Love, Wine, and Other Highs: A Kind of Memoir

Rae pens her second memoir (after I’m Not a Writer, self-published in the UK) about coming of age as a Black British millennial in the 2000s. A child of divorce, Rae grew up with hair and body issues, was bullied as a teen, navigated the unhealthy social scene on Myspace, and endured the death of her best friend at age 19. Rae writes of her love for wine, which began in her teens (“The truth is, drinking remains my favorite after work activity, topic of conversation and Olympic sport”). She also writes of devastating breakups, disappointing men, and trying to establish a career with unpaid internships. Eventually, she courageously moves to Germany for a job despite suffering from anxiety. “Whew, what a ride that was,” Rae admits. Readers may find themselves feeling the same way while wondering if her book is a memoir, a personal journal, a self-help book, or all of the above.