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Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt
A Semi-Finalist for The Thurber Prize for American Humor
Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt is a fantastically funny, wonderfully weird, and surprisingly sincere collection of short stories, humor pieces, and miscellaneous bits. In this explosively original debut, Libby Marshall plumbs the depths of suburban despair, female desire, and the ever-present feeling that death could claim us at any moment. Debra, an unhappy billionaire’s wife, decides to resurrect the 18th-century trend of hiring a man to live on their property as an ornamental garden hermit. An elderly serial killer, bored by her dull nursing home existence, finds a deadly new purpose when her high school nemesis ends up living down the hall. In 1953 a young couple drives to Makeout Point where instead of an evening of heavy petting, they find mountain lions, a man with no gaps in his teeth, and the opportunity to kill Henry Kissinger. Within these pages, a man tries to date after losing his wife to The Salem Witch Trials, a Wi-Fi router gains sentience, a series of cardboard boxes oozing with smoky-sweet baked beans mysteriously appear at a woman’s front door, and a Chuck E. Cheese is haunted by the spirit of Princess Diana. Boldly strange, deliciously satirical, and laugh-out-loud hilarious, Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt swings from the grim and ghastly to the exquisite and lovely. This one-of-a-kind book takes the reader on a surreal journey through the compulsory despair of daily life and concludes that the only sensible reaction to that much pain is laughter.
Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt is a fantastically funny, wonderfully weird, and surprisingly sincere collection of short stories, humor pieces, and miscellaneous bits. In this explosively original debut, Libby Marshall plumbs the depths of suburban despair, female desire, and the ever-present feeling that death could claim us at any moment. Debra, an unhappy billionaire’s wife, decides to resurrect the 18th-century trend of hiring a man to live on their property as an ornamental garden hermit. An elderly serial killer, bored by her dull nursing home existence, finds a deadly new purpose when her high school nemesis ends up living down the hall. In 1953 a young couple drives to Makeout Point where instead of an evening of heavy petting, they find mountain lions, a man with no gaps in his teeth, and the opportunity to kill Henry Kissinger. Within these pages, a man tries to date after losing his wife to The Salem Witch Trials, a Wi-Fi router gains sentience, a series of cardboard boxes oozing with smoky-sweet baked beans mysteriously appear at a woman’s front door, and a Chuck E. Cheese is haunted by the spirit of Princess Diana. Boldly strange, deliciously satirical, and laugh-out-loud hilarious, Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt swings from the grim and ghastly to the exquisite and lovely. This one-of-a-kind book takes the reader on a surreal journey through the compulsory despair of daily life and concludes that the only sensible reaction to that much pain is laughter.
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
222 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Libby Marshall
1 book12 followersLibby Marshall is a writer, performer, and tall person who lives in Chicago, IL. She graduated from The University of Illinois with a degree in Creative Writing and Political Science. Her writing has appeared on Reductress, McSweeney's, Slackjaw, Points In Case, The Belladonna, The Offing, Little Old Lady, and The Weekly Humorist. She has written and performed two solo shows, many sketch shows, and more improv shows than is healthy. She loves candles that smell like desserts, funny podcasts, and scarves that are big enough to double as blankets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 27, 2021
Goodness… where to start with my review of Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt. This is probably the most diverse book of short stories I’ve come across, and with such a range of eclectic stories, among the 43 in this volume, there’s bound to be something in there for everyone. There are some longer pieces while others are very short, only a page or two.
I loved Libby Marshalls writing style, it’s lean, punchy and very good, and her sense of humour, which is quick and darkly mischievous. Her ideas are highly original and Marshall writes what many of us may think but hesitate to express.
Did I love every story? No. But I loved, or liked, the majority, and certainly enough that when I finished I went to Marshall’s website to see what else I could find to read on there.
Despite what the title, and cover, may have you believe this is most definitely a work of fiction. If you’re looking to save money, look elsewhere, this is not for you, unless, of course, you happen to be morally bankrupt, in which case…
Addictive page turning has meant I got through this book of unique gems quickly and I don’t hesitate to recommend it to all those who don’t mind the occasional sexual reference and F word and who long to read something that little bit different.
I loved Libby Marshalls writing style, it’s lean, punchy and very good, and her sense of humour, which is quick and darkly mischievous. Her ideas are highly original and Marshall writes what many of us may think but hesitate to express.
Did I love every story? No. But I loved, or liked, the majority, and certainly enough that when I finished I went to Marshall’s website to see what else I could find to read on there.
