Everything's Trash, But It's Okay

by Phoebe Robinson, Ilana Glazer (Foreword)

Robinson's latest essay collection is a call to arms. She tackles a wide range of topics, such as giving feminism a tough-love talk in hopes it can become more intersectional; telling society's beauty standards to kick rocks; and demanding that toxic masculinity close its mouth and legs (enough with the manspreading already!), and get out of the way so true progress can happen.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Memoir, Essays, Audiobook, Feminism, Comedy

336 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2018

About the author

Phoebe Robinson is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actress whom Vulture.com, Essence, and Esquire have named one of the top comedians to watch. She has appeared on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers and Last Call with Carson Daly; TBS's Conan, Comedy Central’s Broad City, and @midnight with Chris Hardwick; as well recently landing a recurring role on the new Jill Soloway show for Amazon I Love Dick.

Robinson’s writing has been featured in The Village Voice, NY Mag, and on Glamour.com, TheDailyBeast.com, VanityFair.com, Vulture.com, and NYTimes.com. She was also a staff writer on MTV’s hit talking head show, Girl Code, as well as a consultant on season three of Broad City.

Most recently, she created and starred in Refinery29’s web series Woke Bae and, alongside Jessica Williams, formerly of The Daily Show, she is the creator and costar of the hit WNYC podcast 2 Dope Queens as well as the host of the critically-acclaimed WNYC podcast Many White Guys. Robinson is the author of the New York Times best selling book, You Can't Touch My Hair, a collection of essays about race, gender, and pop culture. Robinson lives and performs stand-up in Brooklyn, NY, and is busy planning her upcoming nuptials to Michael Fassbender.

Reviews

[Roxane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe Robinson brings her infectious charm and utterly delightful sense of humor to her second essay collection, Everything’s Trash But That’s Okay. From body image to contemporary feminism to our culture of overwork, Robinson offers deft cultural criticism and hilarious personal anecdotes that will make readers laugh, cringe, and cry. Everything may indeed be trash but writing like this reminds us that we’re gonna make it through all the terrible things with honesty, laughter, and faith.

It’s not a perfect book--at times, Robinson overwrites, gets lost in tangents, and uses five jokes to make a point where one or two would sufice but this is still well worth a read.

[Eilonwy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thing I've got to say is, my review will be pathetic. So go read Carmen's brilliant review which got me to immediately put a hold on this. I've heard of the 2 Dope Queens podcast, but never listened to it. (I may have to rectify that.) So I had to look Phoebe Robinson up when I saw Carmen's glowing review. Phoebe turns out to be from the same corner of Ohio as me, one county over, which extra sealed my having to read this book. And I'm really glad I did.

It covers a range of topics: Weight/clothing size/body image and how much energy women waste on thinking about this crap; feminism and its uneven relationship with women of color; "all the ways being a woman is ridic"; interracial dating; how to recognize non-trash moments of one's life and feel good about them; Bono; money; workaholism; being single; and not being single any more. All of them are covered with a combination of very strong opinions and deeply personal experiences, conveyed with so much humor that I was laughing and snorting out loud on nearly every page even while often wanting to fume and cry at the same time. (This is similar to my reaction to Lindy West's Shrill; doing stand-up comedy has given both these women an ability to be simultaneously cutting and funny that I deeply envy.) All of her writing is sprinkled with pop culture references and little asides that just added to the depth and hilarity. (Trust me -- there's probably a reference in here for everyone, no matter your age, gender, or background.)

The first four chapters were the hardest-hitting for me. These are such powerful issues, and they never seem to get resolved or go away. (1) All women, of all sizes and ethnic backgrounds, suffer from constant judgement of our bodies, by other people, and also by ourselves. It's a constant drumbeat no matter what else is going on in our lives, and it sucks. (2) Feminism is important and has helped millions of women, but it still manages to fail entire communities by often being too narrowly focused on middle class and up, mostly white women (and straight women, and cis women to the detriment of transwomen). Phoebe makes terrific points about intersectionality, and standing up for ALL women. (3) Being a woman is totally ridic, and it's nice to be made to laugh about some of the absurdity in such a friendly, "oh-gosh-yes-me-TOO!" way. (And any men reading this -- you should absolutely read this chapter.) And (4) It is also totally ridiculous how fraught interracial dating remains in freaking 2019.

