larger women authors out there who have a more specific experience with obesity, bullying, and discrimination. I just wished she would have stuck to her KT perspective. and given me more in that vein as it turned out to be rather lean in that content.

My other beef with the book is that it is written through the lens of what I would consider a more extreme economic and social privilege. The author does briefly acknowledge her privilege, but I do not feel that she really GETS just how much privilege she has had throughout her life. In one particular chapter, she discussed her shopping addiction. She shared that she got into financial trouble over a few short months racking up credit card debt to a degree that she had to have her family tap into her (trust fund?) investments to get caught. up. She mentioned she was lucky that she had that privilege but didn't come off as understanding that many of her readers would support a family of 5 on that much money over the course of 2-3 years, perhaps even more. I don't begrudge anyone for having been born into wealth and opportunity, but I would like them to understand just how much they have that most others do not and be a little more grateful in the process. Gratefulness was lacking throughout, and while I appreciated seeing her come to terms with the physical lot she was dealt in life, a lot came off as an angry rant about what other people owe her rather than what she owes to herself and overall humanity. While she opines on her KT syndrome and weight challenges, she incessantly brags about her extensive dating experience, sexual relationships, travel, education, employment, fashion, and writing and athletic prowess. It came off as someone who is all that (or at least thinks they are) but somehow isn't particularly appreciative of those things. I think she would have had a very different experience with her KT had she been born into a working-class household and was limited to shopping at Wal-Mart and working summers at McDonald's. It didn't seem like she was all that held back by her lot... but more so haunted by the head conversations she had with herself.

Overall, I thought the essays felt authentic to who the author is, and her thoughts were clearly laid bare. But being so vulnerable in her writing also opens things up for judgment. It is her memoir and her therapy session, but I just sat there shaking my head through a lot of it. Even as a woman who has spent a lifetime in a height, size, and shape much larger than deemed feminine or attractive, I found myself not really able to relate much to her story and experiences. But I learned to dump image as a validation of self-worth very early on in childhood. It was a losing battle to the bullies, and so I focused on academics instead... something I could compete at and win. I guess we all do what we have to do to get on with life, we just choose different ways in doing so. One thing we would both agree on is to dump or quiet quit (I love her use of this term in the context of relationships) the people in life who are dragging you down. Our inner voices do enough of that without inviting more in.

2.5 stars

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

In the introduction to her raw, but humorous, memoir, Sosenko explains how the congenital vascular disorder that she was born with, Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, has left her with a body that is visibly different from most. “There is hypertrophy of tissue on my back, rendering it giant, blobby, lopsided, and not very back-like. My torso, right leg, and bottom are marked by soft, uneven malformations and a port wine stain so big it looks like a spilled bottle of sun-faded cabernet.” Remarkably, Sosenko states that she no longer cares what people experience when they look at her; rather, she only cares what she experiences, and what she experiences is gratitude.

Although her attitude about her “unique” body is uplifting, Sosenko recites a number of cringey episodes, some downright cruel (like the birthday/Halloween party where an acquaintance loudly demanded to touch her back), and some simply naive or misguided (like the physician who declared it was fortunate that her condition did not impact her face). She talks about the liposuction and other surgeries that she underwent as a child to, as her mother sought to reassure her, improve her looks, not because there was a secret health hazard. At twelve or thirteen, Sosenko decided that she would not undertake further elective surgeries, reasoning: “What was the point of having a slightly less deformed butt than the one you started with?” The idea of plastic surgery continues to exhaust her.

Sosenko has lovely things to say about her parents, declaring that “[t]hey are who I would choose all over again,” although she acknowledges that therapy accidentally activated the hurt and pain and mistakes from long ago. But she concludes that her parents gave their child with a rare disorder a “completely normal, regular-in-a-good-way life. . . “. Sosenko’s memoir often made me angry -- but women all experience tone deaf comments about their bodies -- it is ultimately life affirming. Her enthusiasm and zest for life is infectious. Thank you Corina Diez of Random House Publishing Group and Net Galley for an advance copy of this tender memoir.

