Survival of the Thickest: Essays

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*Soon to be a comedy series on Netflix!*
From the stand-up comedian, actress, and host beloved for her cheeky swagger, unique voice, and unapologetic frankness comes a book of zesty and hilarious (Publishers Weekly) essays for fans of Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Mindy Kaling and Were Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union.

If youve watched television or movies in the past couple of years, youve seen Michelle Buteau. With scene-stealing roles in Always Be My Maybe, First Wives Club, Someone Great, Russian Doll, and Tales of the City; a reality TV show and breakthrough stand-up specials, including her headlining show Welcome to Buteaupia on Netflix; and two podcasts (Late Night Whenever and Adulting), Michelles star is on the rise. Youd be forgiven for thinking the road to successor adulthood or financial stability or self-acceptance or marriage or motherhoodhas been easy, but youd be wrong.

Now, in Survival of the Thickest, Michelle reflects on growing up Caribbean, Catholic, and thick in New Jersey, going to college in Miami (where everyone smells like pineapple), her many friendship and dating disasters, working as a newsroom editor during 9/11, getting started in stand-up opening for male strippers, marrying into her husbands Dutch family, IVF and surrogacy, motherhood, chosen family, and what it feels like to have a full heart, tight jeans, and stardom finally in her grasp.

Reviews

"Michelle Buteau is one of the funniest people Ive ever had the pleasure to meet in my entire life. Not since the ferocity I had at12yearsoldelbowing fellow readers ofHarry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban out of the way for my copy have I been as excited for a new title as I am for Michelles book, Survival of The Thickest. But unlike J.K. Rowling, Michelle wont let us down because nobody's comedy or inclusion shines brighter than Michelles!"Jonathan Van Ness, hair dresser and star of theNetflix seriesQueer Eye
"If you think actress Buteau (Russian Doll, Tales of the City) is funny on-screen, wait until you see her on the page. The Washington Post
Michelle Buteau is one of the funniest comedians out there right now A brilliant, uproarious memoir. This is the kind of read that shows us a woman who owns all that she isher heartbreak, her humor, her struggle, her sexualityand who makes other women want to do the same Get ready to laugh out loud and feel like you've made a new friend. Pro tip: get the audio book to listen to Buteau narrate her life with her perfect and awe-inspiring delivery. Shondaland
Hilariouslike, snap-a-photo-of-a-page-and-send-it-to-friends funny. But this bracingly honest essay collection, in which Buteau insightfully reflects on everything from her body image to her interracial marriage to her difficult road to motherhood, is ultimately about the brave act of learning to love yourself. Real Simple
"This hilarious, raunchy, tell-it-like-it-is collection of reminiscences and identity-searching tales by actress and stand-up star Michelle Buteau will entertain you and, perhaps, make you blush. GoodMorningAmerica.com,13 new books to get cozy with over the holidays
"Known for her effortless delivery of laugh-out-loud stories, Michelle Buteau brings that same cheekiness and hilarity to her book. Warning, though, reading this may cause you to watch all of her comedy specials and every single movie and TV show she's ever been in in an alarmingly short period of time." Cosmopolitan
"If you're a fan of Michelle Buteau's comedy, you know what you're getting: laugh out loud funny stories, moments of raw honesty and vulnerability that make you feel less alone, and the sense that you have a new best friend in your life. If you're new to 'Buteaupia' (as she likes to call it) aka the world of Michelle, you're in for a treat and will, no doubt, be a new fan by the time you finish readingSurvival of the Thickest." Phoebe Robinson, Founder ofTiny Reparations Booksand author of You Can't Touch My HairandEverything's Trash, But It's Okay
"In her debut essay collection, Michelle tackles everything from body image to babies and Blackness with the kind of hilarity and truth only she can deliver. If you're not lucky enough to have a sister friend like Michelle Buteau,Survival of the Thickestis the next best thing." Franchesca Ramsey, host of MTV's Decoded and author ofWell, That Escalated Quickly
Michelle Buteau delivers a debut essay collection thatll have you cackling devilishly one minute, then ugly crying the next. Raw and heartbreaking Buteau deftly moves from painful honesty to screwball comedy.Survival of the Thickest, like Michelle herself, is a real one.Brandy Barber,Bust Magazine
Buteau is known for being equally forthright and fabulous. In this collection of essays, she reveals the depths and origins of both Her sharpness is suffused with a warmth that makes even her most esoteric storiesearly stand-up misadventures and culture clashes with her Dutch in-lawsrelatable and readable A heartfelt, snarkily sweet memoir in essays. Booklist
Zesty and hilarious Buteaus spot-on essays combine laughter with wise life lessons. Publishers Weekly
Unabashed, often bawdy Buteau's knack for steering absurd situations toward warm insight shines Discussions of being busty, curvy, and light-skinned abound with self-empowerment At turns joyful and sweet about her marriage's early days and heartbreaking about miscarriages, Buteau is reassuring in her candor. Kirkus
Buteau showcases her humor, perseverance, and honesty [and she] tells each tale with style and wit Inviting and unbelievably hilarious Fans of Ali Wong or Mindy Kaling will appreciate this heartbreaking and hopeful volume. Library Journal
"Make room on your funny lady memoir bookshelf, because comedian Michelle Buteau has landed... A hilarious and heartfelt memoir.HelloGiggles
One of the year's most relatable books. Bustle
Buteau has a charisma that makes you remember who she is Genuinely funny. Black Girl Nerds
The hilarious comedian and actor Michelle Buteau will have you rolling and reflecting with her candid and empowering lessons on work, marriage, motherhood, body image, and Blackness. Truthful, willful and hopeful, this is a heartwarming debut collection. Ms. Magazine
Survival of the Thickestreads like a long conversation with a very smart and funny friend A delight, from start to finish, and a nice introduction to a woman who has been in the game for a long time and is more than ready for her time in the sun. Megan Reynolds, Jezebel
Survival of the Thickestoffers more of the humor and frankness that has made Buteau a fan favorite: If you enjoyed any of Mindy Kalings essay collections, then I highly suggest reading this one. It is as laugh-out-loud funny as the author herself.Bitch Media
In her collection of stories, Michelle Buteau shares her honest and hilarious takes on everything from body image to getting started in standup comedy to being in an interracial marriage. E! Onlines roundup for Womens History Month, Books by Boss Ladies We Love

Author Bio

Michelle Buteauis a comedian, actress, and host known for her roles inThe Circle, Always Be My Maybe, First Wives Club, Someone Great, Russian Doll, andTales of the City,as well as her stand-up specials, including Welcome toButeaupia, on Netflix and Comedy Central. She has been named one of the ten comedians to watch byEsquireand her podcast,Late Night Whenever, was listed among the best of the year by Time. Michelle lives in the Bronx with her husband and family. She and her husband also run Van der Most Modern, a vintage furniture store in Brooklyn.