Books › I was told there'd be cake
I was told there'd be cake
essays
272 pages
A wry and hilarious celebration of well-intentioned haplessness in the modern city.
What it feels like
Reading this collection feels like sitting down with your funniest, most chaotic friend as they recount their latest well-intentioned disasters. The pace is brisk and conversational, driven by a strikingly original voice that balances wry, self-deprecating humor with moments of profound, genuine reflection. The mood is distinctly urban and delightfully messy, capturing the specific feeling of aiming for the stars but hitting the ceiling. Through sharp, literary prose, the essays explore themes of fallibility and the unexpected beauty hidden within everyday struggles. It is a perfect match for readers who appreciate sharp comedic timing and deeply relatable portraits of modern city life, offering a hilarious celebration of getting it wrong despite trying your absolute best.
- Mood
- chaotic
- lighthearted
- urban
- reflective
- Tone
- wry
- hilarious
- genuine
- self-deprecating
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- modern urban life · fallibility and haplessness · unintended consequences · navigating adulthood
- The writing
- Strikingly original and startlingly funny, blending sharp literary observation with wry comedic timing.
- The arc
- Moves from the chaotic humor of well-intentioned blunders to a genuine appreciation for the unexpected beauty of city living.
- Who it's for
- Readers who devour sharp, self-deprecating essays about the messy, hilarious realities of navigating modern urban life.
Content notes
- workplace conflict
- police involvement
About the book
Wry, hilarious, and profoundly genuine, this debut collection of literary essays is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory. From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions-or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a complex and utterly recognizable character that's aiming for the stars but hits the ceiling, and the inimitable city that has helped shape who she is. I Was Told There'd Be Cake introduces a strikingly original voice, chronicling the struggles and unexpected beauty of modern urban life.
Description from Open Library.
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