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In My Remaining Years
A collection of darkly humorous, intensely personal essays by cult fave and multi-hyphenate artist Jean Grae
In My Remaining Years, by creative juggernaut Jean Grae, debunks the myth that coming-of-age narratives should be reserved for the kids, providing a much-needed rallying cry for those of us still trying to figure it out in our forties. These laugh-out-loud essays cover everything from aging gracefully (with and without botox), what happens when you look for community and almost start a cult, befriending childhood demons (Hi Mumm-ra!), gender fluidity in middle age, the cost of being too fabulous, and the various gymnastics we do to avoid becoming our parents, taking us from her childhood in 1980s New York City to present-day Baltimore. In these pages, Jean captures magic in a bottle, distilling the feeling of hanging out with your smartest, funniest, and most brutally honest best friend.
In My Remaining Years, by creative juggernaut Jean Grae, debunks the myth that coming-of-age narratives should be reserved for the kids, providing a much-needed rallying cry for those of us still trying to figure it out in our forties. These laugh-out-loud essays cover everything from aging gracefully (with and without botox), what happens when you look for community and almost start a cult, befriending childhood demons (Hi Mumm-ra!), gender fluidity in middle age, the cost of being too fabulous, and the various gymnastics we do to avoid becoming our parents, taking us from her childhood in 1980s New York City to present-day Baltimore. In these pages, Jean captures magic in a bottle, distilling the feeling of hanging out with your smartest, funniest, and most brutally honest best friend.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 25, 2025
Listening to the audio version added an extra layer of fabulous to this funny, touching and insightful book by the multifaceted gem that is known as Jean Grae.
I eagerly await their fragrance line debut & Littles’ album of Parisian cafe accordion music. La vie est un peu plus belle avec Jean & Littles.
I eagerly await their fragrance line debut & Littles’ album of Parisian cafe accordion music. La vie est un peu plus belle avec Jean & Littles.
March 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this book only knowing Jean Grae as a friend of the Judge John Hodgman podcast, so my experience with them is minimal at best. I’m still so pleased I read this. The tone is light and casual and humorous even when the material is heavy. It’s like talking to a particularly energetic and expansive friend. There were so many pieces that I felt deeply even when my life experiences are so different than theirs. Parts are hilarious, parts are serious, parts are both at the same time. I really enjoyed reading this one beyond a lot of other autobiographies I’ve read of people I’m not well acquainted with beforehand.
I requested this book only knowing Jean Grae as a friend of the Judge John Hodgman podcast, so my experience with them is minimal at best. I’m still so pleased I read this. The tone is light and casual and humorous even when the material is heavy. It’s like talking to a particularly energetic and expansive friend. There were so many pieces that I felt deeply even when my life experiences are so different than theirs. Parts are hilarious, parts are serious, parts are both at the same time. I really enjoyed reading this one beyond a lot of other autobiographies I’ve read of people I’m not well acquainted with beforehand.
March 30, 2025
As predicted, I LOVED everything about this book. Jean knocked it out of the park in so many ways. One of my favorite humans since over a decade ago, I have vowed to support Jean in any way I can - purchasing and downloading all of the albums I could get my greedy little hands on. (It’s not Cookies or Commas, you guys, it’s Comas.)
Now I get to own a full book of Jean’s wit and intelligence and impeccably dark humor and I just couldn’t have been happier to purchase and read it!
If you are here for rap stories, you’ve purchased the wrong book. If you’re here for badass stories of resilience, self discovery in the hardest of times, and some pretty adorably quaint and hilarious descriptions of French towns and Littles the cat’s accordion solo? This is ABSOLUTELY for you.
I love you Jean, thank you for sharing a piece of yourself with all of us who are very much unworthy. I’ll treasure this masterpiece on my shelf for all of the years to come! ❤️
Now I get to own a full book of Jean’s wit and intelligence and impeccably dark humor and I just couldn’t have been happier to purchase and read it!
If you are here for rap stories, you’ve purchased the wrong book. If you’re here for badass stories of resilience, self discovery in the hardest of times, and some pretty adorably quaint and hilarious descriptions of French towns and Littles the cat’s accordion solo? This is ABSOLUTELY for you.
I love you Jean, thank you for sharing a piece of yourself with all of us who are very much unworthy. I’ll treasure this masterpiece on my shelf for all of the years to come! ❤️
March 22, 2025
Non-binary, I don’t need a man etc etc. Very disappointing
I was looking forward to some hip hop stories
I was looking forward to some hip hop stories
July 17, 2025
I’m so glad I listened to this one. She brings so many extra things into it that I think I enjoyed it way more than if I’d just read it. I only really know her from Judge John Hodgman and now I need to learn even more about her music and other artistic endeavors.
