In her debut essay collection, You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain, 2 Dope Queens co-host Phoebe Robinson lays out everything that’s on her mind, from how it feels to wear a natural hairstyle, to why Michael Fassbender will be the father of her future child. It’s an eclectic collection, and not without its low points, but Robinson’s debut is a solid one, nevertheless.

You Can’t Touch My Hair zigs and zags between topics, and the rabbit trails it leaves behind resemble a conversation between two people with under-medicated ADHD. That’s not a bad thing; so long as you can keep up with Robinson’s skips and segues, you’ll enjoy the ride.

Robinson’s collection doesn’t truly fall short until its last section, in which the comedian writes letters to her young niece. They’re mostly lighthearted and fun, but a few wore past their welcome, making this reader shake her Kindle in frustration.

That being said, You Can’t Touch My Hair succeeds far more than it fails. Robinson’s essays are laugh-out-loud funny, even when they’re a bit too long.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.

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