The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo

By Amy Schumer

The highly anticipated first book from award-winning comedian, writer, producer and actress, Amy Schumer.

In The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo, Amy shares stories about her family, her relationships, her career, good – and bad – sex, recounting the experiences that have shaped who she is today: from the riches to rags story of her childhood to her teenage quest for popularity (and boys) to becoming one of the most sought-after comedians on the planet and an outspoken advocate for women’s rights.

Whether she’s experiencing lust at first sight in the queue at the airport, discovering her boot camp instructor’s secret bad habit, or candidly discussing her father’s multiple sclerosis, Amy Schumer proves to be a fearless, original, and always entertaining storyteller. Her book will move you, make you laugh, catch you completely off guard, and answer this burning question: is it okay for a 35 year-old woman to still sleep with her childhood teddy bears?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins UK
• Release date: Aug 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9780008172404

Amy Schumer

Amy Schumer has become one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry as a stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer, and director. Her smash hit television series, Inside Amy Schumer, has won a Peabody Award, a Critics’ Choice Television Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards. She wrote and starred in her first feature-length film, Trainwreck, which dominated the 2015 summer comedy international box office and was nominated for two Golden Globes and won both the Critics’ Choice Award for “Best Actress in a Comedy,” and a Hollywood Film Award for “Comedy of the Year.” She earned a 2018 Tony nomination for her performance in Meteor Shower on Broadway and starred in the 2018 summer hit I Feel Pretty. As a stand-up comedian, she continues to perform to sold-out audiences around the world. Her 2016 tour was voted Pollstar’s Comedy Tour of the Year. Schumer was raised in New York City and Long Island and loves her brother and sister the very most. She currently stars in the Hulu series Life & Beth, based on events in Schumer's life. 

Reviews for The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo

[deeehmm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Funny... if you like Amy you'll have a blast with this book. If you don't like her, I'm not sure this will woo you. She holds out no olive branches to anyone uncomfortable with scatological, lowbrow, sort of inelegant humor that always makes you feel you've had a couple of beers already. I found it perfect to listen to at the gym (Amy reads the audiobook), and it would be similarly great to read on a plane or on vacation or to relax.

[amalieturner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I don't love Amy Schumer but when I saw her book at a thrift shop i went ahead and bought it. I'm glad I did. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. It was light and humorous and for me, Schuemr's humor translates much better in print. I'm surprised how much I liked this book so if you're a fan of Amy Schumer, you will probably enjoy it even more.

[readingover50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I am a fan of Amy Schumer's comedy, but this book made me like her even more. I appreciate how unapologetic she is about her life and her actions. I was surprised to learn that she is an introvert, and I am so happy she shared that with everyone. People need to know that you can be an introvert and not be shy. You just value your alone time.

[decaturmamaof2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love Amy's voice here. Always authentic, frequently funny, and often moving

[sprainedbrain · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have always thought Amy Schumer was funny, but I’ve not gone out of my way to see her stuff, and wasn’t planning to read this book. I’m so glad I did! I listened to the audio, read by Amy, and absolutely loved it. I laughed, I cried, and I was surprised. She is hilarious, unashamed, crude, and so very human and relatable.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

[gingermama-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I picked up this audio book expecting Amy Schumer's usual brand of humor, and wasn't disappointed on that score. But I was also pleasantly surprised to find so much more here. Amy opens up about her life -- including the painful bits -- and shares stories about her past that not everyone would have the moxie to do. I give her credit for her honesty, and admire her loyalty to friends and family. Overall, an interesting, enjoyable, and very funny read. (Amy herself gives a hilarious reading of the audio version.)

[tulsatv · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Real and funny. Real funny.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Less humorous and more wrenching then I expected.

[nivramkoorb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is 5th or 6th book that I have by a female humorist(Tina Fey, Emma Klein, Leno Dunham, Amy Poehler and now this) and they were all very good. I couldn't rate this higher because it was bit long and not very groundbreaking. On the good side, it was funny especially in her narrative. She dealt with some serious stuff but also gave us insight into her upbringing etc. There was a little bit too much telling us how well she treats people now that she is a star but it certainly looks like she has gotten where she is through hard work and talent. I do enjoy her work but I think one book by her would be enough.

[baochuan-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A memoir that you expected from a comedian.

[jameshold-1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Okay, truth is I didn't read it. I picked it up in the store and skimmed thru it about 10 minutes. Having seen bits and pieces of her 'comedy' act...mostly about various body parts...I wasn't expecting much. A brief glance confirmed it. I can't see any sober, un-stoned person liking this.

[lyndsay_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fun book. Amy is hilarious.

[gaillamontagne · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Memoir written and read my Amy Schumer, is heartfelt, shocking, but creates sympathy for her and other young women who have had similar experiences. Schumer grew up in a family of alcoholics and was forced to be the adult in the family after her parents divorced. Amy ended up trying to raise her little sister. Her mom made the mistake of treating her young daughter as a roommate rather than taking the role of a responsible adult. Shumer is candid, honest, funny, crass, bold, disgusting at times, and, has the tendency to gain weight with which most of us can relate. She endeavors to empower women to be comfortable in their own skin, body type, and place in the world. (really, make your own place.) She shared very sensitive and private details with the intention of being honest and not to shock. I appreciated her story but it should come with a "warning" label.

[justacatandabook · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amy Schumer's book comes out at a time when it seems like every celebrity in the world has a book out: some collection of essays about their life, showcasing how funny they are and what their life is like as a celebrity. In Schumer's, we hear about her life from childhood to her post Trainwreck success and nearly everything in between: her friendships, her relationships, her parents, and her growth as a comedian. And, of course, a lot about sex. The book is told in a series of chapters - essays if you will - each one covering a particular moment in Schumer's life. They don't go in any particular order, but cover the gamut of her range of experiences.

I found this book to be a refreshing and engaging celebrity book. It carried a surprising depth. I don't know a ton about Schumer, but loved Trainwreck and have had a crush on her for ages. That crush has only intensified upon reading her book, as I discovered several similarities between us: introverts who love hotdogs and have complicated relationships with their mothers, who both internalize stress to the point where it makes us sick. We're a match made in heaven! But, seriously, Schumer is an excellent writer, and her book is an easy read, with well-written and wonderful essays that range from humorous to serious (and often both).

Her book avoided all of my usual celebrity autobiography/memoir/essay pet peeves. In this book, we really learn about Schumer, instead of just a few token stories. I was fascinated to hear about her career trajectory: you get a great look into how hard she worked in her early years as a comedian. In addition, we actually get a lot of insight into her early life-- her childhood and teenage years. What I love is that she comes across as a real human being, instead of giving us a book that is simply full of polished, trite jokes and well-worn stories.

In fact, while parts of the book make you laugh out loud, other places make you empathize with Schumer. The book is funny, but not too funny or fake funny. And it's serious without preaching. She covers topics such as sexual assault, gun control, her father's MS, her relationship with her parents, and other serious childhood experiences that molded her, with a realism that is refreshing. Sure, there are a few "woe is me" moments about how hard it is to be a celebrity, or what it's like to have money, but they are few and far between. By the end, I admired Amy even more as a person and a comedian, and my crush will continue on stronger than ever.

[berly_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really like Amy Schumer as a person. She makes me uncomfortable sometimes because she is so open and uncensored, but I also think she is intelligent, a feminist, honest, hardworking, and, duh, funny! The first half of the book felt like her attempt to be funny on paper, which didn't work all that well for me. Kinda raunchy and forced. Then the second half of the book was wonderful. There were less walls and she didn't hide behind the jokes as much. There she talks about body image, abusive relationships, her parents, and a shooting that happened during a viewing of Trainwreck and how strongly she feels about gun control. Don't get me wrong, Schumer still has her authentic potty mouth, but I could feel some of the uncomfortableness of her life without having to laugh it off. I like her very much!

[narshkite · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like Amy Schumer. I respect her talent, her vulnerability, her feminism, her intelligence, and her work ethic. I liked Trainwreck quite a bit, and she is enjoyable on the red carpet. All that said, though there are brilliant moments in her stand up and her tv show, and I have great respect for her, I simply don't enjoy watching it most of the time (though there are some sketches that I think are genius.) Not every act is for every viewer. But I like this book which is smart, sometimes funny, and really empowering for younger women

[wagner5sarah35 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is both humorous and honest (painfully at times) and a delight to read. Despite her success, Amy Schumer is easy to relate to and inspiring to look up to. She comes across as honest, flawed, confident, and assertive. She is one of the people I envy, those who know themselves well and stay true to themselves. I highly recommend this book and if you listen to audiobooks, I will say that listening to this story in Amy Schumer's own voice is an additional treat.

[villemezbrown · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Schumer manages a nice balance of humor and serious revelations about herself and her family.

[girlwellread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A special thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.Well colour me surprised! I actually enjoyed The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo way more than I thought I would. There were things that made me laugh, and things that moved me too. I could have done without the lists, and most certainly done with out the chapter on her stuffed animals, but other than that, I felt she was incredibly honest, and real. She shares with readers some truly painful experiences. The way she lost her virginity was sad, horrific, and painful. Schumer was also in an abusive relationship that resulted in a few terrifying ordeals that left me feeling incredibly sad for her, but optimistic in that maybe by sharing her story, she gave someone else the courage to leave an abusive relationship. My heart went out to her when she spoke of her father's MS, but she did take things a bit too far (poop story) and this was not necessary. I could empathize when she wrote about her mother, and their volatile relationship—she has had to establish some pretty tough and firm boundaries. Many mothers and daughters walk a fine line, and I really struggle to understand why women are so cruel to other women, oftentimes this starts out with criticisms from one's mother.I love that she is unabashedly a feminist. She is also kind, smart, and doesn't make apologies for any of her failures or shortcomings. She works hard, and is of course funny. “I know my worth. I embrace my power. I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story. I will. I’ll speak and share and fuck and love, and I will never apologize for it. I am amazing for you, not because of you. I am not who I sleep with. I am not my weight. I am not my mother. I am myself. And I am all of you."

[jhullie-3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I expected a rollicking read of hilarious anecdotes about sex and men but instead I read about serious issues like family members with MS, the importance of gun control laws after a shooting in a theatre showing Trainwreck. Don't get me wrong Amy still writes her funny stuff too but she has a depth and seriousness that I never knew about. I was sad when the book ended and I rushed right home to get my Trainwreck DVD out. Good job Amy!

[dougcornelius_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you like Amy, then you will like this funny, raw collection of autobiographical stories. It's not trying to tell her story it's bite sized stories. The audiobook, read by Amy herself, may be the best way to enjoy this book. It will inevitably make you the person laughing to himself.

