Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light: Essays
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- Create Date：2021-07-10 22:31:04
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Helen Ellis
- ISBN：B08L5WZBQT
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
"The bestselling author of American Housewife and Southern Lady Code returns with a viciously funny collection of literary essays on love， family， and friendship among grown-ass women"--
Reviews
Ashley Holstrom
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I will always read Helen Ellis's books， no matter what。 Such a delight—and even better on audio。 I will always read Helen Ellis's books， no matter what。 Such a delight—and even better on audio。 。。。more
Natalie （readswithnatalieb）
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Need a laugh？ This group of essays can definitely do that for you。 I’ve been in a mood for humorous books so I’m glad I picked this one up when I did， rather than a few months ago like I originally planned。This collection is a wide variety of different scenarios of Ellis’ life。 She tells stories about her friends， her kids， family， etc。 It seems the target audience is for women older than me， but I still enjoyed it and laughed about what my future will bring。 My only complaint？ I wish there was Need a laugh？ This group of essays can definitely do that for you。 I’ve been in a mood for humorous books so I’m glad I picked this one up when I did， rather than a few months ago like I originally planned。This collection is a wide variety of different scenarios of Ellis’ life。 She tells stories about her friends， her kids， family， etc。 It seems the target audience is for women older than me， but I still enjoyed it and laughed about what my future will bring。 My only complaint？ I wish there was more！ Can we get a second book please？ I definitely want folks to read it because it’s one of those books that make you feel like others understand situations in your life that most likely make someone feel alone。 It’s one of those ‘ah， she gets it’ kind of books。Big thank you to Doubleday for the ARC！ You can get your copy on July 13。 。。。more
Rebecca
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Thanks to the publisher， via Netgalley， for an advance e-galley for honest review。This essay collection is quite humorous， and while there are occasional moments of sentiment， Helen Ellis makes sure that it never stays that way for long。 It's fast paced and enjoyable， with humor that stays right on the line of not-quite-crass。 Thanks to the publisher， via Netgalley， for an advance e-galley for honest review。This essay collection is quite humorous， and while there are occasional moments of sentiment， Helen Ellis makes sure that it never stays that way for long。 It's fast paced and enjoyable， with humor that stays right on the line of not-quite-crass。 。。。more
Susan
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I'm not sure how I just discovered Helen Ellis--a native Alabamian now living in Manhattan who is also a professional poker player。 Her biography is funny enough， but she herself is hilarious。 In this collection of twelve essays， she takes on a number of topics relevant to women of a certain age （i。e。， younger than me）--menopause， aging parents， garage sales， becoming a mother at 50， sagging flesh， etc。 As with most books written prepandemic， there are mentions of things that now seem dangerous， I'm not sure how I just discovered Helen Ellis--a native Alabamian now living in Manhattan who is also a professional poker player。 Her biography is funny enough， but she herself is hilarious。 In this collection of twelve essays， she takes on a number of topics relevant to women of a certain age （i。e。， younger than me）--menopause， aging parents， garage sales， becoming a mother at 50， sagging flesh， etc。 As with most books written prepandemic， there are mentions of things that now seem dangerous， i。e。， taking a bus from Atlantic City to Manhattan， going out for a burger and martini。。。You don't have to be Southern or a New Yorker， or probably even a woman or menopausal， to enjoy her humor。 But if you are， you'll relate even more。 #BringYourBaggageandDontPackLight #NetGalley 。。。more
Heather
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This is my favorite Helen Ellis book yet！
Amy Brown
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If you are a forty something woman like me， I think you will appreciate this book of essays。 I actually laughed out loud in a few places and that rarely happens when I read。 I want to be Helen's friend！ If you are a forty something woman like me， I think you will appreciate this book of essays。 I actually laughed out loud in a few places and that rarely happens when I read。 I want to be Helen's friend！ 。。。more
Erin Cataldi
