Quietly Hostile: Essays

"Samantha Irby’s latest essay collection includes some familiar topics, like her love of Dave Matthews Band and her frequent references to diarrhea. She also weaves together new stories about navigating COVID-19 isolation, in part by adopting a poorly behaved pandemic dog, which I deeply relate to. Irby’s voice is distinct and hilarious, whether she is discussing Red Lobster or ridiculous reactions people online had when it was announced she was a writer on the Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That …. I appreciate that she shares her disappointments, like spending years pitching a television show about her life that never aired. Hopefully Hollywood will reconsider, but in the meantime, we have Irby’s essays to enjoy."