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I Was Told There'd Be Cake Audiobook
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(3.00) - 18,191 listener ratings
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Wry, hilarious, and profoundly genuine, this debut collection of literary essays is a celebration of fallibility and haplessness in all their glory. From despoiling an exhibit at the Natural History Museum to provoking the ire of her first boss to siccing the cops on her mysterious neighbor, Crosley can do no right despite the best of intentions-or perhaps because of them. Together, these essays create a startlingly funny and revealing portrait of a complex and utterly recognizable character that's aiming for the stars but hits the ceiling, and the inimitable city that has helped shape who she is. I Was Told There'd Be Cake introduces a strikingly original voice, chronicling the struggles and unexpected beauty of modern urban life.
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"Personally, I really enjoyed this book. I read it while I was backpacking across Europe, so it made the perfect companion for long flights and train rides. It's a great read if you're looking for something light and entertaining, but with enough substance to make it worth reading. Each of her stories is so well crafted; I really found myself getting lost in all of her quandaries. Her witty personality and sneaky sarcasm are hilarious, and how she can make unfitting analogies seem completely rational is beyond me. If you're an urban dweller or young professional, you'll easily identify with Crosley, and you'll start wishing your life was half as interesting. Highly recommended. Go read it!"
— Edgar (4 out of 5 stars)
I Was Told There'd Be Cake Listener Reviews
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" Totally an enjoyable read! Sloane's irreverent essays are easily relatable albeit not always fully believable...but then a good story is all about embellishment and a fare tale. I loved how her stories generated memories from my own youth. Good times all around. "
— Sophie, 2/12/2014 -
" So much refreshing self-aware wit. The metaphors she comes up with to frame personal neuroses and the self-serving stew we marinate ourselves in are eye-opening. Loved it. "
— Ann, 1/24/2014 -
" Perhaps I've finally gotten too old to enjoy reading about the mishaps of a self-centered single girl trying to make it in Manhattan. I just couldn't identify with her. (And there was a time that I could have.) The pieces were too earnest and serious in tone to be taken for light face value, but the from the title I was expecting laugh-out-loud funny. And it wasn't. "
— Deyna, 1/22/2014 -
" Some of the essays in this collection are more compelling (and humorous) than others. At times, the author's syntax gets in the way of her words, leading to some awkward language. Overall, an amusing collection for a young, single woman to read. "
— Robyn, 1/18/2014 -
" Not terrible, but yet another author who's too precious for my taste. "
— Tere, 1/14/2014 -
" One of the best books ever "
— Sharanya, 1/11/2014 -
" Hilarious essays about Sloane's life as a twenty-something in NYC. Some essays were worthy of an eye roll because of her pretentiousness, but they were amusing overall. "
— Rebekah, 1/2/2014 -
" Meh. It was entertaining. "
— Farrah, 12/30/2013 -
" Great collection of amusing, funny essays and stories. "
— Jess, 12/4/2013 -
" A slight read, perhaps, but a thoroughly enjoyable one. I don't read a lot of essays by women and think "oh wow, we really could be friends." Crosley sure isn't vain - some of the stories here are very unflattering, but always funny, and almost always relatable. "
— Hilary, 11/6/2013 -
" Out loud hilarious!! "
— Phoenix, 9/27/2013 -
" don't usually like short story collections, but she's really funny. seems like someone i would have been in highschool withI Was Told There'd Be Cake "
— Camille, 9/16/2013 -
" I fucked up. I bought a ticket to Portugal and I really don't know why. <----- If that sentence of mine makes you laugh, then Sloane Crosley will be your new best friend, too. "
— Laura, 9/9/2013 -
" I'm hungry for more from Sloane Crosley. I devoured "Cake" just as quickly as "How Did You Get This Number". Her essays are enjoyable reads, from tellings of her adventures abroad to every day life in New York. Crosley's view of the world is one we should all look through! "