Packed with humor as a coping mechanism (many of us have been there) for the feelings about her body, the author recounts the ways in which she thought she could fit in or how life would change if she were to look like other people. The author navigates the struggles of her disease, and throughout the book shows the reflexions she had during different moments of her life that made her see things differently.

Wow. Such a powerful book. Iread it in one sitting because it is so well written. The author is so smart and witty, and has an outstanding sense of humor. Carla Sosenko was born with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome. In her memoir she recounts the numerous difficulties she had to face as a person with a body that is out of the culturally accepted standards, the many times she was humilliated because of that and how this affected her own acceptance. She undesses herself in front of the reader, showing her faults and insecurities, unapologetically and I love her irreverent approach.
I would highly recommend this book. You are rooting for her happiness all the way and she gets her happy ending!

Title of the year I think! Reviewing memoirs is always interesting - how do we critique someone's lived experience? What I will say is I found Sosenko's voice captivating, full of sharp wit and often self-deprecating humour, navigating tough subjects in a captivating way. As someone with my own body dysmorphia issues that have reared their head in the age of Ozempic and the quest for rail-thin as synonymous with beauty, I found a lot that resonated with (and triggered) me while reading. Not an easy read, but one I'd recommend for those in the right headspace to receive it.

I related so much to this book, it really showed how body image issues can affect someone’s entire lives, and how they can turn to things they feel they can control, even if those things are not exactly healthy. This was a witty, bright, and to-the-point memoir and I absolutely loved it!

Carla Sosenko's memoir about what it's like to live with a rare genetic vascular disorder is informative, at times funny, sad, and always meaningful. I already knew that people can be cruel to anyone who looks different or unexpected, but Carla's first-hand experience really sheds light on the specific ways people can be awful. Men who ask to touch her back because they knew there's a bump on it. There's a chapter where Carla lists to appalling things people have said to her. But it's not all the worst of humanity: there are plenty of instances where Carla is living a full and fulfilled life. Loves and is loved. Has a successful career as a writer. I hope everyone reads this book and learns not just about the resilience of people who deal with disability, but also their deep humanity.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

this book feels so personal and yet so relatable in so many ways at the same time. carla sosenko has a hilarious, and direct voice. memoirs are always hit or miss for me but this is engaging and enraging (because we’ve all been there in one way or any other, am i right?) in all the the right ways.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin is a sharp, sardonic memoir that doesn’t hold back. Carla Sosenko writes with a voice that’s equal parts raw and irreverent, using humor as both a shield and a spotlight as she dives into topics like addiction, body image, mental health, and loss. Her confessional style can feel like a late-night phone call with a brutally honest friend—intimate, messy, and disarmingly funny.

The strength of the book lies in Sosenko's unfiltered honesty. She refuses to tie her life story up with a neat bow, which is refreshing in a genre often eager to deliver redemption arcs. Her wit is biting, her self-awareness palpable, and there are moments of insight that genuinely resonate.

That said, the memoir can feel somewhat uneven in pacing. Some chapters dig deep and grip you emotionally, while others skim the surface or lean too heavily on sarcasm, dulling the impact. At times, it reads more like a collection of essays than a cohesive narrative arc.

Still, if you appreciate dark humor and memoirs that embrace imperfection, I’ll Look So Hot in a Coffin delivers an authentic, chaotic charm that lingers after the final page.

This book is the memoir of Carla Sosenko, was born with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, a rare vascular disorder that resulted in legs of different sizes, a mass of flesh on her back, a hunched posture, and other idiosyncrasies big and small. She uses humor to detail her life and the way her condition has affected everything from what clothes she can wear, to her relationships, to the way other people view her. I admit, I had trouble picturing in my mind what she was describing, so I searched for images on the internet of her. I could never find any that showed the back that she frequently mentioned or the legs of different sizes, so I had trouble painting a visual image of her. The book seemed to jump around all over the place, probably because of her ADHD, but that did drive me a bit crazy. It made me mad how ugly and insensitive people - even medical professionals - can be, and how long-lasting the effects of those words will be. Hopefully this book will educate people on Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome & just disabilities in general, and how everyone needs to be more compassionate towards those who need it the most.

