Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) Mindy Kaling's Book Review

I was lucky enough to win a paperback copy of Mindy Kaling's latest New York Times Bestseller, "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns) from Birchbox since I am part of their blogging community.

Let me preface by saying I love to read. I also love to write and that I hope is apparent.  Before my grandmother taught me anything, I swear she taught me to read and to love it.  One of my favorite memories is when I was 3 and sleeping over at Nany's house.....we would always get in her big bed, the kind with the wooden headboard that had the lights and shelves built into it, and lay on our tummies and read. Well, she would....my book would be upside down and foreign to me, yet I would watch her out of the corner of my eye and when she would turn a page, I would turn a page.  I aspired to be my grandmother even from a young age.

As I grew, I still read but more often just at her house and always crime stories and mystery novels. R.L.Stine was my favorite but I did manage to finish all of the Sweet Valley High and Babysitters Club books, too.  I then moved on to Mary Higgins Clark and James Patterson.

I haven't read in a while is my point so winning this book was exciting as I could finally sit down and actually get lost in the life of someone else for a bit.  I have only heard of Mindy in blurbs from the tv and internet (good stuff, not the risque stuff but I am sure that exists) and associated her with the tv show, The Office.

Boy did this book teach me a lot more about Mindy, maybe too much.  First, it made me laugh.  And out loud in some parts.  That is huge to me.  I hate faking anything.  Especially smiles in pictures. Catch me looking all goofy with one eye shut and my nostrils flared and you'll know it is a real smile and not one you are forcing me to make.  Anyway, I digress.....I also learned that Mindy and I have a bunch of stuff in common and that although she is famous, we could totally hang out and make fun of people together.

Some of my favorite parts of the book:

She talks about things that we all think, or at least that I think.  There is a chapter on karaoke etiquette.  It's unspoken, but it is there and she gets it.

There is a chapter on the best friend code of conduct.  Again, not spoken of but it is there.  You WILL hate who I hate!! (My quote, not Mindy's).  Nowadays with kids and technology, actual relationships get put on the back burner and I don't think girlfriends get to share all their clothes and sleep in the same bed anymore....Ah, I miss my early 20's.

She shops at Benefit and loves getting stuff for free.  Kind of an obsession of mine.

Mindy loves the Chapelle Show....enough said. (I'm Rick James BITCH)

One of her most relatable lines to me is "I'll get you, you clique-y sons of bitches". I hate cliques and have hated them since high school.  Such an awesome quote and sounds like something a high school super hero would say.

She has an exact level of fame list and all the things she wants to accomplish and get once she has reached that level of fame.  For example, she never wants to have to wait in line at a brunch.  Who doesn't agree with that?? I mean, not only do I not want to have to wait in line for brunch, I want to be able to decide who can't have any brunch.  "Um, yeah, you....over there with the crusty corduroys, I don't think you showered today so put down the apple pastry and step away from the brunch line"......yeah, that's the level of fame I WANT. No gross brunchy people at my brunch.

There is a dialogue of her and her friend, that she refers to as her "excited sexually liberated"friend that made me laugh out loud LOUD.  It was great.

Overall, the book was super funny, easy to read and inspiring.  She is a woman in a world of men and comedy is no easy feat. So hats off to you, Mindy Kaling.

I would love to give ya'll the opportunity to laugh out loud, too, so this book will be in one of my next giveaways.  My way of paying Mindy forward, so to speak.

Have a great day!! xo

Have you already read this book? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!