The title pretty much says it all. This is the tale of a bitter, unemployed, fabulously attired, fiercely determined woman in her 30’s. Her name? Jen Lancaster. Her mission? Find a job. Where does the bitterness fit in? Well, way back when, she had it all: a fabulous apartment, regular hair and spa appointments, designer bags, designer shoes and a good paying job. Unfortunately she was fired and left scrambling as she tried to decipher life with no job. Sound like the next big thing in chick lit? Guess again. This is the true story of a real girl in the very real world.

The hilarity of this book stems from how Lancaster fills her days once her former employers give her the old heave-ho. Volunteering her time at a local animal shelter (in designer clothes), collecting unemployment checks (carrying a designer bag), redecorating her not-so-humble abode and spending plenty of quality time watching reality TV. She also deigns herself a junior sleuth – drawing up plans to solve the mystery of her missing newspapers. But starting her own website about her unemployment and attempts to find employment is what sets her back on course (eventually). This book is so hilarious, I often found myself laughing out loud on the train on my morning commute to work (the stares of annoyance didn’t even bother me).

If Lancaster were a super-sorority-bitch all the time, this book would probably be unbearable to read. And though the tone of Bitter is the New Black is truly sarcastic there are pockets of real life that pop up which any reader can relate to. One of my favorite moments was when Lancaster was explaining why the air conditioner was broken and was exasperated why no one could understand said explanation:

“I told him fifteen times the blowery thing worked fine but it never made the big whoosh full of cold, cold air so the pipes didn’t get sweaty and the issue was a lack of the chilly-making juice. I said we probably just needed another box of neon like we did when our AC was out in Lincoln Park. I’m not sure how I could have expressed the problem more clearly.” (cue laughter followed by annoyed looks)

Ultimately Lancaster was writing about a bad time in her life. But she got through it with the support of her boyfriend, her grit, and a great sense of humor. She got through it all and came out the other side a little wiser. Lancaster wrote two sequels to her first memoir – I can’t wait to get my hands on them and speed through.