Uncle of the Year & Other Debatable Triumphs

Tony-nominated actor Rannells (Too Much Is Not Enough), who appeared in HBO’s Girls and Broadway’s The Book of Mormon, recalls his upbringing, career breakthroughs, aging woes, and more in this pithy essay collection. Rannells delivers 20 vignettes that skew wild and gossipy: in “Things You Learn at an Underwear Party,” he describes losing his wallet during a night out in the East Village, while in “Always Sit Next to Mark Ruffalo,” he gives a star-studded account of his trip to the 2015 Golden Globes as Lena Dunham’s date. He also dives into his often “fraught” and “painful” dating life, but scattered among the laughs and winces are moments of real heart, as when he tenderly recounts, in the title essay, caring for his nieces and nephews. In conversational prose, Rannells successfully welcomes readers into his world with humor, grace, and wisdom. Theatergoers and comedy fans alike will find much to love. Agent: Bill Clegg, Clegg Agency. (May)