In this emotional and laugh-out-loud coming-of-age memoir, the co-creator of Hulu's brilliant Pen15 grapples with the reappearance of her estranged father —and whether it's possible to reconnect before it’s too late.
For Anna Konkle’s childhood, her father was her hero—a hyper-charismatic, larger-than-life human resource manager at 7-Eleven. But their closeness was constantly interrupted by the screaming matches and heavy silences between him and her mother, eventually culminating in a bitter divorce that literally split the family house down the middle, with one parent on each side.
College felt like freedom, and Anna filled her time searching for the husband she'd never divorce and the orgasm she'd never had, while waiting tables at fancy restaurants and getting lackluster acting gigs, the strangest of which had her working celebrity Halloween parties. But just as she begins to thrive, her father starts to struggle. Not long after she moves to LA to pursue acting and writing, her dad’s increasingly erratic behavior forces her to cut off contact with him, until, years later, he knocks at her door.
Written in intimately beautiful prose, The Sane One is a tragicomic memoir of growing up, falling apart, getting older, and trying to come back together while there’s still time.
If you’ve ever watched Pen15 and thought, “there’s simply no way this level of awkwardness isn’t pulled straight from real life,” The Sane One more or less confirms it. Anna Konkle writes like she’s sitting across from you, elbows on the table, a bottle of wine deep, sharing things that you actually couldn’t pull out of me with the jaws of life themselves.
The memoir unfolds, more or less, in 3 clean beats: Childhood (elementary, middle, and high school,) College (where shortly thereafter she meets Maya Erskine,) and adulthood—which carries us through her adult life, meeting her now-husband, co-creating Pen15, and caring for her father at the end of his life.
The momentum of Anna’s life is quiet, slowly shifting with most of the emotional wreckage coming in the final acts. But her voice is what hooked me; she writes in a way that is conversational, sloppy, and honest. Maybe not for everyone, but for me, as a fellow child of divorce and former painfully awkward kid it felt cathartic. I was transported back to 2021, sitting on my friend Mary’s parents’ kitchen floor, swapping middle/high school traumas while her mom’s bitch cat, Kitty, takes cheap shots at my feet. That same raw, unfiltered energy lives in the Sane One. Anna Konkle sees me and I see her right back.
Early reviews are still sparse, but the few on Goodreads seem to share similar hang-ups: the juvenile tone in the first third and Konkle’s bluntness/harshness re: who her father was prior to his illness. Neither of those things bothered me. Her voice evolves alongside her aging in the book, which feels intentional. As for her parents, it feels shitty to judge Anna for sharing her truth (I’m very much of the mind that if you don’t want people to know you did something shitty, then you shouldn’t do things that are shitty). At 300-something pages, there is simply no way for the reader to know the full scope of their dynamic. So, instead of judging, I find myself between the pages, spotting similarities between my relationship with my own parents. And in a weird, possibly para-social way, I’m proud of Anna for her vulnerability.
So, this is a 5/5 for me. Honest, vulnerable, and disarmingly funny in a way that is so hyper-specific as to make weirdos like me feel not so alone.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, and Anna Konkle for the arc.
5 stars oh anna i am sobbing😭 this is incredibly well-written. Anna is so hilarious, yet serious and articulate. every story felt like a new episode of pen15. the way she describes navigating her childhood, into her 30s just feels like my internal monologue- at 24. accompanying this book with her audiobook… 10/10. i unfortunately relate to her family’s dynamics, pretty much to a T. especially her relationship with her dad. it was hard for me to continue to find the good in my father as i matured, and understood/saw things differently, and as he was struggling and changing himself in his final years. i actually almost DNF’d after chapter sixteen. it hit too close to home, i was nauseous and crying, but i think i needed to read it. (#TraumaDumpOver #Sorry) it actually brought me much closure to read Anna’s story— about her and her father communicating as adults. the emotional maturity and bravery it took for her to write her dad that letter made me bawl my eyes out. this book is fantastic, and as a huge fan of pen15 i am glad to have read this and learned more about Anna’s life.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I have seen a few episodes of Pen15 and loved the absurdity of the show. Grown women reliving their millenial middle school experience surrounded by actual teenagers. I started middle school in 2006 so I was able to appreciate the jokes and awkwardness of that era. The co-creator Anna Konkle penned this memoir and it was a mess. It was an absolute splattershot of writing with no form or organization of thoughts. There was no chronological timeline and she shared the most cringey anecdotes. Perhaps if she tidied up her thoughts and portrayed it more like nonfiction than its attempt at a narrative, it would be more coherent. It felt like I opened her diary in the worst way possible. The only part I liked was the introduction of her co-creator Maya, but that wasn't until 60% into the book. I had such high expectations for this book because I thought she would talk more about the show instead of her strained relationship with her father and awkward puberty. I'm sorry to be so harsh on a review, but this was not a pleasant reading experience. Kudos for being vulnerable and brave enough to publish your deepest secrets, but maybe next time keep that pen capped.
As a fan of PEN15, I had a feeling I was going to love this memoir. The show is one of those rare comedies that perfectly balances humor with genuine emotional depth, capturing the intensity and awkwardness of adolescence without romanticizing it.
This memoir carries that same balance. It’s funny, but also deeply heartfelt in a way that many comedies miss when they lean too far into silliness. I expected to laugh, but I didn’t expect to cry. While I loved reading about her childhood, what stayed with me most was seeing her growth and self-reflection as she moved through adulthood and her relationship with her dad. Loved everything about this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Man. Upon finishing the last chapter, it feels heavy in my chest but I can feel it so deeply, a feeling I know I am grateful to not have experienced yet, but one I know will happen twice.
Anna Konkle’s memoir captured the complexities of human relationships in such a grounded way. Pulling out feelings I haven’t had and making me have to put on sunglasses to hide me crying in a public.
This memoir is absolutely incredible. One moment I was laughing out loud, and the next I was crying tears of sadness. It’s written with such honesty and vulnerability, and once I picked it up, it was really hard to put down. I’m definitely going to have to rewatch Pen15 immediately!
Honestly went into this memoir just knowing I love her comedy but not having seen any press for the book or what to expect from it, and it was so simultaneously hilarious, beautifully written, and heartbreaking and warming at the same time. Cried way more than I expected to and loved it all the more for that.
I have always been a fan of Anna but this memoir helped me get to know her even more. She is even more relatable than ever now that I got a glimpse into her childhood, her relationship with her father, and her overall family dynamics. This book is a rollercoaster of ups and downs with her family life but there are so many funny moments mixed in that it really kept the momentum going as I read - nothing too heavy. This book was really well written and now I’m even more of a fan than ever before. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Easily the best book I’ve read in 2026 so far. I love Anna Konkle and pen15 already, but reading this made me love her so much more. Her relationship with her parents was complicated, but as she grew older, she learned boundaries and skills to rebuild her relationship with her father. She faced him head on, asked hard questions, and got clarity that helped her repair their relationship.
It really gave me a lot of perspective about what it means to love people despite their flaws and still protect your mental health. What it means to put yourself first and honor your well-being. I feel like I need to unpack this in a therapy session or something lol
I cried the whole last part of the book so be prepared for that. I know Anna Konkle is a hehe haha kinda girl but this truly is heartbreaking. No notes.
Pen15 is one of my favorite shows so it makes sense that this memoir was also incredible! A bit slow to get into, but her honesty and depth in reflecting on her difficult relationship with her parents was very raw and thought provoking. I expected to laugh but ended up in tears by the end. She is gifted in writing about complex people while still showing the reader the humanness in the flaws of each person.
As soon as I heard that Anna Konkle was coming out with a memoir, I knew I was going to read it. For those who might not know (although I’d imagine if you’re reading this you’re aware) Anna is the co creator of the show PEN15. In the show she plays a middle schooler with her real life friend, Maya Erskine. They’re adults playing children with other children. It’s hilarious and bizarre at times. I absolutely loved it. If you haven’t watched it, I’d highly recommend it.
Anyway, the memoir, much like the show, had me laughing, crying, and cringing. It’s raw and honest and at times almost too real. For those that enjoyed the show and want to know about one of it’s co creators, I think this memoir would maybe satisfy that need for more PEN15. (I’m sure it’s not obvious how much I loved the show).
Konkle takes us through her childhood where we see some experiences that were woven into the show. We’re taken along for the ride during her teen years and college. Beyond getting a new perspective as to the true life that inspired the fictionalized version, I loved getting a peek beneath the curtain and seeing the real human being underneath. As I mentioned before, sometimes this story was funny, other times it got weird (which I love). Some parts will pull at your heartstrings and were almost too much. I can’t fathom being that vulnerable with so many people.
I would absolutely recommend this memoir to anyone, especially those with parents who divorced and obviously those that loved the show. Thank you to Random House, NetGalley, and the author for providing me with an ARC for review.
If you grew up in the late 90's early 2000s, and you haven't watched PEN15, stop right now and go watch it! Being a millennial, that show was the most accurate depiction of what life was like back then. Also, the importance of a best friend during the weirdest time of your life/body.
The Sane One gives even more of Anna's story as a child and young teen. I loved how goofy she was and I could relate so much. There's even one part where she questions why she always sounds like a 35 year old even though she's a teenager. I was constantly making friends with the parents.
The book shares her tough relationship with both parents but specifically her dad after the divorce. We see some of this on PEN15 but I'm sure children of divorced parents will relate to her struggles between the two. It also dives into a disturbing allegation of abuse on behalf of her father.
It is heartbreakingly sad and funny. In the end, the book is a beautiful tribute to her father.
Thank you to NetGalley, Anna Konkle, and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read The Sane One. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly.
not an experienced readers of memoirs but i greatly enjoyed this book, it starts with anna in childhood and ends in her early 30s. shaped mostly around understanding her father and their complicated relationship.
the middle got a bit muddy (her college years) and wrapped up with my ugly sobbing for the last few chapters
some random things to note — her sentence structures are choppy at times, and sometimes read like a script — obviously a strength of hers, and can be translated with difficulty in a memoir. however, certainly able to hear how she would say it out loud! the type of imagery / metaphors she used rarely felt forced (compared to my limited knowledge of other memoirs) , which i feel like can be hard to do
i could certainly sense her despair in questioning her dad. and i related greatly to some moments in her adolescence that were portrayed especially well— a huge strength of hers obviously because i love her show
anyways i thought it was worth reading but i was gonna give it a three star until the end so maybe im just emo about her dead dad and bumping it up one star? who knows
I thought this book was going to make me laugh but what I did not expect is that it was going to make me ugly cry.
The first half of the book is a little hard to get through, because a lot of filler words and stammering are left in the dialogue. I assume it is a stylistic choice, but it makes it really hard to read.
I’m really glad I powered through that, though, because the second half of the book was really good. It deals with some heavy and confusing subject matter, but Anna writes about living through her father’s death after years of a very complicated relationship so vulnerably that it was refreshing. And devastating.
I also love PEN15, so I enjoyed learning more about her friendship and working partnership with Maya Erskine as well.
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I love her so much- this was perfect, especially on audio. She captures the innermost thoughts of a kid going through their parents’ divorce with such precision that I found myself audibly laughing, tearing up, and remembering a lot of forgotten feelings and memories! The way she writes about all the awkwardness, grief, guilt, and every emotion in between that you experience as a kid with divorces parents, and how those feelings evolve as you get older, was uncanny and so real.
TW for people who have lost parents- the ending was beautiful but very descriptive and I can imagine triggering.
4.5 rounded up bc I love anna konkle Her writing is definitely geared towards scripts which made dialogue a bit hard to understand unless you heard it from Anna herself the audio book and reading along was the way to go for the first half but then as we delve further into her life her story and relationship with her father grew in such complex ways that Anna beautifully articulated and I didnt feel the need to have the audio book going It is a wonderful book
When I saw Anna Konkle had a memoir coming out, I knew immediately that I'd pick it up as soon as it came out. I was fortunate to listen to her read it via audiobook. Without looking into the book beforehand, I assumed it would be about the creation of the show (I was v wrong!!). This was really heavy and I cried at multiple points. So well done and the way she is able to capture her feelings and experiences into words is extraordinary.
Really loved and would recommend listening to this one! Honest, funny, and relatable despite our family dynamics being entirely different. I miss Pen15!!!!
Memoirs are so impressive because genuinely how do people remember every detail of their lives so well???? My brain can barely remember what I did last weekend sometimes, let alone my entire childhood vividly
Will appeal to fans of Konkle's groundbreaking series, Pen15. And if you're a female millennial who hasn't seen it yet, you will find it nostalgic, funny, and paaaainfully accurate.
If you're a child of divorce who was forced to be the go-between for your parents, this book may be relatable but also intensely triggering. Konkle not only had to process her own adolescent feelings regarding her parents' split, but she had to parent both her mom and dad, as they inappropriately leant on her for emotional support. Konkle's description of the emotional incest (yes, that's the clinical term) she endured is at times infuriating, and she shows such grace in forgiving and looking for the good in her parents despite it all.
Really wonderful telling of her dynamics with parents, and how she grows into herself and into a healthier place. I had to take some breaks because it GOT me but I'm so glad I read this book!
Also it's just teeny peek into pen15 but the show is very autobiographical so maybe it's all about pen15 if you think about it??
4.5 rounded up I’ve never seen PEN15, I only started reading this because the author was a guest on a podcast I listened to and some of her story resonated with me a bit. While her writing style was a bit disorganized and not my favorite I really enjoyed how earnest and honest everything she wrote was. Memoirs aren’t usually my cup of tea but I genuinely enjoyed this. I also sobbed so much at the end so if you see me with puffy eyes tomorrow morning at least you’ll know why.
Wow!! I am biased because I already love her but now with this book… obsessed. Hard read at times, sometimes had to take break. She is so real and raw in this book.