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

By: Jen Lancaster

Narrated by: Jamie Heinlein

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

Jen Lancaster was living the sweet life - until real life kicked her to the curb. She had the perfect man, the perfect job-hell, she had the perfect life - and there was no reason to think it wouldn't last. Or maybe there was, but Jen Lancaster was too busy being manicured, pedicured, highlighted, and generally adored to notice.

This is the smart-mouthed, soul-searching story of a woman trying to figure out what happens next when she's gone from six figures to unemployment checks and she stops to reconsider some of the less-than-rosy attitudes and values she thought she'd never have to answer for when times were good. Filled with caustic wit and unusual insight, it's a rollicking listen as speedy and unpredictable as the trajectory of a burst balloon.

©2006 Jen Lancaster (P)2009 Penguin

Critic reviews

“Hilarious.” (InStyle)

“A humorous and inspiring approach to navigating middle age.” (Booklist)

Not So Bitter

I'm not sure why I bought this book or why I even wanted to read it but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a pretty good listen - funny, light, and real. Jen Lancaster is so relatable. I'd say she's the new age girl next door (if there's such a thing).

I would recommend that if anybody was interested in this book, that they should listen to the audio version versus reading the print version. The narrator helped bring Lancasters story to life! I'm confident that I wouldn't have liked this story half as much if I read the print version rather than listened to it - it's an experience!

Great listen. Funny and addicting

I was mildly optimistic about this book but found myself waiting for my long commute to continue listening. Wish I’d discovered her sooner instead of 2018!

LMAO

I laughed so hard at times I had to pull over while driving. My husband enjoyed it aswell.

fantastic, funny, a little frolic in sarcasm

Besides the fact I sincerely want to be bffs with Jennifer A. Lancaster, I have nothing else to say. Enjoyed this 'read' a lot.

5 stars for serious!

Love it. The storyline is great, love her sense of humor. The narrator did a great job. I've already purchased my next book and I can't wait to start it.

Felt like I already knew you (and hated you)

Chances are you know someone like JEN. She's on top of the world and savoring all the perks that come with it. She doesn't mind rubbing her success (and her designer handbag) in your face. Even though her own life is great, don't think she won't scream at the barista for not retrieving her latte fast enough. JEN is more important than you and it's time that you realize it.

Until she's not. Here comes sweet revenge. It's hard not to enjoy JEN's inevitable slide from bad to worse to as she tries to hang on to the smallest trappings of her old life while everything goes wrong. And then a strange thing happens. You kind of root for her. She is a survivor and manages to pull herself up from the very bottom. Like a parasitic worm, JEN has burrowed into your skin with her sharp stinging barbs which are actually quite funny (when not directed at you). You can tolerate her and even like those comments that are far from political correctness that you would never say out loud.

While her Grinch heart has not grown 2 sizes, she's no longer that toxic bitch you avoided in the restroom.

Until she is again(???)

Jen is very funny and while I don't agree with her point of view on many (or any) things, she puts her experiences and her voice out there, even if it means ridicule for the actions of JEN before the fall. You can feel her personality strongly in her writing. Narrator Jamie Heinlein does an excellent job channeling Jen and making you feel like she's right there with you.

Laugh out loud funny!!

This book will keep you laughing. I loved it and will read more by Jen Lancaster!!! 🤣🤣

Excellent

Unexpectedly funny, and highly entertaining! I really enjoyed this book even though I wasn't sure how into it I would be at first.

Loved this book!

Im not a avid reader but I am an avid listener to audio books and I get Jen Lancaster's wit and humor. She takes on her journey with a lot of giggles. I listened to all of her audio, she's brilliant!

It Gets Better

Is there anything you would change about this book?

If I had not already read

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I am not as brave as Jen and would have had to preface the story with a hint that I was no longer the class conscious

Which character – as performed by Jamie Heinlein – was your favorite?

Jen herself.

What else would you have wanted to know about Jen Lancaster’s life?

She talks a bit about growing up in the mid-west. I'd like to hear more about that.

Any additional comments?

I'm very happy that Jen is a successful writer and hope she continues to write more books that make us laugh.