Audiobook Review - I Was Told There’d Be Cake

I Was Told There’d Be Cake

​​by Sloane Crosley

​​Release date 4/1/2008

​​2 out of 5 stars

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​​According to the publisher, “Wry,hilarious, and profoundly genuine, this debut collection of literary essays is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory. From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions-or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a complex and utterly recognizable character that's aiming for the stars but hits the ceiling, and the inimitable city that has helped shape who she is. I Was Told There'd Be Cake introduces a strikingly original voice, chronicling the struggles and unexpected beauty of modern urban life. “

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​​I’d been hearing a lot about Sloane Crosley, as she recently published another collection of essays, so I decided to give this audiobook a try when I saw my library had it available.  Crosley is supposed to be part witty, part snarky, and everything that Millennials want from a writer, but I didn’t really love this one.

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​​In this collection of essays, Crosley shares with the reader various anecdotes from her life.  Whether it’s a date gone wrong or a terrible internship experience, Crosley has a story that the reader can relate to.  For me, this was a big part of the reason that I didn’t care for this book.  While for the most part relatability is a desirable trait in a book, these essays could have been written by me or by any of my friends.  The stories were enjoyable, but there really wasn’t any content that sets this book apart from writing about funny things that happened to me in my diary.  Yes the stories were witty and snarky, but no more so than your funniest friend telling you about a bad day at their job.

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​​Overall, this audiobook was an enjoyable enough way to spend a few hours, but (without trying to be too harsh) perfectly forgettable.

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​​If you are a huge fan of essay collections, you would probably enjoy this book.  If essays aren’t your thing, definitely skip it and move on to your next read!