Congratulations, The Best Is Over!: Essays

"R. Eric Thomas’ latest essay collection focuses on the absurdity of midlife. He returns to his hometown of Baltimore after his husband takes a new job, despite Thomas having a “toxic relationship” with the city. Thomas chronicles how he and his husband work hard to establish friendships, while he also feels out of place in his own hometown. At one point, Thomas is not recognized while standing next to his family at church and is then mistaken for a local bartender who left the area. On the plus side? He gets free wine out of the interactions. Thomas’ incisive and hilarious essays are about the pains of starting over and making friends as an adult. In one of my favorite essays in the collection, he weaves together his love of Oprah’s Favorite Things with his experiences with depression and seeking therapy."