I could have lived without all the Bono fangirling; it was cute, but yawn for me. The chapters on money and workaholism felt a little too self-help-y and simplistic to me (Phoebe admits to a penchant for self-help books, and you can tell from these chapters that she's read a number of them. This just wasn't what I was reading this book for after those powerful first few chapters). But these chapters are still worth reading, and not worth knocking a star off for.

There is a well-deserved waiting list for this at my library. Phoebe is just brilliant. I'm going to read her first book now, and then tap my fingers impatiently until she comes out with another one.

Now seriously, if you haven't already read Carmen's review, go back to the top of mine, click the link, and do it!

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a book like Robinson's debut performs as well as it does, the tendency is to get another one out ASAP, sure enough this one came out only two years later. It's not quite as good for reasons that aren't entirely Robinson's fault. One major one being that Robinson's career and visibility is pretty different than it was when she wrote her first book, and books by celebrities after massive success aren't always quite as heavy on charm as the ones before. But Robinson isn't afraid to put it all out there, especially in matters of money and career, and I expect a lot of millennials will find a lot to relate to here. (Just not the part where you become friends with Julia Roberts.)

I liked doing this on audio, which is my preferred way to read celebrity memoir. But the extra bonus of doing this book on audio is that Robinson will sometimes go off script and give you a little tangent and a big chuckle. (This goes to its biggest extreme in the "addendum" where her boyfriend also appears and the two of them rehash their early meetings and just generally make fun of each other, it's cute.) The only hitch is that this made me remember that a lot of what I like about Robinson is her spontaneity and charm and when she's on script, that doesn't always shine through as much as it could.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is literally the worst "book" I have ever "read"; "book" meaning "is it really a book if it's so incomprehensible that it might actually be making me illiterate in my attempt to read it?" and "read" meaning I tried on three separate occasions to get through it and the furthest I ever made was around page 18. If I could get a refund, and damages for lost time and brain cells spent on this mess, I would.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up. This essay collection was a bit too disjointed and meandering for my tastes- it felt at times much like Robinson was just phoning it in, trying to reach a word count. Her chapter about money was probably the standout, as she made some valiant points about society. Overall, though, the overuse of hashtags and LONG rants with too little substance wound up reading like an unedited blog, and while there were parts that made me chuckle, this book was a bit disappointing and it took me much longer to finish (kept putting it down) than her last book because my attention kept wandering away (much like her points in some essays). Rounding up rather than down only because I have faith she'll do better next time. Will pass on recommending this one.

[Brown Girl Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good read. Check out my review video by clicking the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Unrfq...

[BookOfCinz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything's Trash, But It's Okay really delivered on so many levels. Phoebe isn't afraid to go there and talk about the really trivial things to the downright TRASH! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I found myself laughing out loud, getting enraged, nodding my head in agreement, crying (yes- I cried) and screaming "Hellz Nah!". I went through a rage of emotions while reading this book and even though a lot of things are trash, Phoebe really made me feel like its okay.

I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did, but it is clear her writing got better with her second book. The book is so topical and timely. A lot of the things she wrote about you've probably read about but she writes about it from an entirely refreshing angle. The book covers dating, feminism, finance, Phoebe meeting Bono and #BritishBae . The entire time I was reading this book I could hear Phoebe in my head which speaks to how authentic the writing is.

Everything Is Trash, but this book isn't! I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Thanks DuttonBooks!

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel very bad for giving this a two-star review after I raved about Don't Touch My Hair, but this was just a mess. A slog. A difficult to read collection of essays written in hashtags. I almost didn't finish it, but then there would be a funny story that kept me going for another chapter. Sadly, I have to say, I am glad this is over because now I can read other things.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 3.5 STARS
2018; Penguin Group/Dutton/Plume

I like Phoebe Robinson's humour and writing. While this is well written, whether you will like this oe not depends on your humour and how open you are with other's opinion.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

[Barbara]

I so adored her first book, but I can’t recommend this one. Bummed because I enjoy her podcasts and body of work and preordered this book anticipating a fun, insightful read.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this entire book with Phoebe Robinson's voice in my head. From her deep dive into her trouble with feminism (I feel you, girl) to her deep and abiding love for Bono, Phoebe is hilarious, insightful, talented and real. She's a real person with real feeling about real things. She's not afraid to be honest.

This book is much needed in this current climate.

Also, Phoebe - Let's be friends because of many reasons, but mainly because "Ugh, but lol" is the perfect epitaph for my future gravestone as well.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the Queen Phoebe Robinson for the ARC.

[Jessica Foscolo · Rating 1 out of 5]

#Nope. While this book as glimpses of good writing and powerful messages, most of it is a hot mess. I switched between audible and kindle version to try to get through it and both versions were tough. The hashtags are distracting. The made up words are confusing and seem gratuitous. There’s just two more letters to write, Phoebe! Finish the word.

I think this book is similar to its title. Trash. But it’s okay. There’s a few funny moments but not enough to make the book worth the purchase or time to read it.

[Nefeli]

Lots of funny and touching moments but also lots of needless abbreviations and hashtags and tangents that after a certain point made the book difficult to read. I'm seeing a lot of people in reviews mentioning that the audiobook was great, maybe I'll try her next one in audio.

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much better than her first book. Yo I closed Everything Is Trash, laughed, whooped and high-fived the air like she was in the room with me!!!

Phoebe Robinson is funny. Bruh, if you had asked me if I thought she was funny when I read her first book.. you would have gotten all my side-eye.. you can read my review for the first book on here.. but real talks - I have a change of heart! She has definitely upped her game with Everything Is Trash! The truth just poured out of her and it was like swimming through truth-bomb after truth-bomb sans any cheese.

I love the real-world/real-girl struggling to make it story. It’s the same in every career where you’re putting yourself out there to make a name for yourself but it’s hit with stops and starts. I love all her political commentary even tho it’s relatively stuck to one essay which I also appreciated. I love how she spoke of the complexities black women faced joining the women’s march — it’s something that I definitely went through at the time it occurred. I love how much she rode for sisters in this book.

Her obsession with Bono is hilarious, her new beau and all the tea she spilled about loneliness and money really impressed the fuck out of me. Just her ability to be candid was so inspiring. I think this she redeemed herself in Everything Is Trash and she solidified herself as a certified comedy-memoir writer.

I’ll read all of them, keep writing Pheebs!

[Charity Bengert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love you, Phoebe, but sometimes I just want you to get to the point.

I really enjoyed reading Phoebe's first novel, You Can't Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain. It was insightful and funny and covered a lot of great topics like race, feminism, and Phoebe's love of U2. So I was really excited about Everything's Trash but unfortunately it was a bit of a slog. I felt any interesting point or story she was trying to make was drowned out by her endless analogies, metaphors and hashtags. Phoebe definitely writes like she talks, which translates well in her podcasts but less so in essay form. I am so sad to be giving it a two star review, however, my disappointment in this book changes nothing abut how I feel for Phoebe. I adore her so much and will continue to buy, read, listen and watch everything she does.

[britt_brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I’ve never listened to “2 Dope Queens” (only because I don’t listen any podcasts), but I enjoyed Robinson’s first book You Can’t Touch My Hair, so I snatched this one up on pub day. I admire a smart, strong, funny woman who isn’t afraid to share personal stories, but will also broach important societal issues. This essay collection is a good mix. Robinson’s boisterous personality and comical narration is an entertaining audio experience.

[Chinook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is solidly interesting because Phoebe is funny andnshe does a good audiobook reading. But I didn’t love it as much as her first book, except maybe the addendum, which is super sweet and adorable as she talks about how she met her bae and he chimes in as well.

[Jess | thegreeneyedreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook of this and I really enjoyed it. She talks really fast so sometimes it was hard to keep up, but I enjoyed her perspective. Overall, it was pretty good and worth reading.

[Rachel Polacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoebe Robinson is excellent and just the kind of “current” voice that fits what I’m looking for. She is not only hilarious, but also makes some incredibly strong points about challenging and nuanced issues like feminism and reparations (and she does this with a type of self-deprecating humor that feels very unique).

I listened to her first book and read this one. Either way, it’s fantastic! Just read it.

I received this book free from a GoodReads giveaway! Whoo!

[Victoria Taveras · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Phoebe's Stand up show, her podcast and even her Instagram so I thought I would love her book read by her. But in all honesty, this book is making me less of a fan. I agree with most of what she says but I find her constant, subject changes, puns and abbreviations drove me nuts and I honestly felt like I just rather not hear what she had to say if I had to keep listening to her "Trash".

