kingbunnyy's reviews
62 reviews

There was something about this book that I loved but can’t entirely put into words. It felt warm and familiar.. It had that beautiful, aching quality—where you feel like you’ve known these people, have been these people, lived this story. 

The characters—oh my god. They were all so raw, so flawed, so painfully real. I adored nearly every single one of them, even in their messiest moments. They feel like real people in my heart. And i don’t know yall, iI imagined the two MCs as Keanu and River from My Own Private Idaho, so I felt even more of a connection to them (if you know me you know my love for those two runs deep)—After finishing the book, i read an interview with the author, he mentioned he would’ve wanted River to be cast in an hypothetical movie adaptation, & i knew then it was kismet.

Music plays a center role in this story & enriching its atmosphere and emotional depth. I read in that interview that Thompson has been “haunted” by the lyric “I’m secretly in love with everyone I grew up with” (from Demons by The National)…That line, that song, IS this book. It captures everything—the nostalgia, the love, the lingering ghosts of people who shape us. If you’ve ever looked back at your past with both fondness and grief, this book will wreck you. I didn’t want to put it down, and whenever I did, I came right back to it.

An aspect i felt was important and want to bring attention to, is how the MC views women. There’s an admiration in the way the protagonist sees them— with genuine respect and awe. And then, almost seamlessly, he shifts to what it feels like, for him, to be around men, and that contrast is so subtle yet deeply impactful. It adds so much to understanding the main character and the ways he navigates the world. With its nuanced portrayal of masculinity, Thompson delves into the multifaceted nature of male relationships, capturing both their depth and the societal constraints that often limit emotional expression. .

side note: i also loved the dry humor that popped up unexpectedly. Just when the story felt heavy, there would be these small, understated moments that made me laugh. It balanced everything out in such a natural way

Thank you NetGalley & Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage for my E-ARC of this book ☺️
a sharp, hilarious, and sometimes gut-wrenching collection of essays. King covers everything from anecdotes of pop culture references to heartbreak and self-destruction, blending biting wit with brutal honesty. The essays explore identity, cultural nostalgia, bad relationships, grief, and the messy process of reinvention, all with a perfect balance of humor and raw emotion.
King’s ability to dissect both love and pain, particularly in how they shaped her, is deeply moving. The essays feel like a conversation—one that’s equal parts self-reckoning and catharsis.