[bonniemarjorie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I didn’t quite know what to expect from this memoir. I knew very little about Amy Schumer prior to this memoir, only having seen some of her skits as well as her hosting the 2015 MTV Movie Awards, but I thought she was funny and I’m a complete sucker for memoirs narrated by the authors themselves. But after this book? I love her. She’s absolutely hysterical with her self-deprecating sense of humor while still managing to be completely empowering as well as her candid talks about her sex life which are totally amusing.“I’m a real woman who digests her meals and breaks out and has sweet little pockets of cellulite on her upper thighs that she’s not apologizing for. Because guess what? We all have that shit. We’re all human beings.”You can’t help but love that honesty. It’s straightforward and sincere and only helps to make us females lacking that “perfect body” feel a little bit better about ourselves. It is what it is, people. Move along.“I also want to clarify that this book has NO SELF-HELP INFO OR ADVICE FOR YOU […] I’m a flawed fuckup and I haven’t figured anything out, so I have no wisdom to offer you. But what I can help with is showing you my mistakes and my pain and my laughter […]”While Schumer is widely known for being a Comedian, this book isn’t all fun and games. While I would have adored a book from her composed of nothing but sidesplitting humor, I can understand why she took the opportunity to voice her opinions and include a few more insightful notes. And while she does clarify at the very beginning that there is nothing self-help about this book, there are still many lessons that can be learned from her words. She discusses in depth the amount of time and energy she spent to build her career from the ground up, to always stand up for who you are and what you believe in, and to learn to roll with the punches life throws at you with the determination that you will eventually come out of this. The types of stories she shares though are widely varied going from hilarious recollections of her childhood stuffed animals that now look like something out of a nightmare to reading clips from her teenage diary entries (including present day footnotes). She speaks openly about being an introvert and these parts were like preaching to the choir.‘I really don’t do well at parties or gatherings where I feel like I am obligated to be more “social.” Usually I will find a corner to hide in and immediately begin haunting it like the girl from The Ring, just hoping no one will want to come talk to me.’But on the opposite end of the spectrum, she tells us tragic stories about the loss of her virginity, about her own personal story of domestic abuse, her terrifying stories of blacking out, and a very stirring statement on gun control that I at one point even said “Fuck yeah, Amy!” while listening. While those entries aren’t funny or entertaining to read about, it’s a part of what makes Amy, well, Amy and for that I appreciate her honesty. She knocked it out of the park with her narration and I do so hope she writes more in the future. I’ll leave you with this gem.‘He walked down the aisle and I watched him, his arms bulging and his huge hands gripping his bag as he navigated his way between the seats. I was thinking, Maybe when he walks by I can pretend to sneeze … and fall on the floor in front of him … and he will trip and fall inside of me.‘

[kiddboyblue · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For one of (in my opinion) the funniest stand up comedians of our generation, this book was very not-funny. I did not laugh hardly at all. Sure there were some funny one liners and quips thrown in, but overall, the book fell extremely flat in the humor department. It came wholly unexpected considering the author.Schumer has made a career with in your face, no holds barred, unapologetic humor and I was really looking forward to laughing my ass off with her first book. Sadly the laughs never came. I'm not entirely sure if that was purposeful, or if she just fell short. I'm assuming it was intentional, which I guess is a choice, I'm just not sure why it would be her choice.Most of the chapters felt very forced for me, like every chapter had to end with a life lesson, literally. It became so formulaic I found myself guessing what the life lesson would be before I reached the end of each chapter. She even begins the book by saying, I do not have any advice or life lessons for you, and then proceeds chapter after chapter to try and give us advice and life lessons. t felt almost like she was trying so hard to show that she is more then just a stand up comedian, and we can learn from her, which I absolutely believe is true, however the way she went about it just felt so pushed and out of context.There were some really great chapters that gave huge insight into a darker part of her life, which I loved! I think they could have been even stronger if the overall book had felt more lighthearted. Something Amy Poehler did wonderfully in her book! Just to throw out a comparison. You can be funny and still give us insight and depth. The chapters where she truly opened about her abuse, the shooting in the theatre where they were showing her movie, and her relationship with her mother all were really well written and drew me, and captivated me. It did what I feel a memoir should do, and that is to allow me to understand you more, scars and all. Overall though, sadly, I felt the book was mostly just sort of meh. Not at all what I was expecting. I applaud her wanting to give us another side to her then just the nasty, foul mouthed comic, but when that is who you have shown us, and made us fall in love with, I feel like maybe don't abandon us so quickly. She also continuously threw in JKJK after almost any crude joke she told, like we needed her to remind us it was a joke? It felt so odd. Like if I go and see you perform, you don't stop after everytime you tell us something sexual and remind us you're totally kidding. We get it, you're telling jokes. It felt really odd in context and distracted from the stories, and only added to the whole, not funny aspect of the book. It felt like I was reading about someone else completely with the word vagina thrown in here and there as a reminder of who wrote it. It almost felt as if she had something to prove and instead of owning her crude, unapologetic humor, she was shying away from it, while claiming not to. To be clear I am a huge fan of Amy Schumer, just not of this memoir. I'll stick with her movies, tv show and stand up.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don't know why I didn't expect to love this but I'm sure glad I was wrong. This book was awesome! I pretty much only know Amy Schumer from Trainwreck, I've never watched her show or her stand-ups so I didn't have any pre-conceived notions about her really. Which was kind of nice, it made her really down to earth even though she's clearly quite famous. In the same vein as Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, or Amy Poehler, this book virtually convinces the reader that you should be best friends with Amy, she's so relatable, funny, and real. Gah, I sound like such a fangirl. But really, I went from virtually no opinion on Amy to number one fan (except for my friend Moffett, no one can top that kind of crazy!). This book isn't a memoir it's more of a mishmash of stories, lists, photos, opinions, and comedy. It's got a little something for everyone. It can be downright hilarious hearing about her hook ups and shenanigans and then it can take a completely serious turn as she discusses her dad's MS or the shooting at one of her movie screenings. I loved all of it and I look forward to reading more of her stuff in the future.

