I've Tried Being Nice: Essays

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Good House comes a collection of humorous essays about a lifelong people pleaser (and wife, mother, writer, and dog lover) who learns—at a certain age—the joy of not always having to be nice. Perfect for fans of I Feel Bad About My Neck.

Until a few years ago, Ann Leary had been a bumbling, anxious people pleaser. Her attempts to ingratiate herself with complete strangers sometimes backfired hilariously, causing her husband to repeatedly implore her to “leave the people alone.”

It wasn’t that Ann needed everybody to like her. She needed them to love her. But one day, after waking up with ice in her veins, she overcame her fear of confrontation by telling a neighbor—who’d repeatedly tested her patience—“Look, I’ve tried being nice.” The impact of those simple words was gratifying and life-altering.

In these smart, honest, and humorous essays, Leary chronicles her experiences trying to get along with other humans as a child, a young adult, a wife, a mother, and a writer. She discusses everything from bats, online personality quizzes, substance abuse, parenthood, her mother’s mysterious past, and so much more.

Courageous, wickedly funny, and surprisingly moving, the essays in I’ve Tried Being Nice draw on the riotous—and relatable—particulars of Ann Leary’s life. It’s a scrumptious and irresistible treat.