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You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples
Everyone’s heard the old advice for a healthy relationship: Never go to bed angry. Play hard to get. Sexual favors in exchange for cleaning up the cat vomit is a good and fair trade.
Okay, not that last one. It’s one of the tips in You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples by the authors of Why Don’t You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It: A Mother’s Suggestions. This guide will make you laugh, remind you why your relationship is better than everyone else’s, and solve all your problems.
Okay, not that last one. It’s one of the tips in You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples by the authors of Why Don’t You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It: A Mother’s Suggestions. This guide will make you laugh, remind you why your relationship is better than everyone else’s, and solve all your problems.
142 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2020
25 people are currently reading
2238 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Marx
38 books87 followersPatricia Marx is an American humorist and writer.
Born in Abingdon, Pennsylvania, she earned her B.A. from Harvard University in 1975. Her writing has appeared in the The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vogue, and The Atlantic Monthly. Marx is a former writer for Saturday Night Live and Rugrats, and one of the first two women elected to the Harvard Lampoon.[1][2] She is the author of the 2007 novel, Him Her Him Again The End of Him, as well as several humor books and children's books (Meet My Staff, Now Everybody Really Hates Me, Now I Will Never Leave the Dinner Table).[3]
Born in Abingdon, Pennsylvania, she earned her B.A. from Harvard University in 1975. Her writing has appeared in the The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vogue, and The Atlantic Monthly. Marx is a former writer for Saturday Night Live and Rugrats, and one of the first two women elected to the Harvard Lampoon.[1][2] She is the author of the 2007 novel, Him Her Him Again The End of Him, as well as several humor books and children's books (Meet My Staff, Now Everybody Really Hates Me, Now I Will Never Leave the Dinner Table).[3]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
December 9, 2020
Do you hear that? It's the sound of me breaking down and giving into my addiction...aka another tierlist video ranking all my January Books. Now that you know where this one stands, check out the video to see the rest!
The Written Review:
4.5 stars
Falling in love is easy. Agreeing how to load the dishwasher is hard.Patricia Marx and Roz Chast are at it again with a laugh-out-loud illustrated handbook to one of life's greatest challenges - marriage.
In this adorably illustrated book, Marx and Chast deliver their signature sassy advice in style.
This round, they focus on helping couples who are in for the long haul.Queen-size beds, king-size blanketsOverall, I liked this one even better than the first!
I feel like the duo has really has hit their stride. Every bit of advice they gave really made me smile.Force yourself to say "I love you." It makes the other person feel guilty and that always works to your advantage.As a newly married woman myself, there are quite a few things I identified with and truly made me enjoy this book. So many of those little moments to relate to!
I do wish there was a bit more of an intro or outtro - I really enjoyed the short one we got and was hoping for a bit more of a narrative from the author's lives!
I absolutely loved the couples that were in the illustrations.
Roz has a way of portraying that deadpan look that so often comes with unwashed dishes or minor frustrations. It really brought a new dimension to the humor.
Also a huge shout out to Roz Chast in general for the way the illustrations were done.
I absolutely loved the variety in couples. There were gay, straight, lesbian, biracial, (etc) couples and it really made me happy to see the inclusive touch.
All in all - this was a fun, short book. In all honesty, my biggest complaint is that it's ONLY 160 pages. I wanted more! So much more!!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review
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November 15, 2020
Library - overdrive - ebook
I have my friend Lori to thank - this morning- for this less than 30 minute read.
The first illustration is a bird in a cage that says “Get Me Out Of Here”.
One of our birds - *Phil* flies around our house often— then he goes back to be with his wife, *Lil* when he’s had enough freedom. Lil is happy staying put.
The Introduction:
“Falling in love is easy. Agreeing on how to load the dishwasher is hard. This is a book of guidelines, tips, and strategies for couples who wish to coexist in happiness. Or at least harmony. Or at least not be worse off than they were before reading these pages.
“But advice is for later. This is the introduction, so first a little about Roz and Patty”.
“Roz has been married to Bill for thirty-five years. They have two children and two birds. The children no longer live at home, but the birds do,
and not only because they are in cages.
“Patty has lived with Paul for twelve years. Instead of children, they have a robot vacuum cleaner. Patty and Paul were introduced by a mutual friend. ‘He’s perfect’, the friend said about Paul. ‘Perfect is not my type, said Patty”.
“What is it like to be with someone year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year?”
“Sexual favors in exchange for cleaning the cat vomit is a good and fair exchange”.
Paul and I both agree that we ‘don’t agree’ with this next quote: ( granted we’ve often had a little sugar gummy with CBD oil in it before evening TV shows)....
“No talking during TV time. If you want to rewrite the story, go in the other room”.
Paul and I often have our best laughs - stopping the episode. He always has a remote control in left hand. His other hand is holding mine.
We STOP... and usually find our self giggling over our re-write!! Then... continue watching.
Here’s a tip .... worth considering....
“Once a week, throw out something of your partners. It will not be missed. Or noticed”.
“If either of you has a chance with Michelle Obama, go for it”.
Charming little book with wonderful cartoon graphics.
I have my friend Lori to thank - this morning- for this less than 30 minute read.
The first illustration is a bird in a cage that says “Get Me Out Of Here”.
One of our birds - *Phil* flies around our house often— then he goes back to be with his wife, *Lil* when he’s had enough freedom. Lil is happy staying put.
The Introduction:
“Falling in love is easy. Agreeing on how to load the dishwasher is hard. This is a book of guidelines, tips, and strategies for couples who wish to coexist in happiness. Or at least harmony. Or at least not be worse off than they were before reading these pages.
“But advice is for later. This is the introduction, so first a little about Roz and Patty”.
“Roz has been married to Bill for thirty-five years. They have two children and two birds. The children no longer live at home, but the birds do,
and not only because they are in cages.
“Patty has lived with Paul for twelve years. Instead of children, they have a robot vacuum cleaner. Patty and Paul were introduced by a mutual friend. ‘He’s perfect’, the friend said about Paul. ‘Perfect is not my type, said Patty”.
“What is it like to be with someone year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year?”
“Sexual favors in exchange for cleaning the cat vomit is a good and fair exchange”.
Paul and I both agree that we ‘don’t agree’ with this next quote: ( granted we’ve often had a little sugar gummy with CBD oil in it before evening TV shows)....
“No talking during TV time. If you want to rewrite the story, go in the other room”.
Paul and I often have our best laughs - stopping the episode. He always has a remote control in left hand. His other hand is holding mine.
We STOP... and usually find our self giggling over our re-write!! Then... continue watching.
Here’s a tip .... worth considering....
“Once a week, throw out something of your partners. It will not be missed. Or noticed”.
“If either of you has a chance with Michelle Obama, go for it”.
Charming little book with wonderful cartoon graphics.
December 1, 2022
“The person who ordered the egg-white omelet has to keep her skinny paws away from the other person’s French fries.”
Now doesn’t that sentence just make your day? It did mine! You’ll find a bunch of these quips in this little goodie, which is a fast and furious read with pictures—well, cartoons, really, and spiffy cartoons at that. I’m not kidding when I say “fast”—the book will take you all of 15 minutes to read.
I don’t like cartoons usually, but I loved them here. Nice style and colors, good words, and you can get lost by looking closely at all the little details. The book is a little pricy (I mean, the hardback is about 15 bucks for a 15-minute read), but it has thick glossy pages and is a class act all the way.
There’s a cool, short intro, and then each page has a wise joke about a common argument between couples. I found myself nodding yes over and over as I swallowed up this treat. Did a lot of LOL, too. There are a couple of jokes that were just okay, but most were a riot.
I planned to entice you with just one quote, and of course I had to put it at the top of my review so that you could laugh immediately, but I have to give you three more. Sorry. Not sorry.
“Marriage is one of you secretly turning the thermostat up and the other secretly turning it down and so on and so on until one of you dies.”
“As long as we each love the dog more than we hate each other, we will never break up.”
“Trying to park with your spouse in the car is like brushing your teeth in front of the dental hygienist."
This book is wise and witty and I dare you not to crack a smile. It's co-authored by Roz Chast, who wrote and illustrated one of my favorite books, Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?.
My friend read this book on Kindle and then she sent me the hardback as a gift. (Oh it’s such a fantastic gift!) I was so happy to be able to read it in color, and I love having it in my hot little hands. I’ve already read it three times! It’s got a spot on my Luscious Spines Live in My Bookcase shelf, you better believe it.
Teensy complaint re the book title. Now don’t get me wrong--I love the title! It’s a total riot. However, my nitpicky head is making me shout out that technically, it’s grammatically incorrect. The “only” should come before the noun. It should be “You Can Yell at Me for Only One Thing at a Time” instead of "You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time." Only ponly, who frigging cares? I know, LOL. It’s just that my brain trips every time I read it. But I must admit, now the title is starting to sound right to me, and that terrifies Edith the Editor. Edith, meanwhile, definitely doesn’t know her grammar these days, but for some reason, the “only” rule is set in stone in her head. (Beware when I start talking in the third person; I think I do it when I’m embarrassed, LOL.)
Anyway, a wonderful little book. Buy it as a gift, but do yourself a favor: hold it gingerly and read it first--before you grab the French fries, though!
Now doesn’t that sentence just make your day? It did mine! You’ll find a bunch of these quips in this little goodie, which is a fast and furious read with pictures—well, cartoons, really, and spiffy cartoons at that. I’m not kidding when I say “fast”—the book will take you all of 15 minutes to read.
I don’t like cartoons usually, but I loved them here. Nice style and colors, good words, and you can get lost by looking closely at all the little details. The book is a little pricy (I mean, the hardback is about 15 bucks for a 15-minute read), but it has thick glossy pages and is a class act all the way.
There’s a cool, short intro, and then each page has a wise joke about a common argument between couples. I found myself nodding yes over and over as I swallowed up this treat. Did a lot of LOL, too. There are a couple of jokes that were just okay, but most were a riot.
I planned to entice you with just one quote, and of course I had to put it at the top of my review so that you could laugh immediately, but I have to give you three more. Sorry. Not sorry.
“Marriage is one of you secretly turning the thermostat up and the other secretly turning it down and so on and so on until one of you dies.”
“As long as we each love the dog more than we hate each other, we will never break up.”
“Trying to park with your spouse in the car is like brushing your teeth in front of the dental hygienist."
This book is wise and witty and I dare you not to crack a smile. It's co-authored by Roz Chast, who wrote and illustrated one of my favorite books, Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?.
My friend read this book on Kindle and then she sent me the hardback as a gift. (Oh it’s such a fantastic gift!) I was so happy to be able to read it in color, and I love having it in my hot little hands. I’ve already read it three times! It’s got a spot on my Luscious Spines Live in My Bookcase shelf, you better believe it.
Teensy complaint re the book title. Now don’t get me wrong--I love the title! It’s a total riot. However, my nitpicky head is making me shout out that technically, it’s grammatically incorrect. The “only” should come before the noun. It should be “You Can Yell at Me for Only One Thing at a Time” instead of "You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time." Only ponly, who frigging cares? I know, LOL. It’s just that my brain trips every time I read it. But I must admit, now the title is starting to sound right to me, and that terrifies Edith the Editor. Edith, meanwhile, definitely doesn’t know her grammar these days, but for some reason, the “only” rule is set in stone in her head. (Beware when I start talking in the third person; I think I do it when I’m embarrassed, LOL.)
Anyway, a wonderful little book. Buy it as a gift, but do yourself a favor: hold it gingerly and read it first--before you grab the French fries, though!
February 2, 2020
"Falling in love is easy. Agreeing on how to load the dishwasher is hard." -- from the introduction
A lot of GR reviewers seemed to really love this one. I thought it was merely okay but otherwise sort of forgettable. Basically it's suggestions for keeping in the peace in relationships / marriages in the form of witty one-liners and zingers with accompanying illustrations. While there were a few that made me laugh out loud (such "Don't kayak in rough water with the beneficiary of your life insurance policy" on page 101 was sound advice, and "You get to kvetch for three minutes and then your time is up, unless you are in a Chekov play, in which case you have two hours" was literary comedy gold on page 81), it seemed like the rest of the book will heavily depend on a reader's sense of humor.
A lot of GR reviewers seemed to really love this one. I thought it was merely okay but otherwise sort of forgettable. Basically it's suggestions for keeping in the peace in relationships / marriages in the form of witty one-liners and zingers with accompanying illustrations. While there were a few that made me laugh out loud (such "Don't kayak in rough water with the beneficiary of your life insurance policy" on page 101 was sound advice, and "You get to kvetch for three minutes and then your time is up, unless you are in a Chekov play, in which case you have two hours" was literary comedy gold on page 81), it seemed like the rest of the book will heavily depend on a reader's sense of humor.
February 10, 2020
just in time for valentine's day, patricia marx and roz chast team up again, after their earlier collaboration—Why Don't You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It?: A Mother's Suggestions—this time focusing on the perils of relationships, marriage, and co-habitation with humor and frazzled-line drawings. there is much wisdom within these covers, from a most succinct and accurate definition of marriage:
Marriage is one of you secretly turning the thermostat up and the other secretly turning it down and so on and so on until one of you dies.
to a mantra-worthy piece of advice:
Think "What would Romeo and Juliet do?"
Then do the opposite.
to a rule i've lived by for many years now:
If someone is very picky about how the laundry should be done, as opposed to shoving it all in the washing machine and then shoving it all in the dryer, that someone should do the laundry.
the secrets of their own respective romantic longevities will be unveiled, with tips on how to keep love alive, or to at least prevent a crime of passion from occurring.
some of the tips are eminently practical:
some are tough but fair:
and some are SUPER-HEALTHY AND NOT AT ALL DYSFUNCTIONAL:
for me, this was slightly less charming/LOL-worthy than their first collab, but it's a fine gift to present to your romantic partner, even if they interpret the gesture as passive aggressive. after all—
come to my blog!
December 24, 2020
A funny coffee table book... RTC
January 8, 2020
I received an unsolicited copy of this from the publisher. It's about as real a picture of partnerhood as can be imagined. Each cartoon and accompanying caption will have you nodding in agreement. It's a perfect Valentine's gift, as long as your partner has a sense of humor. And if he/she doesn't , you need a new partner.
My favorite: "Marriage is one of you secretly turning the thermostat up and the other secretly turning it down and so on and so on until one of you dies". Truth.
My favorite: "Marriage is one of you secretly turning the thermostat up and the other secretly turning it down and so on and so on until one of you dies". Truth.
January 20, 2020
I will first thank Celadon Books for sending me a copy of this book. My husband picks up our mail and I always laugh when he frequently shouts 'you got another book'. This one was sent to me, unsolicited. Lately I've not had much time to read, so I've been declining books that I know I will not get to for some time. But this one just showed up. I was very shocked, since I didn't really understand
(or get the purpose) the previous book by this author.
Anyway, touted as a 'valentines gift'.....hmmmm. OK, so short little book that has "advice" for couples who have been together for a very long time. I don't really feel this is advice. In the write-up on this book it says: This guide will make you laugh, remind you why your relationship is better than everyone else’s, and solve all your problems. That's true, it did make me feel better about my relationship as I thought nothing in here I could relate to. In fact, if I got this as a gift from my husband I would think we are surely in for a divorce as he's trying to tell me something. But then again, I know he would never go to a bookstore...he just doesn't understand my obsession. Back to the book, it's very short, I read it in about 20 mins. Cute photos with each piece of advice. I just don't understand it. It's probably just me. But I thank the publisher and author for sending me this book.
(or get the purpose) the previous book by this author.
Anyway, touted as a 'valentines gift'.....hmmmm. OK, so short little book that has "advice" for couples who have been together for a very long time. I don't really feel this is advice. In the write-up on this book it says: This guide will make you laugh, remind you why your relationship is better than everyone else’s, and solve all your problems. That's true, it did make me feel better about my relationship as I thought nothing in here I could relate to. In fact, if I got this as a gift from my husband I would think we are surely in for a divorce as he's trying to tell me something. But then again, I know he would never go to a bookstore...he just doesn't understand my obsession. Back to the book, it's very short, I read it in about 20 mins. Cute photos with each piece of advice. I just don't understand it. It's probably just me. But I thank the publisher and author for sending me this book.
January 6, 2020
"What is it like to be with someone year after year...People leave socks on the floor...place dirty dishes near instead of in the sink, will not admit there is a correct way to hang a roll of toilet paper...". The combination of Patricia Marx's "love and romantic advice", playfully illustrated by Roz Chast, is pure fun!
Here are some "Rules for Couples":
" Do not walk ten feet ahead of me unless you are checking for land mines."
" The person who ordered the egg-white omelet has to keep her skinny paws away from the other person's French fries."
" Marriage is one of you secretly turning the thermostat up and the other secretly turning it down..."
"You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing as a Time: Rules for Couples" by Patricia Marx and Roz Chast is a humorous glance at co-habitation. A delightful graphic tome!
Thank you Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Here are some "Rules for Couples":
" Do not walk ten feet ahead of me unless you are checking for land mines."
" The person who ordered the egg-white omelet has to keep her skinny paws away from the other person's French fries."
" Marriage is one of you secretly turning the thermostat up and the other secretly turning it down..."
"You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing as a Time: Rules for Couples" by Patricia Marx and Roz Chast is a humorous glance at co-habitation. A delightful graphic tome!
Thank you Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 4, 2020
Last year I read Patricia Marx and Roz Chast’s Why Don't You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It?: A Mother's Suggestions, and liked it pretty well. This one, which has a similarly inviting title and cover, is focused on advice for couples (and not just straight white Jewish couples--Marx and Chast are Jewish New Yorkers, so, yeah, you write what you know, but here they expand that horizon), mostly cartoons and I found it similarly pretty funny, ach, a few smiles, though honestly more miss than hit on the guffaw meter. But tastes in jokes, you know, vary, you may love these! And hey, an anniversary gift, seems like!
Some of the advice, which really is enhanced to adorable level by Chast’s drawings:
No need for both of you to follow current events in the Middle East. One of you can handle that and the other can kept track of where the tv remote is.
If you must breathe, don’t breathe so loudly.
Queen-sized beds, king-sized blankets.
Sexual favors in exchange for cleaning up the cat vomit is a good and fair trade.
Never trust advice books.
Some of the advice, which really is enhanced to adorable level by Chast’s drawings:
No need for both of you to follow current events in the Middle East. One of you can handle that and the other can kept track of where the tv remote is.
If you must breathe, don’t breathe so loudly.
Queen-sized beds, king-sized blankets.
Sexual favors in exchange for cleaning up the cat vomit is a good and fair trade.
Never trust advice books.
April 12, 2020
I received this book for free from the publisher (Celadon Books) for promotional purposes.
Given all the craziness right now, the world could use a little humor so I thought it would be the perfect time to read this book. I was right. This was such a funny little read!
The book basically consists of little cartoons about relationships/love/marriage. I am not married so I can’t necessarily relate to everything, but a lot of the cartoons reminded me of my parents and their relationship.
I found the cartoons to be really funny. Obviously some were better than others but I did laugh out loud at quite a few of them. For example, “Celebrate the little things…” on page 13 was hilarious. I also loved “If you are still fighting, it means you are still together” (pg. 91) and “Remember: if you were single, there’d be nobody to watch your luggage in the airport while you go to the restroom” (pg. 131).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a super quick read and is the perfect gift to give to your significant other. Also, given the quarantine, I think it’s the perfect thing to read if you’re stuck at home with them and need something to lighten the mood.
Given all the craziness right now, the world could use a little humor so I thought it would be the perfect time to read this book. I was right. This was such a funny little read!
The book basically consists of little cartoons about relationships/love/marriage. I am not married so I can’t necessarily relate to everything, but a lot of the cartoons reminded me of my parents and their relationship.
I found the cartoons to be really funny. Obviously some were better than others but I did laugh out loud at quite a few of them. For example, “Celebrate the little things…” on page 13 was hilarious. I also loved “If you are still fighting, it means you are still together” (pg. 91) and “Remember: if you were single, there’d be nobody to watch your luggage in the airport while you go to the restroom” (pg. 131).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a super quick read and is the perfect gift to give to your significant other. Also, given the quarantine, I think it’s the perfect thing to read if you’re stuck at home with them and need something to lighten the mood.
February 22, 2022
Fantastic book that looks at all the things that couples have to put up with for love - nice art! A great gift for your significant other - then you can talk to each other about how you can work hard to keep the little things in check. A fun read that is also very therapeutic!
January 27, 2020
Came across this book while cataloging at work and since it was so short, I decided to quickly read it. It was so funny! Some of the best relationship advice, such as resolving your differences by dueling (lol!). This book made me chuckle and I ended up sending several Snapchats to my boyfriend with the caption "This is so us". Great for a fun, laughable read!
January 8, 2020
I’m not sure that I’m capable of giving a Marx/Chast book less than 5 stars. Their mixture of truth and humor never ceases to amuse me. I went to Philly Free Library last spring to see this bigger than life duo. They were full of stories and fun and even played ukeleles just because they could. This new little gem of a book does not disappoint. The illustrations are worth look backs as Chast sneaks in some details you don’t always pick up on first look. They hit on universal truths that made me laugh out loud. Here’s one bit of advice I’m going to try: “Once a week, throw out something of your partner’s. It will not be missed. Or noticed.” I’ll let you know how it goes. Here’s one about toasters and a myriad of other things: “Whoever cares the most that there are crumbs in the toaster gets the de-crumbing job.” Long live the partnership between Marx and Chast!
#ReadYouCanOnlyYell #CeladonReads
#ReadYouCanOnlyYell #CeladonReads
January 10, 2020
Need a laugh out loud book? Who isn’t raising their hand? Need to laugh a lot while also enjoying snarky relationship advice? Raise your hand! The New Yorker Magazine duo of Roz Chast, cartoonist, and Particia Marx, writer, address the important issue of “what is it like to be with someone year after year after year..” in their new book “You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time.” Their witty and insightful advice will resonate with any couple seeking increased harmony in their relationship, or those who just want to introduce some levity into those endless spats about how the laundry should be done or whose turn it is to shovel snow.
Be sure to head to your nearest book store, with or without your partner, on January 14 to pick up this hilarious gem of a book.
Be sure to head to your nearest book store, with or without your partner, on January 14 to pick up this hilarious gem of a book.
January 18, 2020
100% Hilarious, as well as being 100% Terrific Marriage/Relationship Advice.
My husband wholeheartedly agrees with the following:
"If you keep buying things from Amazon ten times a day even though there's no more room in the house, you must buy a storage unit. And live in it."
For me, I love this quote:
"Do not walk ten feet in front of me unless you are checking for land mines."
However, the advice that rings most true to anyone in a long-term relationship is the following:
"When you do something wrong and there's no fixing it, apologize twenty times a day for being such a dick and soon I will become so sick and tired of hearing you babble, you will be forgiven."
This book is the perfect gift for friends and loved ones for Valentine's Day and should be given to every couple upon the occasion of moving in together.
I know it is intended to be humorous, and it very much is, but it also contains situations that anyone who is in a long-term relationship will recognize and perhaps upon reading this, they will laugh off the irritation rather than let it escalate into an argument. The illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to each humorous quote. Readers of the New Yorker magazine will most definitely recognize the style.
Another thing I am very pleased with is the fact that not all illustrations portray couples as only Cisgender. There are illustrations that depict all sexes. I believe this is important.
I rate this book as 4 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐
**** Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me with a free copy of this book. Receipt of this book for no cost has in no way influenced my review. ****
Go to http://bit.ly/2020Humor to see a preview of the illustrations from this book.
Follow me on Instagram
http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...
My husband wholeheartedly agrees with the following:
"If you keep buying things from Amazon ten times a day even though there's no more room in the house, you must buy a storage unit. And live in it."
For me, I love this quote:
"Do not walk ten feet in front of me unless you are checking for land mines."
However, the advice that rings most true to anyone in a long-term relationship is the following:
"When you do something wrong and there's no fixing it, apologize twenty times a day for being such a dick and soon I will become so sick and tired of hearing you babble, you will be forgiven."
This book is the perfect gift for friends and loved ones for Valentine's Day and should be given to every couple upon the occasion of moving in together.
I know it is intended to be humorous, and it very much is, but it also contains situations that anyone who is in a long-term relationship will recognize and perhaps upon reading this, they will laugh off the irritation rather than let it escalate into an argument. The illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to each humorous quote. Readers of the New Yorker magazine will most definitely recognize the style.
Another thing I am very pleased with is the fact that not all illustrations portray couples as only Cisgender. There are illustrations that depict all sexes. I believe this is important.
I rate this book as 4 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐
**** Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me with a free copy of this book. Receipt of this book for no cost has in no way influenced my review. ****
Go to http://bit.ly/2020Humor to see a preview of the illustrations from this book.
Follow me on Instagram
http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...
October 23, 2019
What a fun and witty book. Roz Chast’s illustrations are the perfect match to Patricia Marx’s laugh-out-loud comments on relationships. For those who keep getting told they’ve loaded the dishwasher incorrectly. Many thanks to Edelweiss, Celadon Books and the authors for the advance copy in exchange for my honest giggles.
January 1, 2020
“Falling in love is easy. Agreeing how to load the dishwasher is hard.”
For every couple who has survived the euphoria of the early stages of a relationship and has tackled the more challenging phase – living with another person who is NOT YOU – this book will speak volumes.
Famed New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast and New Yorker contributor ( and former Saturday Night Live writer) Patricia Marx pair again to create an hilarious rule book for couples. And wow oh wow, do they get things right.
Consider this: Sexual favors in exchange for cleaning the cat vomit is a good and fair trade. (Gotta admit, I’ve tried that one!) Or: You can’t break up with someone for something they did in your dream (do these women live in my house?) Or: Once a week throw out something of your partner’s. It will not be missed. Or noticed. (I guess they DO live in my house.)
The book aims for maximum inclusiveness (i.e., there are illustration of same-sex couples and people of color). The rules, after all, apply to all of us.
I’m rating this highly because it’s an excellent gift idea – for example, Valentine’s Day or anniversary gift for real couples who have learned the art of laughing at themselves and each other (and who are still mighty glad that they are together). It’s like giving someone the gift of laughter – and we sure need more of that in this world. Thanks to @CeladonBooks #YouCanOnlyYell for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
For every couple who has survived the euphoria of the early stages of a relationship and has tackled the more challenging phase – living with another person who is NOT YOU – this book will speak volumes.
Famed New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast and New Yorker contributor ( and former Saturday Night Live writer) Patricia Marx pair again to create an hilarious rule book for couples. And wow oh wow, do they get things right.
Consider this: Sexual favors in exchange for cleaning the cat vomit is a good and fair trade. (Gotta admit, I’ve tried that one!) Or: You can’t break up with someone for something they did in your dream (do these women live in my house?) Or: Once a week throw out something of your partner’s. It will not be missed. Or noticed. (I guess they DO live in my house.)
The book aims for maximum inclusiveness (i.e., there are illustration of same-sex couples and people of color). The rules, after all, apply to all of us.
I’m rating this highly because it’s an excellent gift idea – for example, Valentine’s Day or anniversary gift for real couples who have learned the art of laughing at themselves and each other (and who are still mighty glad that they are together). It’s like giving someone the gift of laughter – and we sure need more of that in this world. Thanks to @CeladonBooks #YouCanOnlyYell for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2020
Hilarious. I love these women!
May 31, 2020
What is it like to be with someone year after year after year after year. . .
Really liked this little book filled with illustrations paired with bits of wisdom like "Do not walk ten feet ahead of me unless you are looking for land mines." or "If you are unwilling to clean the spatula after you use it, get your own." The illustration describes living with someone who does annoying things like leave socks on the floor, put the subtitles on for the news, place dirty dishes near the sink, say aah after taking a gulp of water, and more. . . My husband has done all of those things many times! Ha! It really can be the little things that pile up one on top of another until a relationship is buried in minutiae. How much better to take time to laugh at those minor annoyances. I enjoyed this laughter break and I think you will too.
Really liked this little book filled with illustrations paired with bits of wisdom like "Do not walk ten feet ahead of me unless you are looking for land mines." or "If you are unwilling to clean the spatula after you use it, get your own." The illustration describes living with someone who does annoying things like leave socks on the floor, put the subtitles on for the news, place dirty dishes near the sink, say aah after taking a gulp of water, and more. . . My husband has done all of those things many times! Ha! It really can be the little things that pile up one on top of another until a relationship is buried in minutiae. How much better to take time to laugh at those minor annoyances. I enjoyed this laughter break and I think you will too.
October 23, 2019
This is an entertaining look at relationships, with both words and Chast’s always on point cartoons. It’s short and amusing, and I recommend it to anyone who could, like me, use a laugh in these disturbing times. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
February 14, 2020
If you're in search of a few giggles, a gift for your valentine, or a present for newly (or even old) married couples - this book is just the one you need. It's funny and fresh - the "rules" are hysterical and the illustrations are SO FUN.
I've loved Chast's drawing style for years - growing up in a creative household who later went on to attend NYC art school - seeing her illustrations in the New Yorker was exciting and inspiring! And combined with Marx's humor and snark ... this pair knows funny!
I felt like SO MANY of these were so very relatable and I kept smacking my husband "Look at this one!" and he'd reluctantly gaze over... and then laugh just as hard as I was. We giggled at the spider advice - to be with someone who can deal with them (me!) if you're afraid of them (him!) and only walk ahead if you're checking for landmines! His legs are 3x as long as mine and he's always so sweet checking for landmines while we walk :)
I do think the advice is spot on. Wine DOES help. And thank goodness we both love the dog more than we hate each other. A sure sign we'll be together forever... or at least as long as Moose is around!
I really enjoyed reading and laughing at this one. It's definitely one I'll keep around. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go sharpen my sword to prepare to duel my husband over his snoring... in a healthy, mature way of course!
I've loved Chast's drawing style for years - growing up in a creative household who later went on to attend NYC art school - seeing her illustrations in the New Yorker was exciting and inspiring! And combined with Marx's humor and snark ... this pair knows funny!
I felt like SO MANY of these were so very relatable and I kept smacking my husband "Look at this one!" and he'd reluctantly gaze over... and then laugh just as hard as I was. We giggled at the spider advice - to be with someone who can deal with them (me!) if you're afraid of them (him!) and only walk ahead if you're checking for landmines! His legs are 3x as long as mine and he's always so sweet checking for landmines while we walk :)
I do think the advice is spot on. Wine DOES help. And thank goodness we both love the dog more than we hate each other. A sure sign we'll be together forever... or at least as long as Moose is around!
I really enjoyed reading and laughing at this one. It's definitely one I'll keep around. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go sharpen my sword to prepare to duel my husband over his snoring... in a healthy, mature way of course!
January 10, 2020
Many thanks to the fine folks at Celadon Books, for sending me a copy of this book to review. #YouCanOnlyYell
This is a sequel of sorts to Why Don't You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It? by the same creative team. I’m glad that they seem to be doing so well with these. I’ve long been a fan of Roz Chast’s cartooning, and I’m starting to appreciate Patricia Marx’s writing as well. They do good funny together.
As with its predecessor, this book consists of single page drawings with captions, with a design on the facing page. It looks gorgeous, but it does make the book feel padded, twice as long as it needs to be.
To be fair, this is really the sort of book you buy as a gift for someone. I mean, as much as I love Chast and Marx, and as much as I enjoyed their first book together, I still think I’d balk at paying $20 US for something with barely enough text to qualify as an email. But I can be pretty cheap. Your mileage may vary. And the fact that I do appreciate having it supports my gift theory. Buy it for someone you love, someone you know will appreciate it.
So, again, thank you, Celadon, for this very thoughtful memento of our journey together. I shall treasure it always.
This is a sequel of sorts to Why Don't You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It? by the same creative team. I’m glad that they seem to be doing so well with these. I’ve long been a fan of Roz Chast’s cartooning, and I’m starting to appreciate Patricia Marx’s writing as well. They do good funny together.
As with its predecessor, this book consists of single page drawings with captions, with a design on the facing page. It looks gorgeous, but it does make the book feel padded, twice as long as it needs to be.
To be fair, this is really the sort of book you buy as a gift for someone. I mean, as much as I love Chast and Marx, and as much as I enjoyed their first book together, I still think I’d balk at paying $20 US for something with barely enough text to qualify as an email. But I can be pretty cheap. Your mileage may vary. And the fact that I do appreciate having it supports my gift theory. Buy it for someone you love, someone you know will appreciate it.
So, again, thank you, Celadon, for this very thoughtful memento of our journey together. I shall treasure it always.
January 7, 2020
I was very pleasantly surprised to receive an ARC of this wonderful book with the caveat that I supply an honest review of it. Having been a huge fan of both of these wonderful women, I, of course, enthusiastically agreed to the offer.
It was a wonderfully amusing and astute depiction of the reality of maintaining a relationship with someone, aka marriage or its other less legally binding configurations. It is simply a book of cartoons drawn by the master, Roz Chast, with writings (I assume the captions are by Patricia Marx) that depict the silly little details of living with others in committed relationships. These relationships are both heterosexual and same sex in equal number. They establish humorous rules that should govern such relationships, and the foibles that arise in such. I laughed a lot, and I was impressed by their insight and cleverness. Each one had merit, and some were simply brilliant.
