You're Gonna Die Alone (& Other Excellent News) - by Devrie Brynn Donalson

Book Synopsis

A refreshingly honest, wonderfully humorous, and entirely inspiring exploration of change, fear, and what it really means to be alone, from everyone's favorite TikTok oracle, Devrie Donalson.

Dear Reader Just Doing Your Best,

Give me a minute, and I'll tell you a story.

I'll tell you about my junior high soulmate, my haunted house, and running away to Scotland to lose my virginity. I'll tell you about my ardent belief in the power of cheese and the goodness of pigeons, the rules for attending my funeral, and my struggle to reconcile feminism with Brazilian bikini waxes. I'll tell you about my greatest failures and the many ways I have suffered because of my fear. I'll tell you about my greatest triumphs and exactly how I figured out how to be a person I'm proud of.

If you've ever felt the visceral fear of being abandoned or the anxious anticipation of change, you might find something here like hope or validation. If you've ever wondered if you had it in you to start over, or if you've found yourself questioning what you've always believed, you might find a road map to navigating both.

I can't say I know a lot, but my life has been one of many lessons. The wisdom I have managed to collect while the universe desperately chased me down, clobbering me with things to learn while I scurried around like an oblivious rat in search of abandoned street pizza, I happily share with you now.

What I hope you find in these pages is a little laughter, a little healing, and permission to be okay. I hope you find the courage to embrace change and the sudden joy of believing you have always, always been enough. Above all and against all odds, from one pizza rat to another, I hope you feel seen.

Sincerely, DD

Review Quotes

"[A] compassionate debut...Donalson's collection is a fierce declaration of self, it is also a map of the metamorphoses required for that self to exist. Readers seeking a relatable confession of self-discovery will find ample wisdom and laughs."

-- "Publishers Weekly"

"In a market flooded with self-help books, Devrie Donalson's excellently titled You're Gonna Die Alone (& Other Excellent News) stands out...From Tinder and tattoos to rejection and healing, Donalson's remarkable journey of discovery reveals a woman who has broken free of the baggage that had been weighing her down for so long."

-- "New York Post"

"The wisdom of Bird by Bird meets a fresh wit reminiscent of Phoebe Waller-Bridge in You're Gonna Die Alone--a triumphant debut overflowing with courage, humor, and kindness. I want to give a copy to every person I love."

-- "Natalie Franke, bestselling author of Gutsy "

"You're Gonna Die Alone is a perfect companion for anyone who needs a belly laugh, a good cry, and a freaking break."

-- "Abby Jimenez, New York Times bestselling author of Yours Truly "

"A collection of delicate and complex emotions shown under the softest of lights, handled with care, all while allowing you room to laugh and smile."

-- "Naina Singh, songwriter, TikToker "

"An incredible comfort and a stunning debut, You're Gonna Die Alone is hope for the hopeless romantics and the cheese-loving darlings...Hilarious, heartbreaking, and hopeful. Just like life should be."

-- "Alicia Ross, BookToker"

"Devrie reaches across time and space to grab the hand of the scared and ashamed thirteen-year-old that lives within each of us and firmly but tenderly declare: life is too short to play small. Equal parts time capsule, love letter, and permission slip, Devrie's story is delightfully funny and profoundly liberating."

-- "Eliza Day, actor, writer, intuitive reader"

"I found myself laughing out loud, then crying tears I didn't know I had in me, then crying from hysterically laughing again, all while feeling fully seen. This is the book I needed to navigate growing up, the book I didn't know I needed at thirty years old, and the book I would gift to every woman in my life."

-- "Brianna McDonnell, writer, actor, producer"

"I've never read a book like this before. It flowed like a deep conversation with Devrie; the kind where you wrap up in your favorite blanket by the bonfire with your girlfriends and recount soul-crushing AIM convos in middle school, the hell we put our bodies through in the name of beauty, and the devastating losses that we used as fuel to build ourselves back up. Every sentence is in Devrie's quick, assured voice we've come to know and love. She just GETS IT."

-- "Jessy Parr, visual storyteller, IG influencer"

"If you need an exhale and a laugh at the same time, read this book."

-- "Jess Ekstrom, author of Chasing the Bright Side "

"Relatable, real, and a heart song for those of us who dream big, love hard, and want to be our best while fighting against all the voices that tell us who we are supposed to be. Devrie makes you cry, laugh, and critically think about who you were and who you want to be. Do yourself a favor--read this!"

-- "Barrett Pall, journalist, LGBTQIA+ advocate, life coach"

"This book made me heartily laugh out loud! Devrie's humor is woven so stunningly and naturally throughout every chapter, even in the most devastating and crushing moments. It is full of sage advice and hard truths, but never pretentious or all-knowing, it is gentle and loving and cozy. I want to give this to my mom, my sister, and my girlfriends. This book made me hopeful for the future of writing and proud to be a woman living in this time."

-- "Mary Elizabeth Kelly, actor, writer, comedian"

"Trying your best and just want someone to notice? This book was written for you."

-- "Anna Przy, author of Keep It Up, Cutie: A Not Quite Self-Help Book"

"Witty, hilarious, and thought-provoking. Devrie Donalson is a natural-born storyteller and one to watch."

-- "Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author"