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Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ali Wong for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of Dear Girls. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
Stand up comedian, actress, and writer, Ali Wong can now add author to her list of accomplishments. You might recognize her from her Netflix specials Baby Cobra or Hard Knock Wife. Or maybe you’ve seen her Netflix movie “Always Be My Maybe”. The movie where the meme with Keanu Reeves went viral. If you haven’t seen it, google it - and you’re welcome. She has written a book in the style of letters to her daughters. Each chapter has cute headings like “How I Trapped Your Father” and “A Guide To Asian Restaurants”. But if you think that she has toned down her language, she hasn’t. This is on-brand Ali Wong. Be prepared for a crass, dirty, vulgar style that she is known for. It is very similar to her stand up. If you enjoy her comedy routines you will love this book. If not, maybe watch a special before buying this one.
I am a bit in the middle with this one. It was okay, there were some funny parts, some cringe-worthy parts and some yawnable moments. You get some real moments, but not enough. It would have helped me feel more connected to the book had we had more realness. It seemed distant in some ways. I think if you love her humor, you will find lots to laugh at. I’m not in love with potty humor so sometimes I felt like really, again? I understand why she makes those choices, but I don’t like it in men any more than I do in women. I’m not offended that a woman is saying these things. I just am not a big fan. I was still left wanting more after reading this book. I don’t think you get to know her any better from the book, than what you see up on stage. She says herself the those are just caricatures of real people. So I felt like I was reading a caricature of Ali Wong. Not getting to really know her. The most personal moment in the book is the letter her husband writes in the afterwards. There are some funny parts, but it isn’t laugh out loud, hilarious all the way through. As I said, maybe her fans will really love it. Just okay for me.
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