August 24, 2025
I was immediately intrigued by this book as it’s described as “a collection of morbidly funny, intensely personal essays” about coming-of-age topics for those “still trying to figure it out in our forties.” I’m in my forties. I’m still figuring some things out. I enjoy finding the humor in life. Unfortunately, this book didn’t hit the mark for me and I ultimately did not finish it. The tone of the various essays from author Jean Grae is of a series of complaints. There is cursing and a sense that the world owes her something laced throughout every essay I read. I didn’t catch the humor, which could have lightened the mood at least. So, this is a pass for me, but perhaps those already familiar with Jean Grae, a “cult fave and multihyphenate artist,” will better enjoy this read.
Thanks to Flatiron First for the finished copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to Flatiron First for the finished copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 8, 2025
I was already a Jean Grae fan but this book uncovered such emotional depth couched in humor that I feel like she's a long-lost friend. This memoir illustrates some of the details of her challenging life with wit and zany charm. After connecting so closely with her story, I am actually tempted to slide into her DMs. I don't know any other memoir that has affected me like that.
March 30, 2025
Favorite book I’ve read this year, and it was up against Anna Karenina. The writing is just so beautiful, sharp, hilarious, and goddamn revelatory. Their candor is incomparable— always equal parts vulnerable and fierce, whether they’re tackling the strange loops of the creative process or the arc that bends toward peace of mind in the discovery of personal identity. There’s also a lot of ground covered and practical guidance re: the absurdity of being a human in a human body. I loved the takes on beauty taboos, instant seatmate friendship, the follies of youth and massive reliefs of aging, the insights on partnership and solitude, and the pitch-perfect audio performance. Grae also takes a lot of risks as a writer— the formal experiments (comical and lyrical) are executed flawlessly, especially the self-eulogy. It’s rare that I finish a book and then start it again immediately. I look forward to gifting it to every friend who’s dreading their 40s.
September 2, 2025
I First came across Jean back in the underground mixtape days when I was on college radio.. I’ve been writing poems since I was 12, and slam and spoken word gave me a way to listen and feel language in my body, Jean is a masterful translator for me.
Jean painted the 90s & beyond with honesty, grit and magic.
That’s how I connected with Jean’s work, through flow, production, a refusal to water anything down. Like Ursula Rucker, Jean cracked something open in me. Both of them showed me what’s possible when you stand firm in your art.
When I saw there was a book coming out, I ordered it right away. It was waiting for me when I came back from overseas, and I ended up reading most of it on planes, trains, even in hotel gyms. The voice felt familiar, like a friend in my head, someone who gets my imagination and humor.
In my work, I spend a lot of time giving other people space to let go. This book gave that space back to me, I let go.
In my mid 40s, moving through the gauntlet of perimenopause, it gave me permission to finally cry about the things I had kept moving so fast by, things I was to busy to feel.
That was such a gift.
Jeans words about losing her mother pulled up grief I’ve held for my father, who died 22 years ago. I almost never cry for him anymore, but after reading that part I did. He even came to me in a rare dream that night. That is the kind of impact words carry. That is the impact of a power full Griot.
What I loved most is it is made crystal clear there is nothing wrong with changing, with shifting your creative path, even when you’ve poured everything into one thing. Plot twist!
The book is also funny, I just did not realize how touched I was by it all.
Jean is one of the greatest multi hyphenates of our time.
I wish her the best baguettes in Paris and every bit of success.
Thank you
Jean painted the 90s & beyond with honesty, grit and magic.
That’s how I connected with Jean’s work, through flow, production, a refusal to water anything down. Like Ursula Rucker, Jean cracked something open in me. Both of them showed me what’s possible when you stand firm in your art.
When I saw there was a book coming out, I ordered it right away. It was waiting for me when I came back from overseas, and I ended up reading most of it on planes, trains, even in hotel gyms. The voice felt familiar, like a friend in my head, someone who gets my imagination and humor.
In my work, I spend a lot of time giving other people space to let go. This book gave that space back to me, I let go.
In my mid 40s, moving through the gauntlet of perimenopause, it gave me permission to finally cry about the things I had kept moving so fast by, things I was to busy to feel.
That was such a gift.
Jeans words about losing her mother pulled up grief I’ve held for my father, who died 22 years ago. I almost never cry for him anymore, but after reading that part I did. He even came to me in a rare dream that night. That is the kind of impact words carry. That is the impact of a power full Griot.
What I loved most is it is made crystal clear there is nothing wrong with changing, with shifting your creative path, even when you’ve poured everything into one thing. Plot twist!