A memoir in a series of essays and lists of bullet points. Sosenko's experience with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome is at the heart of this. She's physically different in ways that most of us are unable to understand and that affects her mental health as well. Not one to shy away from conflict, she's a determined resilient person who has established herself in her field. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's an interesting read.

Carla Sosensko's memoir is a hilarious accounting of her relationship with her body. She'll have you laughing uproariously as she walks you through hating and learning to live with her body.

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

I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin by Carla Sosenko is one of those memoirs that feels like having a brutally honest, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt conversation with your sharpest, most self-aware friend. Told through a collection of essays, Sosenko opens up about living with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome—a rare condition that causes one leg to be larger than the other, a growth on her back, and a hunched posture. But this isn’t a sob story or a call for sympathy. It’s a refreshingly real look at what it’s like to move through the world in a body that doesn’t fit the standard mold—and how to still find confidence, humor, and joy in the mess of it all.

What really stands out is Sosenko’s voice: it’s biting, dry, self-deprecating in the best way, and totally unafraid to say the things most people wouldn't. Whether she’s talking about dating, body image, family, or growing up different, she approaches each topic with a mix of sarcasm and sincerity that hits just right. One of the most touching parts of the book is how she reflects on her upbringing—not because her parents coddled her, but because they *didn’t.* They treated her like any other kid, which gave her the kind of self-esteem that only made sense to her in hindsight.

Each essay offers a glimpse into another piece of her life—some funny, some painfully awkward, some surprisingly profound—and together, they paint a picture that’s far more than just a story about a rare disorder. It’s about identity, resilience, self-worth, and learning to show up as yourself, even when you feel completely out of place.

This book isn't about being inspirational in the traditional, overly packaged sense. It's about being real. Sosenko doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff, but she never loses her wit—and that balance is what makes this memoir so memorable.

If you like your nonfiction raw, sharply funny, and full of heart, I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin is absolutely worth the read. It’s honest without being heavy, and funny without losing depth. A total gem.

I really liked the part of the story when Carla was talking about her disability and how she was navigating her life. I like learning about her background and her parents and how they tried to help in their way. However, it made me sad that the author was seeking love outside of herself, through food, clothes and how many dates she had and all I wanted to do was tell her she is okay just the way she is. I could relate with the weight problem because all my life I've been overweight, and at some point I realized that if and when I lost weight it would be me that does it and it had nothing to do with any plan, trust me I tried a lot too. I also could not get over the author going into debt to buy designer clothes, what the heck, I kept thinking maybe she should find another avenue, like helping others would feel the gap.

I want to thank Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this story.

[4.75]

I DEVOURED this book! Honestly, if I didn't have to be a productive member of society (aka go to work and at least look productive or yknow, feed myself and my husband), I would have read this all the way through in one sitting. It's been really hit and miss with memoirs this year, but this is the one I wish every other one I've read was like. This memoir is for anyone who feels "less than" because of the way their body looks, the way their mind works, or simply because society says there's something wrong with being a person in 2025. I related to so many of the feelings and experiences Carla discusses, which made me feel seen and understood. And Carla sprinkles her love of parentheses throughout the book (which I now realize is a very ADHD thing and I should probably get that checked out). Truly, if you're "weird" in any capacity, you'll love this memoir. As someone who is actively working on self-acceptance - both inward and outward - this was exactly what I needed. Please, please, please give this one a shot!

I have so many bookmarks and highlights in this book that it looks like a college textbook for history. 🤦😆

Carla Sosenko’s words resonated with me and where I am right now - hard. We have so many similar experiences and have approached life the same way. When she goes through her list at the end of the book about what she changed, I literally have been making those same changes.

(I was about to write something which would have compared how cool she is to how I’m not but much nicer and I can hear her voice saying “Don’t!”😆)

This book is personal. There are stories here that are uncomfortable, familiar, funny, and painful. Its life laid out on the page. In sharing her life she is showing by example. The idea of “this worked for me, might not work for you, but it worked for me” is there. It isn’t like she solves the problems. But I’m not alone in how I feel. Knowing that there is someone out there that feels exactly the way I do…damn, I needed this.

