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So Drunk A Tooth's Gotta Go: Essays on Dating Hacks, Breakups, Traveling, Comedy, the Gig Economy & More
Writer's Digest Humor winner. Los Angeles Book Festival Honorable Mention winner, Readers' Favorite Finalist winner. Amazon's #1 new release in "Humor," June 2025.
So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go is a laugh-out-loud, no-holds-barred collection of essays that turns life’s messiest moments into empowering, relatable, and wildly entertaining stories.
Written by stand-up comic Joy Alicia, this raw guide of 19 standalone essays is a bold invitation to laugh through the hookups, heartbreak, ghosting, toxic friendships, and all the awkward first dates in between. You’ll also
How to prevent yourself from getting ghostedActionable tips to save time, stress, and heartbreak while online datingHow to only have great first datesInternational travel stories and safety tipsHow to be confident in the face of adversity
From binge drinking to finding self-worth in unexpected places, So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go is a celebration of resilience—and a hilarious survival guide for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Is it just me?”
Whether you’re swiping right, booking a solo trip, or trying to figure out your next move, this book reminds you that confidence is the best form of self-care—and laughter really is the best medicine.
Perfect for fans of Michelle Buteau, David Sedaris, Mindy Kaling, Samantha Irby, or anyone who knows misadventures make the best stories.
Grab your copy and get ready to laugh, learn, and live a little louder.
So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go is a laugh-out-loud, no-holds-barred collection of essays that turns life’s messiest moments into empowering, relatable, and wildly entertaining stories.
Written by stand-up comic Joy Alicia, this raw guide of 19 standalone essays is a bold invitation to laugh through the hookups, heartbreak, ghosting, toxic friendships, and all the awkward first dates in between. You’ll also
How to prevent yourself from getting ghostedActionable tips to save time, stress, and heartbreak while online datingHow to only have great first datesInternational travel stories and safety tipsHow to be confident in the face of adversity
From binge drinking to finding self-worth in unexpected places, So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go is a celebration of resilience—and a hilarious survival guide for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Is it just me?”
Whether you’re swiping right, booking a solo trip, or trying to figure out your next move, this book reminds you that confidence is the best form of self-care—and laughter really is the best medicine.
Perfect for fans of Michelle Buteau, David Sedaris, Mindy Kaling, Samantha Irby, or anyone who knows misadventures make the best stories.
Grab your copy and get ready to laugh, learn, and live a little louder.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2025
41 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 4, 2025
Review: So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go by Joy Alicia
As a feminist and a careerwoman in public health, I approached Joy Alicia’s So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go with curiosity—how would essays on dating, comedy, and the gig economy intersect with my lens on gender equity and collective well-being? The answer: delightfully. Alicia’s sharp, irreverent voice offers not just escapism but a subversive commentary on the absurdities of modern life, particularly for women navigating systems (dating apps, precarious work) that are designed to exhaust us.
Emotional Resonance & Feminist Critique
The book’s humor—self-deprecating yet defiant—felt like a lifeline during my own burnout. Essays on breakups and gig work resonated deeply, reframing personal struggles as structural ones. For example, Alicia’s take on the emotional labor of dating echoes feminist public health critiques of unpaid care work. Her wit disarms, but beneath the laughs, there’s a demand: Why must women keep fixing systems that break them? I found myself nodding, laughing, and occasionally yelling, “YES, THIS!”
Constructive Feedback
I fully recognize that this book wasn’t intended to be a manifesto on systemic gender inequality or public health crises—it’s a collection of witty, relatable essays meant to entertain. That said, my training means I can’t not view it through that lens. While the essays brilliantly dissect gendered inequities, I wish for more explicit ties to collective action. As a public health reader, I craved a footnote or two linking dating app fatigue to, say, the mental health crisis among young women, or gig economy precarity to the erosion of social safety nets. Alicia’s humor implies these connections, but a tad more scaffolding could elevate the work from “hilarious” to “hilarious and galvanizing.”
Gratitude & Final Thoughts
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy—this book was a tonic. In a world where women’s joy is often policed or pathologized, Alicia’s unapologetic embrace of messiness feels like a radical act. It’s not a “self-help” book, but it does help: by reminding us that laughter, when rooted in truth-telling, is its own form of resistance.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) — A whip-smart, cathartic read that many women will appreciate, especially after having "one of those" kinds of weeks.
As a feminist and a careerwoman in public health, I approached Joy Alicia’s So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go with curiosity—how would essays on dating, comedy, and the gig economy intersect with my lens on gender equity and collective well-being? The answer: delightfully. Alicia’s sharp, irreverent voice offers not just escapism but a subversive commentary on the absurdities of modern life, particularly for women navigating systems (dating apps, precarious work) that are designed to exhaust us.
Emotional Resonance & Feminist Critique
The book’s humor—self-deprecating yet defiant—felt like a lifeline during my own burnout. Essays on breakups and gig work resonated deeply, reframing personal struggles as structural ones. For example, Alicia’s take on the emotional labor of dating echoes feminist public health critiques of unpaid care work. Her wit disarms, but beneath the laughs, there’s a demand: Why must women keep fixing systems that break them? I found myself nodding, laughing, and occasionally yelling, “YES, THIS!”
Constructive Feedback
I fully recognize that this book wasn’t intended to be a manifesto on systemic gender inequality or public health crises—it’s a collection of witty, relatable essays meant to entertain. That said, my training means I can’t not view it through that lens. While the essays brilliantly dissect gendered inequities, I wish for more explicit ties to collective action. As a public health reader, I craved a footnote or two linking dating app fatigue to, say, the mental health crisis among young women, or gig economy precarity to the erosion of social safety nets. Alicia’s humor implies these connections, but a tad more scaffolding could elevate the work from “hilarious” to “hilarious and galvanizing.”
Gratitude & Final Thoughts
Thank you to the publisher for the free copy—this book was a tonic. In a world where women’s joy is often policed or pathologized, Alicia’s unapologetic embrace of messiness feels like a radical act. It’s not a “self-help” book, but it does help: by reminding us that laughter, when rooted in truth-telling, is its own form of resistance.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) — A whip-smart, cathartic read that many women will appreciate, especially after having "one of those" kinds of weeks.
July 23, 2025
So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go is a whip-smart, hilarious, and deeply honest collection of essays that reads like a late-night phone call with your boldest, funniest friend. Joy Alicia delivers raw truths with punchline precision, turning chaotic life moments—bad dates, gig work woes, travel mishaps—into deeply relatable lessons and laugh-out-loud stories. It is a perfect balance of absurd humor and emotional depth. One moment you’re snorting with laughter, the next you’re nodding in quiet reflection. Joy’s chapter on dating app hacks is both hilarious and surprisingly useful, while her take on racism while traveling is eye-opening and handled with refreshing candor. Every essay is a blend of sass, soul, and self-awareness. Joy doesn’t sugarcoat anything—she owns her chipped-tooth moments with confidence and reminds us we can too. Bold, insightful, and packed with life wisdom, So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go will have you laughing, learning, and feeling a whole lot less alone. You won't get disappointed. A must-read for anyone trying to keep their life together.
June 16, 2025
Brilliant from the very first paragraph! Hilarious and heartfelt. When I first saw the title I said to myself, some guy wrote a book with a title that just begs to be read! But No, the author is apparently a black woman, which just makes this book that much better!
If the person in your life who is a bad influence, or a great friend wrote a book, this would be it. It's a totally honest and incredibly funny piece of writing, and includes good advice and life stories. She laughs with humor at the foibles of her own life, and also those times we all have probably experienced. Plus some we may not have.
If this book doesn't sell a million copies then something is horribly wrong with the world we live in.
Sometimes you just get lucky and pick up a good book on a whim, and I'm here to tell you- this is that time. As an author myself, I wish I had wrote this, but then I'm not a black woman, so i couldn't.
Just buy it, you won't regret it.
If the person in your life who is a bad influence, or a great friend wrote a book, this would be it. It's a totally honest and incredibly funny piece of writing, and includes good advice and life stories. She laughs with humor at the foibles of her own life, and also those times we all have probably experienced. Plus some we may not have.
If this book doesn't sell a million copies then something is horribly wrong with the world we live in.
Sometimes you just get lucky and pick up a good book on a whim, and I'm here to tell you- this is that time. As an author myself, I wish I had wrote this, but then I'm not a black woman, so i couldn't.
Just buy it, you won't regret it.
July 25, 2025
I didn’t even realize how badly I needed this book until I was halfway through it, wheezing and highlighting every other line like it was therapy. Joy’s writing is straight-up hilarious but also sneaks up on you with these little punches of truth that make you stop and go, “wait… ouch.” 😂
The dating stories? Wild. The rideshare convos? Chaotic gold. But under all the laughs, there’s this super honest, no-BS vibe about figuring yourself out and learning how to take your power back—even if you’ve just ghosted someone or had your tooth knocked loose after one too many.
It’s like talking to your brutally honest best friend after two margaritas. Loved every messy, awkward, painfully relatable second.
The dating stories? Wild. The rideshare convos? Chaotic gold. But under all the laughs, there’s this super honest, no-BS vibe about figuring yourself out and learning how to take your power back—even if you’ve just ghosted someone or had your tooth knocked loose after one too many.
It’s like talking to your brutally honest best friend after two margaritas. Loved every messy, awkward, painfully relatable second.
September 19, 2025
I thought this was the most hilarious book I’ve read in 2025. Her humor is gold. For me. I caught myself laughing on the train, just thinking of certain expressions from the book, while not reading the book. She is funny, but a complex person too. At times I am not sure if she is upset or hurt or both. Her dating stories are too much. Real, but too much. She had a life already. The part on racism and her experiences as a woman were somewhat eye-opening for me. Unbelievable and worrying, especially towards kids. I enjoyed the time I spent with her, yes, I felt that I spent with her. And finally I saw that she is a very beautiful woman also on the outside. I wish I had a friend like that. I highly recommend this book for the laughs and the stories, some of them quite shocking.
May 13, 2025
I bought this book at the USC Festival of Books along with eight others that day. It was the one I was most excited to read and I was not disappointed!
First, this book is about dating and other topics that as a married middle-aged white woman I didn’t think I would connect with necessarily. However, I was drawn to the idea of reading a book that was outside my compass. The author was insightful and humorous. I laughed out loud at times and would have finished it much sooner had I not been so busy with work.
I don’t often purchase books based on authors unless I really love their writing. Needless to say, I will be looking forward to her next release!
First, this book is about dating and other topics that as a married middle-aged white woman I didn’t think I would connect with necessarily. However, I was drawn to the idea of reading a book that was outside my compass. The author was insightful and humorous. I laughed out loud at times and would have finished it much sooner had I not been so busy with work.
I don’t often purchase books based on authors unless I really love their writing. Needless to say, I will be looking forward to her next release!
September 12, 2025
I love the title and honestly didn’t know what I was about to expect but I’m so glad I read this! We’ve all been there and it’s good to reflect back on terrible situations and find humor in them. Whilst hilarious and super entertaining I found this to be insightful, empowering and inspiring that there’s many women out there battling the world, and just having a moment to reflect and laugh. It’s the resilience behind the humor that I found truly inspiring. A must read for woman from all walks of life!
November 1, 2025
This one is pure fun with just the right amount of heart. Joy Alicia brings that stand-up sharpness to the page in a way that feels real, chaotic, and genuinely hilarious. The essays move fast, hit hard, and somehow balance messy dating stories with moments of real confidence and growth. It has that rare mix of humor and honesty where you’ll laugh, wince, relate, and walk away feeling a little more fearless. If you like comedy that’s unfiltered, self-aware, and packed with personality, this one absolutely delivers.
September 5, 2025
Bold, funny and fearlessly honest
Joy Alicia’s essay collection is hilarious, raw, and deeply relatable. With sharp wit and fearless honesty, she transforms bad dates, gig economy struggles, and travel mishaps into lessons that feel like heart-to-hearts with your funniest friend. Bold, empowering, and laugh-out-loud funny, this book is impossible to put down.
Joy Alicia’s essay collection is hilarious, raw, and deeply relatable. With sharp wit and fearless honesty, she transforms bad dates, gig economy struggles, and travel mishaps into lessons that feel like heart-to-hearts with your funniest friend. Bold, empowering, and laugh-out-loud funny, this book is impossible to put down.
October 30, 2025
Joy Alicia’s So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go is a witty, unfiltered celebration of womanhood’s messiest realities. Through sharp humor and heartfelt reflection, Alicia transforms heartbreaks, gig jobs, and dating disasters into empowering, laugh-out-loud lessons every millennial and Gen Z woman will devour.
November 2, 2025
This book feels like grabbing drinks with your most brutally honest best friend. As someone who has navigated through the same rollercoasters of weight loss, dating, and figuring out who the hell I am, I found her stories incredibly relatable. Turning disasters into life lessons, this book is real, unedited, and full of truth bombs. Highly recommend!
June 20, 2025
Tons of fun
Full of hilarious anecdotes from the author’s dating, work, and personal life, you’ll be sucked in after the first story. It’s like reading the life of your funniest friend.
Full of hilarious anecdotes from the author’s dating, work, and personal life, you’ll be sucked in after the first story. It’s like reading the life of your funniest friend.
June 27, 2025
Gigging It Up Here!
I do a lot of side hustles. I have been an uber driver so I relate to Chlydia. The gig economy is real and Joy brings it with full force in this story. A good read and I highly recommend.
I do a lot of side hustles. I have been an uber driver so I relate to Chlydia. The gig economy is real and Joy brings it with full force in this story. A good read and I highly recommend.
July 21, 2025
This book had me laughing out loud and nodding the whole way through. It’s brutally honest, super funny, and surprisingly helpful. Joy Alicia’s stories are wild but relatable, and I loved her no-filter take on dating, friendship, and figuring life out.
September 7, 2025
Girl, you've done it all
Such a rollercoaster! This girl has done it all and gives us the lowdown. The dating stories are hilarious... having a background in stand up comedy makes this a great read. Being single. Breakups, dating hacks all relatable and told so well.
Such a rollercoaster! This girl has done it all and gives us the lowdown. The dating stories are hilarious... having a background in stand up comedy makes this a great read. Being single. Breakups, dating hacks all relatable and told so well.
October 24, 2025
Hilarious and Real
This book made me laugh so much! Every essay feels so real and relatable. The stories about dating, travel, and messy life moments are both funny and empowering. It’s the perfect mix of humor and honesty.
This book made me laugh so much! Every essay feels so real and relatable. The stories about dating, travel, and messy life moments are both funny and empowering. It’s the perfect mix of humor and honesty.
October 29, 2025
So Drunk A Tooth’s Gotta Go is a fun, honest, and very real read. Joy Alicia turns everyday chaos like dating, travel, work, and self-discovery into stories full of humor and honesty. It makes you laugh, think, and feel understood.
July 22, 2025
AMAZING!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews