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I Was Told There'd Be Cake
I Was Told There'd Be Cake | Sloane Crosley
From the author of the novel, The Clasp, hailed by Michael Chabon, Heidi Julavits, and J. Courtney Sullivan.Wry, hilarious, and profoundly genuine, this debut collection of literary essays from Sloane Crosley is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory. From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions -- or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a complex and utterly recognizable character who aims for the stars but hits the ceiling, and the inimitable city that has helped shape who she is. I Was Told There'd Be Cake introduces a strikingly original voice, chronicling the struggles and unexpected beauty of modern urban life. Sloane Crosley is also the author of How Did You Get This Number.From the Trade Paperback edition.
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Deblovestoread
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1. Tagged

2. I love cake, just about every kind I can think of, but my favorite is Italian Crème Cake with coffee or tea.

Want to play @Bookpearl @Books_et_al @mom_of_4 ?

Bookpearl Ooohh! Let me look at my shelf! 1y
Eggs Love Italian cream cake 🍰 👌🏼 1y
43 likes2 comments
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Victoriahoperose
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Pickpick

This was between a pick and a so so book for me. I really liked a lot of the essays and I generally liked the writing but some of this book did get to be a bit annoying in parts. It was a little forced in certain points and some of the stories just left me wondering what the point was. But, overall it kept my interest and I liked it!

31 likes1 stack add
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Dvd
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New reads include: Sloane Crosley, David Rakoff and Chuck Palahniuk!! It‘s a #SantaThing. 🧡

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

This memoir-in-essays fell just inside pick range. She was going for humor, but I never found myself chuckling in my head. However some stories were very relatable, like how she ended up the maid of honor for a high school friend she barely knew. In her medical essay, it was likely a bit exaggerated given what I know about medicine, so that docked points. Not going to stick with me but a reasonably enjoyable library #audiobook. Onwards!

Cinfhen I listened to this several years ago!! I remember a few essays were funny but like you said nothing was lol. It was fine but not outstanding 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen exactly!! 3y
83 likes2 comments
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allureofbeauty
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madams421
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Got a lovely note in the mail from @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks today! And one from @magyklyXdelish earlier this week! Thank you for this lovely quote. Only a week into my time with #LitsyLove and I‘ve already had so many days brightened by new friends! 🌻🌻🌻

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️⭐️❤️ 4y
31 likes1 comment
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Amanda4
Bailedbailed

These stories are so drawn out and uninteresting. I didn‘t enjoy nor could I finish reading all the stories.

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Mtroiano
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A little late on this...
1. I Was Told There‘d Be Cake
2. Marie Antoinette
3. Happy Birthday 🤷🏻‍♀️🙃
#manicmonday

JoScho 😊❤️🍰 6y
21 likes1 comment
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RamsFan1963
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1. Book Tagged
2. Movie Sixteen Candles - Molly Ringwald's birthday cake at the end of the film.
3. Song Crunchy Munchy Honey Cakes - The Wiggles

#manicmonday #🍰 @joscho

JoScho You are the only one to name that movie and it is a perfect choice! 6y
WanderingBookaneer Agree with @JoScho about 🎥 choice! 6y
45 likes2 comments
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sebrittainclark
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🍰 I Was Told There'd be Cake by Sloane Crosley

🍰 Mrs. Doubtfire

🍰 Birthday Cake by Rihanna

#manicmonday @JoScho

JuliaTheBookNerd I thought Mrs. Doubtfire too ❤️🍰👯‍♀️ 6y
JoScho 😊❤️🍰 6y
54 likes2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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The tagged ‘I was Told There‘d Be Cake‘
No movies come to me
“If I knew you were comin I‘d‘ve baked a cake”
#manicmonday #🍰 @JoScho

JoScho 😊❤️🍰 6y
33 likes1 comment
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CBee
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1. I Was Told There‘d Be Cake - Sloane Crosley (AWESOME book)
2. Bridesmaids (Kristen Wiig‘s character = baker = cake 😁)
3. Cherry Pie - Warrant (I swear it‘s the first song I thought of this early in the morning 😂)
#manicmonday #🍰 #canigobacktobednow @JoScho 😘

julesG I need to watch Bridesmaids. My old TV broke down when I watched it on regular TV just as they were trying on the dresses and suddenly had problems. 6y
CBee @julesG oh my yes, you have to watch it! It‘s hilarious!!! What an interesting time for your TV to go kaput - that part of the movie is one of the funniest 😂😂😂 6y
julesG Melissa McCarthy had just found the sink and zwooop, black screen and only sound left. It was a very old TV. 6y
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CBee @julesG terrible timing 😬 hope you‘ll get to watch the whole thing at some point! 6y
Stacy_31 @julesG Thats the best part! 😂😂 You most definitely need to watch the whole thing one day. 6y
JoScho Great answers! Thanks for playing! ❤️🍰 6y
36 likes6 comments
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Bklover
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I‘m having a little trouble settling in to my next read. I keep jumping from one book to another. These essays are keeping me entertained while I decide what to read next.

Soubhiville The one about the ponies!!! I had tears rolling down my face while driving to work- hilarious. (The rest of the Book was just meh for me though. Hope you like it!) 6y
Bklover I love the ponies story!!! Was hilarious!! I‘ve only read the first two so we‘ll see how the rest go! @Soubhiville 6y
114 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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Lauren.Archer
Pickpick

Some cute and humorous essays in this collection. Sloane Crosley is quickly becoming a go to author for me.

nikirtehsuxlol I just got done listening to her audiobook Look Alive Out There. Enjoyable! 6y
73 likes1 comment
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Lauren.Archer
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Taking a quick lunch break to start this one.

119 likes5 stack adds
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captainpunchmerica
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#riotgrams Day 7 - Ice Cream/Sweet Treats : from the tbr pile!

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rightasrain13
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Pickpick

If you're feeling down or just love to laugh when you read, this book is for you! Sloane Crosley's essays about her life experiencesmade me laugh out loud from start to finish. I also have her book How Did You Get This Number?, which I am very much looking forward to reading! I'll post a review when I get to it. 😊 #essays #humor

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monalyisha
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When I heard that our local bookstore/bar had a beer on-tap named after Sloane Crosley‘s “I Was Told There‘d Be Cake,” I knew visiting would be a major part of my Sunday plans. The bartender described it as, “Like, a strawberry banana smoothie beer?” He wasn‘t wrong.

#happyplace

SandyW I tend to do fruity drinks - vodka and any fruit juice is my standard go-to order, I don't care much for beer. I know I wouldn't like this one, but it sure sounds good! 7y
monalyisha @SandyW One of the bartenders said the exact same thing, but added that she did like this beer. It also had “funfetti” in it? Haha. I definitely wouldn‘t order more than one, but I liked it fine... & it was an experience! Actually, I liked the beer about as much as I liked the book. 🙈 I‘m not jonesin‘ for more Sloane Crosley, either. 7y
SandyW I had to run off and Google funfetti just now. 😲 Although I did see someone's suggestion to make the funfetti cake recipe using stout instead of water. I'm sticking with my original assumptions! 😉 7y
monalyisha @SandyW I followed it up with a cappuccino. Is that more agreeable? 7y
ElishaLovesBooks Well that sounds interesting! 🍻🍻 7y
58 likes5 comments
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Lcsmcat
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OrangeMooseReads
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Panpan

Meh. Perhaps it‘s my mood but I really didn‘t like this. She came off as vapid and narcissistic in several of the essays. It also felt like she was just trying too hard to be funny. There were a couple essays where she could have taken about 500 words out and still gotten the point across easily. Read this at your own discretion a lot of others loved it.

ohyeahthatgirl This is exactly how I felt about this book. 7y
OrangeMooseReads @ohyeahthatgirl glad I‘m not the only one. 7y
40 likes2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Isabella was no help in picking my next read. I need humor so I‘m going with the tagged book.
#littenkitten #catsoflitsy #bibliokitty

Lcsmcat I laughed so hard reading this one! 7y
55 likes1 comment
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Lcsmcat
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A slightly off-kilter book of #essays. I laughed out loud. My favorite was the manicurist yelling at her in the subway station not to bite her nails. #noteworthyNovember @Jess7

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monalyisha
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Attended a wedding in gorgeous Vermont this weekend. Brought two books with me ("Still Life with Tornado" by A.S. King & a collection of short stories by Shirley Jackson) & didn't get to either of them -- but I was weirdly okay with that. Sometimes it's okay to just "read" love & nature in real life. ?

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Graciouswarriorprincess
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Book mail today! My shirt from @outofprint and two books from #ThriftBooks. #bookmail #thebestmailisbookrelated

brilliantglow I absolutely love that shirt 7y
MaleficentBookDragon ❤️💙💜 tee! 7y
Kmmsellers Love that shirt! 7y
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Grrlbrarian I've got that shirt too 😄 Can't wait for your review of Nightshade Lounge! 7y
Lcsmcat I loved the tagged book! 7y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Omg! An octopus and a book? Love both! 7y
night_shift Man, I love that shirt! Almost bought it myself! 7y
Grrlbrarian Nope, @Graciouswarriorprincess and I'm on the fence about reading it, so I really could use your thoughts 👍 7y
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Zelma
Pickpick

I couldn't decide between pick or so-so. Crosley is certainly a talented writer and storyteller. Some of her essays were gems while others didn't work as well for me. She has some great insights and off-kilter humor. However, maybe it was because I read The Underground Railroad at the same time and this just couldn't compare, but I wasn't in love. It felt so trite and light and insignificant at times. But I'll just blame timing and recommend.

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MaleficentBookDragon
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Almost finished with my first #springcleaningreadathon #audiobook
This has given me quite a few chuckles.😂

GypsyKat I love the Office Space reference! 😂 8y
MaleficentBookDragon @GypsyKat I know, right? Poor Milton! 8y
GypsyKat @MaleficentBookDragon "I believe you have my stapler" ? 8y
MaleficentBookDragon @GypsyKat I used to be over by the window, and I could see the squirrels, and they were married, but then, they switched from the Swingline to the Boston stapler, but I kept my Swingline stapler because it didn't bind up as much, and I kept the staples for the Swingline stapler and it's not okay because if they take my stapler then I'll set the building on fire.. 8y
GypsyKat @MaleficentBookDragon Hahaha! Now I need to watch it again! 8y
63 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Zelma
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I've also been reading these essays and really enjoying them. Unfortunately, I need to take a break. After immersing myself in The Underground Railroad, I'm not able to appreciate a young New Yorker's neuroses and particularly the current essay complaining about volunteering at a butterfly exhibit. 🙄

However, I will return. Crosley is a really good storyteller and has some interesting insights.

BookFreakOut Wow that would be quite the jarring juxtaposition! 8y
Zelma @BookFreakOut yeah, so I didn't even finish the essay and decided Crosley will wait for another day. 8y
katedensen I've been meaning to read Crosley forever. 8y
Zelma @katedensen she is really great; just need to be in the right mood. 8y
67 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
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"I could kill again if I had to". Something you don't usually hear when discussing volunteering at a butterfly exhibit. There are some gems in here.

Soubhiville The pony drawer! 8y
Megabooks 😅😅 8y
Gayan This book! 😂😂😂 8y
Graciouswarriorprincess Love this book!! 8y
64 likes6 stack adds4 comments
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Librariana
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Mehso-so

🌟🌟🌟
(Reluctantly) agreeing to be a bridesmaid. In pink plaid. New York City. Needing to have a locksmith rescue you. Twice. A (secret) collection of ponies. Volunteering at a museum's butterfly exhibit. Vegeterianism... sort of. Although some of the essays were definitely memorable, I wouldn't call this a MUST read. It was an enjoyable audiobook listen... but I'm probably partial to authors who are as obsessed with sushi as I am.

Cinfhen Great graphics 8y
Librariana @Cinfhen - Thank you, Cindy! 😄😊 I had quite a bit of nerdy fun picking them out to go with the essays. 8y
Cinfhen I agree, collages are totally "nerdy fun" ❤️?? 8y
35 likes1 stack add3 comments
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perusingpages
Pickpick

Equal parts hilarious, vivid, and poignant.