I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin is honest and funny. If you are disabled or feel isolated due to personal reasons - read this book. If you know someone who is disabled, fat, a woman - read this book. If you don’t know anyone - read this book.

Carla Sosenko’s memoir, I’ll Look So Hot in a Coffin, is a raw, darkly funny exploration of a life lived in constant contradiction. Born with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, Sosenko spent much of her life trying to fit into a world obsessed with uniform beauty—undergoing liposuction at eight, battling anxiety and ADHD, and chasing a version of perfection that always felt just out of reach.

Throughout the book, Sosenko captures the absurdity of being seen as both “too much” and “never enough,” craving invisibility while longing for validation. Her dry humor cuts through heavy topics like body image, chronic illness, and mental health, highlighting the tension between wanting to fix herself and learning to accept who she already was.

I’ll Look So Hot in a Coffin doesn’t offer easy answers, and that’s its greatest strength. It’s a messy, funny, and often heartbreaking reminder that survival isn’t about achieving perfection—it’s about staying, laughing, and living with the contradictions.

I'm very conflicted. On one hand, there are some of the best quotes I've ever read in a memoir / self help book. I loved the representation of disability and insight into what those in more marginalized communities have to deal with (from assholes in particular).
On the other hand, the majority of this book just feels angry. I'm allll for angry when it is productive/feels like it is serving a larger purpose. However, this book almost feels vicious - belittling other body types, upbringings, thereby doing the complete opposite of what this book (in my opinion) is trying to do. The tongue in cheek title was preparing me for a more sarcastic/hard hitting social commentary, where unfortunately, very little of that came through in the book. Much more of a rant against the world vs an insight into a marginalized group I was hoping to learn more about.

To be completely honest, I was a little hesitant to accept this arc. Based on the title I assumed this was going to be a tongue-in-cheek, sort of 2010s Buzzfeed style collection of essays, and upon seeing the chapter titles this was definitely reinforced. While this works for many people, it’s a type of humour that I find so hit-or-miss (more often than not, miss), but I was curious enough about Carla Sosenko’s experiences living with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, a condition I had never heard of and knew nothing about prior to this book, that I decided to give it a shot. For the most part, I’m glad I did. It’s maybe less focused on humour or being quippy than the title and chapter names would suggest, and in general when Sosenko does aim to be funny it landed for me, although there were definitely moments that didn’t, but they were less frequent than I was expecting. I also think she often speaks really beautifully to the realities of living in an unconventional body. The ways that everyone in her life treats her differently, from parents and doctors pushing cosmetic surgeries on her, to guys she dates being weird and rude (accidentally or on purpose). But amongst all the positives there are also large parts that just seem to be filler. Multiple sections are just bullet points lists. Some of the lists should have been expanded and could have benefited from some deeper exploration and others could have just been cut altogether without losing anything. And in a relatively short book, these sections really stand out and not in a good way unfortunately.

This deeply personal memoir by Carla Sosenko is a powerful, honest, and unforgettable exploration of life with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome—a rare vascular disorder that causes visible physical deformities. Told through a series of essays, the book touches on everything from major life moments to everyday encounters, all filtered through the lens of someone navigating the world with a body that doesn’t fit society’s narrow definition of “normal.”

Sosenko’s writing is breezy and engaging—in the best possible way. She tackles subjects that are often anxiety-inducing, painful, and emotionally raw with a tone that invites empathy rather than pity. Her voice is candid, witty, and refreshing, managing to strike a balance between humor and heartbreak.

One of the most powerful themes in the book is the critique of our culture’s obsession with thinness and the toxic beauty standards that dominate Western society. Sosenko doesn’t hold back in showing how damaging these ideals can be, and her insights are both searing and deeply relatable.

What sets this memoir apart is its emotional authenticity. Sosenko lays herself bare on the page—not to ask for sympathy, but to create connection. It’s raw, distinctive writing that fosters understanding and reminds readers that none of us are truly alone in our struggles.

I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone. It’s not just a memoir—it’s an invitation to see the world through a more compassionate lens.