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We're All Mad Here: an (in)elegant memoir
If it’s not one thing, it’s a mother.
Fiercely opinionated and unapologetically peculiar, Marie Kuipers points to her New Jersey upbringing for her no-f*cks-given philosophy. As for why she spent most of her adult life underemployed, she credits her mom—who believes she knows better than God Himself—for that.
As if ties to the Dirty Jerz and Ol’ Sky Dad weren’t enough, add a psychotic catfishing ex-husband, a lifesaving Solo cup, heaps of grief, and a dash of Lyme, and you’ve got the recipe for a (mostly) hilarious roller-coaster ride of a read.
We’re All Mad Here dares to peer behind the curtain of one woman’s unhinged life. Meet Bucky, the depraved, wildly inappropriate rescue pup. Join her in censuring such horrors as murderous umbrellas and, obviously, Steely Dan. Experience the epiphany that saves a beloved rooster from an evil HOA Karen. Bond over such atrocities as puke, the patriarchy, and plus-sized effrontery. Find unexpected solace in a simple feather. We’re All Mad Here forms the gooey center of a Venn diagram for “dark,” “irreverent,” and “raucously funny.”
This collection of sketches explores life as an outlier in a family bound by generational trauma. For everyone who has dreamed of conquering calamity, embracing chaos, or banging a hot vampire, We’re All Mad Here plunges you into a maelstrom of heartbreak, hilarity, and, finally, forgiveness.
Fiercely opinionated and unapologetically peculiar, Marie Kuipers points to her New Jersey upbringing for her no-f*cks-given philosophy. As for why she spent most of her adult life underemployed, she credits her mom—who believes she knows better than God Himself—for that.
As if ties to the Dirty Jerz and Ol’ Sky Dad weren’t enough, add a psychotic catfishing ex-husband, a lifesaving Solo cup, heaps of grief, and a dash of Lyme, and you’ve got the recipe for a (mostly) hilarious roller-coaster ride of a read.
We’re All Mad Here dares to peer behind the curtain of one woman’s unhinged life. Meet Bucky, the depraved, wildly inappropriate rescue pup. Join her in censuring such horrors as murderous umbrellas and, obviously, Steely Dan. Experience the epiphany that saves a beloved rooster from an evil HOA Karen. Bond over such atrocities as puke, the patriarchy, and plus-sized effrontery. Find unexpected solace in a simple feather. We’re All Mad Here forms the gooey center of a Venn diagram for “dark,” “irreverent,” and “raucously funny.”
This collection of sketches explores life as an outlier in a family bound by generational trauma. For everyone who has dreamed of conquering calamity, embracing chaos, or banging a hot vampire, We’re All Mad Here plunges you into a maelstrom of heartbreak, hilarity, and, finally, forgiveness.
194 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2024
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8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 6, 2025
Brilliant! Hilarious, real, deep, no fucking filter amazing!!
October 31, 2024
Marie Kuipers had me hooked right from Chapter One, with her hilarious self-description as a “grumpy ass,” sharing anecdotes about carbs, grammatical pet peeves, and the horrors of loud chewing. Her humor was refreshing and sharp, and when she jokingly warned me it wasn’t too late to ask for my money back, I was completely invested—and not giving up on this wild ride of her memoir.
This memoir reads like a series of life’s messiest vignettes, each more relatable than the last. Her storytelling made me laugh out loud and even tear up as I found bits of myself in her words. Her life lessons? Let’s say I’ll never look at a red Solo cup the same way again.
The author's love for New Jersey and fiery “Jersey intensity” come through with pride. “You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl,” she says, followed by, "Why would you want to?" Her humor reaches new heights as she shares her top ten rational fears—unapologetically honest and hilariously relatable!
Yet, this memoir is not all laughs. Just as I was catching my breath from laughter, she dived into her experience with Lyme disease and the brutal impact it had on her life. And that’s the beauty of this memoir: it’s as raw and unpredictable as life itself, with Kuipers' unfiltered humor and resilience woven into every chapter.
One of the most moving parts of the book is her portrayal of her complex relationship with her mother, who struggled with mental illness, anxiety, and depression. Her mother was overprotective and a worrier, yet deeply kind. Marie writes, “She was the kindest and most deeply good, moral, and empathetic person I’ve ever known. She was also, at times, a monster. That is the truth, and it’s the thing that has made untangling my demons so tough. An impossible dichotomy.” This impossible dichotomy made her journey through generational trauma all the more resonant.
Marie’s journey toward healing found an unexpected outlet in roller derby racing—a tribe of like-minded souls where, as one teammate put it, “This bench is full of broken bitches.” Through roller derby, she discovered strength and resilience. As the story progresses, she shares the pain of her mother’s death with raw honesty, encapsulating the relentless reality of grief.
Grief is a thread that runs deeply throughout the book, along with her trauma responses of running away, body shame, and moments of suicidal ideation. But there’s also hope in her bond with her emotional support animal, Binx—a chicken, no less, whose story is tenderly woven into her recovery.
If I could sum up this memoir, I’d say it’s real. The author is hilarious, honest, and deeply human. And if you need any more convincing, just read her bio!
This is her first book; I hope it’s not her last.
This memoir reads like a series of life’s messiest vignettes, each more relatable than the last. Her storytelling made me laugh out loud and even tear up as I found bits of myself in her words. Her life lessons? Let’s say I’ll never look at a red Solo cup the same way again.
The author's love for New Jersey and fiery “Jersey intensity” come through with pride. “You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take the Jersey out of the girl,” she says, followed by, "Why would you want to?" Her humor reaches new heights as she shares her top ten rational fears—unapologetically honest and hilariously relatable!
Yet, this memoir is not all laughs. Just as I was catching my breath from laughter, she dived into her experience with Lyme disease and the brutal impact it had on her life. And that’s the beauty of this memoir: it’s as raw and unpredictable as life itself, with Kuipers' unfiltered humor and resilience woven into every chapter.
One of the most moving parts of the book is her portrayal of her complex relationship with her mother, who struggled with mental illness, anxiety, and depression. Her mother was overprotective and a worrier, yet deeply kind. Marie writes, “She was the kindest and most deeply good, moral, and empathetic person I’ve ever known. She was also, at times, a monster. That is the truth, and it’s the thing that has made untangling my demons so tough. An impossible dichotomy.” This impossible dichotomy made her journey through generational trauma all the more resonant.
Marie’s journey toward healing found an unexpected outlet in roller derby racing—a tribe of like-minded souls where, as one teammate put it, “This bench is full of broken bitches.” Through roller derby, she discovered strength and resilience. As the story progresses, she shares the pain of her mother’s death with raw honesty, encapsulating the relentless reality of grief.
Grief is a thread that runs deeply throughout the book, along with her trauma responses of running away, body shame, and moments of suicidal ideation. But there’s also hope in her bond with her emotional support animal, Binx—a chicken, no less, whose story is tenderly woven into her recovery.
If I could sum up this memoir, I’d say it’s real. The author is hilarious, honest, and deeply human. And if you need any more convincing, just read her bio!
This is her first book; I hope it’s not her last.
February 9, 2026
An absolutely hilarious book. I laughed out loud more times than I can count. Her animals, her quirks, her commentary straight up crack me up. She shares life lessons in the funniest way, including “life is a damnit rock.” I cried when she talked about finding feathers left by her Charlie. Marie shares her heart and soul in We’re All Mad Here, and getting a glimpse into her life is an honor and an absolute treat.
January 7, 2025
An excellent collection of hysterical and vulnerable stories. The author uses wit and honesty to discuss the most awkward moments of teenage life to the ups and downs of adulthood and beyond. 5 stars! A great read while sitting by a pool on vacation.
October 25, 2024
Absolutely hilarious — and brilliant!
November 27, 2024
Excellent book. I alternately laughed my ass off and wanted to reach through the pages and give her a hug. An hysterically funny and brutally honest account of an (occasionally dysfunctional) life well-lived, broken, and put back together. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews