Congratulations, the Best Is Over!

Essays

By: R. Eric Thomas

Narrated by: R. Eric Thomas

Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The beloved author of Here for It returns with a collection of “funny and compulsively readable” (Vogue), “hilarious and incisive” (Time) essays about what happens after happily ever after.

“How is it possible that I liked this book even more than his last one? Phenomenal.”—Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Broken (in the best possible way)

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, Garden & Gun, Real Simple

After going viral “reading” the chaotic political news, having one-too-many awkward social encounters, and coming to terms with his intersecting identities, R. Eric Thomas finally knew who he was and where he was going. He was living his best life.

But then everything changed.

In this collection of insightful and hilarious essays, Thomas moves back to his perpetually misunderstood hometown of Baltimore (a place he never wanted to return, even to be buried) and behaves completely out of character. They say you can’t go home again, but what if you and home have changed beyond recognition? From attending his twenty-year high school reunion and discovering another person’s face on his name badge, to splattering an urgent care room with blood à la The Shining, to being terrorized by a plague of gay frogs who’ve overtaken his backyard, Thomas provides the nitty, and sometimes the gritty, details of wrestling with the life he thought he’d left behind while trying to establish a new one.

With wit, heart, and hope for the future, Congratulations, The Best Is Over! is the not-so-gentle reminder we all need that even when life doesn’t go according to plan, we can still find our way back home.

©2023 R. Eric Thomas (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“How is it possible that I liked this book even more than his last one? Phenomenal.”—Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Broken (in the best possible way)

“I occasionally read another writer’s work overcome with equal parts delight and raging envy, and thus my reaction to R. Eric Thomas. How dare he! Congratulations, The Best Is Over! is some of his best work. The gay frogs story sent me so hard, I had to stop reading it on the plane. But then, like he does, other sections are beautifully fragile, so human and tender and dear. Read this book and thank me later.”—Jen Hatmaker, New York Times best-selling author of Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire

“Congratulations, The Best Is Over! is like having a late-night chat with your best friend in book form: all at once vulnerable, cuttingly funny, and ultimately life-affirming. R. Eric Thomas has written a book that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even crack your heart open as he shares his hard-won and hilarious wisdom.”—Tara Schuster, author of Glow in the F*cking Dark

just the best!!!

R. Eric is one of the only people I've trusted to talk me through the memories of March 2020 and the following years...I'm so glad I did.

seeing beauty

listening to this book was a delight, I had not a care in the world as I sat on the porch cackling with laughter, seeing beauty in overgrown lawns and frogs.

loved this so much

R. Eric Thomas, you are a witty, thoughtful and entertaining writer. you make me laugh and you make me think. and i love hearing you narrate... thank you so much for this wonderful book!

Life is life

Just loved his take on the ordinary occurrences of life. I am a cisgender heterosexual white middle aged woman but I found Eric’s perspectives and opinions so relatable and funny.

Realness & Humor in dark places

Absolutely LOVED this book! I’m new to R. Eric Thomas’ work, but I definitely will be adding him to my reading list.

Entertaining!

Thomas is an engaging, warm storyteller. I loved the humor in each essay as well as the thoughtful observations he makes about so many areas of life. Both the writing and narration were delightful.

Delightful

Overall this book was a joy to listen to. I very much recommend to everyone!!

Absolutely Wonferful

I loved Here For It, and I am so happy to have more thoughtful stories from R Eric Thomas. He’s so culturally well-versed and also incredibly considerate of the people in his life and their own stories, too

All the emotions

Listening to R. Eric Thomas read his own work is the best way to experience these essays. I felt like he was telling me — just me — his stories and that we are best friends now. ;)

Hits different, in a good way!

Hits more wistfully than Thomas’ debut novel but remains as comically light and full of character.