Despite what the title, and cover, may have you believe this is most definitely a work of fiction. If you’re looking to save money, look elsewhere, this is not for you, unless, of course, you happen to be morally bankrupt, in which case…
Addictive page turning has meant I got through this book of unique gems quickly and I don’t hesitate to recommend it to all those who don’t mind the occasional sexual reference and F word and who long to read something that little bit different.
January 14, 2021
First, let me first say, I think I would love to spend a day with this author. She has a very vivid imagination, a clear love for Cold Stone Creamery, and a disturbing way of looking at many regular occurrences in all of our lives. And I don’t say that in a bad way.
This book is a collection of short stories and some even shorter views of things we all experience, but certainly don’t think about in strange ways. At least not until they’re pointed out by Libby Marshall. Then it’s so obvious that she observes events and normality in a different way than most of us.
Some of the stories are poignant and some are really funny in a twisted way. I won’t say which I felt was which lest I be judged for my giggles.
I enjoyed these little tales and vignettes during my lunch hour and on small breaks from work. They are just short enough to fill in gaps in the day when you need a little smile….or a bit of melodrama.
Some of my favorites—by no means an exhaustive list—are “Witnesses of Historic Moments Who Missed the Point; 90 Day Fiancé: Dracula; A Man Goes on His First Date Since His Wife was Hanged for Witchcraft; Please Continue this Conversation as Normal or I’ll Be Forced to Assume it was About me; Yes, of Course I’m satisfied by just the Tip of this Piece of Cheesecake; and Yelp Reviews of the Chuck E. Cheese Haunted by the Spirit of Princess Diana.
There are so many more awesome little tales in this book. I recommend it highly for its sense of fun as well as the author’s sense of humor and her appreciation for the ridiculous. I really enjoyed this one.
This book is a collection of short stories and some even shorter views of things we all experience, but certainly don’t think about in strange ways. At least not until they’re pointed out by Libby Marshall. Then it’s so obvious that she observes events and normality in a different way than most of us.
Some of the stories are poignant and some are really funny in a twisted way. I won’t say which I felt was which lest I be judged for my giggles.
I enjoyed these little tales and vignettes during my lunch hour and on small breaks from work. They are just short enough to fill in gaps in the day when you need a little smile….or a bit of melodrama.
Some of my favorites—by no means an exhaustive list—are “Witnesses of Historic Moments Who Missed the Point; 90 Day Fiancé: Dracula; A Man Goes on His First Date Since His Wife was Hanged for Witchcraft; Please Continue this Conversation as Normal or I’ll Be Forced to Assume it was About me; Yes, of Course I’m satisfied by just the Tip of this Piece of Cheesecake; and Yelp Reviews of the Chuck E. Cheese Haunted by the Spirit of Princess Diana.
There are so many more awesome little tales in this book. I recommend it highly for its sense of fun as well as the author’s sense of humor and her appreciation for the ridiculous. I really enjoyed this one.
October 28, 2024
As my mother would say, "This book is a hoot!"
The writer does stand-up comedy and I can see that makes for stronger writing especially for short stories. There's a bit of "have you ever noticed..." and why yes, I have Libby Marshall. I've noticed how odd my neighbor's wifi network names are. I too have said, "I couldn't possibly eat another bite" while eating out. Millennial Gravestones, sad but true such as "Dearly departed Aiden Stix Should have gone to the doctor But lost his parent's insurance At twenty-six." My 8 year old grandson loved the "would you rathers" ("But duck-sized horses? I want to see that!" Me too.) And a great choose-your-own adventure for readers of historical romances.
Now where did that other kitten go?
A free read for Kindle from Amazon.
What would you do if you saw a man put sprinkles on all types of food, not just desserts?
The writer does stand-up comedy and I can see that makes for stronger writing especially for short stories. There's a bit of "have you ever noticed..." and why yes, I have Libby Marshall. I've noticed how odd my neighbor's wifi network names are. I too have said, "I couldn't possibly eat another bite" while eating out. Millennial Gravestones, sad but true such as "Dearly departed Aiden Stix Should have gone to the doctor But lost his parent's insurance At twenty-six." My 8 year old grandson loved the "would you rathers" ("But duck-sized horses? I want to see that!" Me too.) And a great choose-your-own adventure for readers of historical romances.
Now where did that other kitten go?
A free read for Kindle from Amazon.
What would you do if you saw a man put sprinkles on all types of food, not just desserts?
