Synopses & Reviews
"A refreshingly funny and blisteringly unsentimental coming-of-age memoir."
John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Turtles All The Way Down and The Fault in Our Stars
In Akilah Hughes's world, family — and life — are often complicated, but always funny. Through intimate and hilarious essays, Akilah takes readers along on her journey from the small Kentucky town where she was born — and eventually became a spelling bee champ and 15-year-old high school graduate — to New York City, where she took careful steps to fulfill her dream of becoming a writer and performer. Like Tiffany Haddish's The Last Black Unicorn or Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? for the YA set, Akilah pens revealing and laugh-out-loud funny essays about her life, covering everything from her racist fifth grade teacher, her struggles with weight and acne, her failed attempts at joining the cheerleading team, how to literally get to New York (hint: for a girl on a budget, it may include multiple bus transfers) and exactly how to "make it" once you finally get there.
Review
"Akilah is one of the best and brightest writers of our generation. If funny mixed with wit and honesty is the dish, Akilah Hughes is a five-star chef." Roy Wood Jr., Correspondent, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Review
"This book is like Akilah: vulnerable but tough, positive without being annoying, and so, so funny. Through all these stories-some happy, some sad, some insane-there's always a message that says don't give up." Jon Lovett, co-host of Pod Save America
Review
"Oh cool, you have a hilarious new best friend now! (It's Akilah. And her book.)" Samantha Irby, New York Times bestselling author of We Are Never Meeting in Real Life
About the Author
Akilah Hughes is a writer, comedian, and YouTuber residing in Brooklyn, NY. She's been a digital correspondent for MTV, Fusion, Comedy Central, Crooked Media, and more. A Sundance Labs Fellow, Akilah most recently appeared on the HBO series special Pod Save America. Her comedic YouTube channel, "It's Akilah, Obviously!" has amassed more than 150,000 subscribers. Find her on Twitter @AkilahObviously or on Instagram @akilahh.