Keep the Receipts: Three Women, Real Talk, No Filter

by Tolani Shoneye, Milena Sanchez, Audrey Indome

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

All the conversations and advice you've had in the club toilet, finally in one place. For fans of Three Women, Women Don't Owe You Pretty and Slay in Your Lane .

'The book is heart-warmingly honest and beautifully fun. Reading it felt like having a conversation with a best friend.' GRACE BEVERLEY

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Join your girl Tolly T, Audrey, formerly known as Ghana's Finest, and your mamacita Milena Sanchez as they get super honest about their life experiences and lessons. From their different approaches to love to their wise advice on building strong friendships; from those conversations about sex we never have, to how to enjoy life as a Black woman or a woman of colour, The Receipts girls always keep it real, authentic and fiercely funny.

This book is a celebration of the wonderful messes, mistakes, successes, highs and lows of three audacious women who are still trying to get it right and live their best lives.

It's time to normalise women sharing things with zero judgement, to embrace women for all their flaws and differences and to realise being completely yourself is the best thing you could possibly be.

THIS BOOK IS FOR ANYONE SEEKING ADVICE, SOLIDARITY AND A WARM HUG FROM WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT ALL.

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More praise for KEEP THE RECEIPTS :

'This book is raw, funny and feels like the best and most necessary dmc (deep meaningful chat) you'll ever have.' NICOLE CRENTSIL

' Keep the Receipts is relatable and hilarious; it offers you an opportunity to see yourself in its pages, and feel understood on a deeper level.' MS BANKS

'If like me, you've grown up in a predominately male household, you're going to love the revelations about sisterhood, self-love and sex in this book. There's so much to learn when it comes to being your own woman and Tolly T, Audrey and Milena aren't afraid to tell you every last detail.' JULIE ADENUGA

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 8, 2021

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this ! If you listen to the podcast, most of these stories won’t be new but it just felt like another way to hang out with Tolly, Audrey and Milena ! Tolly’s chapters were definitely my favourite, I feel we learnt the most about her and they were so emotive and beautifully written. All in all, the perfect read for any Receipts Podcast fan

[Tasha Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels like reliving the conversations you have in the girls toilets with complete strangers on a night out that stay with you forever. If you love the podcast, you’ll love this.

[KD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the girls. If you love the podcast, then audiobook is the way to go! 🙌 British icons.

[lizzie parkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

i opted for the audiobook version because i loved the podcast so much and the girls didn’t disappoint, some hard truths but their honesty is refreshing, intersectional feminism at its finest

[Nicole Kyei · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the book, however as a listener of the podcast I felt some of the stories particularly in the love chapter were ones old timers knew already! I found the chapter on family refreshing however for the most part it seemed rushed and not quite as much of a deep dive as I expected but again I don’t know if this is because I’m a frequent listener of the podcast. I was disappointed to spot a lot of typos in the book but all in all I still felt it was a good read.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been searching for an easy read to get me back into it after being stuck on the yawn-fest books I’m currently “reading”

Have been obsessed with the podcast since 2019 so knew this would be a good place to get me back into the reading flow. Overall, this was really engaging, especially for long time followers, covering a huge range of important stories and topics with some fun thrown in too. Love it!

Unfortunately, having got through this in one sitting, I’m still left with the unbelievably boring “currently reading” list I began the day with

[Kayleigh Kenworthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these girls and their podcast and this book was bloody amazing. I listened to the audiobook because I wanted it to be as authentically ‘the receipts’ as it could be, but I am 100% buying the physical book I will be rereading it and highlighting so much. They grappled with so many topics in this book and have really inspired me to be a better woman with it. If you haven’t listened to their podcast yet, still buy this book. I think every woman should be reading this and listening to these three girls.

[Amma · Rating 4 out of 5]

These three are magic. Their lives, stories and struggles are so relatable, inspiring and motivating. I finished the book feeling more encouraged and braver to live more boldly. Would recommend if you listen to the podcast, it’s basically a refined and fully fleshed out version of the podcast which means it’s incredible!

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, it was just so nice and comforting, what more can I say? 🥰

[Lara Whittaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me very reflective of my own life, v good

[abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been listening to the podcast since late 2018 so when I heard the girls were releasing a book I was so excited! This book made me feel a whole range of emotions and had me thinking about my past, my present, my future and the relationships I have with the people I know and I love that there was something l could take from each chapter. I could really hear their voices through their words and it was honestly like I was listening to them talk as if it was another episode of The Receipts.

[Bookishly Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a brilliant, unfiltered books by three fantastic women of colour. This book covers grief, loss, motherhood, dating, sexuality, eating disorders, beauty, culture: black, Indigenous and Latinx, office hurt, mental health, and so much more. It's the book I wish I had when I was younger and I am so grateful to have read it not only as a fan of the podcast but a black woman trying to find herself. Everyone reminds you of who you're supposed to be in this world, especially as a woman of colour and this book reminds you why it pays to be yourself. Brilliant!

Also, do get the physical copy but the audiobook is fantastic! There is a lovely exclusive section at the end that I think fans of the podcast would appreciate.

[Phoebe Bonded By Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read that kind of felt like 3 older sisters giving you life advice. I would definitely recommend this book to other women like myself who are in their early 20s. Although at points it was a little bit repetitive between chapters.

[Georgia Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, some chapters over others and I enjoyed the little segment discussing different dilemmas. I prefer the podcast but this is probably because I prefer fiction books a lot of the time.

[Tahmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect warm read. One of my favourites of this year. Alhamdullilah for the girls.

