BOOK TOUR DATES + DETAILS
Come say hi in NYC, LA, and CT!
It is with great excitement and jubilance that I announce my dates, deets and stops for the If You Don’t Like This, I Will Die book tour!!!!
I am so excited to share this book with all of you in three of the most important places to me. If you live near one of these stops, please say hi. If not, send this to any friends and family who would like to come and hear me talk about the book. I handpicked each of the conversation partners for all three cities and I am SOOOO EXCITED~~~~
If You Don’t Like This, I Will Die: Tour Dates
NYC: Monday, August 11, 7:00 PM at The Strand Union Square
In conversation with , Cultural Researcher at Reddit and author of
This is a ticketed event. You must purchase a ticket to attend.
Los Angeles: Thursday, August 14, 7:00 PM at North Figueroa Bookshop
In conversation with of the best meme account Official Sean Penn, cofounder of Fishwife, ex-host of Glowing Up Podcast
This is a free event. No purchase necessary.
Southport, CT: Thursday, September 4, 6:00 PM at Pequot Library
In conversation with Lucy Biggers, ex-sustainability influencer, journalist, and social media editor at
This is a free event. RSVP appreciated.
Some notes on Europe
As you guys know, I just spent two weeks in Europe. And, while there, I thought a lot about my present experience as a tourist in Europe versus how I’d go to Europe as an influencer posting content day in/day out.
The ability to be present and not have any pressure to post while in Europe with Jack this month was priceless, and cataclysmically different than how it was in 2018, when I went to Europe three times and never spared a single detail from my followers. This came at a great cost. I was never able to fully enjoy myself or relax. I’d come back from those trips exhausted and depleted, needing a vacation after my vacation (but never taking one).
But all around me in Europe, I saw the presence of Instagram, even if I wasn’t on it. Whether directly or indirectly, I saw girls in dresses that let me know where they were from and which side of Instagram they were on. I could also most likely tell their line of work and if they used the Dyson Airwrap. My entire Explore page became other girls in Europe, too. I saw the beautiful photos and knew the price it takes to get the four good ones actually worth putting in the carousel. It’s a price. Many would say it’s worth it, but it doesn’t come free.
I feel that for many Americans, especially those involved in social media, there’s no point in going to Europe if you aren’t going to post about it. I could see the algorithm-driven backed decisions, outfits, drink orders, and activities in Mallorca, and during my time in Rome, Paris, and Stockholm.
I’m not here to say it’s bad, I think that’s a tired argument. Social media is not going anywhere. But one gets to make a conscious decision whether or not they want to participate in it.
I coined the term “Europlay” to describe the American urge (mine included) to soak up the richness of places like Italy, Spain, and France… the culture, history, and beauty, while still holding on to our creature comforts and consumption. We want the Eurosummer temporarily. Fashion ads only make the pull stronger, with models in lace, silk, and poplin dresses draped along the Italian coast, reinforcing the fantasy of a perfect Mediterranean summer, dropping into our inboxes as early as April so we can start dreaming.
But it’s all just a fantasy fairytale. In reality, many Europeans do not live with the level of consumption that we here in the states do. In fact, as I walked around in my cotton Dôen Italian summer dress, I clocked Spanish boys in jerseys that said “BED STUY, BROOKLYN”. It was so funny, I was trying to be them and they were trying to be me.
What I’m trying to say is, and I talk about this in the book, I’m an American and I’m used to American luxuries. Iced coffees, air conditioning, fifteen types of peanut butter available on every street corner, the “good” Italian sauceso good I can’t stand Barilla anymore. Life in Europe is beautiful, but I’m happy to be home. Life is good here. The Italian Meditereannan moodboard is just a moodboard. What’s not included in the moodboard is the sweaty, steep inclines in 93 degree weather, no taxis, and potentially grumpy servers who are a bit angry with Americans (especially on Mallorca). These are all just my observations.
See you on tour.
xo
Lee