Rate: 4/5

Medium: Audiobook

Overview: I have a confession my friends. I do not watch a lot of comedy other than clips or shows that friends happen to recommend. Honestly, in the past five years, I’ve only watched Ali Wong and Chappelle’s Netflix specials. That being said, I picked up The Last Black Unicorn despite not knowing who Tiffany Haddish was, or having seen any of her work based on the many recommendations I’d received from friends and fellow bloggers. Additionally, having thoroughly enjoyed Bossypants by Tina Fey I was looking forward to another comedian’s memoir. Haddish’s distinctive writing style emanated throughout, leaving the reader feeling as through they were having a casual conversation with the comedian, while being granted an unguarded glimpse into her tumultuous youth. Much of Haddish’s childhood was heartbreaking, forcing her to grow up quickly and ultimately making it hard to listen to as a reader. The difficult material continues into adulthood, especially relating to her abusive husband. Her candor regarding this difficult time, along with her reflections on the decisions she made during this relationship rang genuine and representative of the struggles many women encounter when faced with similar situations. The sad stories aside, Haddish filled her book with other hilarious interactions that left me often laughing. My favorite anecdote involved a swamp, Jayda and Will Smith, and Groupon. I won’t spoil the story for you but I will encourage you to imagine how these elements could weave together for a most amusing real life comedic gold. Overall, The Last Black Unicorn introduced me to Haddish, thereby making me a fan without having seen any of her comedy or cinematic work, an issue that will be promptly remedied.