Bitter Is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smart-Ass, or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office

Chic Lit in Real Life

Jen Lancaster is one of my favorite authors ever. I have had to buy Bitter several times because I've either worn it out or loaned it out and it got passed so far that it was lost. This is her real story of riches-to-rags, love, and a bad-luck purse. She is bitingly sarcastic, witty, and sometimes just downright mean, but you can't help to love her. The footnotes take a little getting used to, but the story flows so seemlessly it's hard to put down. And we all know where we were when her downturn happens. I recommend this book to people who enjoy biographies, chic lit, sex and the city, sarcasm, designer apparel, girly drinks, and really good books.

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Bitter & Boring

I forced myself to continue reading this book - hoping it will get better. I was bored in the first chapter, and then I was just disgusted by Lancaster's pomposity. It was by far one of the worst books I have ever read. She tries really hard to be funny, among other things, to no avail. I read this book about a year ago, and I am still bitter about wasting my time and money!

4 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Hilarious! GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR!!

WITTY! HILARIOUS! DELIGHTFUL, FUN READ! My stomach muscles ached throughout from laughing so hard! THE AUTHOR HAS A TERRIFIC SENSE OF HUMOR!! GREAT PICK-ME-UP!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Hilarious!

I loved this book, and I sort of stumbled upon it accidentally...now I am into Jen's third book, and they are all great. I see a lot of myself in the author, and I love that she gives a true-to-life, no B.S. account of her story without taking herself too seriously. Her ability to inject humor in everything is a quality I really admire, too. Highly recommended.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

I almost wet my pants laughing so hard!!!

I bought this book just because of the title - it sounded so funny. When I was reading this book sometimes I would have to put it down because I could not even see the word due to the tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. Jen Lancaster looks at things the same way most of do but she will say that is how she sees it. Bitchy and Funny!!!!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Bitter is my new black

....bitter for this book. With trying to be minimally judgmental, the author of this book is respectively not successful in sharing useful insight or lessons on life that could help or inspire any of us. So maybe my expectations were not the right ones. Her humor was dry and I found no comfort in her life for it seemed shallow and frivolous. I read through FIFTY PAGES and no substantial plot was created. I give Jen Lencaster kudos on 'trying' to make her audience laugh but all I honestly heard were crickets...for days.. I recommend reading the first chapter or two and if you like it then you share her humor, if not, be warned that it doesnt get any better and save your precious 'economy-strained' dollars.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Bitter is the New Black

I love this book. Jen Lancaster says the things we are thinking and wish that we were ballsy enough to say- and she's hilarious while doing it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Bitter is the New Black - made me laugh!

I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's the perfect book for a lazy day at the beach or pool. I found that I was able to relate to the writer in many ways and enjoyed hearing her story. Her sarcastic nature appealed to my sense of humor. I am looking forward to reading more of her books.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Bitter

I loved this book! I thought the woman got into my head and was stealing my thoughts it was so familiar. Laughed myself sick reading about her woes and selfish thoughts that we all have but never admit to.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fantasic book

I'm so jealous of anyone who hasn't yet read this book and gets to experience it for the first time. Jen Lancaster is the funniest writer and I enjoyed every ounce of this book. Warning: don't pick up this book unless you've got a few hours. You won't want to put it down!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Entertaining but she tries way too hard

I have not yet finished this book and while I will admit that it has held my attention and is somewhat entertaining, she tries way too hard to be funny, which in turn makes the book unfunny. You would just have to read it to see what I am talking about. I can't belive that so many people mention nothing about this. A lot of it is just over the top and not really believable.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Bitter and boring bile

Jen Lancaster's paperback 'memoir' chronicles her self-absorbed downward career spiral. Unlike James Frey, this is no tale of redemption as Ms. Lancaster's book ends with her at the same mean-spirited and self-centered place she began. The power of the internet means that even the most caustic blogger will have their 15 minutes of fame and it is telling that Ms. Lancaster's book is endorsed by another blogging blowhard, Jessica Cutler of Washingtonienne infamy. Hopefully this book ends up on the remainder table where it should remain.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Bitter is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office

When I took a buyout package from my job in corporate America, I thought I'd be happy to leave but instead I found myself depressed and aimless. A friend gave me this book thinking it would be 'fun' for me to read but my reaction couldn't have been more opposite. I was disgusted by the author's arrogance and felt this book really didn't deserve to sit amongst unemployment self-help books. Thankfully I found 'Unemployment Boot Camp: Tactics for Surviving and Thriving in the 21st Century' by R.A. Long also on Barnes and Noble.com. This book helped me to quickly get my act together and stop feeling sorry for myself. The book is a quick-read so you can read it today and start making changes by tomorrow. Save your money with 'Bitter is the New Black' it's bitter baloney!

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is the best book that is true to life

When I first strated reading this book, I noticed how much the author's attitude resembled my own. I have had to learn to tone down the attitude to be successful in my current job. However, poor Jen Lancaster learned that lesson to late. However it give a real-to-life description of what her and her family had to go through since being laid off her job. If you want to read a book with attitude and perserverance this is a must read. I'm so glad the title seemed so funny to me that I decided to buy it to read this story. I think Oprah should add it to her book club!! Thanks Jennifer Lancaster for the great story and laugh..oh I've never laughed so hard. You're attitude is the best!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A book you will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

I absolutly loved this book! It was truely like reading my bestfriends mind. I could not stop rolling with laughter. Upon buying this book I expected to hate this snob, but after reading it you can't help but to feel for her and feel this need to be her friend. This is a book that almost everyone will love and a must buy for all your girlfriends. Plus when your done with the book and still thirsting for more you can get it at her just as entertaing website jennsylvania.com . check it out you wont be disapointed!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Seriously Hilarious

When it comes to humorous books, I'm a tough audience. Few authors make me laugh out loud. Until today, Mark Twain, P.G. Wodehouse, P.J. O'Rourke, and J. P. Donleavy were about it. However, I've just finished Bitter is the New Black, and I'm adding the name of Chicago's blogging goddess Jen Lancaster to my list. Buy this book--you won't regret it. Lancaster's prose is deft, the world she describes is vivid, and most important of all, her description of her boyfriend's marriage proposal made me throw back my head and roar with helpless laughter.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

One of Those 'Laugh-on-the-Bus-So-Loudly-Everyone-Stares' Kind of Books

Jen Lancaster at her professonal peak was the poster child for conspicuous consumption and self-absorption. However, she narrates with such a comedic flair that you can't help but secretly hope she finds a way to get the $7,000 backless couch with tufted buttons that dig into her back, just as a thank you for the entertainment. When Jen loses her job and affluent lifestyle she eventually gains a husband, two dogs and the minions she desired all along (Blog readers, minions, same difference!)while treating the reader to what it's like inside a big city unemployment office a special guest spot at her Vegas wedding among the porn stars and what the temps REALLY write in their portfolios . Read this book in public at your own risk, as you truly will find yourself laughing out loud.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Bitter Really *IS* the New Black

If you're like me, at one point you've been in-between jobs. Or you've worked for an office tyrant you would have loved to tell 'go jump in a lake' or something equally (or more-so) torturous. That's right, this book is for YOU! Jen Lancaster's memoir is so laugh-out-funny (not to mention one of those where you have to read out loud to anybody sitting around you because it's just that hilarious and you don't want them wondering why you're snort-laughing, but I digress) because it's definitely relatable to everybody, whether we're in the workplace or in the unemployment line. She tells it like it is, and even says things we think of saying, but dare not. Hilarious and heartbreaking, this book is a winner! (PS. Jen, if you're reading this, I'm so talking like you now after reading the book. I think that's cool -- your personality really shines through. Give my best to Fletch and the dogs!)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Self-absorbed, vain comedic princess

Bitter is the New Black starts off with a loud mouthed scandalous main character who talks about taking a briefcase from a homeless man in exchange for a lunch with "crack peas" in it. Throughout the whole book she remains sarcastic and mean, even during the rough patches of her life she never loses her sense of humor. She also incorporates how the events of 9/11 impacted her life and how devastating many people felt after the recession started to hit and how unemployment rates went up. She documents how horrific it was to lose her high paying job and then trying to find work anywhere in the city, while trying to live the same old lifestyle she was accustomed to. With her outgoing personality she ends up making situations funny and awkward to some of her friends. I think it was kind of amazing how her boyfriend turned husband, Fletch still manages to stay with her even though she is egotistical and self-centered. I thought this book was hilarious and one of the best autobiographies I've read because it never seemed to bore you to tears with facts and sad endings. I think the author did a great job in writing this book, and I feel as if she got her point across in discussing how life can be hard sometimes but you just have to keep on going and believe that things will work out.

A hilarious read!!!

The story started out on the slow side, but once things started crashing for Jen I became hooked. Every time I read I felt as though I was sitting down with a hilarious girlfriend and listening to her describe her life to me. Jen Lancaster is laugh-out-loud funny, and this novel is a must-read! :)