March 4, 2021
This is probably the first collection of short stories I’ve ever read, and I had such a good experience that I will definitely be doing it again in the future. Libby Marshall has a seriously twisted sense of humour, and I loved it. The stories themselves were very short, with the longest being maybe twenty pages, and the majority being about five.
I couldn’t possibly cover all the stories in this review, but some of my favourite were: Act Of God, where a recently homeless woman has a morbid, yet uplifting conversation with a Sears employee about buying a fridge; Signs, in which a woman has become dependant on a sign that tells her what her current emotion is; 90 Day Fiance: Dracula (the title really speaks for itself).
One of the key draws of this collection was its black humour. Its ironic, sarcastic and sometimes snide nature lined up well with the type of book I enjoy reading. I felt that it would probably be best enjoyed by a young, liberal audience.
The nature of reading short stories means that you will inevitably enjoy some of them more than others, and it was no different for me. There were a handful of the 43 stories that I didn’t like very much, and a number that I thought were mediocre or didn’t fully grasp. However, that’s the beauty of an anthology: the next one is a fresh start. Moreover, the extremely varied nature of the stories means that there is a significant chance you will find ones that you enjoy.
The stories themselves were very imaginative and out there. On multiple occasions I was astounded by just how strange the premise of one was. However, there were also plenty that were beautifully simplistic, although no less poignant. They covered a wide range of themes, with jokes on almost every topic relevant to the current social climate.
Due to just how short the stories were, the characters were often quite archetypal, although in some ways that was good. Playing into such stereotypes allowed the humour to be punchier and sharper, I thought. The dialogue was excellently constructed to give a sense of the character in the shortest space possible. However, a few of the characters were a bit deeper in some of the longer stories, which again was nice for the sake of variety.
Overall, I’d give the collection a 5.5 out of 7. There were plenty of stories that I liked and a few that I loved. The experimental ones that didn’t quite work for me were easily overlooked. If you haven’t read a short story anthology, this is a really easy place to start.
Many thanks to Rosie Amber and Libby Marshall for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I couldn’t possibly cover all the stories in this review, but some of my favourite were: Act Of God, where a recently homeless woman has a morbid, yet uplifting conversation with a Sears employee about buying a fridge; Signs, in which a woman has become dependant on a sign that tells her what her current emotion is; 90 Day Fiance: Dracula (the title really speaks for itself).
One of the key draws of this collection was its black humour. Its ironic, sarcastic and sometimes snide nature lined up well with the type of book I enjoy reading. I felt that it would probably be best enjoyed by a young, liberal audience.
The nature of reading short stories means that you will inevitably enjoy some of them more than others, and it was no different for me. There were a handful of the 43 stories that I didn’t like very much, and a number that I thought were mediocre or didn’t fully grasp. However, that’s the beauty of an anthology: the next one is a fresh start. Moreover, the extremely varied nature of the stories means that there is a significant chance you will find ones that you enjoy.
The stories themselves were very imaginative and out there. On multiple occasions I was astounded by just how strange the premise of one was. However, there were also plenty that were beautifully simplistic, although no less poignant. They covered a wide range of themes, with jokes on almost every topic relevant to the current social climate.
Due to just how short the stories were, the characters were often quite archetypal, although in some ways that was good. Playing into such stereotypes allowed the humour to be punchier and sharper, I thought. The dialogue was excellently constructed to give a sense of the character in the shortest space possible. However, a few of the characters were a bit deeper in some of the longer stories, which again was nice for the sake of variety.
Overall, I’d give the collection a 5.5 out of 7. There were plenty of stories that I liked and a few that I loved. The experimental ones that didn’t quite work for me were easily overlooked. If you haven’t read a short story anthology, this is a really easy place to start.
Many thanks to Rosie Amber and Libby Marshall for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2025
Easily the funniest book I’ve read all year. Some of the pieces were shorter, comical blurbs, and some were fuller short stories.
The short stories were my favorite! Some were comical, some were unsettling, and some were insightful. More people should know about this. Go Libby go!
The short stories were my favorite! Some were comical, some were unsettling, and some were insightful. More people should know about this. Go Libby go!
July 27, 2021
Surprisingly great.
July 26, 2021
3 excellent stories
the IngGen Style Resort
the Hermit
the Bermuda Triangle Cruise
The rest are meh to irritating.
I received a copy of this via a Goodreads giveaway.
the IngGen Style Resort
the Hermit
the Bermuda Triangle Cruise
The rest are meh to irritating.
