I Was Told There'd Be Cake

Starred review from November 26, 2007
This debut essay collection is full of sardonic wit and charm, and Crosley effortlessly transforms what could have been stereotypical tales of mid-20s life into a breezy series of vignettes with uproariously unpredictable outcomes. From the opening “The Pony Problem†to the hilarious “Bring-Your-Machete-to-Work Day†(which will ring true for any child of the early 1990s who played the first Oregon Trail computer game), Crosley is equal parts self-deprecating and endearing as she recounts her secret obsession with plastic ponies and the joys of exacting revenge via a pixilated wagon ride. In less capable hands, the subjects tackled—from unpleasant weddings of long-forgotten friends to horrendous first jobs—could have been a litany of complaints from yet another rich girl from the suburbs. But Crosley, who grew up in Westchester and currently lives in Manhattan, makes the experiences her own with a plethora of amusing twists: a volunteer job at the American Museum of Natural History leads to a moral quandary, and a simple Upper West Side move becomes anything but. Fans of Sarah Vowell’s razor-sharp tongue will love this original new voice.

Starred review from September 29, 2008
Crosley's dry, ironic narration is the perfect match for her collection of essays about her struggles and misadventures as a 20-something gal in New York. Her reading brings a personal touch to her reminiscences. She never hams it up or overdoes it, telling her stories in an understated but arch tone (the aural equivalent of a raised eyebrow), and her timing and delivery are unerringly on-target, making humorous lines even funnier. She's especially effective in her self-deprecating moments, as when ruefully recounting the time she managed to lock herself out of her apartment twice in one day—one can hear the horrified realization in her voice as the door closes and the lock ominously clicks, and the disbelief and frustration in knowing she's made the same careless mistake, again. Her tone and voice bring out all the humor and personality of her writing, making this collection even more enjoyable on audio than in print. A Riverhead paperback (Reviews, Nov. 26).

February 15, 2008
This first book by Crosley, a publicist at Vintage/Anchor, is a comical collection of autobiographical essays covering everything from Crosley's obsession with plastic ponies to her experience attending an epidemic of weddings (which leads to a clever and amusing story about her role as a bridesmaid). Writing in an entertaining and witty style, she examines her family, work, sex, and love livesas well as life in general. We learn that behind the author's secret obsession with plastic ponies, each pony represents memories of a specific individual; at some point, in an effort to liberate herself, she leaves them on a train. We also learn that her unique namewhich has had people confusing her with a cancer hospital, a man, and, in one charming essay about her interaction with a telemarketer, "Slow"helped define her identity, despite the price at which it came. The real story behind Crosley's namethat it was inspired by a black-and-white movie called "Diamond Rock"leads her along another path of self-discovery. A refreshing, original reflection on modern life recommended for public libraries.Susan McClellan, Shaler North Hills Lib., Glenshaw, PA

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2008
For those for whom the publication of new work by David Rakoff or Sarah Vowell would be a literary event equivalent with the announcement of an eighth Harry Potter novel, the release of Crosleys debut collection of keenly insightful personal essays should have similar impact. The New York Times, NPR, and Village Voice contributors take on everything from volunteering to vegetarianism, bridesmaids duties to baking disasters escorts readers on a raucous ride through the fluctuating minefield that is contemporary culture. Crosleys sardonic observations have a sassy edge; her nimble humor, a naughty zing. Yet beneath her smug persona of young woman about town (that town being Manhattan) lurks another, more vulnerable image: that of sensitive mall rat from suburbia (the suburbs being Westchester.) Real and recognizable, Crosleys is the voice of everyones favorite quick-with-the-quips sister, daughter, roommate, coworker. With an unabashed appreciation for the trenchant irony inherent in lifes more quotidian activities, Crosley exposes societysand her ownmost endearing qualities.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)