Publishers Weekly
10/16/2023
Everything Iconic podcaster Pellegrino (How Do I Un-Remember This?) pairs holiday nostalgia with chaotic family antics in this amusing collection of Christmastime anecdotes. In addition to reminiscing about favorite holiday traditions, including trips to cheap photo studios to shoot ridiculous Christmas cards with his best friend (one depicts them eagerly unboxing a Blu-ray copy of Magic Mike), Pellegrino recounts one memorable mishap after another, from his mother’s regular Christmas Eve meal prep meltdowns to accidentally setting his kitchen on fire with holiday candles. Throughout, Pellegrino adopts his pithy podcasting voice to reflect on seasonal retail playlists (“I love Céline Dion, she’s a Canadian queen, but even a gay man will grow tired of her singing ‘Oh Holy Night’ for eight hours a day”), gimmicky cookie cutters (“IT HAS TO STOP”), and New Year’s Eve (“Forced fun is never fun... I blame Y2K”). The tone is mostly frothy (emoji are sprinkled throughout), but a tender late chapter on the ways holidays have exacerbated Pellegrino’s struggles with eating disorders adds welcome depth. This enjoyable and entertaining collection succeeds in its mission to make the season bright. Photos. Agent: Kristyn Keene, ICM Partners. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
"I was already a fan of Danny Pellegrino’s one-of-a-kind storytelling on Everything Iconic. This holiday collection proves he’s so much more than a brilliant podcaster—he’s a gifted writer. Emotionally rewarding and wildly entertaining, The Jolliest Bunch is destined to become a seasonal classic. Start an annual tradition by sharing (and re-sharing) these laugh-and-cry-out-loud tales of gay Halloween ghosts, boozy Thanksgiving meltdowns, and the most divalicious Christmas music mix ever created." — Megan McCafferty, New York Times bestselling author
"The Jolliest Bunch is a hilarious holiday horror show filled with heart. His essays make me feel seen, and I’m not just saying that because he mentions me on page thirty. A must read for anyone who lives for and loathes the holidays. Stuff your stockings with this book!" — Kelly Ripa, New York Times bestselling author of Live Wire
"I haven't laughed this hard reading a book ever. It feels like catching up with an old friend over mugs of mulled wine or peppermint mochas." — Erin Carlson, author of I'll Have What She's Having and Queen Meryl
"As a comedian, writer, and walking, talking, ’90s pop culture encyclopedia, Danny Pellegrino is as brilliant, sharp, and funny as they come. His authenticity and wit in storytelling are unmatched. Enjoy his book and laugh your you-know-what off again and again." — Drew Barrymore, New York Times bestselling author of Wildflower
"Pellegrino's holiday misadventures will leave readers laughing at his festive audacity... Brief and punchy, these essays are perfect for readers who love the holidays and can laugh at the absurdity surrounding them." — Booklist
"Danny Pellegrino’s collection of essays goes down like a mug of hot cocoa that will occasionally come laugh-snorting out of your nose. Wise, funny, and deeply personal, his writing emanates warmth and coziness from every page." — Jessica Knoll, New York Times bestselling author of Luckiest Girl Alive
"This enjoyable and entertaining collection succeeds in its mission to make the season bright." — Publishers Weekly