[Honey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I'm a little bias because I've been an avid listener of the podcast for probably 4 years now but this book was incredible.

You think you've heard it all on the podcast itself but there is so much more these women can share and so much that I have learnt reading things.

I related to each of the women in different ways with different feelings and I appreciate the way it was written that allowed me to do that.

That being said, I specifically felt seen and related to a lot of what Tolly was saying. This is not me picking favourites at all but just me saying that she's the person who's a voice in this book I felt the most moved by.

Overall, everyone's voice in this book felt distinct and I read it in each of their voices as though I were listening to an episode. I already want to reread and write down or tab what I've learnt and things to remember because that truly means a lot to me. Basically for me, this felt like an essential read and if you like this an essential listen, so yeah I 1000% recommend it.

[Sadiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite podcasts. This is a podcast where three women have honest conversations about love, life and being a woman. The reason this podcast is so special to me is because these are the same conversations that bond every girl group. I also love their mini-episodes,“Your Receipts”, where people send in their dilemmas for some advice.

This book is an extension of the podcast. My favourite section was definitely the “self” section where these women discussed the years they spent growing into a place of self-love and self-acceptance. I was also really moved by the mini-sections where the ladies discussed women in their individual lives who inspired them. Finally, I really enjoyed the overall structure of the book and the small quirky sections within the book, such as “Audrey’s jokes” (if you listen to the podcast this section is incredibly funny because you can practically hear Audrey’s contagious laugh as you read the jokes).

[Georgia Gabrielides · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love these girls so much. They are confident, independent and the podcast allowed me to realise my self-worth, something that was sadly taken away by my ex (lol). However, the book itself was trash and I genuinely mean that with the best respects. I love the way Tolly writes (very poetic), however I really disliked the disjointed chapters, the separation between the three women and the final chapter that talked about other's dilemmas. It's a sticky one because this book was still easy to read and some chapters I loved (race and love especially). However I found myself uninterested in a lot of others. I wish the women would have collaborated a bit more with their writing, as the reason most listen to the podcast is their natural flow as a group. Saying that, it was interesting to actually hear about each of their lives individually - i guess the separation had pros and cons.

[Christelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the podcast so naturally wanted to read the book. I felt like the girlies stayed true to themselves and anyone new to their content would get more from this book. Some of the stories I've heard before and there were some enlightening bits in there too but not enough for me. I would have preferred if they covered less topics but went into a few more deeply. Overall a good read with beautiful illustrations too, but I felt like they only just touched the surface. I hope they write another book together, if not Audrey definitely needs to write something on colourism and pick-me culture.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally felt like the book was rushed. It is evident that the three individuals wrote each section separately and then at the very end, bind it together and put it to the shelves for sale.

As these woman are quite open on their podcast, it probably is hard to find more deeper and personal topics to talk about in the book, or maybe they just don't want to (that's fine!). However, nothing in the book I read, felt new or exclusive as a buyer to someone who streams the podcast free. I wanted more out of the book.

I could see this being a light book to read on a flight or on holiday. I wouldn't recommend this.

[Roda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the themes and the way they wrote sounded authentically like how they do on the podcast. I just think I prefer hearing them in an audio format, interacting with each other and I found that some of the chapters lacked additional depth. As a long time listener, I had already heard many of the stories included. Still, I love that the girls have come so far and wish them nothing but the best. The family chapter was lovely and I appreciated their emphasis on their own ongoing journeys of self discovery and self love.

[Luela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was like having a sleepover with your friends where it suddenly gets deep and you discuss every topic. I saw myself in a lot of the chapters. Tolly’s chapters moved me. The way she spoke about love genuinely felt like my thoughts were being written. I laughed, cried and even gasped in shock at some of the chapters (Milena’s one liners!) but honestly it was such a joy to read and refreshing to see and hear black experiences that I can relate to so well. A lovely read overall.

[Isaura Goncalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! These woman are so relatable and you can really feel all three of their energy coming through!! I didn’t know what to expect, as I hadn’t heard any of their podcasts before, but wow! I highly recommend for anyone who wants to feel empowered and to bring a little hope into their life ❤️

[Jibola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been listening to the podcast for a few years and this book has been a long awaited addition to my collection. So happy they released it and I have really taken my time reading through every section because each entry and chapter is quality. I recommend this book for Black women EVERYWHERE!

[Hollie (she her) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of the Receipts podcast for a couple of years now and it's fair to say I was not disappointed with this book 🥰🥰🥰 Brutally honest, heartbreaking in some chapters, but empowering as fuck, I enjoyed reading every page of this book!

[Nasra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sister left this book on my bookshelf and I picked it up because I was in the mood to read something that wasn't fiction for once. I really enjoyed this even though I've never listened to the podcast.

[Jack Davies-Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

celebrate black women and celebrate the stories and experiences they share with us!

this is the kind of book I would want in my legacy. a book of experiences sharing the pain, the laughter and the hope of my life.

Martyna if you read this, I recommend you read this book

[Nyasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read that is categorised by each girls experience and advice perfectly. I listen to the podcast when I have the time but the book was an eye opener to the girl's feelings and lives. Loved it!

[Busayo Oyedoyin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read! It had interesting parts about relationships, career and everything in between! However I felt as if I knew as much of the information already from religiously listening to the podcast and I felt as if certain chapters weren’t delivering well but majority I couldn’t fault 🙌🏾

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who listens to The Receipts Podcast will love this book and its authenticity. The book reads like listening to advice and anecdotes of close friends, on topics that will always be relevant and important, especially to women! A great read.