4 spirited essay collections tussle with modern life

R. Eric Thomas reflects on the experience of returning home in his funny, forthright Congratulations, The Best Is Over!. Accompanied by his partner, David, a Presbyterian minister, Thomas leaves Philadelphia and goes back to Baltimore, Maryland, where he grew up, only to find a once-familiar landscape very much altered. In this inspired collection, he showcases his gift for comedy, but he also takes on serious topics, like mental health. Reading groups can dig into a variety of themes, including connection, community and the meaning of home.

In She’s Nice Though: Essays on Being Bad at Being Good, cultural critic Mia Mercado trains her keen observational eye on her identity as an Asian American woman from the Midwest, tackling gender and cultural stereotypes as she tussles with the promises and perils of modern life. Over the course of this expansive collection, Mercado muses on a variety of topics, such as social media etiquette, power dynamics and the nature of performing niceness. A funny and companionable narrator, whether she’s writing about crossword puzzles, tasteless TV shows or life during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mercado ably balances comedic commentary with moments of profound insight.

Amanda Turner chronicles the highs and lows of contemporary experience in her stellar How to Be Awkward. Embracing her inner misfit, Turner mines her own peculiarities to wonderful effect in essays about childhood mishaps, odd health issues, her lack of enthusiasm for exercise and her devotion to David Sedaris. Throughout, she writes with good humor while pondering the unique challenges of navigating the world. Turner’s compassionate treatment of important concepts like body image and self-esteem makes this a rewarding selection for book clubs.

Erika L. Sánchez’s Crying in the Bathroom is a personal, probing group of essays enlivened by the author’s bold voice and unapologetic narrative style. Looking back at her days as a teen in 1990s Chicago, where she was brought up by Mexican immigrant parents, S&aacutenchez documents her struggles with self-acceptance. She writes with thoughtfulness and sensitivity about feminism, beauty standards, motherhood, her literary career and her experience with depression. S&aacutenchez establishes a sense of camaraderie with readers, as if she’s opening the bathroom stall door to share her savvy observations. This welcoming spirit is sure to get book club members comfortable.