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Bestselling author of Southern Lady Code and American Housewife， Helen Ellis， returns with another humorous collection of essays on the beauty of friendship。 More than just tired old adages， this witty collection explores what real friends do for one another; stories about being a last minute birthing partner， supporting a friend through cancer， backdoor plastic surgery and greyhound buses - there is no limit on what friends will do for each other。 Hele even explores the joy of being a number tw Bestselling author of Southern Lady Code and American Housewife， Helen Ellis， returns with another humorous collection of essays on the beauty of friendship。 More than just tired old adages， this witty collection explores what real friends do for one another; stories about being a last minute birthing partner， supporting a friend through cancer， backdoor plastic surgery and greyhound buses - there is no limit on what friends will do for each other。 Hele even explores the joy of being a number two friend or a backup buddy - less pressure - more befits！ Each of the twelve essays features a revolving cast of friends and side characters that will leave readers cackling with delight。 Enchantingly narrated by the author herself which lends to the books relatability and hilarity。 This collection manages to be both poignant and emotional; while still being facetious， dirty， sassy， and laugh out loud funny。 Perfect for fans of Jenny Lawson and David Sedaris。 。。。more
Cindy • leavemetomybooks•
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This was a quick read and is definitely worth checking out， but while there were some relatable and funny parts （especially "Are You There， Menopause？ It's Me， Helen） this collection of essays unfortunately fell a bit flat for me overall。* thanks to NetGalley & Doubleday Books for the eARC for review。 Available 7/13/21。 This was a quick read and is definitely worth checking out， but while there were some relatable and funny parts （especially "Are You There， Menopause？ It's Me， Helen） this collection of essays unfortunately fell a bit flat for me overall。* thanks to NetGalley & Doubleday Books for the eARC for review。 Available 7/13/21。 。。。more
Joan
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Ms。 Ellis writes about getting older and wiser with her friends in tow and with much humor。Recommended for public libraries。I received a free e-galley through NetGalley。 My opinions are my own。
Karen D
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This was a light， quick， and very cute collection of essays by the author of American Housewife and Southern Lady Code。 I've read the former but not the latter yet， so I was excited to get an early copy from a GoodReads giveaway！ My favorite story was The Backup Plan， about her filling in as a friend's birthing partner when the primary friend was out of town for the weekend。 It was funny and sweet， with the right amount of emotion。 Helen Ellis is about 10 years older than me， so the target audie This was a light， quick， and very cute collection of essays by the author of American Housewife and Southern Lady Code。 I've read the former but not the latter yet， so I was excited to get an early copy from a GoodReads giveaway！ My favorite story was The Backup Plan， about her filling in as a friend's birthing partner when the primary friend was out of town for the weekend。 It was funny and sweet， with the right amount of emotion。 Helen Ellis is about 10 years older than me， so the target audience also seems to be older。 So the stories about menopause and dislike for texting didn't really resonate with me， but there was still a lot left to enjoy！ 。。。more
Sharon
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From the review: "When Helen Ellis and her lifelong friends arrive for a reunion on the Redneck Riviera， they unpack more than their suitcases: stories of husbands and kids; lost parents and lost jobs; powdered onion dip and photographs you have to hold by the edges; dirty jokes and sunscreen with SPF higher than they hair-sprayed their bangs senior year; and a bad mammogram。 It's a diagnosis that scares them， but could never break their bond。 Because women pushing fifty won't be pushed around。" From the review: "When Helen Ellis and her lifelong friends arrive for a reunion on the Redneck Riviera， they unpack more than their suitcases: stories of husbands and kids; lost parents and lost jobs; powdered onion dip and photographs you have to hold by the edges; dirty jokes and sunscreen with SPF higher than they hair-sprayed their bangs senior year; and a bad mammogram。 It's a diagnosis that scares them， but could never break their bond。 Because women pushing fifty won't be pushed around。"A delightful collection of essays - the book just was not long enough。 These essays are laugh out loud， chuckling here and there and some tears - she hits all the things that older women deal with every single day。 Many older women relate to her question， "Are you there， Menopause？ It's Me， Helen。" And through it all， women rely on the innate strengths they have been given。 Friends， family， careers， it's all there。I received an e-ARC from NetGalley and Doubleday Books， in exchange for a review。 。。。more
Linda Quinn
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Another set of entertaining essays that cover friendship， the author’s type of people and the dangers of cut rate Botox。 I listened to this one as an audiobook， narrated by the author， which made it even more amusing。
Meg C
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• I was so excited for this ARC because Southern Lady Code was one of my faves from 2019。• Friends， this was not good。• Not good at all。 Just a lot of essays about how horrible it is to get old and the worst part is I didn't laugh ONCE！ Not a single chuckle！！！ • I was so excited for this ARC because Southern Lady Code was one of my faves from 2019。• Friends， this was not good。• Not good at all。 Just a lot of essays about how horrible it is to get old and the worst part is I didn't laugh ONCE！ Not a single chuckle！！！ 。。。more
Pam
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I received an electronic ARC from Doubleday Books through NetGalley。An amusing collection of essays for women facing menopause and figuring out what really matters in life。 Ellis captures the drama and the reality of this age。 She shares episodes from her life that so many will relate with。 The essays vary in length but all share that same bite underneath the topic。 Definitely one to buy for friends who need a pick me up or simply a laugh as they face life's challenges。 I received an electronic ARC from Doubleday Books through NetGalley。An amusing collection of essays for women facing menopause and figuring out what really matters in life。 Ellis captures the drama and the reality of this age。 She shares episodes from her life that so many will relate with。 The essays vary in length but all share that same bite underneath the topic。 Definitely one to buy for friends who need a pick me up or simply a laugh as they face life's challenges。 。。。more
James
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It's hard to write a book that makes the readers laugh and cry in the same line， but this one fulfills that promise， and then some。 Brilliant， witty， poignant， and laugh out loud funny。 Helen Ellis is a genius。 It's hard to write a book that makes the readers laugh and cry in the same line， but this one fulfills that promise， and then some。 Brilliant， witty， poignant， and laugh out loud funny。 Helen Ellis is a genius。 。。。more
Donna
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Reading "Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light" is like sitting on the beach with your very best friends on a summer's day。 It's that good！This book is made up of 12 essays ---- and each and every one of them will make you laugh AND make you think。。。。and will remind you that you are not alone。While the title appealed to me， a middle-aged （okay。。。maybe a little more than middle-aged）， I feel like it will appeal to readers of all ages。 Something to look forward to， something to look back at fond Reading "Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light" is like sitting on the beach with your very best friends on a summer's day。 It's that good！This book is made up of 12 essays ---- and each and every one of them will make you laugh AND make you think。。。。and will remind you that you are not alone。While the title appealed to me， a middle-aged （okay。。。maybe a little more than middle-aged）， I feel like it will appeal to readers of all ages。 Something to look forward to， something to look back at fondly， or something to help you understand the women in your life。#BringYourBaggageandDontPackLight #NetGalley 。。。more
Tricia
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Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books fallowing me to read an ARC of Helen Ellis’s new book。Helen Ellis is what we in the South would call “good people。” A Southerner who now resides in New York City， of all places。 She's hilarious and her way of writing makes you feel like you're sitting there with her， all the while having a blast。 She shares stories about her husband， friends， and aging 。 。 。 and I find myself wishing that I could hang out with her and hear her outlook on life。 Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books fallowing me to read an ARC of Helen Ellis’s new book。Helen Ellis is what we in the South would call “good people。” A Southerner who now resides in New York City， of all places。 She's hilarious and her way of writing makes you feel like you're sitting there with her， all the while having a blast。 She shares stories about her husband， friends， and aging 。 。 。 and I find myself wishing that I could hang out with her and hear her outlook on life。 。。。more
Rhiannon Johnson
