"Guaranteed to highlight their signature hilarious, honest, and endearing voice. Featuring essays on vegetarianism, atheism, and queerness, we can’t wait to get our hands on this first—person account of growing up queer, funny, and (famously) very tall."
—Queerty
"A funny and candid look at [Zimmerman's] journey toward making peace with the past and seeking hope in the future."—PureWow
"Recommended...It's about a whole lot of things, and it's funny, and it's insightful."—NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour
“Zimmerman pinpoints the emotion of growing up and away from your family’s ideals while still holding love for its members… refreshingly funny…Fans of stand-up and lighthearted essays will appreciate Zimmerman's sensical absurdity.”—Kirkus Reviews
One of The 20 Best LGBTQ Books of 2023 (So Far)
— Esquire
"Like many others, Zimmerman’s journey of coming out and coming into his own was full of family turmoil and internal conflict. But the comedian — a former conservative and Southern Baptist — infuses hilarity into (nearly) every moment. Whether or not you share a similar background with Zimmerman, the antics and perspectives in this essay collection will leave you laughing."
—Scribd
"New York-based comedian Zach Zimmerman takes a comical route of making peace with his past and seeking hope for the future in this collection of essays, advice, and musings."
—Business Insider
One of Barnes Noble's Best Books of 2023 (So Far)
“A charming, funny, resoundingly queer collection of bite-sized stories that go down smooth. It’s a perfect summer read. You will fall in love with Zach.”
— Guy Branum, author of My Life as a Goddess: A Memoir Through (Un)Popular Culture
“I simply must share that it IS hot in here baby!!! Zach speaks to the soul like a friend’s shaky whisper in the middle of mass— maybe you’re not supposed to laugh, but that just makes it funnier.”
—Cat Cohen
“Zach Zimmerman is one of the funniest, most nimble young comics working today and this book more than delivers on the enormous promise of Zach’s talent. Insightful, wise, and laugh-out-loud hilarious, Is It Hot In Here has no right being as good as it is. I loved this book.”
— R. Eric Thomas, national bestselling author of Here for It, or How to Save Your Soul in America
"Cheeky...poignant...Zimmerman’s good humor makes this slice of modern life a charmer.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Funny, provocative, touching, honest, and original. We're all already in Hell but I'm so glad Zach is here with us. Zach writes as easily about the Olive Garden extended menu as he does about heartbreak and religion. I felt so seen and I laughed so hard.”
—Blythe Roberson, author of How to Date Men When You Hate Men
"Zach's book is just like Zach: sharp, funny, generous, surprisingly insightful (no offense), and I kind of have a crush on it.”
— Karen Chee, writer Late Night with Seth Meyers
“Zach Zimmerman has written a warmly engaging memoir in the guise of stand-up comedy: a bittersweet sort of humor, droll and self-aware, painfully yet funnily candid, a voice of disarming frankness and intimacy.”
— Joyce Carol Oates
“A deeply satisfying blend of humor and heart. The pitch-perfect satire pieces are an ideal companion to the essays. This is the type of book you'll want to share with all your friends."
—Ginny Hogan, author of I’m More Dateable than a Plate of Refried Beans
2023-02-24
Debut collection from a gay Southern comedian.
From Jesus Christ to “Some First-Date Red Flags To Watch Out For” to his status as “a longtime fan of the Papa Johns brand and its garlic sauce product,” Zimmerman ranges widely in these (mostly) comedic essays. Throughout, the author’s dry wit comes across as appealingly ridiculous. Some essays are introspective, exploring his upbringing in the Bible Belt, his relationship with his God-fearing mother, and his identity as “a queer, vegetarian, atheist socialist.” Others are short and quippy—e.g., “Seven New Sins—and Tortures Too,” a bullet-point list of some of the annoying parts of existence, including “engaging in bad-faith discourse about topics that do not materially impact your reality” or “using the word nonzero.” Most of the book is well written, but there are some abrasive or abrupt cuts from the longer personal stories to the quick, chuckle-inducing lists. In many of the pieces, Zimmerman pinpoints the emotion of growing up and away from your family’s ideals while still holding love for its members. Chronicling a recent experience at Thanksgiving, he writes, “instead of yelling about atheism, Christianity, Trump, abortion, homosexuality, kids in cages, racism, capitalism, and socialism, we passed the mac ’n’ cheese and potatoes.” The author also tackles such noncomedic topics as freezing Chicago winters, conversations with Satan, 30th birthdays, and questions for God: “Right now, are more people smoking a cigarette, drinking whiskey, or struggling with their relationship with their father?” Zimmerman's essays function like breaks in a stand-up routine, and most of his material translates well to the page. The narrative flow is rapid as the author delivers refreshingly funny looks at a variety of unfunny topics. Some readers will find deeper resonance with the author’s self-deprecating but honest story, especially if they grew up with a religious background.
Fans of stand-up and lighthearted essays will appreciate Zimmerman's sensical absurdity.