I received a copy of this via a Goodreads giveaway.
February 10, 2021
Using knowledge from this book, I was able to convince Doug to stop ruining my marriage
Read
February 17, 2021Although I do at times have a rather warped sense of humour, I am disappointed to say that I am not a fan. Not for me.
Read
March 5, 2021This was a quirky, fun collection of short stories (some very short) that offered a great distraction from the day-to-day reality of the strange modern world - largely because they sent up much of what makes this modern world so strange...
As with nearly every short story collection I've ever read, I found some much more entertaining than others. Particular favorites, for those keeping score at home, include Witnesses of Historic Moments Who Missed the Point (a snarky collection of quips), A Lady's Guide to Death (like those 1950s "How to Please Your Man" books, only snarkier), Please Continue this Conversation as Normal or I Will be Forced to Assume it was About Me (like reading a conversation in your own head or with your best friend), Choose Your Own Adventure: Seducing the Earl at Lady Worthingham's Masquerade Ball (who doesn't love a good CYOA?!), Action Hero (a clever blurring of entertainment and reality), and Six People See the Same Man and Derive Vastly Different Lessons from his Actions (a riff on perception vs. reality). They reminded me of the types of wit and humor found in newspaper columns (when syndicated columnists were actually relevant and entertaining and not shills for one ideology or another) or the final pages in The New Yorker.
Marshall does a great job writing the kind of snarky things that I often think, either situationally or when reading, and it makes for an enjoyable spot of entertainment. I couldn't read too many at once - even I found the dry wit to bite a bit then - but the tales are short enough that you can get your fill with several and then pick back up another time after you've had a chance to digest them...
Thanks to the author for my obligation-free review copy.
As with nearly every short story collection I've ever read, I found some much more entertaining than others. Particular favorites, for those keeping score at home, include Witnesses of Historic Moments Who Missed the Point (a snarky collection of quips), A Lady's Guide to Death (like those 1950s "How to Please Your Man" books, only snarkier), Please Continue this Conversation as Normal or I Will be Forced to Assume it was About Me (like reading a conversation in your own head or with your best friend), Choose Your Own Adventure: Seducing the Earl at Lady Worthingham's Masquerade Ball (who doesn't love a good CYOA?!), Action Hero (a clever blurring of entertainment and reality), and Six People See the Same Man and Derive Vastly Different Lessons from his Actions (a riff on perception vs. reality). They reminded me of the types of wit and humor found in newspaper columns (when syndicated columnists were actually relevant and entertaining and not shills for one ideology or another) or the final pages in The New Yorker.
Marshall does a great job writing the kind of snarky things that I often think, either situationally or when reading, and it makes for an enjoyable spot of entertainment. I couldn't read too many at once - even I found the dry wit to bite a bit then - but the tales are short enough that you can get your fill with several and then pick back up another time after you've had a chance to digest them...
Thanks to the author for my obligation-free review copy.
March 30, 2021
On the hunt for something to tickle my funny bone, I was happy to read Libby Marshall’s collection of short stories Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt and Other Stories.
Penny Pinching has much more than short stories. It’s also a collection of short vignettes and odd bits of prose.
In the first story, Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt, Marshall gives us pointers on how to save our precious pennies. The penny pinching tips are absurd, and a few are damn near criminal. Some made me laugh, and some made me clutch my figurative pearls.
In Makeout Point, Our heroine goes on the weirdest date. Instead of a night of kissing, she has adventures that are off the wall like the chance to kill Henry Kissinger.
Marshall becomes a bit more contemplative in the story Signs. In this story a women is forewarned of her emotions, feelings, and desires through signs only she can see.
Other stories include one about an elderly serial killer, one woman who gets romantically involved with Dracula, and a Chuck E. Cheese haunted by the ghost of the late Princess Diana.
The stories are goofy, twisted, poignant, and contemplative. Marshall has an oddball sense of humor, but at times, very thoughtful. Her brand of humor isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for something different, you’ll want to read Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt.
Originally published at The Book Self:
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
Penny Pinching has much more than short stories. It’s also a collection of short vignettes and odd bits of prose.
In the first story, Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt, Marshall gives us pointers on how to save our precious pennies. The penny pinching tips are absurd, and a few are damn near criminal. Some made me laugh, and some made me clutch my figurative pearls.
In Makeout Point, Our heroine goes on the weirdest date. Instead of a night of kissing, she has adventures that are off the wall like the chance to kill Henry Kissinger.
