Sometimes you just have to laugh, even when life is a dumpster fire. With *We Are Never Meeting in Real Life.* , bitches gotta eat blogger and comedian Samantha Irby turns the serio-comic essay into an art form. Whether talking about how her difficult childhood has led to a problem in making adult budgets, explaining why she should be the new Bachelorette–she’s 35-ish, but could easily pass for 60-something–detailing a disastrous pilgrimage-slash-romantic-vacation to Nashville to scatter her estranged father’s ashes, sharing awkward sexual encounters, or dispensing advice on how to navigate friendships with former drinking buddies who are now suburban moms–hang in there for the Costco loot–she’s as deft at poking fun at the ghosts of her past self as she is at capturing powerful emotional truths. Chapter titles: My Bachelorette application — A blues for Fred — The miracle porker — Do you guys pay your fucking bills or what? — You don’t have to be grateful for sex — A Christmas carol — Happy birthday — A case for remaining indoors — A total attack of the heart — A civil union — Mavis — Fuck it, bitch. Stay fat — Nashville hot chicken — I’m in love and it’s boring — A bomb, probably — The real housewife of Kalamazoo — Thirteen questions to ask before getting married — Yo, I need a job — Feelings are a mistake — We are never meeting in real life