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MaleficentBookDragon
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I ate and drank too much today, leaving me uncomfortable and with insomnia. So, time for a new audiobook.

Soubhiville The pony story... 🤣🤣🤣 8y
Eridau There are some real gems in this one. 😂😂🤣 8y
61 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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KatG
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I love the title of this collection but I was somewhat disappointed by these essays. #feistyfeb #flowersoncovers

Librariana Aawww 😔 It's a shame when that happens. It is a lovely, flowery cover, tho! 💖🌹🌼🌷🌻 8y
17 likes1 comment
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kyraleseberg
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Pickpick

This book was laugh out loud funny! Crosley is a talented storyteller; she takes an ordinary story that could read like a grocery list and turns it in to an adventure with her odd POV & sense of humor.

10 likes1 stack add
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kyraleseberg
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New library pick! 📚

11 likes1 stack add
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Well-ReadNeck
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Whoo-hoo! Three audiobook holds have come in in the past 24 hours. I guess there were a lot of folks listening while they prepped Thanksgiving food!!! 🍽

MicheleinPhilly Loved The Weird Sisters! 8y
Scorpioseah Using overdrive ? From which public library may I ask ? 8y
Well-ReadNeck @Scorpioseah Dekalb County, Georgia (edited) 8y
Scorpioseah I see ☺ 8y
123 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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Soubhiville
Mehso-so

I started this audio this morning while stuck in a 2+ hour traffic jam. I might have been in the wrong frame of mind for it, but I just wasn't enjoying it as much as I thought I would. I'm putting it away for now, but may come back to it later. So I'm giving it a so-so instead of a bail at this point.

I did get a chuckle about the "pony drawer"...

GuiltyFeat The writing is gorgeous but it all seemed so unnecessary in a post-Carrie Bradshaw world. 8y
39 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Pickpick

A really great book of essays. Personal and expressive and relatable.

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Sue
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Pickpick

This is a delightful and insightful collection of essays. The audio was read by the author and she did a great job. I thoroughly enjoyed Crosley's wit and wisdom.

Chessa Ok, so...I listened to the first story on audio (the pony one?) and I wanted to stab my ears out. Was it...representative of the whole? I have no idea why I reacted so strongly (not my thing usually!) but I did, and I've been curious ever since... 8y
Sue @Chessa The humour and writing style is certainly the same. There are a wide range of topics covered though, including a moving day where she manages to lock herself out of both the apartment she is moving out of and the one she is moving into, and an ill fated stint as an unwilling maid of honour. I really enjoyed the ponies! 8y
Chessa Thanks for letting me know, Sue! I might have to try it in print sometime. 8y
Pandyfish The titles got me hooked! 8y
Pandyfish Ugh sorry long day I meant singular title and no spoiler 8y
96 likes7 stack adds5 comments
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Sue
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This guy got all up in my grill when I was trying to scroll through my Litsy feed. My 20 yr old boy needs some love it seems. Later peeps. #catsoflitsy

Girl_Power He is handsome!! I have a 17 year old who loves attention too. Senior cats rock! 8y
Melkyl I lost my 18 year old kitty last year. I miss her so much. 8y
LauraBeth @Melwilk I can imagine you miss her - that's tough - so sorry to hear that 😔 8y
See All 14 Comments
LauraBeth He is very handsome @sue 😻😻 8y
MrBook 😻 @Melwilk 😿 8y
katcanwrite What a sweetheart! 😻 8y
LauraBrook My 13 year olds do that too. Makes me v happy! And he is such a handsome cuddlebug. 😽😽😽 8y
BekahB Awwww so cute! Cuddling with your pets should definitely be a priority 😸 8y
Bookzombie So sweet! 8y
Sue @Melwilk I'm so sorry to hear that. It must be hard. ❤️ 8y
Melkyl Thank you @Sue It has been hard, but I feel lucky that I had such a great girl for 18 years. She was wonderful, and to think I found her abandoned in the woods while we were camping. 8y
SusanInTiburon Cuddle now 8y
Yournewfriendsams Not many things come before books, but kitten cuddles usually do 😍 8y
107 likes2 stack adds14 comments
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Sue

This guy got all up in my grill when I was trying to scroll through my Litsy feed. My 20 yr old boy needs some love it seems. Later peeps. #catsoflitsy

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k_andrws

People are less quick to applaud you as you grow older. Life starts out with everyone clapping when you take a poo and goes downhill from there.

MrBook 😂😂😂👍🏻 Someone used this idea as part of their stand-up routine and had me in stitches. 8y
k_andrws @MrBook I'm sure that this was the line that made me fall in love with Sloane and her writing! 8y
MrBook 😊👍🏻 8y
Donna_sBookMinute ... Unless you're Al Roper. LOL. 💩😳 8y
29 likes5 stack adds4 comments
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k_andrws

I was taught that candles are like house cats - domesticated versions of something wild and dangerous.

MrBook I like that analogy! 8y
21 likes1 comment
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k_andrws

Suburbia is too close to the county to have anything real to do and too close to the city to admit you have nothing real to do.

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k_andrws
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Pickpick

This book convinced me that Sloane and I should become great friends. She's honest about her flaws, witty in her story-telling, and earnest in her intentions. This is the most wonderful memoir of quizzically serendipitous moments captured in essays.

33 likes15 stack adds
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kaberryhill
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Bailedbailed

Bailed at page 115. Although well written, the more I read, the less I care about what she's writing about/the more I roll my eyes/the less I can relate. This feels strangely...unauthentic? I don't know. Just didn't sit well. A big ole "eh." (Although this cover is gorgeous.)

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Kitta
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Was looking for something easy to read and saw this get a good review months ago, possibly on @bookriot 😃 It's based in NYC where we just moved! I love reading books set in places I've actually been.

TheLondonBookworm I love reading around the places I've been/going to and getting recommendations of @bookriot of course! Might have to add this one to my list! 🤓 8y
MrBook Added it 😊👍🏻. Love the pic. Congrats on moving to my hometown. @BookBabe and I just moved away from the City, lol. Where in NYC have you settled? 8y
Kitta We got a place on the Upper East Side, very close to work! It's great so far - any insider tips of thing to do @MrBook ? 8y
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MrBook Where to start ?. @BookBabe & I are running a bookclub at 2pm tomorrow in the basement of the Houndstooth Pub, at 38th & 8th. It's the 20/30-Something Book Club, and we're discussing Emma Cline's "The Girls". If you're in your 20s or 30s, come join us. If you don't, we can always meet up afterward if you want ?. Usually we finish around 3:30. 8y
Kitta I know there's so much to do here! My partner @BooksGirlsCats and I are off to the beach tomorrow and haven't read The Girls yet but would love to come to the next one! What are you thinking of reading next? @MrBook 8y
MrBook "The Secret Wisdom of the Earth". And October's is "Hex". We hope to see you out next time ???! You can find our group on Meetup.com. Enjoy the beach! Upper East Side is great. You should definitely visit all the Art Museums along Museum Row. For great cheap eats, give The Meatball Shop and Luke's Lobster (order the Noah's Ark) a try. Dylan's Candy Shop, somewhere in the lower 60s, is phenomenal. There's a lot of (believe it or not)... 8y
MrBook ...serene dead ends just south of the Queensboro Bridge, in the Sutton Place section. I've spent many a day reading on a bench overlooking the East River with the Bridge in front and to the left of me. You can't even really hear the FDR Drive which is below. 8y
MrBook It's been a couple years, but my favorite dead-end is either Sutton Square or 57th, but I'm pretty sure it's Sutton Square. 8y
MrBook And you can't go wrong with any rooftop bars. They're *all* excellent, and I've patroned probably two dozen. 8y
Kitta @MrBook We're Met members so we're at the museums all the time 😍 went to the cloisters for the first time yesterday - amazing! I've had a number of people recommend Luke's Lobster will have to get there soon! We live between 1st/2nd and I walk along the esplanade all time time so peaceful! Not sure I've been to Sutton place though I just walk until I hit a park usually, possibly around 86? haha. Thanks for all the tips! 8y
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