I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are - by Rachel Bloom (Paperback)

About the Book

The star of "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" collects essays, poems, and other personal creations to explore such subjects as her perceptions of "normal," struggles with depression, and life-shaping female friendships.

Book Synopsis

WITH A NEW CHAPTER

A collection of sidesplitting personal essays, poems, and even amusement park maps on the subjects of insecurity, fame, anxiety, and much more from the charming and wickedly funny co-creator and star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Rachel Bloom has felt out of place her whole life, whether in the hallowed halls of Manhattan Beach Middle School or on Twitter. So she's decided to figure out exactly what makes her so different. I WANT TO BE WHERE THE NORMAL PEOPLE ARE is a hilarious exploration of all of Rachel Bloom's formative missteps, mishaps, and misanthropic moments. In a collection of laugh-out-loud funny essays, all told in the unique voice (sometimes singing voice) that made her a star, Rachel writes about everything she thought made her abnormal, from her struggles with mental health, to her love of Disney and Spanx, to the story of how she didn't poop in the toilet until she was four. Her stories are hilarious, smart, and infinitely relatable (except for the pooping thing).

Review Quotes

"This Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is officially our favorite current writer thanks to her collection of hilarious and heartfelt personal essays."

--E! News

"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend co-creator Rachel Bloom's first collection of essays, I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are, is both hilarious and endlessly relatable. Whether she's writing about her lifelong desire to be "normal" or revealing her Disney obsession, reading Bloom's essays is like chatting with your wittiest friend."--PopSugar

"[Bloom's] comic voice lends itself well to this skewed Sedaris format. . . [Bloom's] work is emotionally raw, self-deprecating, and cringe-inducingly relatable, even at its most absurd."--Vulture

"[T]here's no denying the power of [Bloom's] words deserve attention."--Variety

"Actor and Emmy winner Bloom combines irreverent humor with childhood journal entries in this entertaining essay collection . . . Fans of Crazy Ex Girlfriend will want to give this a look."--Publisher's Weekly

"Bloom's obvious comedic chops take center stage, as she grapples with what it means to be "normal.""--Forbes

"If you binged [Crazy Ex Girlfriend], we guarantee you'll binge this book."--CNN

"If you loved Tina Fey and Amy Pohler's memoirs, don't sleep on this one from the creator and star of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Bloom's signature wit and honest voice shine through every word of this quirky, laugh-out-loud book that I read in one gut-busting sitting."--Good Housekeeping

"Is that a Sweet Valley High book? Nope, it's Rachel Bloom's hilarious collection of personal essays. If you've ever felt like a big misunderstood weirdo watching everyone else somehow succeed at being "normal," this one's for you. You'll laugh your way from cover to cover."--HelloGiggles

"It's nice to know someone as talented as Rachel is also pretty weird. If you're like me and love Rachel Bloom, this hilarious, personal book will make you love her even more." --Mindy Kaling

"Painfully funny (and funnily painful)."--B.J. Novak

"Rachel is one of the funniest, bravest people of our generation and this book blew me away."--Amy Schumer

"Rachel Bloom is just that a person who has whole-y bloomed into a fiercely funny talent performer and now writer. Was that a corny sentence? Yes. Is this book corny? No. It's wild to read or think about people wanting so desperately to be normal. I'm so thankful Rachel never got to where the normal people are because we wouldn't be enriched with the art she has shared with the world. The book is f*cking funny and a breezy read and you're goofy as f*ck if you don't buy it."--Nicole Byer, author of #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE

"Rachel Bloom looks at our 'normal' world through the point of view of a confused, hopeful alien with a huge heart and a raging, quirky creativity. I will never look at amusement park maps the same way."--Patton Oswalt

"Rachel Bloom, co-creator of the Emmy Award-winning dramedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, is one of the funniest women in Hollywood. . . This book will never leave you bored; like [Bloom's] iconic show, there's a whole lot to take in and a whole lot to laugh about."

--Bitch Media

"Self-deprecating and utterly candid. . . [I Want To Be Where the Normal People Are] is a relatable and touching memoir that will resonate both with Bloom's fans and those unfamiliar with her work."--Library Journal

"There's something I love a lot that people don't acknowledge as a thing and it's heartbreaking comedy. This book is that. Read it. You will laugh while you're crying and cry while you're laughing. Treat yourself to the heartbreaking comedy that is the life of Rachel Bloom."--Sarah Silverman

"Touching on Disney movies, mental illness, and scatological preoccupations, Rachel Bloom's book is perfect for readers looking for a little bit of humor to round out the year."--Bustle

"Whipsmart candor and disarming energy. . . Fans of her show and former and current nerds of all stripes will see themselves in Bloom's story. The end of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has not dulled its fans' enthusiasm, and, really, anyone who made it out of adolescence alive will appreciate Bloom's insights."--Booklist

"(Rachel has) a legendarily active imagination with a predisposition for anxiety. Uh, sure you can put this quote on the back of your book I guess?"--Rachel's Psychiatrist

"Bloom has given us a hilarious book of essays, poems, and so much more, detailing what her life was like as a "weird kid. . ." Bloom leaves nothing untold, and we are grateful for it."--Real Simple

"The inimitable creator of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has given us gold with her collection of essays that address everything from her childhood, career, which Hollywood award shows actually feed their guests, relationships, and the importance of bathroom breaks. Bloom's honest and welcoming voice reads like a friend, with an electric heart and soul on every page." --Shondaland

"The stories have everything: Harry Potter fanfiction, deep thoughts about pooping, blow-by-blow accounts of fights with S&P during Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I cracked up throughout, but what made it stick with me was her articulation of her anxieties. It was easy to see where and how in her life the beginnings of her work formed, and why certain experiences loomed large. All that, plus lyrics to songs she wrote about her former roommates! I'm telling you: It's good weird."--Mashable

"[Bloom's] quirk and charms transcend through a compilation of amusingly honest essays and poems. And honestly, her stories have everything that a reader could ask for. Her candid view of a 'normal' world is something we can all count on."--Glitter Guide

"My podcast made Rachel Bloom cum and her book will make you come."--Dan Savage

About the Author

Rachel Bloom is best known as the star and co-creator of the CW musical dramedy, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, for which she earned a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for her performance as "Rebecca Bunch" as well as an Emmy Award for the show's songwriting. As a live performer, she has sold out Radio City Music Hall and The London Palladium and recently had a residency at the Just for Laughs comedy festival. She will be writing the music and lyrics for The Nanny on Broadway.