At least she knows she is "Trash" and she is ok with using that as her "thing" I just realized with this book, that I can only truly love her in 15 second Instagram stories or when she shares the stage with someone else

[Justine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abandoned at 217. I was really enjoying it but it quickly became kind of a slog. I feel like it would have been much better by editing out some (not all) of the tangents and cutting down on the “five jokes where one would do” (to quote Roxane Gay). She has a slang word for basically every noun in existence which was charming at first but, again, got rather tiresome 200 pages in. I laughed out loud in a few spots and I really love what Phoebe Robinson has to say, but I think less would have been more in this case.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the chapter on feminisms, but otherwise only okay. The first book was much better.

[Elizabeth (Elzburg)]

DNF because I had to return it to my library, but I ain't even mad.

This seemed like it was finally going to be a book written by a comedian that is actually funny—and it WAS... In the beginning—but it started to feel like accidentally walking into a feminist rally. It was non-stop preaching about "you have to do this or else you're a bad person!!", and it's like oh my god shut up. Nothing against feminism, but damn did this chick become annoying as hell. I'm sure it was probably/maybe/possibly just that essay I was on, but honestly it was such a buzzkill that it completely shattered any and all motivation I had to continue listening to this before its return date.



Also I'm shocked that I haven't seen anyone talk about the writing style, because it is... Definitely something. She literally writes her essays in the same shorthand way one would write a tweet on twitter: full of slang and abbreviations and made-up shit. Doing this on twitter makes sense because of the character restriction and its casual setting, but reading it in a book—in an essay—felt a little weird to me, and gave me erges to shake my head and sigh, "gosh darn millennials," even though I am literally in a younger generation than them. So if you're a millennial you probably won't mind the writing style—might even like it—but if you're older I feel like you'll definitely hate it. As for youngins, like myself (shoutout to Gen Z), it's up in the air. Depends on how much you feed into the millennial narrative, I guess.

On a more positive note, the following is Phoebe's description of free bleeding on one's period, and I paraphrase:

"The world was my canvas, and my vagina was Jackson Pollock."

This is probably the funniest joke I've ever heard. I laughed so hard after I heard it, and I continued to laugh every time I remembered it for at least two days. I think the reason this was so funny to me was because I keep hearing Jackson Pollock's name recently (which is the only reason I know his name and work), and so this joke felt like what it was all building up to.

Wow I wrote a more comprehensive review on a book I didn't even read than on the past few books I did read (in that I didn't even write reviews for them yet). I need to be stopped.

Please give this review a "Like" if you've made it this far, and follow me if you want more!

[Steff Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

| Reader Fox Blog |


I really feel like Everything's Trash, But it's Okay by Phoebe Robinson just was not for me. And I really can't tell whether the book is very good because I just couldn't get past Robinosn's writing style. I've read a few reviews that suggest listening to the audiobook is better, but when it comes to the book I found that I just couldn't stand Robinson's constant asides, derailing her commentary into a long tangent about nothing in particular and nothing of import.

Ironically, the introduction to her work should have been warning enough for me that I wasn't going to like this book because it mentioned all her strange renditions of words and phrases, basically foreshadowing for the reader the ginormous mess that they would soon find themselves rifling through. I feel like a lot of Robinson's points are lost among her commentary, missing among jokes that really weren't that funny and a dense level of conversational tone that just didn't make me feel involved in the book.

Robinson's regular trailing from the point and personal unique way of writing, with the asides and the modified words were just too much for me at the end of the day and I really couldn't get past it. While I always appreciate a commentary about important topics such as these, I was far too annoyed with the writing style the entire time I was reading to really appreciate much of it.

I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe Robinson's funny and just so relatable. I enjoyed the hell out of this one, just like I did her first book. The last chapter where she recounts how her relationship began while bantering with her boyfriend was particularly hilarious and also so cute.

[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE AUDIOBOOK. I was LOL-ing for most of my garbage commute and really appreciates Robinson's ridiculous use of language to point out garbage oppression. I love her. This book is awesome.

[Georgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious. Perfect thing to read with the holidays on our heels. Holidays in retail are not great fun but reading this helps!

[Literary Lusts · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Phoebe Robinson's first book. However this felt like reading a continuous babbling social media feed. I would recommend her other book but this just wasn't for me.

[CS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bullet Review:

In some ways, this book was more serious than I was looking for (my life has been #HellaStressful #personally #professionally - to steal Phoebe’s style); that said, I think that makes this book far more impactful and hard-hitting than the previous book, digging into tough subjects (being black, being a woman, being a workaholic, being a person with money troubles).

[Jolene · Rating 4 out of 5]

PHOEBE + GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF 4 LIFE

I will also accept PHOEBE + BON BON

iykyk