Acne: A Memoir

Chinn, a TV writer and actor, rivals the likes of Samantha Irby and Casey Wilson with her cringeworthy embarrassments, self-reflection, and self-deprecation while growing up a biracial Scientologist. If tragedy plus time equals comedy, then this book has that formula perfected. Chinn’s memoir is surreal in its reality, offering a completely unique perspective of healing, both of the epidermis and the core. From underage drinking, Jell-O wrestling, and watching her teenage brother battle a brain tumor, to—as Chinn describes it—suffering from something worse than famine and nuclear war: severe acne through adulthood. Chinn’s account of her formative years is as unique as it is tragic. This off-the-wall, borderline manic romp through unstable relationships and warped priorities is unlike most any other memoir headed for the shelves.