Marshall becomes a bit more contemplative in the story Signs. In this story a women is forewarned of her emotions, feelings, and desires through signs only she can see.
Other stories include one about an elderly serial killer, one woman who gets romantically involved with Dracula, and a Chuck E. Cheese haunted by the ghost of the late Princess Diana.
The stories are goofy, twisted, poignant, and contemplative. Marshall has an oddball sense of humor, but at times, very thoughtful. Her brand of humor isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for something different, you’ll want to read Penny Pinching Tips for the Morally Bankrupt.
Originally published at The Book Self:
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
April 7, 2021
Wildly offbeat, totally original, completely quirky - and I loved it!!
This is a collections of short stories, of varying lengths, by an author with a fantastic sense of humour - one which kept me reading until the very last - and a novel way of looking at life. I can honestly say I have never come across stories quite like these before and, as a debut, it adds up to a stunning read.
With subjects as diverse as they come, I have giggled and grimaced, laughed and almost cried all while relishing the author's ability to keep changing focus without losing her readers. Without revealing too much, I can say that there is something for everyone between these pages. Libby Marshall is, without doubt, an up and coming writer and one to watch; I'd be very interested to know if she is working on a full length novel as she has the gift of telling tales in a way which hooks the reader and obviously possesses the imagination which all writers both need and crave. Well-planned and beautifully written and with an eye-catching title, I hope others enjoy this anthology as much as I have. Stimulating and enthralling, I'm happy to recommend this one and give it 4.5*
This is a collections of short stories, of varying lengths, by an author with a fantastic sense of humour - one which kept me reading until the very last - and a novel way of looking at life. I can honestly say I have never come across stories quite like these before and, as a debut, it adds up to a stunning read.
With subjects as diverse as they come, I have giggled and grimaced, laughed and almost cried all while relishing the author's ability to keep changing focus without losing her readers. Without revealing too much, I can say that there is something for everyone between these pages. Libby Marshall is, without doubt, an up and coming writer and one to watch; I'd be very interested to know if she is working on a full length novel as she has the gift of telling tales in a way which hooks the reader and obviously possesses the imagination which all writers both need and crave. Well-planned and beautifully written and with an eye-catching title, I hope others enjoy this anthology as much as I have. Stimulating and enthralling, I'm happy to recommend this one and give it 4.5*
April 11, 2021
Okay, so this was just was absolutely delightful. I loved the range of stories, and while I didn’t enjoy all of them, there were some that definitely hit my warped, slightly dark and always sarcastic sense of humor right on the head. I giggled my way through many of the shorts, but I especially loved Lady’s Guide to Death, Millennial Gravestones and Broatmeal.
I thought the writing style was exactly right for the content, and it was a great light read for a couple afternoons. One thing I did quite like was because none of the ‘chapters’ were connected, I could read a longer one when I had the opportunity, and a shorter one if I just had a couple minutes. Overall, a hilarious and fun set of tales.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Libby Marshall for my copy!
I thought the writing style was exactly right for the content, and it was a great light read for a couple afternoons. One thing I did quite like was because none of the ‘chapters’ were connected, I could read a longer one when I had the opportunity, and a shorter one if I just had a couple minutes. Overall, a hilarious and fun set of tales.
Thank you Voracious Readers and Libby Marshall for my copy!
September 26, 2021
I could imagine someone being put off by the title of this book. But the reality is, good satire is humorous while exposing what is wrong with the actions, people, or ideas being satirized. Although the short stories in this collection have some dark moments due to some of the characters being satirized, ultimately the over-the-top ridiculous actions offset any darkness with humor. This is definitely not your typical humorous short story collection, but it was absolutely a fun read, sometimes getting me pondering certain types of people and always entertaining.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
February 14, 2024
The most curious thing about this book is the title - even after completing it, I can not get the first glimmer of a connection between the title and the contents. That being said, it had a lot of curious things such as an incredibly diverse collection of short stories, vignettes, essays and lots of things that don't conveniently fit into categories. It is a very fast read - from one page to about 20 with virtually no need to search the meaning of words in the dictionary. I laughed out loud at some and wanted to sleep through others. It's a great book for just before bed because it's unlikely any part of it will interrupt your sleep!
March 27, 2021
To be totally honest I didn’t know what to expect from this book.
There are 43 stories or other pieces of writing, some of which had me laughing out loud. Some gave me pause for thought. Most I loved, with only the occasional piece I am still a little unsure how I feel about.
