Rachel Bloom (1) (1987–)

Rachel Bloom has created a funny and entirely relatable memoir about always feeling weird. The essays range from embarrassing moments that she lays bare for readers to her own mental health and struggle with OCD. Rachel skillfully juggles these windows into her life story all while helping readers understand that they are not alone in feeling like an outsider in a world of normal people.
The name Rachel Bloom was new to me. I have not seen Crazy Ex-Girlfriend or any of her other work. I chose show more to read Rachel's memoir based solely on the description (and maybe a little on the nods the cover and the title give to the 90s). The fact that I was not already aware of the author's background did not diminish my enjoyment of the book. Beyond enjoying the laughs that were offered up, I now feel more comfortable with the fact there are no "normal" people and if there are, they certainly aren't a strangely awesome as me. show less

Actual rating: 4.5/5

Little-Mermaid-inspired title? ✅
Gorgeous cover, with an 80s/90s teen book vibe? ✅
Rachel Bloom, aka the amazingly talented creator of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend? ✅
Was there every chance I would love this book? YOU KNOW IT!

I love the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (and am, coincidentally, just in the middle of a big re-watch) so I was extremely excited to read a collection of essays by Rachel Bloom. My expectations were sky-high with this one, and I was not disappointed.

Through show more her distinctive style and using her original voice to the fullest, Rachel Bloom takes us on a journey to explore the concept of "normality" in a quest to find the oh-so-elusive "normal people". This was certainly one of the most original, amusing and refreshing books I've read in a while, and it managed to touch on hard topics such as bullying, OCD and depression, and so many more in an incredibly honest and heartfelt way.

Some essays resonated with me more than others, and some were definitely... something; some made me laugh out loud, some really moved me, but all of them showcased Rachel's incredible talent and her honesty in talking openly about topics that are often, sadly, still taboo.

Overall, this is a great book that will appeal to fans of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and those who haven't yet seen the show alike (though if you're in the latter category - what are you waiting for??). Highly recommended!

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way. show less

Rachel Bloom's memoir is extremely candid. She discusses her mental health, as you would expect from the co-creator of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, but also doesn't shy away from openly describing masturbation and pooping. While this might put off some readers, it's refreshing to have someone talk about this 'private' stuff, because really why should it be treated as private? There's no shame in any of it.

The book is described as a collection of essays, a description which did not particularly show more excite me. However having now read it, I'm not entirely sure what is the difference between an essay and a book chapter. Bloom uses loads of different techniques to tell each 'essay', including a third-person fairy tale, a chapter from the perspective of her dog and one written as a musical (and yes, she has recorded a sung version which you can listen to on her website). The subject matter is always interesting, but she goes out of her way to keep it entertaining and imaginative. It's a little annoying that due to the style, I'm not sure which bits are real and what are jokes. Some of it is obviously a joke, but then other bits I'm not sure how I'm suppose to take it. The opening chapter/essay is (deliberately) aggressive, which is an odd tone to start on, because I can definitely see it riling some readers, but mostly the book is lovely.

However, if you are a fan of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and the likelihood is that most people reading this will be, then there is disappointingly little information on that sitcom. Only two essays/chapters discuss it and one is about pooping. But this is a book about Bloom, not her work. I'm glad I recently saw Rachel's 'Death, Let Me Do My Special' live show, because it kinda played as a sequel to the afterword in this book.

It's really good, I often laughed aloud. If you're a fan of Rachel Bloom and/or never been one of those 'normal' people and don't mind someone telling you about their 'private' issues, then this is recommended reading. show less

Full disclosure: I’m a HUGE fan of Rachel Bloom and her fantastic show “Crazy Ex Girlfriend”, so when I heard she was writing a book, I immediately placed it on preorder. And then when I was selected to read an advanced copy, I may or may not have squealed in delight.
Rachel breaks down various moments of her life with her uniquely hilarious wit, even stories that featured more somber situations such as being bullied in school and her struggles with a mental health disorder. I felt like show more I was sitting down and having a heart to heart with a close friend, albeit one that tends to drop Broadway references and turn the story into a on-the-spot play. I admire Rachel’s honesty and it made me an even bigger fan of hers.
Even if you have never heard of Rachel Bloom, this would be an enjoyable read. Each essay is unique and features multiple quotable lines. I really enjoyed the essay from her dog Wiley’s point of view, as well as the ideas for an amusement park and of course, all the details about bringing “Crazy Ex Girlfiend” to the screen. Major props also go to the artist who chose a 1980’s Judy Blume-esque book style design for the cover. show less