It’s always great to have new perspectives about such import themes and gain new understandings about things out of our own experiences

For anyone who has ever considered their body, and judged it not “good”, without really stopping to wonder — Not good for what? Or whom? — this memoir, written by a woman who has explored that question, painfully and from birth, will definitely set your head spinning.

Diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening disease that is cosmetically disfiguring, rare and of which very little is known (within the medical community, and certainly the general population), the author, now forty-seven years old, grows into her own ultimately life-changing relationship with her uniquely self-entangled body, as she graciously reveals her journey to get here.

This is a story that is, in parts, heart-breaking, hilarious, anger-generating, and most of all, bursting with learnings and practical advice, shared deep-from-the-heart by an author with an absolutely no-holds back candor.

Beginning with her painfully-induced struggles with disordered eating and weight “control”, to the perils of sex and dating in the brutally misogynistic culture of NYC, (and if you had ever doubted, there are indeed some scary and hateful creeps out there) for much of her youth the author is unable to escape the worst of society’s body-shaming, abuse, and marginalization. Still she soldiers on, “waiting it out”, eventually finding therapy, medication, fashion, and most of all, her own personal blend of resilience, clear-thinking, self-confidence, and pure gutsiness, bubbling to the surface to inspire her (and by proxy, the reader).

Highly recommended, this is a wonderful read, celebrating divergence in all its paths, right now, living each moment, because, as we hear in the author’s own darkly prescient wake-up call—

“One day, in a coffin, I’ll look like everyone else”.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

***Four and a half shiny stars

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This one is an extremely personal memoir about the author’s life with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, a rare vascular disorder that causes physical deformity. Carla Sosenko writes essays about all manner of life events, some major and some minor, with the added perspective of a woman who moves through the world with a visible deformity. Sosenko’s writing style is very breezy and fun, and I mean that as a compliment. She writes about anxiety-producing, depressing, upsetting situations in a way that invokes empathy, but there’s no self-pity. She also writes about our culture’s obsession with thinness and western standards of impossible beauty and how those standards can lead to self-destruction. This is really raw, distinctive writing, and I admire that so much. I would recommend this to everyone - it encourages empathy and understanding and the idea that none of us are truly alone.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I had no idea what this book was, but the cover and title appealed to me. This book is a series of essays about various issues and challenges the author has faced in her life. The author lives with a disability, which does remain a constant throughout the book. I gained some understanding of her life with a disability as well as a Jewish American. I really enjoyed her stories about what she has faced with her own issues and well as issues that most adults face. Anxiety, dieting, parent relationships, getting the "poofies", tattoos. Carla has a humorous way of writing that still comes off genuine This was a quick and easy read that kept me laughing throughout the book.

The ending was the real winner for me. She talks about what things she does not allow to affect her anymore.

Thank you to the author and Dial Press for allowing me to read an ARC copy of this book.

Carla Sosenko has Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome and has spent her life trying to become comfortable in her own body. Sosenko writes about what she has dealt with living with this syndrome, hiding her body, and working on loving her body. She uses humor in a way that anyone who has felt like an outsider can appreciate, while also being real about her feelings. This is a good memoir for anyone who has struggled with their own appearance and loving themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book blew me away. The story telling is authentic and vulnerable. I will be thinking about this one for a long time. I identified with a lot of Carla's words about body hatred and self-discovery when feeling different from everyone else. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

It's really interesting how relatable Carla Sosenko is as she talks about her experiences with a rare genetic condition. She deals with her life with humor and grace, and luckily, she has a wonderful and supportive family. She also has a lot of advice for dealing with rude people and uncomfortable questions. Even though her situation is unusual, the author also has a full life beyond her rare condition, and is a full and complete person who just happens to be different. This was so inspiring.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin was a funny, yet wise assessment of what it means to live and move about the world in a different body. Carla is hilarious, and her writing style is clear and concise. I think I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin lacks a clear beginning, middle and end; perhaps the book would be better as a series of essays.

Carla Sosenko was born with a rare genetic defect that resulted in an unusual physical appearance. While parts of this book, her journey to self discovery as it were, are both hysterically funny and very poignant, and, the writing is fantastic, the end result is a memoir of adult promiscuity and a fashion report that I ultimately found distasteful. I think this is a memoir of personal travail and experience that should have not been published.

However, the author is extremely talented and apparently very successful.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

such a raw and relatable collection of essays on the femme and disabled experience. thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. loved it!

I really enjoyed Carla Sosenko's memoir- a perfect read for a few sittings, filled with opportunities for introspection. I was not familiar with any of Carla's work before hearing about this, and I think this memoir is a great introduction to her. Sosenko's wit kept me entertained throughout, as well as her way of explaining things that may not occur to everyone. I found her perspective on early 2000s diet culture and shopping additions really interesting, especially considering I was a kid at that time, so I don't have the same sort of nostalgia or relation to that decade myself. In general, there wasn't much I could relate to, but that's perfectly fine; a memoir is an inherently self-centered piece of work, and I don't believe readers should attempt to see themselves in everyone's story. That being said, I particularly enjoyed the chapter on anxiety, and how people perceive accomplished people as being effortless. Overall a very valuable read, by a knowledgeable and entertaining writer!

"I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin" is a raw, honest book by Carla Sosenko. It is a genuine reflection of her experiences as a person born with a congenital disorder that left her outside the ridiculous ideals of what a woman should look like. The book reads like a journal and it makes for a moving and thought-provoking read. It was an insightful read for me as a father of adult daughters and thinking about the pressures that they faced and still face today to look a certain way. I hope I've given them some of the strength Sosenko has. Thank you to #netgalley and #thedialpress for the opportunity to preview this book.

In a candid and relatable yet unflinching account, Carla Sosenko, a renowned journalist and author whose work has graced the pages of esteemed publications such as The New York Times and Entertainment Weekly, shares her life experiences. Sosenko’s journey with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, a rare vascular disorder characterized by an excessive accumulation of flesh on her back, a hunched posture, and distinct leg sizes, among other symptoms.

Carla openly discusses anxiety, challenges with self-confidence, self-love, and acceptance. The narrative reads as if spoken directly to a close friend, evoking a sense of intimacy and understanding.

Highly recommend and enjoyed this read. Thank you to Random House, The Dial Press and Net Galley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

thank you netgalley and penguin random house for the arc!

for me it is always difficult to rate a memoir because who am i to give my opinion on someone else’s life?! however, i will give my praise for Carla’s writing, vulnerability and creative ability to keep me engaged and laughing through deeply personal essays. Carla provided educational material for readers and her use of humour immediately pulled me into her life stories.

readers, please check content warnings beforehand!

"I'll Look So Hot in a Coffin and Other Thoughts I Used to Have About My Body" by Carla Sosenko is a candid and humorous memoir in which the author shares her experiences living with a rare congenital deformity. She delves into her struggles with self-image and weight, examining how society perceives body differences. Sosenko also discusses how these issues have affected her mental health, her relationships with men, her views on disability, and other life choices.

While the memoir is both funny and engaging, I recommend that readers check the content warnings first. Sosenko addresses disordered eating extensively, which may be challenging for some readers. I would like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley and Random House/Dial Press for providing the advance reader's copy (ARC).

A raw and honest narrative about a woman trying to come to terms with the hand life has dealt her. Also surprisingly funny while dealing with heavy topics

Well I devoured this book in one sitting.

This was a lot of things: raw, real, vulnerable, hilariousAF, relatable, and made me want to be besties with Carla Sosenko.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book before it has been released! I shall sing its praises to all of the bookish-humans in my life!

thank you to netgalley, random house publishing group, and author carla sosenko for the ARC- coming May 6, 2025.
the book is a collection of raw and relatable essays relating to the femme and the disabled experience. i felt seen, i enjoyed the tone and would highly recommend.
content warning for eating disorders.

I loved this memoir. Carla Sosenko shares her life experiences as a woman born with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome and the journey she traveled to love and appreciate her body. This memoir is honest, raw, funny, engaging, and a must read for any woman who has been body shamed for any reason (so…everyone). I will forever recommend this book to family, friends, and strangers.

✨ Thank you NetGalley and The Dial Press for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review ✨

Carla Sosenko wrote a raw and honest memoir about her and life and struggles she’s overcome. I think this novel can help many people understand why we feel the way about it our bodies for whatever reason and how we too can learn to de the good in them. I think Sosenko is honest in her life stories and doesn’t shy away from the good and the bad that each day that we have.

I find it hard to judge memoirs because of the context of them and how people write about themselves, but overall I think many people can find comfort and hope in her story and relate to her in various level.