A memoir of family, addiction, and grief from the sister of Harris Wittels, the Parks and Recreation writer whose death shocked the comedy world One phone call. That’s all it took to change Stephanie Wittels Wachs’ life forever. Her younger brother Harris, a star in the comedy world known for his work on shows like Parks and Recreation, had died of a heroin overdose. How do you make sense of such a tragic end to a life of so much hilarious brilliance? In beautiful, unsentimental, and surprisingly funny prose, Stephanie Wittels Wachs alternates between her brother’s struggle with addiction, which she learned about three days before her wedding, and the first year after his death, in all its emotional devastation. This compelling portrait of a comedic genius and a profound exploration of the love between siblings is A Year of Magical Thinking for a new generation of readers. It will make you laugh, cry, and wonder if that possum on the fence is really your brother’s spirit animal.

Beautiful, funny, and epically poignant. - Sarah Silverman

Stephanie Wittels Wachs is honest, funny, moving, and so likable. She shows us the messy truth about losing someone you love - that there is no map for its tremendous pain and unexpected moments of joy. - Kerry Cohen, author of Loose Girl and Lush

Human and heartbreaking, this sister’s story of living with and losing a brother to addiction is a doozy. A great read and an intimate and illuminating account of an addict’s impact on a family. - Bill Clegg, author of Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man and Did You Ever Have a Family

Incredible. - Aziz Ansari

Every minute more of us know the unique pain of helplessly watching someone we care about descend into the pit of addiction. Stephanie Wittels Wachs has been there, and she emerges with her wit, wisdom, and spirit intact. This remarkable and movingly told story will break and mend hearts. - David Sheff, author of Beautiful Boy and Clean