A fabulously off-beat collection of short stories about love—the best and worst thing in the universe—written by the creator of BoJack Horseman with his hallmark scathing dark humor
“Transcendent tragicomedy.... Prepare to be devastated and made whole again.” —The A.V. Club
Featuring:
• A young engaged couple forced to deal with interfering relatives dictating the appropriate number of ritual goat sacrifices for their wedding.
• A pair of lonely commuters who ride the subway in silence, forever, eternally failing to make that longed-for contact.
• A struggling employee at a theme park of U.S. presidents who discovers that love can’t be genetically modified.
And fifteen more tales of humor, romance, whimsy, cultural commentary, and crushing emotional vulnerability.
About the Author
Raphael Bob-Waksberg is the creator and executive producer of the Netflix series BoJack Horseman. This is his first book.
Praise For…
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: NPR • THE A.V. CLUB
“Transcendent tragicomedy. . . . Prepare to be devastated and made whole again.” —The A.V. Club
“EXTREMELY MY SH*T.” —Samantha Irby, author of We Are Never Meeting in Real Life
“Continues to surprise and delight.” —The Washington Post
“Wonderfully weird.” —Vulture
“Complex, daring, emotional, and unique.” —B. J. Novak, author of One More Thing
“[These stories] conjure struggles for connection in grimly surreal alternative realities that recall the probing comic imaginings of George Saunders.” —Los Angeles Times
“Showcases Bob-Waksberg’s talent for conjuring fantastical scenarios and writing about them with a straight face. . . . Human relationships, he seems to be saying, are weirder than anything else our imaginations can come up with.” —NPR
“I can say without hesitation that the collection surpasses my impossibly high expectations. . . . A tremendous debut.” —Ian Mond, Locus
“These stories, while infused with elements of fantasy, made me feel and feel more connected to the human condition.” —Elise Hu, TED Talks Daily
“These tales are heartfelt and funny, a winning combo. Dazzled by the wit, you’ll be surprised when you start tearing up at the sincere turn.” —Read It Forward
“Wonderfully absurd and unexpectedly moving. . . . These stories are at times poignant and triumphantly silly, but always manage to ring true.” —Publishers Weekly
“Bob-Waksberg’s fiction debut will capture many readers with its formal innovation, playful language, and relatable portraits of romance gone awry.” —Booklist
“Sometimes-whimsical, sometimes-biting short fictions. . . . A savage sendup of love in all its dubious glory.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[These stories] keep us engaged and on our toes. With love, your Nana.” —Shirley Bob, author’s grandmother
“Very moving and true to today’s society. I'm so proud of my little Raphi.” —Florence Waksberg, author’s grandmother
