I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This

(But I'm Going to Anyway)

By: Chelsea Devantez

Narrated by: Chelsea Devantez

Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

"It’s f*cking great!!! Raw, intimate, hilarious, actually inspiring.”–Jon Stewart

A dynamic memoir-in-essays by comedian, screenwriter, and podcaster Chelsea Devantez, detailing her tumultuous upbringing and uproarious career path into Hollywood, featuring a bonus chapter exclusive to the audio edition.

There are things Chelsea Devantez probably shouldn’t be telling you. Many of them are in this book: some are embarrassing (like when she tried to break her three year spell of celibacy using a guide of seduction tips). Some are confessional (getting sentenced to the “hell hill” at Mormon church camp). Some are TMI (a series of outrageous doctor visits that ended with one doctor misdiagnosing her as “pregnant.” Woopsies!).

Then there are things Chelsea really shouldn’t be telling you: like the time her biggest family secret was publicly outed, or about the drive-by shootings and the precipitating domestic violence she survived. Yet through it all, it’s the women in Chelsea’s life who kept her going–from the lowest points of her childhood when she and her mom had only $100 left to their name, all the way to her career highs as the Emmy-nominated Head Writer for The Problem with Jon Stewart and sensational podcaster deemed “the celebrity memoir whisperer” by her fans.

In I Shouldn't Be Telling You This, Chelsea centers each story around a different woman who shaped her life, taking us on a tour of friends and strangers, fictional characters and celebrities, heroes and villains who will destroy any Netflix algorithm for a “strong female lead.” Listening to it will feel kinda like that moment at a party when your friend beckons you close, sloshes her martini around, and covertly whispers, “I really shouldn’t say this, but…”

©2024 Chelsea Devantez (P)2024 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Why are people so scared of women’s stories??

This book was incredible, what a life, what a journey. Chelsea is relatable, hilarious, incredibly sharp and insightful - a raw look at what it’s like to be a woman in a world that hates and silences us. I would give more stars to her if I could; the whole galaxy.

thank you for sharing your life

Last year I was lucky enough to stumble across Chelsea's podcast. I immediately was hooked!! so happy to have her in my life even though I'm not in hers!!

God I loved this book.

I’ve been listening to Chelsea’s podcast for a while, now, and so looked forward to hearing more of her own story. I was HORRIFIED to learn that so much had to be redacted, but I so respect how she handled it and the bravery she showed through obvious distress, irritation, anger and sadness in each different delivery of “redacted.” I laughed out loud, burst into tears, clapped my hands over my mouth in shock, and thought “I would give anything to somehow be her best friend,” countless times while listening. Chelsea is hilarious, and vulnerable; generous, and brilliant; full of rage, and with the willingness to laugh about it. A+, future bestie. I simply cannot wait for the next one. Read this book immediately!!

My Heavens

What a beautiful and vivid depiction of a life! Thank you for your (allowable) honesty and vulnerability!!

Even better than I expected

As a long time cookie, I knew this would be good. Chelsea is an incredible writer with superhuman depths of lore. But I was still shocked at just how incredible this memoir is. And will her fabulous collection of friends please check her every time she calls it a “comedy girl memor”? This is Educated, Glass Castles, level treatise on matriarchy, growth, survival, and love. With the glitter and taco bell thrown in to make it fabulously, trashily relatable.

Smart, funny, *raw* 😉

Fantastic memoir! So glad she’s telling her story! Can’t wait to read every book she writes.

Thoughtful, devastating and perfect

Absolutely beautiful story. Her comedy comes through- I read it all in a day. Wonderful storyteller and the voice every woman could use in the back of their head! Relatable and inspiring!

A vulnerable queen!

Chelsea’s memoir passes her own book-del test in spades! This is a beautiful story that made me laugh, cry, and dammit makes me want to be a better friend, mother, and woman. Will be reading the text and probably listening again.

Powerful. Brilliant. Battle Cry.

In Chelsea’s much-anticipated first book (can’t wait for more!), she shares the trials and treasures from her life that have shaped her brilliant mind and powerful soul. Her younger, journaling self would be so proud of how she has taken lessons from every moment when her community let her down or lifted her up, and shared those with readers of all ages and backgrounds reckoning with their own histories and trying to understand others’. By sharing her journey with misplaced shame from the knowledge of her donor conception, she reveals the (maddening and unnecessary) hidden burden carried by donor kids due to the secrecy supported by previous generations. Chelsea tackles her darkest experiences with domestic violence in a way that will undoubtedly help readers see the red flags in their own lives that can go unnoticed. Despite the CRIMINAL CENSORSHIP imposed on Chelsea to publish the story she has survived, the audience is here. It’s horrifying that this book had to go to print with redactions. Truly, the powers that be are on the wrong side of history and are complicit in the violence through this censorship. The shame is theirs to bear. By persevering again, Chelsea has reached across this new obstacle to uplift the community she has built. She is putting a hand back to pull the next person up with her. She is sharing the model of how we can build each other up and how to recognize those looking to sabotage. I look forward to a day of reckoning when this full book is printed without redactions. In the meantime, this community of readers will be building a better future full of glamour despite the trash.

Funny, raw, human.

Chelsea manages to talk about heavy themes and weave the stories with just the right amount of levity.
I flew through this audiobook and know I will revisit it in the future.
Love.