A Product of Genetics (and Day Drinking)

A Never-Coming-of-Age Story

By: Jess H. Gutierrez

Narrated by: Jess H. Gutierrez

“Jess Gutierrez has a one-of-a-kind talent for showing how hilarious and absurd life can be—and, lucky reader, she is ready to share her escapades with the rest of us. I couldn’t put this book down.”
—W. Kamau Bell, comedian and author of The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell

“Like Gutierrez, I’m a millennial making things up as I go along, and as this book hilariously shows, our way is much more fun.”
—Sona Movsesian, New York Times bestselling author of The World’s Worst Assistant

A frank, raucous, and bawdy collection of essays about coming of age through the oddest jobs, misadventures in queer love, and endearing parenting fails

This is a perfect book for a very imperfect generation. Millennials were the kids who wore slap bracelets and jeans so low rise they could see one another's colons, and they are now adults wondering, Is everyone else as messed up as I am?

In her book, Jess shares relatable tales of a woman who feels like a dumpster fire even with a seemingly ideal set up with a fire-captain wife, three kids, and a mortgage. Highlights include roller-derby catastrophes, a disastrous first night on the job at a lesbian bar, narrow escapes from wild animals, and fond memories of sending printed thirst-trap photos via mail to the lover in Australia she met on the early Internet. Readers will soon cheerfully discover that Jess’s voice is infectious, her stories are off-the-wall, and her references are deeply and delightfully millennial.

Critic reviews

“Jess Gutierrez has a one-of-a-kind talent for showing how hilarious and absurd life can be—and, lucky reader, she is ready to share her escapades with the rest of us. From reading about a bachelorette party fiasco to dating disasters to trying to parent when your kids seem determined to yell inappropriate things in the middle of a Walmart, I couldn’t put this book down.”
—W. Kamau Bell, comedian and author of The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell

“Gutierrez speaks to me. At times I had to look at the cover of this book to remind myself that I didn’t write it. It’s empowering to not only accept our flaws but to celebrate them. Like Gutierrez, I’m a millennial making things up as I go along, waiting for the day when I’ll finally see myself as a ‘grown up’. Until that day comes, I find solace in knowing there are others like me—those who have imposter syndrome for adulthood and thinking there will be a day when it all finally clicks. I hope it doesn’t happen any time soon because as this book hilariously shows, our way is much more fun.”
—Sona Movsesian, New York Times bestselling author of The World’s Worst Assistant

“A Product of Genetics (and Day Drinking) is a once-in-a-millennium millennial must-read. Gutierrez’s quirky and cracking wit leapt off the page and chased me around the room. I'm buying two copies, one for each eye.”
—Karen Duffy, New York Times bestselling author of Model Patient and Wise Up

“Geriatric Kansan cougars, clandestine backwoods-brothel babysitters, cargo-shorted Midwestern butches on cruise ships, and lesbian Arkansawyer parenting antics aplenty. Just read it.”
—Tara Clancy, author of Barnes and Noble Discover Pick The Clancys of Queens

“Filled with embarrassingly relatable stories and irresistible humor, Jess Gutierrez has written a collection of laugh-out-loud essays that overflow with 90s nostalgia. A Product of Genetics (and Day Drinking) is for everyone who feels less like a real adult and more like a hot mess. As moms of young children, this is the book we needed to make us feel less alone, and realize that we all have a little dumpster fire mom in us!”
—Comedy writers Laura Lane and Ellen Haun, co-authors of Cinderella and the Glass Ceiling

“Gutierrez’s memoir is tough but sweet, as she relays her often outrageous adventures in a fierce, funny, and ferocious narrative voice…an entertaining and endearing journey.”
—Kirkus

“Gutierrez brings a winning mix of candor and humor, dispensing a bounty of embarrassing anecdotes, endearing missteps, and Y2K-era references.”
—Publishers Weekly

Hysterical!

Easily the funniest book I have read (listened to) in years! Laugh out loud, too many times to count.

Highly Entertaining

Jess has a way of making you feel as though you are sitting in the car with her or standing in the waiting room of a questionable dentists office watching the hysteria unfold or helping her to look for a would be nefarious intruder in her house. Her story is so relatable and entertaining to the point that as a a child of the 90’s and now as a parent, I have been through many of these mishaps and struggles all be it in different situations, but the feeling is the same. I would highly recommend this book to anyone! Especially anyone wanting to verify that they are not alone in the messed up thing we call life. This book is a 10/10, 5 stars, or “Bet”, however you want to say it to communicate to whoever you are trying to convince they should read this wonderful piece of literary excellence!!

Unfiltered life.

I’ve always said point out the “normal” person in the room and dollars to doughnuts they’re the real freak. Hearing Jess tell her story with brutal honesty and cutting wit was incredibly moving and entertaining. Her narration reminded me that no matter our differences most of us are more alike than not.

Hilariously real!

This book takes me out of any doldrums I ever find myself! There’s nothing like listening to the author herself recant her genuine emotions and experiences of her life. Not one dull moment in this!

Funny, yet real

I like how she is real and tells it like it is. There is no holding back. Refreshing and true! 80s babies need a new name like generation x 2.0. They should have Jess classify the 80s generation. You won’t want to turn it this audio off.