The book is also funny, I just did not realize how touched I was by it all.
Jean is one of the greatest multi hyphenates of our time.
I wish her the best baguettes in Paris and every bit of success.
Thank you
March 13, 2025
A collection of darkly humorous, intensely personal essays by cult fave and multi-hyphenate artist Jean Grae
In My Remaining Years, by creative juggernaut Jean Grae, debunks the myth that coming-of-age narratives should be reserved for the kids, providing a much-needed rallying cry for those of us still trying to figure it out in our forties. These laugh-out-loud essays cover everything from aging gracefully (with and without botox), what happens when you look for community and almost start a cult, befriending childhood demons (Hi Mumm-ra!), gender fluidity in middle age, the cost of being too fabulous, and the various gymnastics we do to avoid becoming our parents, taking us from her childhood in 1980s New York City to present-day Baltimore. In these pages, Jean captures magic in a bottle, distilling the feeling of hanging out with your smartest, funniest, and most brutally honest best friend.
My initial interest in this book originated from my familiarity with the artist Jean Grae. As another Baltimore resident in my forties, I anticipated experiencing our shared realities through Jean's perspective. While I didn't fully achieve that, as the description indicates, readers are presented with essays covering a variety of topics, including struggles with her identity as an African American by birth from Cape Town and American citizenship, and what that entails; international travels, finance, and more. I would recommend this book for reading groups of women aged 35 and up, fans of Jean Grae, and those who enjoy essay collections.
In My Remaining Years, by creative juggernaut Jean Grae, debunks the myth that coming-of-age narratives should be reserved for the kids, providing a much-needed rallying cry for those of us still trying to figure it out in our forties. These laugh-out-loud essays cover everything from aging gracefully (with and without botox), what happens when you look for community and almost start a cult, befriending childhood demons (Hi Mumm-ra!), gender fluidity in middle age, the cost of being too fabulous, and the various gymnastics we do to avoid becoming our parents, taking us from her childhood in 1980s New York City to present-day Baltimore. In these pages, Jean captures magic in a bottle, distilling the feeling of hanging out with your smartest, funniest, and most brutally honest best friend.
My initial interest in this book originated from my familiarity with the artist Jean Grae. As another Baltimore resident in my forties, I anticipated experiencing our shared realities through Jean's perspective. While I didn't fully achieve that, as the description indicates, readers are presented with essays covering a variety of topics, including struggles with her identity as an African American by birth from Cape Town and American citizenship, and what that entails; international travels, finance, and more. I would recommend this book for reading groups of women aged 35 and up, fans of Jean Grae, and those who enjoy essay collections.
June 19, 2025
I knew I’d like this book, just from my experience of the author’s other work, though I won’t say that I knew what to expect from it going in. It never felt like a chore or a drag to read; more than that, I got so much out of it.
This book has inspired me to write, which in itself is worth five stars. Not only that, though, this book has made me curious about so many things, and has given me confidence in a way I can’t really describe. It’s also very insightful, providing an unapologetic look into a number of times and facets of Jeans’s life, enhanced by the author’s brilliant frank style of writing and tone.
Plus the hardback is red and gold with a martini on the spine, and that gives me great joy. Nothing like a nice book.
This book has inspired me to write, which in itself is worth five stars. Not only that, though, this book has made me curious about so many things, and has given me confidence in a way I can’t really describe. It’s also very insightful, providing an unapologetic look into a number of times and facets of Jeans’s life, enhanced by the author’s brilliant frank style of writing and tone.
Plus the hardback is red and gold with a martini on the spine, and that gives me great joy. Nothing like a nice book.
June 25, 2025
Confession: prior to this audiobook, I had no clue who Jean Grae is. I picked this one up because of the description. I was intrigued by the immersive audio experience, narrated by the author, and I can tell you; this experience shouldn’t be missed. Just, WOW. While some of the essays were about things I couldn’t relate to, they were all extremely interesting as presented by the author. Grae didn’t just read but performed these essays. When the description says, “sit and savor,” I really did. It was an audio experience like no other and was enjoyable as well as thought-provoking.
Thanks to MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an early copy of the novel.
#MacAudio2025 #InMyRemainingYears #JeanGrae
Thanks to MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an early copy of the novel.
#MacAudio2025 #InMyRemainingYears #JeanGrae
December 31, 2025
This was the surprise hit of the year for me. I'd somehow never heard of Jean Grae until I happened to catch her segment on Live Wire Radio. I'm so glad I took their recommendation and borrowed the audiobook, as it was absolutely delightful. It's a wild ride, both freewheeling and impeccably crafted, ranging from stories of growing up semi-feral in the Chelsea Hotel and on the streets of New York to being an international touring musician to the "joys" of perimenopause. It was by turns hilarious and Very Real, and frequently had me laughing out loud. Highly recommend!
