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That Was Awkward

The Art and Etiquette of the Awkward Hug

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That Was Awkward

By: Emily Flake
Narrated by: Amanda Duarte, Peter Stray, Emily Flake
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About this listen

A Lit Hub "Most Anticipated Books of 2019"

From New Yorker humorist Emily Flake, a hilarious, oddly enlightening book of observations and advice that embraces the inescapable awkwardness of two human beings attempting to make physical contact with each other

We've all been there.

You encounter the mother of your recent ex. That guy your best friend dated sophomore year. That friend-of-a-friend who you've met once but keeps popping up in your "People You May Know" feed.

Do you shake hands? Do you hug? Do you - horrors - kiss on the cheek? And then the inevitable: the awkward hug. That cultural blight we've all experienced.

Emily Flake - keen observer of human behavior and life's less-than-triumphant moments - codifies the most common awkward hugs that have plagued us all. Filled with laugh-out-loud anecdotes, astute observations, and wise advice, That Was Awkward is a heartwarming reminder that we're all in this together, grasping hastily at each other in an attempt to say: let's embrace to remind ourselves of our essential and connecting humanity, but also, please don't touch me for more than three seconds.

©2019 Emily Flake (P)2019 Penguin Audio
Art Witty Funny

Critic Reviews

“Wise and wildly funny, That Was Awkward is Emily Flake at her best, deconstructing modern life with a needle-sharp wit but a warm heart. That Was Awkward is indispensable, brilliant, and delightful.” (Susan Orlean, author of The Library Book)

“Brilliant and weird! Yet again, the beloved Emily Flake has nailed it. As a hugger, (awkward most of the time), I feel understood AND simultaneously able to laugh at myself, thanks to this book. If looking for a guide on how to better navigate your way through this world of strange embraces, and also chortle whilst drinking coffee, take Flake’s book home with you pronto!” (Mira Ptacin, author of Poor Your Soul and The In-Betweens)

“It isn’t hard to recognize yourself - and everyone you know - in these hilarious portraits of awkward huggers. Sincerely funny, sly, and subversive, Emily Flake perfectly captures the plight of our perpetually embarrassing rituals of connection.” (Molly Ringwald)

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