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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review。I read this essay collection in a single evening and while I did laugh out loud a few times， they just didn't crack me up in the way that Ellis' previous essays have done。 Overall this collection was enjoyable， but not rave worthy。 Come chat with me about books here， too: Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review。I read this essay collection in a single evening and while I did laugh out loud a few times， they just didn't crack me up in the way that Ellis' previous essays have done。 Overall this collection was enjoyable， but not rave worthy。 Come chat with me about books here， too: Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest 。。。more
Kyra Leseberg （Roots & Reads）
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3。5 starsHelen Ellis has a surprising sense of humor that will make most Southern ladies clutch their pearls。 I adored her short story collection American Housewife and was charmed by her essay collection Southern Lady Code。 Now she returns with more essays in Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light。This time around she mostly muses on aging as she nears 50。 It had a Nora Ephron vibe， which made sense when I saw the title of the last essay: I Feel Better About My Neck。 This is a super short coll 3。5 starsHelen Ellis has a surprising sense of humor that will make most Southern ladies clutch their pearls。 I adored her short story collection American Housewife and was charmed by her essay collection Southern Lady Code。 Now she returns with more essays in Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light。This time around she mostly muses on aging as she nears 50。 It had a Nora Ephron vibe， which made sense when I saw the title of the last essay: I Feel Better About My Neck。 This is a super short collection， really an afternoon cover-to-cover read， but each is entertaining with her trademark sense of humor。 It didn't pack the punch of her previous books for me but I still enjoyed sitting down with it for the hour or so it took to read。My favorites here were The Last Garage Sale， a nostalgic look at her parent's shedding years of collected stuff in their final move; and I'm a Believer！， a highly quotable list I'd call her guide to life。"I believe the older the friend， the longer the lunch。 I believe the better the friend， the messier my house can be when she visits。" *"I believe in buying the next size up because I was not put on this earth to fit into and contain and restrain the largeness of my life。" *"I believe in hole-punching seven-year-old tax returns to make confetti。" *I recommend this book to readers who appreciate humorous essays。Thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review。 Bring Your Baggage and Don't Pack Light is scheduled for release on July 13， 2021。*Quotes included are from an advanced reader's copy and are subject to change upon final publication。For more reviews， visit www。rootsandreads。wordpress。com 。。。more
Basic B's Guide
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Helen Ellis is your poker playing， no bullshit and unfiltered backup plan bestie。 This collection of essays made me think about growing older and having a good laugh about it。 I especially loved the opening chapter “Grown-Ass Ladies Gone Mild”。 As sassy as always， fans of the author and anyone approaching middle-age will especially enjoy this one。Thank you Doubleday for the gifted arc。
Cindy H。
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Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for gifting me with an ARC of Helen Ellis’s new essay collection。 In exchange I offer my unbiased review。 Helen Ellis is “my kind of people。” Hilariously funny， sharp， honest and able to recognize the humor in everything。 She’s your number one backup plan， and makes you feel good about your lumps and bumps。 This collection of essays was absolutely fantastic！ Each one was 100% relatable。 I enjoyed every essay and laughed out loud numerous times。 I admit， Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for gifting me with an ARC of Helen Ellis’s new essay collection。 In exchange I offer my unbiased review。 Helen Ellis is “my kind of people。” Hilariously funny， sharp， honest and able to recognize the humor in everything。 She’s your number one backup plan， and makes you feel good about your lumps and bumps。 This collection of essays was absolutely fantastic！ Each one was 100% relatable。 I enjoyed every essay and laughed out loud numerous times。 I admit， I shed a few tears during her essay about her friend group titled “Grown-Ass Ladies Gone Mild。” Helen reminds me of David Sedaris and Jenny Lawson and I can’t think of a better compliment than that。 Although I read this book in digital form， I’ve already pre-ordered the audiobook， as I can only imagine how brilliant it’s going to be hearing this read by Helen Ellis。 。。。more
Jan Thullen
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Funny， clever， and occasionally cringe for me。 Love a good book of funny essays。 Beach bag ready， this one。“I wore all black because I myself am a pop of color。” 🙂
