The Last Black Unicorn

February 15, 2018

Actress and stand-up comedian Haddish delivers (and narrates) an extremely candid collection of essays that are equal parts poignant and hilarious. To say she had a difficult childhood is putting it mildly. She was relentlessly teased in school, her mother was emotionally and physically abusive, and she was raised on and off by her grandmother. However, whether she is talking about hellish experiences in foster care or domestic abuse, she handles these topics with a remarkable sense of maturity, compassion, and wit. Throughout her trials, comedy gave her life and purpose, and it shows. She delivers a hilarious and rather bawdy collection covering her rise as a female comedian in the male-dominated field, being single, and living the Hollywood lifestyle. It is refreshing that Haddish's narration doesn't feel like listening to a comedy special but more like a late-night talk between friends that goes on for hours. This book will have no problem finding an audience--particularly fans of her work in the recent film Girls Trip and her Showtime comedy special, She Ready. VERDICT Perfect for any listener looking for a large dose of humor with their memoir. ["A bawdy, laugh-out-loud tell-all with a liberal dose of heart": LJ 12/17 review of the Gallery hc.]--Cathleen Keyser, NoveList, Durham, NC

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Tiffany Haddish is a larger-than-life personality whose success in the world of comedy belies a difficult childhood and early adulthood. Haddish doesn't hold back in her comedy, and her performance of her audiobook is no exception. She describes both the good and the bad in equal measure with remarkable candor. Incorporating different voices, some exaggerated, helps distinguish and add vivacity to the different characters. While she is a very funny, energetic person, some stories are edgy, and there's never a dull moment. Haddish's positive outlook in the face of adversity is to be admired. S.E.G. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine