"Cool, Calm, and Contentious" by Merrill Markoe

288 pages

In this collection of personal essays, comedian and author Merrill Markoe discusses, among other things: her difficult mother, who takes pleasure in being unpleasant to everyone from her daughter to the waiter; her classic teenage insecurities, which drive her parents even more crazy than they already are; relationships with narcissistic men; and her pack of unruly dogs that have taken over her home. In addition to these personal reflections, Markoe shares some general wisdom and observations that she's picked up over the years, including "How to Spot an Asshole" and "Celebrity 2.0."

I really enjoyed Markoe's witty, sarcastic essays. I found myself laughing out loud several times, but there's a lot of heart to her collection as well. I like the way she uses humorous, bizarre situations from her life to make a point or connect with the readers. I feel like there's something in here for almost everyone to relate to: frustrating family members teen angst; the struggle to find our places in the world and figure out who we are; the appeal of pets; and more. Reading Cool, Calm, and Contentious reminded me how funny the messy, imperfect parts of life can be.