Title: My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag... and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha
Author: Jolie Kerr
Publisher: Plume (Penguin)
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Acquired Via: TLC Book Tours
Got a cleaning disaster on your hands? From the Deadspin and Jezebel author of the popular “Ask a Clean Person” column comes a hilarious and practical guide to cleaning all of life’s little, and sometimes rare, household emergencies. Just in time for Spring Cleaning – Jolie Kerr’s My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag... and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha (a Plume original, on sale February 25, 2014) tackles the most common (and uncommon) spills, odors, and – let’s face it – those oh-so embarrassing stains you just can’t ask your parents about.
With her signature charm and humor, Jolie Kerr takes on everything from Cleaning 101 questions such as ‘How do I use a mop?’ to the more obscure ‘How do I clean up this ginger beer that exploded all over my kitchen?’ My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag is NOT your Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook! Jolie helps with even the most nightmarish cleaning such as:
• How to Clean a Toilet: Complete with a rousing discussion of how and why to clean a toilet brush! Because at some point you may want to clean the thing you use to clean the other things in the home.
• Deep Cleaning All Types of Makeup Brushes: Extend the life of your beautifying tools and rid them of breakout-causing bacteria.
• Getting to Know Your Washer and Dryer: Everything you ever wanted to know about laundry, but were too afraid to ask!
• Getting the McDonald’s French Fry Smell Out of the Minivan: Avoid those rearview mirror trees unless you want a McDonald’s-french-fry-and-pine-tree-smelling car.
…and other cleaning tips you can’t ask Martha.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag showcases Jolie’s infinite cleaning knowledge and terrific sense of humor, including remedies for heirloom wedding dress restoration, confetti stains on wood floors, dusty ceiling fans and endless laundry, as well general tips for leading a tidier and happier existence.
Whether you’re moving into a college dorm, purchasing your first home, or finally getting around to cleaning your old one, no stain, spill, or surprise windowsill mushroom growth is too odd or embarrassing for Jolie. My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag... and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha is the perfect guide for college students or housewarming gift to someone new to living on their own.
Praise for My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag
“Wise and funny. . . . The Lorrie Moore short story, or the Tina Fey memoir, of cleaning tutorials.” — Dwight Garner, The New York Times
“Thrillingly titled. . . . For a generation overwhelmed not just by dust bunnies, but by bong water on the carpet, pee stains on the ceiling and vomit seemingly everywhere, Jolie Kerr dispenses cleaning advice free of judgment. . . . A Mrs. Beeton for the postcollege set.” — Penelope Green, The New York Times
“Jolie Kerr really cuts through the grease and grime with her new book. I do what she tells me to do.” — Amy Sedaris
Book Trailer
My Review
I don't a lot of "how-to" books or non-fiction in general when I'm not in school, but there was something about My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag... and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha that I couldn't pass up. (Probably the tackily awesome title.) I'm glad that I didn't because the book is as disgustingly funny as the title, yet full of helpful hints that can actually be used in everyday life.
Keeping house is not my thing, and I only do it because no one else at my house will. Kerr's My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag explains how and why to clean house on the most basic level, and I found the prospect of following her tips much less intimidating than listening to my neat freak family members. I was never really taught how to clean (my neat freak family members emerged from the womb knowing how), and light bulbs went off over my head as I read Kerr's advice. In addition to the process of where to start and what to do, there are also a lot of handy lists of what cleaning products should be used on various surfaces, fabrics, etc.
While the book mainly focuses on how to clean, My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag still manages to be funny and addictive. (I know, right?! A hard to put down cleaning guide!) Kerr's witty writing is a lot of why I found the book to be so accessible. Even if someone picking the book up doesn't want to learn how to clean, s/he could definitely have a blast reading stories Kerr shares about her friends and the Q&A she has done with her readers.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag... and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha will be kept in my kitchen for whenever I need advice on how to handle a mess. It is an entertaining and enlightening read that anyone could enjoy and would make a great gift for all sorts of occasions for men and women alike.
Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million
About the Author
Jolie Kerr is the author of the popular column “Ask a Clean Person,” which is featured weekly on Deadspin and Jezebel. Her work has also appeared in Fortune, BlackBook, the Urban Outfitters blog, Gothamist, The Hairpin, and The Awl. She has been featured as a cleaning expert in the New York Observer, O Magazine, InStyle, New York Magazine, Time Out New York, Health Magazine, and Parents Magazine. Jolie is a Boston native and graduate of Barnard College, now residing in a teeny, tiny, spotless apartment in New York City.
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Follow the Tour
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag... and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha Tour Schedule
Monday, March 17th
Sara’s Organized Chaos
Thursday, March 20th
Literate Housewife
Monday, March 24th
Daily Mayo
Tuesday, March 25th
Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Thursday, March 27th
Bookchickdi
Monday, March 31st
5 Minutes for Mom
Wednesday, April 2nd
A Novel Idea
Monday, April 7th
A Bookish Affair
Tuesday, April 8th
Bibliophilia, Please
2 Kids and Tired
Monday, April 14th
Cici’s Theories
Wednesday, April 16th
The Book Wheel
Thursday, April 17th
Books a la Mode
Monday, April 21st
Mockingbird Hill Cottage
TBD
My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews
To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received a copy of the novel from the publisher through TLC Book Tours in exchange for an unbiased review. It has in no way affected the outcome. All expressed opinions are awesome, honest, and courtesy of me.
Thanks for being on the tour! I'm featuring your review on TLC's Facebook page today.
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