Okay Fine Whatever

The Year I Went from Being Afraid of Everything to Only Being Afraid of Most Things

By: Courtenay Hameister

Narrated by: Courtenay Hameister

The "hilarious and poignant" story of one chronically anxious woman's quest to become braver by seeking out the kinds of experiences she's spent her life avoiding (Cheryl Strayed).

For most of her life (and even during her years as the host of a popular radio show), Courtenay Hameister lived in a state of near-constant dread and anxiety. She fretted about everything. Her age. Her size. Her romantic prospects. How likely it was that she would get hit by a bus on the way home.

Until a couple years ago, when, in her mid-forties, she decided to fight back against her debilitating anxieties by spending a year doing little things that scared her -- things that the average person might consider doing for a half second before deciding: "nope."

Things like: attending a fellatio class. She did that. She also spent an afternoon in a sensory deprivation tank, got (legally) high in the middle of a workday, had a session with a professional cuddler, braved twenty-eight first dates, and (perhaps scariest of all) actually met someone who might possibly appreciate her for who she is.

Refreshing, relatable, and pee-your-pants funny, Okay Fine Whatever is Courtenay's hold-nothing-back account of her adventures on the front lines of Mere Human Woman vs. Fear, reminding us that even the tiniest amount of bravery is still bravery, and that no matter who you are, it's possible to fight complacency and become bold, or at least bold-ish, a little at a time.

Critic reviews

"It's a rare writer who is as frank, funny, and smart as Courtenay Hameister is on the page, and in Okay Fine Whatever her talent for all of these things is on full display. I was moved by Hameister's vulnerability as she wrote about her long-time struggles with her weight, her anxiety, and her search for love, and I was gobsmacked by the fearlessness with which she set out to do the varied, wild, strange things she thought would cure her of her deepest sorrows. I never wanted to put down Okay Fine Whatever. It's one of those books that takes you into its grips. It reads like an adventure novel and a secret whispered into your ear. It felt true to me and alive and real, like on every page I was witnessing someone who finally made good on an ancient dare. I loved this book."—Cheryl Strayed, New York Times bestselling author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things

"This bitingly funny memoir chronicles the year the author faced her fears. A smart, inspiring read."—People

"A witty, wise call-to-arms for the anxiety-ridden in a period when we're more anxious than ever. A timely book for these end-of-times times."—John Hodgman, New York Times bestsellingauthor of Vacationland

"You guys, this book is f*cking funny."—Chelsea Handler

"Inspiring from the first pages. Courtenay fearlessly lets us into her head; she didn't clean up in there before company came over, and I am so glad. Her risk-taking adventures in career and love are more stirring to me than any daring physical feat."—Jen Kirkman, New York Times bestselling author of I Can BarelyTake Care of Myself

"I loved this book so hard. Courtenay Hameister makes me feel thrilled to be alive-even though most things in life scare the crap out of me so much it's hard for me to walk out of my own front door. Okay Fine Whatever is a brilliant testament to the fire of the spirit for misfits and scaredy pants everywhere. A soul triumph. A reason to live."—Lidia Yuknavitch, author of The Book ofJoan and The Small Backs of Children

"Courtenay deftly executes one of the most difficult feats for a writer: she makes the smallest moments vivid, meaningful, and laugh-out-loud funny. You'll be rooting for her the whole way, and she'll surprise you at every turn with her fortitude, her sparkling feats of fearlessness preserved in riotous detail, and her joie de anxiety."—Annabelle Gurwitch, New York Times bestselling author of Wherever You Go,There They Are and I See YouMade an Effort

"Hameister details her experiences with brutal honesty and sidesplitting hilarity...Okay Fine Whatever manages expertly to blend adventure, romance, mental illness and an extra helping of humor for an entertaining memoir that reminds the reader, 'At certain moments, "No one gives a s***" is one of the nicest things you can say to yourself.'"—ShelfAwareness

Entertaining

Fun to listen to and a great narrative performance! Was hoping for a bit more exploration on "how" to get through the fear other than take tiny steps and just do it, but maybe that's all there really is for an answer to how to get braver. :)

Worth it!

Made me laugh and think. Not the typical book I would go for but don't regret it even a little bit. Refreshing and human! 10/10 would read again.

Fun book!

I enjoyed the humor a bluntness of the author. She really put it all out there. I'm sure many women will relate to this author's point of view.

So entertaining!

This book was a generational shift for me but one I really enjoyed! Excellent writing!

Candid humor is the best

I love books narrated by the author, first of all. And second, this vulnerable and hilarious accounting of Courtenay’s trial run with new experiences provided me with some helpful insights and delightful reframes of social messaging. And it acts as a helpful warning against engaging in things like bikini waxes. Thank you for writing it, Courtenay! I loved it.