Naked (in Italy): A Memoir About the Pitfalls of La Dolce Vita

“Throughout this wittily acerbic memoir, Evans offers dry humor and sharp feminist insights.” –Kirkus Reviews “In a series of vignettes, Evans describes her many embarrassing moments and triumphs with vivid emotional detail.” –BookLife A page-turning, heart-wrenching, hilarious debut in the tradition of Elizabeth Gilbert, Jenny Lawson, Samantha Irby, Cheryl Strayed, and Sally Rooney. In her late twenties, M.E. Evans hops on a plane to Italy on a mission to change her life and that’s exactly what happens. Unfortunately, personal growth isn’t always easy. In Naked, bestselling author, M.E. Evans, tackles the personal growth narrative in a way that is refreshingly honest, unapologetically sensual, and wildly entertaining. If you’ve ever set foot in a foreign country or picked up a travel memoir you probably think you already know what Naked is about: a dreamy personal account of the life-altering beauty that is Italy. And sure, that’s in there, nestled somewhere between the profound grief, bruised ego, debilitating anxiety, chronic depression, vagina paintings, a boyfriend with billowing chest hair, and a mother-in-law who forcibly irons your underwear. Though Naked takes place (mostly) in Italy, it’s less about travel and more about personal identity and believing in relationships. Evans’ dream of a magical life abroad is marred by forbidden love, the death of her younger brother, and a batshit crazy family, yet she skillfully merges tragedy and humor for a wild emotional journey exploring what it means to be human–flaws and all. Evans’ wit, compassion, and vulnerability make reading this book a rarely authentic and relatable experience. You’ll cry, you’ll cackle, and you’ll want Evans to be your best friend.