Review: Thirty-Life Crisis by Lisa Schwartz

For a long time, I did not understand YouTube. My friend Jennel in college was obsessed with it and would share endless stories from the videos she watched. I watched the funny videos on school breaks or whatever popped up on my Facebook, but I never got into the culture of it. 

…until I graduated from college, moved back home for the summer to do summer stock near my parents’ house, and didn’t have any friends around. I don’t know what pulled me in, but suddenly I was watching Vlogs and feeling like I knew these people personally. Now I was starting to understand Jennel’s interest in the new medium. 

I have read a number of “YouTuber” books and tend to enjoy them. Mamrie Hart’s books are some of my absolute favorites and I will recommend her second book, I’ve Got This Round, to anyone who will listen; even if you don’t know her from her YouTube channel, that book is so important to read. She makes incredible points that can help a lot of people struggling. 

When I received a copy of Lisa Schwartz’s book Thirty Life Crisis, I was beyond excited. I found Lisa through her ex-boyfriend Shane Dawson but have remained a loyal viewer of her videos, even as she struggled to find her channel’s voice. 

Lisa’s book is one of the better written YouTube books. It is raw, hilarious, and honest which is a recipe for a successful memoir in my opinion. Lisa does a great job of avoiding alienating an audience that hasn’t seen her on screen. If you’ve never seen her online or on TV, you will still connect to her story. 

There is a lot of pressure on young people in their twenties. You’re expected to have graduated, entered the work force, find you life partner, and start a family in ten measly years. For Lisa, she thought she accomplished some of those things and others were not long lasting. 

Lisa’s book is written in a series of chapters that each have a hilarious title and anecdote that connects to the idea that even when it doesn’t feel like society says it, there is life after thirty. And even better, there is a GOOD life after thirty. 

I’m currently 25 and engaged, so there were parts of this book I couldn’t relate to but it didn’t make me feel any less moved by her story. I’m also a struggling actor, just trying to get my next job that will hopefully be my big break into the industry. I say this because Lisa writes in a such a way that makes you want to be her friend, even if you haven’t struggled with the same things she has. 

This book is fun, I laughed out loud and smirked a bunch on the subway. Lisa has a great sense of humor and a specific voice that serves her memoir beautifully. I love how comedians can drop truth bombs so severe we can feel tears start to flow, and then button the point with a joke. It’s brilliant. 

4/5 stars from me.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the advanced copy! Thirty Life Crisis is on sale August 27, 2019.