In January, our Director of Operations Lucy and I took a day to set audacious business goals for 2021. One of my goals was to work with a celebrity. We’ve had a few VIPs in our club over the years, but they flew under-the-radar for the most part, occasionally signing up under a less recognizable name. But that told me this goal wasn’t too far-fetched.
All year, I kept my eye on the publishing industry to see if there were any big upcoming books or memoirs that felt like a perfect fit. I didn’t want to half-ass this opportunity. I didn’t know who I was waiting for, but I’d know it when I saw it.
I was waiting for Gabrielle Union.
Gabrielle’s first essay collection We’re Going to Need More Wine is one of my favorite memoirs of all time. It’s so raw, so heartbreaking, and funnier than hell. There are moments from her first book that sit with me still, like her summers in Nebraska running with a rougher crowd, the demise of her first marriage and subsequent sexcapades, and her gutwrenching account of a robbery-turned-rape when she was a young adult. Gabrielle embodies what it means to be a modern feminist. She’s radically honest, leads with her values, loves fiercely, and owns up to her mistakes and shortcomings with a level of self-awareness that is second to none. And again, she’ll make you laugh the whole way through. So when I saw she had a second essay collection coming out in September, I was eager to make a partnership happen.
Conversations began in late June and we’ve been hard at work to execute this partnership in a way that feels authentic to Feminist Book Club as well as Gabrielle. I’m humbled to share that November’s box has been curated by Ms. Union herself and will feature her new book You Got Anything Stronger? Special thanks to Hannah at Loyalty Bookstores for helping us secure so many copies of this fantastic book!
November boxes are now available for preorder and will begin to ship on November 1. We have a limited number of these boxes this month, so if you’re not already a member, make sure you sign up early to get yours!
