Let's Tidy Up: The Book

by Josh Thomas

In Let’s Tidy Up: The Book, Josh Thomas, comedian and creator/star of the hit TV series Please Like Me and Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, chronicles the Herculean effort to organize his home and life in intimate, hilarious detail. Recounting the experiences that shaped him through the lens of his many belongings and the struggle to part ways with them, Josh reflects on his ADHD and autism diagnoses, friendship, loss, life in Hollywood, and whatever else happens to enter his mind — including his tumultuous relationship with the boy he’s been “most in love with” (who, by the way, also happens to be named Josh). This is by no means a comprehensive list; after all, he has an awful lot of tidying up to do.

Looking around his home as it’s being “colonized by tote bags,” there are impulse purchases strewn across various rooms, and counters are overcome with face creams and masks. So Josh makes the decision to get organized. For him, it’s a daunting task — one that he takes on with optimism, energy, and “grand delusions of adequacy.” Despite his best efforts, Josh finds himself striving (and failing) to dispose of the items he no longer needs while losing a battle against everyday distractions and his own thoughts. Can he overcome the odds and clear the clutter? You’ll just have to find out….

Based on his successful one-man show co-written with Lally Katz, Let’s Tidy Up: The Book includes added stories from Josh’s quest and features the same comic sensibility with a touch of disarming vulnerability and frankness that defined his stage performance. Part memoir, part comedy, part critique of earwax-cleaning cameras advertised on social media (plus, every other buy-with-one-click item), Let’s Tidy Up is a celebration of — and plea for — self-acceptance, especially the messy parts. Told as only Josh Thomas could, this book is for anyone trying to live in the modern world — particularly those who are terrified of cleaning their homes.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

87 pages, ebook

First published September 18, 2024

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could have listened to hours more of this. It’s very much more of a standup script than it is a book - which isn’t a complaint, I’m very grateful for its existence! It was continuously entertaining and funny, I just wish he’d explored each chapter a little more because all Josh content is good Josh content. I do wonder if the brevity is the result of a neurotypical editor because surely we’re all wanting long detailed pontifications. Rant more at us, it’s why we’re here! Also, finally, someone with a platform is calling out the loss of Brontosaurus. Thank you. Maybe we can bring it back like we did Pluto.

[Iona Carys · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 Short and sweet! I love Josh Thomas

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had hoped that Josh would actually help me tidy up but this is not really that kind of book. My youngest daughter and I have been fans of his since early 2020 when we were in lockdown and I was quite ill and scared and I literally googled “everything is going to be okay” to try to get through it emotionally and stumbled on his tv show by that name. This book is a fun sort of memoir, though not as in his life story as much as just random anecdotes. It’s a bit all over the place and sometimes awkward or odd, but that describes him as well and it was an enjoyable read.

I read a digital ARC of this book via netgalley.

[Amanda Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

A comedic mini-memoir about the author and how he tries to clean up his life, while working, and dating, and dealing with his own issues.

Maybe if I knew him already, I'd like his comedic style, but I hadn't heard of him before. I found the book a bit all over the place and hard to follow. it was a little silly, but definitely not laugh out loud funny.

Read as an audiobook. Short short listen.

[Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure what to think. At first this book felt relatable then it felt bizarre. It read like a comedy set but I found it unfunny. I do relate to the author and I do give him credit for being so open about his struggles to strangers, but this book isn’t for me. I don’t doubt the author’s neurodivergence for one second, this book is something else. (I am neurodivergent myself)

[Annabel Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

20 stars. Absolutely HILARIOUS. As someone with audhd this was like an insight into my brain or just a brain of someone I understand. So many observations about the absurdity of the world. Wish it was 100 times longer, probably will relisten every night

[Tori Larett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Josh Thomas even more now.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a little precious boy I love him so much and this also reminded me that Please Like Me took over my life for a bit and has some of the funniest but also Saddest episodes of TV known to humankind

[Emily Cotter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending was a bit rushed but I'd gladly listen to him talking about his morning routine

[Hayley]

If you love Josh Thomas and Please Like Me then you’re going to love this.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never related to a book this much.
It's short but fun and man if Josh isn't my tidying / messy spirit animal

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️