All in all I recommend this book as some light relief from what is, at the time of writing this review, a serious worldwide situation.
When you think that you’ve reached the end keep turning the pages as there is more to come.
There are 43 stories or other pieces of writing, some of which had me laughing out loud. Some gave me pause for thought. Most I loved, with only the occasional piece I am still a little unsure how I feel about.
All in all I recommend this book as some light relief from what is, at the time of writing this review, a serious worldwide situation.
When you think that you’ve reached the end keep turning the pages as there is more to come.
July 24, 2021
Absolutely hilarious! One of the more multifaceted short story collections I've read in a while. Each story is a sly deconstruction of gender roles, religion, advertising or the economic hierarchy. It's like the best sketch comedy series with the sketches absurdist quotient cranked up to 11. Not every story works (I couldn't get into Rocky Road or Garden Hermit) but the hits outweigh the misses.
Highlights: Welcome to Our Tropical Resort..., Makeout Point, Very Easy Would You Rathers, A Single Walgreens Rose, God Pitches Ideas To Gabriel, Action Hero and Yelp Reviews....
Highlights: Welcome to Our Tropical Resort..., Makeout Point, Very Easy Would You Rathers, A Single Walgreens Rose, God Pitches Ideas To Gabriel, Action Hero and Yelp Reviews....
March 19, 2022
Great collection of stories, ranging from wacky to creepy to sweet and silly. There were some that even tugged at the heartstrings, there were some that were thought provoking, and there many that just made me laugh out loud! I had a digital copy, which meant it took me longer to finish since I have plenty of print books in my house, so I only read digital when on vacation or the like, but this book was the perfect solution to that because it didn't matter where I'd left off, I could pick up with the next story and be ready for the next bit of zaniness!
A fun and funky read all around!
A fun and funky read all around!
November 15, 2022
A collection of short stories are hard to rate, there are always few bad apples in with some really great ones, this collection though just didn't do it for me. Many just felt like a collection of thoughts, which it starts out with, than really stories written. I didn't know what to expect going in to this book, and I'm sure others will find humor in it, I just felt like it missed the point of following through on an enticing title.
August 3, 2021
A very diverse collection of comments and short stories. They were very hit and miss for me, some I found enjoyable, some disturbing, and some were just filling space. I found myself picking it up, reading a bit, and days later picking it up to read more, which is one of the best ways to read a collection of short stories.
August 11, 2021
One of the best books I have read in years - amazing creativity and great humor. I wasn't sure what to expect, and there are a few items that won't appeal to everyone, but then again there were more bits that were absolutely fabulous. I will be talking this book up to all my friends as something not to miss! Wish I had been half as productive during the last year! Thanks Libby!
March 7, 2021
Overall I really enjoyed this read. A good mix of satire, silliness, and dark humor. There were some quick humor pieces mixed with longer stories that were more enthralling, but it had a decent flow and would be perfect if you prefer to read in lots of short bursts.
July 29, 2021
Lots of fun
This collection has some great stories and some really terrible ones. It’s just the kind of thing you need to read a little at a time when you’re in a bad mood and want something to cheer you up.
This collection has some great stories and some really terrible ones. It’s just the kind of thing you need to read a little at a time when you’re in a bad mood and want something to cheer you up.
August 3, 2021
Intriguing
This is a very interesting collection of short stories. Some are quite funny with clever phrasing, others chilling. The reflections on women's weight were painfully accurate. A very talented writer.
This is a very interesting collection of short stories. Some are quite funny with clever phrasing, others chilling. The reflections on women's weight were painfully accurate. A very talented writer.
September 29, 2021
I always give five stars to my friends- Libby was a student of mine at Second City and it was a true joy to re-encounter her tight joke writing and ever so slightly twisted and fantastical point of view.
February 4, 2023
A collection of short vignettes, I can't necessarily call stories. This was very hit or miss for me. There are a few sections that are very funny or interesting. There are a few that would have made me not finish reading it if I hadn't already seen some promise. A couple of sections were boring.
May 28, 2021
Loved it. Laugh out loud funny, razor sharp, insightful and definitely dark humor.
August 12, 2021
Funny short stories with a lot of way out humor at times. Good to take your mind off of stress these days.
August 24, 2021
A collection of thoughts? stories? vignettes? jokes? titles? Well, yes. Much of it was hilarious, some a bit juvenile, but all in all a fun book? for a Saturday on the couch.
August 25, 2021
An uneven collection but the stand outs are well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews