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A cupcake on the cover? Naturally, I thought I was diving into a book about food. Maybe a failed bakery or some whimsical culinary journey. The book’s introduction, indeed, featured cupcakes. But this book wasn’t (specifically) about baking cupcakes.
Instead, it’s a deep dive into midlife crisis, a love/hate relationship with Baltimore, love, marriage, faith, race, mental health, and rediscovery. Oh, and it’s also about R. Eric Thomas’s experience as a gay Black man married to a Presbyterian minister. That’s a lot of ground to cover in one book! This collection of essays delivers the wide-ranging content with plenty of heart and lots (and lots) of delicious snark.
Here is my Congratulations, The Best is Over book review:
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Congratulations, The Best is Over Book Summary
Congratulations, The Best Is Over! by R. Eric Thomas is a collection of witty, heartfelt essays exploring midlife, mental health, and self-discovery.
The book dives deeply into Thomas’s mental health struggles and the impact of those on his personal and professional life. His candid reflections on love, marriage, and friendship provide humor and vulnerability, especially as he navigates his (obviously loving) relationship with his husband, a Presbyterian minister.
Thomas wrestles with his love/hate relationship with his hometown of Baltimore—a city that frustrates him as much as it feels like home. But as he comes to realize, if Baltimore can evolve, so can he. His essays offer a raw yet hilarious exploration of growth, change, and finding joy in life’s inevitable messiness. Written during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the book also provides an insightful look at life in lockdown. A reluctant and slightly terrifying move to the suburbs unexpectedly brings peace and catharsis—aside from the deafening chorus of loud, gay frogs in the backyard pond.
At its heart, Congratulations, The Best Is Over! is about redefining success, finding peace amidst chaos, and embracing the process of rediscovery, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Perhaps this quote from the book’s introduction section best captures the spirit of the essay collection:
“…between the best days of life and the worst days of life, between what you thought your life would be and what it is, between two people, there is a vivid and strange expanse in the middle. This is the middle.” – R. Eric Thomas, Congratulations, the Best is Over
Who is R. Eric Thomas?
R. Eric Thomas (he says you can call him Eric) is a writer, playwright, and humorist known for his sharp wit and insightful cultural commentary. He gained popularity as a columnist for Elle, where he wrote the hilarious “Eric Reads the News” column, blending pop culture, politics, and humor.
His writing style is funny, relatable, and often deeply personal, making him a favorite among readers who enjoy humor with a side of social insight.
He’s also the author of:
- Here for it: Or, How to Save your Soul in America, Essays
- Kings of B’More
Find more about R. Eric Thomas here: R. Eric Thomas – writer. person on the internet.
Now onto the rating! Congratulations, The Best Is Over Book Review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 4/5
Congratulations, The Best Is Over! strikes a balance between humor and heart, with R. Eric Thomas offering personal reflections on his journey through midlife, family dynamics, and self-acceptance. Thomas delivers his insights, (relatively) free of foul language and un-wholesome content. He gives thoughtful reflections on his personal faith—especially with his being married to a pastor—give the book a wholesome, grounded feel.
Hilarity Score: 5/5
R. Eric Thomas writes humor for a living – plays, television, books and magazine columns. And it shows. He often delivers his thoughts in a snarky manner.
“The cats’ names were Cole Hamels and Chase Utley, after two Phillies players, but I knew I’d never remember that, so I redubbed them Jennifer Hudson and Susan Sarandon. Both Oscar winners!” – R. Eric Thomas, Congratulations, the Best is Over.
Depression just hangs out with me like a lax babysitter who is ambivalent about my bedtime.
In every office I’ve worked, word of complimentary cake races through the ranks of the cubicle class like it’s a rumor about the Wells Fargo wagon showing up in River City, Iowa
This city has had more eras than Taylor Swift. The slogan that greeted us as we arrived was “Baltimore: the greatest city in America.” And at that point I was like, “Okay, absolutely not.” Babe. This feels like shade. The greatest city? In America?? Better than Chicago? Better than Pawnee, Indiana?! Better than the murder capital of the world, Cabot Cove, Maine? Okay…
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 5/5
Highly awesome. Yet another fantastic author I had never heard of until I randomly stumbled upon this audiobook while filtering my library’s non-fiction humor selection. R. Eric Thomas is funny, thought-provoking, and refreshingly vulnerable. He delivers his commentary without relying on vulgar language or crass content, which only makes his wit resonate with me even more. Congratulations made me a fan.
Things I liked:
- Heavy snark/self-deprecating humor
- Themes of faith and God, but NOT from the perspective of a straight, white, middle-class man (me.)
- The obvious deep, dedicated love for the author’s husband. Heartwarming!
- Loud chorus of gay frogs in the backyard pond.
Things I didn’t like:
- The fact that this book wasn’t actually about cupcakes, like the cover suggested.
- I’ve never been to Baltimore.
Conclusion: Congratulations, The Best is Over: Essays Book Review
In Congratulations, The Best Is Over!, R. Eric Thomas weaves humor, heart, and real-life struggles into a compelling and entertaining read. It’s a book that touches on everything from mental health to love, marriage, and faith—with the perfect balance of snark and vulnerability. Whether you’re navigating midlife, questioning your place in the world, or just in need of a laugh, Thomas offers a relatable and witty perspective. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that even in the chaos, there’s room for growth, rediscovery, and a little bit of humor.
Scott Johnson is a Midwestern humorist, author of Essays Out of Left Field, and the mind behind scottjohnsonauthor.com. He’s also a husband, dad of three, and Data Systems Administrator (whatever that is). Scott is on a mission to find and read all the funny books. He shares his thoughts on those books, author life, and other delightful randomness with his readers on his website.