March 27, 2025
This book is so many things that I love - if you enjoy humor, darkness, honesty and joy - please read. And if you grew up in NYC in the 80s/90s, so many of Jean’s words are an ode to being a New Yorker, no matter where you now live. After every chapter I physically hug this book. Jean has always been so damn funny and dark in the best way in all the art they have made throughout the universe and In My Remaining Years is no different. I love this book so much. It is everything.
March 19, 2026
As a longtime fan of Jean Grae, the rapper, I was left wondering after a few chapters if she would tell more stories about her rap career. Some of those stories would eventually come in the latter half of the book, but, by then, I had become enraptured by her reflections and observations about NOT RAP things, including her upbringing living not just in Manhattan in the 80s, but in the Hotel Chelsea in Manhattan, in the 80s.
May 29, 2025
I’ve seen Jean Grae live but hadn’t realized all the other hats she wears. This was great. And funny. And insightful. But the ratio of complaining was high for my taste. Nearly brought it down to three for me. Hadn’t realized she was friends with John Hodgman but wasn’t surprised as it’s similar to his style. She grew up in the Chelsea Hotel?!
August 31, 2025
"I love the kind of love you can have for something, or someone, without having to falsely see everything as perfect."
Like most of us, Jean doesn't have the perfect life she envisioned for herself at middle-age, but she has a guide on what will make her remaining years worthwhile. Her prose is rich and humorous, and her ideas will make you contemplate how to navigate your own life's journey.
Like most of us, Jean doesn't have the perfect life she envisioned for herself at middle-age, but she has a guide on what will make her remaining years worthwhile. Her prose is rich and humorous, and her ideas will make you contemplate how to navigate your own life's journey.
October 5, 2025
I simultaneously read the book and listened to the audiobook. This was some of the best book narration that I've ever listened to. I literally laughed out loud, while listening in public places. As a woman who grew up in the eighties, I found everything so relatable, especially the perimenopause chapter. I felt seen in so many ways.
May 13, 2025
Highly recommend listening to the audiobook. I don’t ever leave reviews but the audio experience is such a treat to spend time with the essence that is Jean Grae! One of my all time favorite rappers and people.
May 23, 2025
*** 3.75
I really liked this, Jean has been one of my favorite rappers my entire adult life. I found it super interesting and engaging!
We also have the same birthday 20 years apart and both have POTS and EDS. Neat.
I really liked this, Jean has been one of my favorite rappers my entire adult life. I found it super interesting and engaging!
We also have the same birthday 20 years apart and both have POTS and EDS. Neat.
June 1, 2025
Really resonated. Only time I haven’t hated (and even enjoyed??) sound effects and things in an audiobook.
Also remembering the time I met Jean grae and made her laugh. Something I still brag about
Also remembering the time I met Jean grae and made her laugh. Something I still brag about
June 13, 2025
I'm biased. I've been a fan of hers for more than 20 years. i had a wonderful time listening to her on the audio book version. She has a way of making the listener understand where she is coming from and excited to see where she goes next.
I hope she gets her fabulous life, and funeral 😊
I hope she gets her fabulous life, and funeral 😊
June 17, 2025
3.5 stars
This was a book that I won through a Goodreads contest. This book was laugh out loud funny in parts, especially for my fellow gen x’er women-I could definitely relate to the author!! This was a fun read!
This was a book that I won through a Goodreads contest. This book was laugh out loud funny in parts, especially for my fellow gen x’er women-I could definitely relate to the author!! This was a fun read!
August 30, 2025
LISTEN to this one on audiobooks for the full experience. I enjoyed the music and the footnotes being read aloud. The stories were refreshing and funny. I saw myself in the stories about divorce and the funeral chapter.
October 4, 2025
Jean Grae might be my new favorite person - brilliant, funny, thoughtful, and someone who should absolutely be way more recognized on a bigger scale. Honestly, it’s maddening we haven’t heard more from her sooner. PS. I want Littles to be BFFs with my boys. ;-)
April 26, 2025
I listened very fast, which may have contributed to my anxiety level I felt while listening. It was a little too angsty and dark for me. I was more anxious than chuckling.
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May 1, 2025I love Jean so much, but this book was so very completely not for me. And that's okay. I love where they are right now in this life. Write for you, not for others.
July 15, 2025
Some chapters were better than others. Overall an interesting book written by a complicated and extremely different type of person. Unique.
August 25, 2025
3.5 rounded up
February 26, 2026
This was a fabulous listen. Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews