Eat Your Feelings: Recipes for Self-Loathing »

Heather Whaley is an actress, writer, and lifelong eater. Her play, Social Note, was the first play to appear in the storied Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel. I Will Not Marry Anthony Porter! will have its Off-Broadway premier in 2009. Her television pilot, Sharon Shaw, is being developed for Lifetime, and her film project, Adult Children of Divorce, will go into production later this year.

A riotous and all-wrong collection of real recipes from Heather Whaley- think Amy Sedaris meets a warped Martha Stewart

In this hilarious tongue-in-cheek collection, actress and playwright Heather Whaley reminds us that unlike fair weather friends and reliable sources of income, food will always be there for you- and for each of life's pitfalls she has provided the perfect recipe to cheer you up. Whether you've just been dumped, fired, found naked pictures of yourself online, or are forty-five and living with your parents, Eat Your Feelings will help fill any void.

With a dark comedic edge, this book collects the comfort foods necessary for any emotional rollercoaster: Sky-High Banana Cream Pie Because You're Dating a Married Guy, Lonely Christmas Pudding, Little Sister Earns More Than You Ham-and- Cheese Toastie, and many more. Illustrated with photos that add the perfect punch, this collection confounds life's little dramas with wit and brevity.

Publishers Weekly

Though billed as "Amy Sedaris meets a warped Martha Stewart," this painful attempt from writer and actress Whaley falls far short on both counts. Ostensibly a tongue-in-cheek collection of dishes suitable for specific misfortunes and awkward moments, Whaley only manages to expand on the discomfort. Aside from listing props in ingredient lists ("Stir Fry for Stretch Marks," calls for an "old lady bathing suit"; "Moving to Russia To Look For Work Chocobanbutt Panini" calls for more accoutrements than foodstuffs), Whaley includes "recipes" like "MIL From Hell Taco Bell," a list of things to order from the fast food chain when mother-in-law is pushing your buttons. Subtlety and charm are not part of Whaley's repertoire, so crass comedy abounds: "Unwanted Pregnancy Kielbasa and Sauerkraut" lists qualities one should look for in an adoptive family ("must not be likely to sell child on black market"); "Mom's Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup for Closet Cases" reminds readers to use dairy butter, not "boy butter." Readers dealing with depression, irritating family members or simply in the mood for a comfort food pick-me-up would do far better consulting the back of a box of brownie mix, or a pint of Ben & Jerry's.
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