— Kimberly, 9/4/2013 -
" This has something to do with postfeminism. I'm pretty sure. Infinitely better than Eat Pray Love. She is a bad postfeminist. I think this chick is good at it. But its also just like young lady's David Sedaris. A delightful read, yes. "
— Mayalekach, 6/13/2013 -
" A well written, engaging and funny book of essays. "
— Conor, 5/6/2013 -
" Not bad, not great. Decent read with some funny parts. "
— Pandora, 4/26/2013 -
" This was a fun collection of essays. Some were clearly better than others, but, overall, I enjoyed the entire group. "
— Katie, 3/21/2013 -
" I liked the writing style and the short stories - it kept my attention and I finished it pretty quickly. "
— Katie, 3/13/2013 -
" Started off really funny. Crosley is a very conversational writer. However, by the end, it starts to feel kitschy. Enjoyed it for a short, light read. "
— Adrienne, 1/12/2013 -
" I could read this book every month, I love it so much. Wry and funny and a little bit silly. This was a re-read and I'm glad I got it for my kindle so I can re-read yet again. Definitely recommended. "
— Erica, 1/11/2013 -
" Great set of prose stories. Has a young voice and dry humor that she brings to her writing. "
— Crys, 7/24/2012 -
" My favorite essay in here is "You on a Stick" (about an unwilling bridesmaid). But this collection is like an anthem for women my age. "
— Juliet, 3/6/2012 -
" loved this sloane is hilarous!!! "
— Sonja, 1/22/2012 -
" I enjoyed her banter but that's all I expected when I got this book. I wasn't expecting an epic collection of memoirs but was expecting an easy light entertaining read... and thats exactly what I read. "
— Clare, 12/12/2011 -
" I have read that Crosley is the female David Sedaris, which is complete shit. This author TRIES to write like David Sedaris. She attempts to copy his voice and it is absolutely transparent. If you are a David Sedaris fan and read this book, it will leave you a tinge of pissed off. Avoid. "
— Bryan, 9/7/2011 -
" I laughed a lot--being from new york, i think i related more than someone else might, but this was funny. "
— Kristin, 9/6/2011 -
" have been wanting to read this since it came out in 2008 -- was good, but i expected more! planning on reading her second set of essays soon. "
— Rogerlaw3, 8/13/2011 -
" I love this book! And Crosley is my new favorite author. She's like a female, heterosexual David Sedaris. "
— Alisha, 5/24/2011 -
" probably the funniest book i've read in years. "
— Alyssa, 5/22/2011 -
" I laughed out loud so many times when reading this book, and I also flew through it. It's light and colorful, and made up of essays about a female twenty-something and the experiences she has living in NYC, working her first job, being a bridesmaid, etc. Hilarious. "
— Lauren, 5/22/2011 -
" I'm fairly certain the author and I may be the same person. "
— Natalie, 5/15/2011 -
" absolutely hilarious collection of short essays "
— Melanie, 5/12/2011 -
" My sister raved about this book and let me borrow it. I cracked up all the way through and was surprised by the mixed reviews on Goodreads. I think the title is genius. I'll pass this one around. "
— Emily, 5/11/2011 -
" The female version of David Sedaris... "
— Erin, 5/8/2011 -
" Perhaps Crosley's humor is simply not my cup of tea, but I was bored to tears by this book. I don't think I even finished it. "
— Beth, 5/6/2011 -
" This is a great collection of essays about life as a single woman, a woman living in the city, a woman from suburbia, a witty and intelligent woman. It was recommended to me by a friend and it didn't disappoint. Sloane Crosley seems like the kind of girl I'd like to be friends with. "
— Wendy, 5/4/2011 -
" Not as funny as I thought it would be. "
— Jessica, 5/3/2011 -
" This was a fun collection of essays. Some were clearly better than others, but, overall, I enjoyed the entire group. "
— Katie, 5/3/2011 -
" Not on par with Sedaris, though I think Miss Sloane has serious potential. Don't buy it, anyway. "
— Champagneblue, 4/23/2011
About Sloane Crosley
Sloane Crosley is the author of I Was Told There'd Be Cake, which was a finalist for the Thurber Prize, and How Did You Get This Number. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Times.