If this is your cup of tea, I cannot recommend it enough.
It was a wonderfully amusing and astute depiction of the reality of maintaining a relationship with someone, aka marriage or its other less legally binding configurations. It is simply a book of cartoons drawn by the master, Roz Chast, with writings (I assume the captions are by Patricia Marx) that depict the silly little details of living with others in committed relationships. These relationships are both heterosexual and same sex in equal number. They establish humorous rules that should govern such relationships, and the foibles that arise in such. I laughed a lot, and I was impressed by their insight and cleverness. Each one had merit, and some were simply brilliant.
If this is your cup of tea, I cannot recommend it enough.
September 15, 2024
I have been with my husband for nearly 20 years, and this book is HILARIOUS for those in long lasting relationships. It speaks to the funny moments shared over the years.
Read
July 8, 2020Need some comic relief in these stressful times? Here is a good one for you!
What is it like to be with someone year after year after year after year. . .
Really liked this little book filled with illustrations paired with bits of wisdom like "Do not walk ten feet ahead of me unless you are looking for land mines." or "If you are unwilling to clean the spatula after you use it, get your own." The illustration describes living with someone who does annoying things like leave socks on the floor, put the subtitles on for the news, place dirty dishes near the sink, say aah after taking a gulp of water, and more. . . My husband has done all of those things many times! Ha! It really can be the little things that pile up one on top of another until a relationship is buried in minutiae. How much better to take time to laugh at those minor annoyances. I enjoyed this laughter break and I think you will too. *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*
What is it like to be with someone year after year after year after year. . .
Really liked this little book filled with illustrations paired with bits of wisdom like "Do not walk ten feet ahead of me unless you are looking for land mines." or "If you are unwilling to clean the spatula after you use it, get your own." The illustration describes living with someone who does annoying things like leave socks on the floor, put the subtitles on for the news, place dirty dishes near the sink, say aah after taking a gulp of water, and more. . . My husband has done all of those things many times! Ha! It really can be the little things that pile up one on top of another until a relationship is buried in minutiae. How much better to take time to laugh at those minor annoyances. I enjoyed this laughter break and I think you will too. *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*
May 24, 2020
How do you learn to live with someone Year, after year, after year..!
Great little comic book about being in a long-term relationship.
Not as bitter or maddening as other similar books.
Great little comic book about being in a long-term relationship.
Not as bitter or maddening as other similar books.
April 10, 2022
"Falling in love is easy. Agreeing on how to load the dishwasher is hard." -- from the introduction
This is a book of comics about life's little truisms for those in a relationship.
This is a book of comics about life's little truisms for those in a relationship.
February 1, 2020
The title makes it clear that this book will be humorous: In real life, we are always yelling about more than one thing at a time, we are yelling about a lifetime of frustration with nearly everything, otherwise why would we be yelling at all? The subtitle is also a give-away: There are no rules for couples, only coping strategies for getting along with another human being for more than a minute or so (see p. 121). And one of those coping strategies is reading a book like this one, so enjoy!
As the introduction says, "Falling in love is easy. Agreeing about how to load the dishwasher is hard." We all know how true that is, and that's why my husband is not allowed to load the dishwasher unless I am out of town.
Patricia Marx and Roz Chast are a great team, mostly enhancing one another's gifts. Every so often a page will not speak to me, but for the most part, each page is a gem. Patricia Marx is wonderful, but a few of these pages would be worth the price just for Roz Chast's drawings, with no text at all. As part of an old married couple, I can relate to a lot of this, but I suspect you don't need to be in a couple to appreciate this book. Hope these two authors continue to combine forces, as books like this are a gift to the world!
Note to publisher: I like the idea of only putting the cartoons on the recto pages, it allows you to appreciate them one at a time. But I'm sure that drives up the cost, so congrats on keeping the price relatively low.
As the introduction says, "Falling in love is easy. Agreeing about how to load the dishwasher is hard." We all know how true that is, and that's why my husband is not allowed to load the dishwasher unless I am out of town.
Patricia Marx and Roz Chast are a great team, mostly enhancing one another's gifts. Every so often a page will not speak to me, but for the most part, each page is a gem. Patricia Marx is wonderful, but a few of these pages would be worth the price just for Roz Chast's drawings, with no text at all. As part of an old married couple, I can relate to a lot of this, but I suspect you don't need to be in a couple to appreciate this book. Hope these two authors continue to combine forces, as books like this are a gift to the world!
Note to publisher: I like the idea of only putting the cartoons on the recto pages, it allows you to appreciate them one at a time. But I'm sure that drives up the cost, so congrats on keeping the price relatively low.
February 14, 2020
After my wife, I love Roz Chast the best. (And Patricia Marx, too.)
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