If you like Suzi’s comedy, you will like this.

Each chapter is a part of Suzi’s life that she wants to address where she tells you how it relates to her (be it a story or second hand experience), adds some of her usual wry observations and then the chapter ends with a conversation with a professional and / or friend to discuss the subject matter of the chapter.

I found this narrative style very interesting and could really sense Suzi’s personality throughout the whole thing as well as having a narrative arc throughout brining you back to the main point.

I sped through this and could not recommend it highly enough.

This is the memoir of Suzi Ruffell, a 38 year old British comedian.

I have been a fan of Suzi Ruffell for a long time and have enjoyed all her appearances on television. I love the content of her humour and think that she is in the top league of stand-up comedians here in the UK.

I do enjoy reading books, generally in the crime/mystery/thriller genres but every now and again, a memoir. I was very interested to read about her life. Like Suzi, I am also a fan of Doc Martens, those very comfortable, hard wearing, sensible shoes.

However, I found Am I having fun now? To be an OKAY 3 star read. I was disappointed by the format of her memoir which was padded out by interviews with a total of 10 contributors - Dr Kirren Schnack, Natasha Devon, Owen O’Kane, Elizabeth Day, Dolly Alderton, Charlene Douglas, Laura Bates, Ellen Jones, Dr Martha Deiros Collado and Sara Pascoe - who added their opinions on the topics Suzi was exploring. I believe that readers want to know just what Suzi thinks about issues affecting her life, rather than content from these contributors which you could get from their chosen media platforms.

Suzi does however explain in her own words issues that affect her life. There is not an awful lot about her day job of being a stand-up comedian but tonnes about her lifestyle. The best bit about stand-up comedy was when she was heckled…

About three minutes in, a man shouted: ‘What you need is a big cock,’ I responded: ‘Then I doubt you can help.’

…I enjoyed reading about her coping with anxiety and her coming out as a lesbian…

Nan called me straight after and said: ‘I know now and I love you just as much as yesterday.’ It was one of the great phone calls of my life.

…Suzi explained the lesbian lifestyle and why Pride events are so important. I enjoyed learning about how Suzi and her wife Alice became a family by adopting a baby girl they have nicknamed Peach and was touched when Suzi wrote…

The week we moved into our Brighton house the other double-mum family on our street left home-made cupcakes on the doorstep, with a card to welcome us.

…this wonderfully illustrates the inclusion Suzi and Alice were seeking in London but because of homophobia, was unable to find.

Am I having fun now? Is not a hilarious, funny and entertaining read. It is a pleasant read though and written in a humorous style. Here are two snippets that nicely illustrate Suzi’s stand-up personality…

The time on the bus when I kindly offered to move so that the two older East Asian ladies could sit together, only to be told they didn’t know each other.

More than a year after our cancelled wedding, we popped to the multistorey Sainsbury’s one afternoon, because we know how to have a good time. It was still deep enough into the pandemic that a wander around the homeware section felt like a European city break.

I was excited to get an early copy of this because I really like Suzi Ruffell's comedy. it's sort of a memoir but more of an advice book/something to relate to if you're a bit of a worrier! It's a quick read and it feels like chatting to a pal. Very relatable and a nice read.

Firstly, thank you so much for the opportunity to read this review copy!

Unfortunately, I really struggled to connect with this book and Ruffell’s style of writing. I’m not quite sure why, and found it disappointing as I was very much looking forward to reading this book! The book is not badly written and covers some serious topics fantastically, in a lighthearted and relatable way, however I just didn’t connect personally.

This is a really joyous read, although it deals with some difficult topics like anxiety. It's not an autobiography but there is a chronological approach to the life experience shared in each chapter so I enjoyed that aspect of it.
I appreciated the way Ruffell spoke about anxiety in her comedy and was expecting something similar but this was more intended to be useful, as well as funny.
The dialogue with an expert at the end of each chapter led to some really insightful content. I will be seeking out the podcast to see if it's equally interesting.

Suzi Ruffell's autobiography relates how she deals with anxiety and her sexuality through relationships, motherhood and the world of stand-up comedy.

It is humorous as you would expect and she comes across as honest and relatable. Anxiety often leads to over-thinking problems and situations but hard work and resilience eventually brings her a successful career and happy family life.

Less interesting are the transcribed interviews with several authors of self-help books (and one other comedian) to illustrate and expand on her ideas. These sections take away from her own voice rather than adding any value. References to the books for further reading would be more useful.

However, the book is peppered with references to contemporaneous pop music which help add atmosphere and place the story in time. I have added the playlist to Spotify.

Well worth the read.

A self-help book / memoir, Suzi Ruffell's first book is just as funny and delightful as she is. Detailing her life from growing up closeted in Portsmouth to her time at drama school to parts of her career as a comedian, every chapter is bookended by a conversation she has with an expert in the area of the chapter. I enjoyed reading this - Suzi's natural voice comes through in every sentence and the conversations particularly about coming out, relationships, and parenthood are a particular highlight. I'd also love to see her in more acting roles (I sort of feel like she'd be perfect for the 4th season of Ted Lasso with the women's team angle, casting directors get on it) considering all the love with which she speaks about her time studying acting. I can imagine the audiobook, which she will narrate, will be an even better way to experience this book.