After spending the day in class and then returning home after a long work shift last week, I was ecstatic to see a large envelope on my counter addressed to me when I walked into my apartment, and even more excited to see that Abbi Jacobson’s new book, “I Might Regret This,” was sitting inside the wrapping.
Jacobson is one half of the “Broad City” duo, a show on Comedy Central that focuses on her and her best friend, played by actress Ilana Glaser, and their adventures through New York City. The show is a guilty pleasure for my friends and I, as their quirkiness and sense of humor are some things that we all find pieces of ourselves in.
The book was written after Jacobson took a three-week road trip across the United States. During each stop, she experiences anxieties that many of us face regularly: insomnia, restlessness and mental health issues. Jacobson discusses her sexuality, her regrets about coming to terms with her sexuality and her first serious relationship.
For me, this book was everything that I needed. If you’ve fallen victim to the seasonal mood-shift, it’s nice to read about someone, especially in the public eye, that also struggles with heartbreak, loss and depression.
Much of the book references parts of “Broad City” that some might not fully understand unless they’ve seen the show. If you’re like me and have seen all of the episodes on Hulu at least four times through, it brings a sense of nostalgia and happiness hearing about how some of my favorite scenes from the show came about.
The book takes the reader through each night Jacobson faced insomnia and anxiety, written in both a personal journal style and bullet point lists. During one of the nights on her trip, Jacobson dives into a tangent about her ex girlfriend, where she lays out every worst-case scenario that would happen if she bumped into her ex in Los Angeles, Jacobson’s destination and her former partner’s city of residence.
Jacobson spaced out each passage with drawings of albums that she listened to while on the road, food and beverages that she consumed and other notes that she made along the way. Some of my favorite albums that she included were “Purple Rain” by Prince and Sia’s “Breathe Me;” both songs have been crutches for me when I needed musical relief.
My favorite passage from the book comes after Jacobson calms herself down after a tangent about the possibility of running into her ex. She says, “It’s okay to think it’s not okay. It’s okay to go off the grid and not be in touch. It’s okay to take a second and to breathe and to cry. It’s okay to be tender. It’s okay to fail. It’s okay to change, to grow, to be confused. It’s okay to fight for something and want to give up. It’s okay to want someone. It’s okay to need someone. It’s okay to learn and to get better and to know you’re still not quite there yet.”
My love for Jacobson began long before “I Might Regret This” entered my life, but the book solidified the feeling. I would recommend this book to anyone that is feeling unsatisfied with their careers as a reminder that there is more out there. I relate to Jacobson in that I relied on traveling to find myself and feel inspired to pack up my car and drive across the country to see what exists outside of Orono, Maine. While still upsetting, it’s reassuring to know that you’re not the only one dealing with depression and other anxieties, and I am so thankful that Jacobson was able to open up about her struggles to make some of us feel less emotionally isolated.
