“Meaty” is the second essay collection I’ve read by Sam Irby, but her first work. I’m glad I came back to read her earlier works after being thrown in the deep end when I read “Wow, No Thank You” earlier this year. “Meaty” sets the tone for what to expect from Sam. She is straight up honest, down to the extremely private and sometimes gross aspects of her life. She tells it exactly how it is, and this is refreshing in a world so caked in false personas. I enjoyed escaping into Sam’s life and feeling her struggles as my own. Her self-depreciating style makes the reader feel accepted into Sam’s inner friend circle, as if we were her close confidant. It also makes us remember that our own small woes aren’t so bad in the big picture.

Be warned, Sam is rude, vulgar, and unabashedly raunchy. There are stories about sex, diarrhea, masturbation, and more. This essay collection is not for everyone, which I completely acknowledge. That said, Sam is witty and insightful in her storytelling. There are moments that make the reader think deeply about their own life and situation. Sam feels like a friend, and as a friend should, she supports and honors your journey as she tells you hers.

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Created Oct 30, 2020 at 3:15pm • Submit your own review...