Scan barcode
ula_j's review
5.0
I’ve been a fan of Nichole’s since she was a guest on Another Round. This collection of essays/memoir made me cry and laugh and think A Lot.
champ81's review against another edition
4.0
The essays in Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be add up to something fascinating--an exploration of power and identity, perhaps, primarily through the lens of romantic and sexual relationships. Organized differently, and with a more overt attempt to pull themes or straightforward narratives from her life, this might have read like a memoir. Instead, it loops, curls back on itself, resists chronological ordering or linearity. Since Nichole's relationship to power isn't straightforward, this structure makes sense.
Here, power includes a variety of ways in which Nichole claims agency: exploring her sexual desires; establishing and refining standards for romantic relationships; setting boundaries, and naming the ways in which those boundaries are transgressed. She introduces other Black women and their relationship to control and power (for instance: Janet Jackson, her mother channeling Janet to send messages to Nichole's abusive father, and her own adoption of Janet's uniform), and probes at the ways in which Black women are seen as both hypersexual and overly picky, too much and not enough. By the end of the collection, it's clear that Nichole is still in process, still figuring herself and her desires out, but she speaks with a blend of vulnerability and confidence that shows how much she's learned about herself through the experiences she details in these essays.
Prince, Kermit and Miss Piggy, Niles Crane, Booth and Brennan of Bones, and more all provide context and humor for these essays, although my favorite might the one in which she moves away from the pop culture references and leans into more figurative language ("How to Build a Man-Made Tourist Attraction").
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
Here, power includes a variety of ways in which Nichole claims agency: exploring her sexual desires; establishing and refining standards for romantic relationships; setting boundaries, and naming the ways in which those boundaries are transgressed. She introduces other Black women and their relationship to control and power (for instance: Janet Jackson, her mother channeling Janet to send messages to Nichole's abusive father, and her own adoption of Janet's uniform), and probes at the ways in which Black women are seen as both hypersexual and overly picky, too much and not enough. By the end of the collection, it's clear that Nichole is still in process, still figuring herself and her desires out, but she speaks with a blend of vulnerability and confidence that shows how much she's learned about herself through the experiences she details in these essays.
Prince, Kermit and Miss Piggy, Niles Crane, Booth and Brennan of Bones, and more all provide context and humor for these essays, although my favorite might the one in which she moves away from the pop culture references and leans into more figurative language ("How to Build a Man-Made Tourist Attraction").
I received an advance reader copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
jordanhemphill's review
5.0
Nichole gets it. From the first essay I knew this would be a favorite. I don’t tend to re-read books but I can’t imagine myself never coming back to this one!
sbelasco40's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I really like Nichole Perkins, who I first encountered through her amazing podcast with Bim Adewumni, “Thirst Aid Kit.” I liked a lot of these essays, too, but thought they got a little repetitive when talking about some of her relationships with men. Maybe that’s just because of how men are, tho?
samantha_shain's review against another edition
3.0
Several of these essays really SHINED, especially the ones where Perkins wrote about popculture influences, clearly a well earned area of expertise. Overall, I found the parts about sex-capades fun but a little bit repetitive. Perhaps they would do better as standalone pieces rather than an essay collection. However, her strong voice and writing style came through and I really enjoyed the book!
sodrewrites's review
5.0
4.5 stars. Came for the title (because I absolutely love Prince) and stayed for the candor. Enjoyed every essay ❤
xereads's review against another edition
4.0
Whew, what a read! I absolutely enjoyed listening to the audiobook version of this work. I would say as the works progress they go from rated PG to PG-17/R lol. Definitely would recommend parents or teachers give this a read before suggesting it to a teen/adolescent. There were so many things I could relate to! Especially the works that discussed adolescence, childhood, romantic relationships, and familial relationships. And honestly this is a work I’d buy for my personal collection. It reminded me of Black Girl Call Home by Jasmine Mans which I also enjoyed. Definitely recommend!
librariandest's review
3.0
This had some real high highs and real low lows for me. First, Nichole Perkins is a great audiobook narrator (she is a podcaster, so it makes sense). But the disadvantage of an audiobook is that it's hard to skip past the parts I didn't like (particularly an essay about the white men she's dated where she makes some very dumb generalizations). I thought since the title of this book is a Beyonce lyric that the book would be more about pop culture, but it was mostly very personal. She has some very eyebrow-raising takes on sex and Kermit the Frog.