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Published by She Writes Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
For fans of You’ll Grow Out of It, this comedic patchwork of flash-prose, essay, and poetry snapshots a millennial performance artist’s journey from late bloomer to adult, inviting twenty-something women to embrace their self-worth, sexuality, and own-your-weird mentality.
Growing up in Santa Barbara, California, way too close to the Hollywood dream machine, Jenna Tico’s self-worth wanes to invisibility when her identity becomes enmeshed with validation from celebrities and spiritual F-boys . . . until she claws her way back to empowerment. Here, Tico shares vulnerable personal essays, stories, and poetry—all grouped following the cycles of the moon—chronicling her journey from late bloomer to full grownup. Observing the world of twenty-something relationships from perspectives as diverse as a bachelorette houseboat, a music festival afterparty, and the airplane ride to a death bed, she validates the experiences of women who feel like they have been abandoned by the generation that came before them. Her self-reflective stories encourage healthy life choices for young women without telling them where, what, or how to live their lives—and always with a healthy dash of humor on the side.
Simultaneously hilarious and poignant (without the whiff of morality play), Cancer Moon invites readers to embrace their twenties—aka the “age of wallowing”—as a humorous and necessary step toward understanding how we become who we want to be in the world.
Growing up in Santa Barbara, California, way too close to the Hollywood dream machine, Jenna Tico’s self-worth wanes to invisibility when her identity becomes enmeshed with validation from celebrities and spiritual F-boys . . . until she claws her way back to empowerment. Here, Tico shares vulnerable personal essays, stories, and poetry—all grouped following the cycles of the moon—chronicling her journey from late bloomer to full grownup. Observing the world of twenty-something relationships from perspectives as diverse as a bachelorette houseboat, a music festival afterparty, and the airplane ride to a death bed, she validates the experiences of women who feel like they have been abandoned by the generation that came before them. Her self-reflective stories encourage healthy life choices for young women without telling them where, what, or how to live their lives—and always with a healthy dash of humor on the side.
Simultaneously hilarious and poignant (without the whiff of morality play), Cancer Moon invites readers to embrace their twenties—aka the “age of wallowing”—as a humorous and necessary step toward understanding how we become who we want to be in the world.
About The Author
Jenna Tico survived the best years of her life by incessantly journaling, scribbling poetry, and distracting herself from her questionable choices with potato chips and excellent friendships. Now in her mid-thirties, she is a community-builder, performing artist, wife, mother, writer, and group facilitator. Jenna lives with her family in Santa Barbara, CA.
Product Details
- Publisher: She Writes Press (September 17, 2024)
- Length: 240 pages
- ISBN13: 9781647427634
Raves and Reviews
“This unique cocktail of memoir, self-help, and essays offers a captivating and bitingly comic journey through a California coming-of-age . . . Her crack comic timing and eye for the killer detail never come at the expense of hard-won wisdom . . . Tico’s form is bold, as Cancer Moon mixes straight-ahead memoir with pages of intimate blank verse that dig deep into ideas and feelings . . . Rousing, bold, funny story of growing into one’s power.”—BookLife Review, Editor’s Pick
“In contrast to many women’s memoirs reflecting on life experiences, Cancer Moon offers a supercharged atmosphere with its engrossing foray into action, reaction, and transformation. Sexual explorations, attitudes and ironies, and especially candid, revealing insights about relationships and personal growth permeate an evolutionary story filled with vivid encounters with all kinds of people.”—D. Donovan, senior reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“Jenna Tico has a way with words! From page one, I was pulled into the river of her words and swept along with the current of her captivating storytelling. What a fabulous piece of work!”—Britta Bushnell, PhD author of Transformed by Birth
“Fun, witty, hilarious, and refreshing! Jenna Tico has a way of transforming seemingly everyday events in extraordinary and insightful ways. Cancer Moon is a diverting, surefire cure for boredom and a welcome balm for the ridiculous, embarrassing and completely absurd moments in life.”—Qin Sun Stubis, author of the multi-award-winning historical memoir Once Our Lives: Life, Death, and Love in the Middle Kingdom
“Tico has put her heart and soul into crafting a delightful and thought-provoking memoir, filled with candid and humorous storytelling . . . a refreshing perspective on the challenges and triumphs of young adulthood in a strong voice with a clear attitude. The structure, organized by the cycles of the moon, added an intriguing layer of symbolism and resonance to Tico's narrative, mirroring the ebb and flow of life's experiences. Cancer Moon is sure to leave readers feeling inspired and empowered to embrace their own journey with humor, self-compassion, and authenticity.”—Readers Favorite, FIVE STARS
“In contrast to many women’s memoirs reflecting on life experiences, Cancer Moon offers a supercharged atmosphere with its engrossing foray into action, reaction, and transformation. Sexual explorations, attitudes and ironies, and especially candid, revealing insights about relationships and personal growth permeate an evolutionary story filled with vivid encounters with all kinds of people.”—Midwest Book Review
“In Cancer Moon, we get an up-close-and-personal glimpse into Tico’s life. She astutely alternates between first and second person dialogue with keen observational skills and a self-deprecating sense of humor.”—Diana Raab, PhD, author of Hummingbird: Messages from My Ancestors and Writing for Bliss
“A fever dream of genre and memory, reading Cancer Moon is like sitting barefoot and cross-legged late into the night with your wisest and funniest friend.”
—Ellen O'Connell Whittet, author of What You Become in Flight
“Jenna Tico’s book perfectly captures the humiliating, exhilarating, and painful experience of surviving your twenties. Her writing is relatable, poetic, nuanced... if you've been twenty, if you're going to be twenty, if you never want to remember being twenty, this book is for you.”—Zoë Schiffer, author of Extremely Hardcore: Inside Elon Musk's Twitter
“An astute cultural observer, Jenna Tico makes the deeply personal universal. With a distinctive, lapel-grabbing voice all her own and just-right details, she takes you on a ride of memoir.”—Andrea Jarrell, author of I’m the One Who Got Away
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Cancer Moon eBook 9781647427634
- Author Photo (jpg): Jenna Tico (0.1 MB)
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