Emily
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I won a Goodreads giveaway copy of Bring your Baggage & Don’t Pack Light。 Thankfully it arrived on my way out the door for a week by the ocean & was the perfect beach read！ It’s also funny enough that I didn’t mind cackling by myself in front of a bunch of strangers。
Nancy
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Another wonderful， funny book from Helen Ellis。 So glad I started reading her books。 I could have read this in a day if I wasn't working。 So funny and relatable， if you are a woman of a certain age。 I will definitely be recommending it。 Another wonderful， funny book from Helen Ellis。 So glad I started reading her books。 I could have read this in a day if I wasn't working。 So funny and relatable， if you are a woman of a certain age。 I will definitely be recommending it。 。。。more
amanda eve
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I'm a big fan of Ellis's essay collections， but this one wasn't my favourite。 It's just as funny and bright as her other books， but these are more memoir-esque， making them more maudlin and sentimental。 I'm a big fan of Ellis's essay collections， but this one wasn't my favourite。 It's just as funny and bright as her other books， but these are more memoir-esque， making them more maudlin and sentimental。 。。。more
Lis
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Y'all， this book was hilarious。 I laughed aloud， marked so many passages， and read tons of parts aloud to Jeff。 These essays were all about friendship， approaching middle age， sex， relationships， and being exactly who you are。It's the kind of book you want to share with everyone you know simply so they too feel more seen and less alone， especially in a time when friendships might have felt slightly more difficult to maintain through the past year。Thanks to Doubleday for an advance review copy - Y'all， this book was hilarious。 I laughed aloud， marked so many passages， and read tons of parts aloud to Jeff。 These essays were all about friendship， approaching middle age， sex， relationships， and being exactly who you are。It's the kind of book you want to share with everyone you know simply so they too feel more seen and less alone， especially in a time when friendships might have felt slightly more difficult to maintain through the past year。Thanks to Doubleday for an advance review copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own。 。。。more
Leanne
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I'll read anything Helen Ellis writes！ Hilarious！ I'll read anything Helen Ellis writes！ Hilarious！ 。。。more
Kim McGee
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I love Helen Ellis and her style of in your face but with a Southerner's grace of humor。 Her essays speak to all ages of women whether you are in that age range， will someday be in that age range or remember how crazy that age was ， the end result is always the same- giggle snort laughter。 From gaging their dinner guest's sex life， to girl trips， to garage sales these essays speak to women who are not afraid to stare fifty in the face。 Every time I read her I want to shout out "Right On Sister"！ I love Helen Ellis and her style of in your face but with a Southerner's grace of humor。 Her essays speak to all ages of women whether you are in that age range， will someday be in that age range or remember how crazy that age was ， the end result is always the same- giggle snort laughter。 From gaging their dinner guest's sex life， to girl trips， to garage sales these essays speak to women who are not afraid to stare fifty in the face。 Every time I read her I want to shout out "Right On Sister"！ She is a national treasure， a character and a spokesperson for telling it like you wish you could。 Fans of Erma Bombeck， Nora Ephron and Mrs。 Mazel rejoice！ My thanks to the advance copy。 。。。more
Debbie
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I love a book that finds humor in everyday life experiences and this one certainly does that。 Helen can be irreverent at times， but that's what's to love about her and this book。 As is true with most essay collections， I enjoyed some more than others， but there's an essay for every reader in this collection。 Even the acknowledgements read like another essay。 This is a fun， often poignant， quick read about Helen's life that readers can relate to。 I love a book that finds humor in everyday life experiences and this one certainly does that。 Helen can be irreverent at times， but that's what's to love about her and this book。 As is true with most essay collections， I enjoyed some more than others， but there's an essay for every reader in this collection。 Even the acknowledgements read like another essay。 This is a fun， often poignant， quick read about Helen's life that readers can relate to。 。。。more
Nicole
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