[citizenjoyce · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read Amy Schumer's The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo even though I'm frequently disappointed with comedian's autobiographies. Some of it was pretty wonderful: when she speaks about rape and abuse and also when she talks about body acceptance. But then she has to throw in her "just to be shocking" humor, and I'm not shocked, just bored and disappointed. In my book club last month someone threw out the statement that it takes a certain kind of woman to get herself into an abusive relationship. Maybe I should give the book to her just for that.

[mindea_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amy Schumer is one of my favorite comedians. She is funny, kind, smart and honest. I've seen her live once and can not wait to see her on her next tour. When I heard she had a book coming out I couldn't wan't to read it. I got it through Book of the Month (love this book subscription). I finally picked it up last week, but found myself not loving it. I found the stories interesting, but sometimes felt forced jokes in them and the chapters seemed a bit rambling and random at times. About half way through the book, my opinion started to change. I was actually laughing out loud at times, but also really enjoying each chapter. I don't know if my mood changed or the writing changed, but I absolutely loved the second half of the book. I would definitely recommend this book. Not only is it funny, but it is smart, insightful and empowering.

[rosechimera-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I love biographies and autobiographies. I don't care who they are about, whether I like them or not, what their job is, or anything. Have your accountant write an autobiography, I will love it. And I enjoy Amy Schumer talking about herself. But the book, while often funny,feels almost tortured like she's not into it. Or I could be projecting, I wonder if subconsciously while reading it, if I remembered some interaction she had with her rape apologist writer and his detractors and therefore was sort of dejected about spending time with her book. When somebody is greatly lacking self-awareness, autobiographies seem like a lie, and even entertaining lies feel kind of pointless and empty.

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amy Schumer is a very funny woman, but she is also honest and very likable. She can be vulgar, opinionated and charming, often all at once, in this very personable reflection on her life. I enjoy her comedy and loved reading her insights on life, love, family, friends and staying sane in today’s world.

[charrlygirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Who the hell is Amy Schumer? I have no idea. Since I picked up this book I've learned she's a comedian, she has her own show, an HBO special, and she starred in and wrote the movie Trainwreck. So why did I listen to this book? Because I read in Huff Post that some internet trolls were trying to tank the book's ratings and that just made me feel rebellious, so here I am.

Now, I LOVE this girl. She's strong, she works hard, (really, really hard), she's (brutally) honest, she has a heart and most importantly she loves herself. She wants YOU to love yourself. She also doesn't want any more people to be shot while at a theater watching her movie. She talks honestly about what that felt like and why she is so passionate about background checks for gun owners.

All that and some vagina jokes. What's not to love?

Recommended for everyone, but especially young women. She has an important message that I think needs to be heard. Love yourself ladies!

[relativelybooktastic · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I feel like this book was a good balance of seriousness and comedy. There is a lot of sexual references in this book but that is Amy Schumer. This book was exactly how she is and as we all see comedian Amy Schumer I felt like in this book I got to know real life, Amy Schumer.

I couldve went without all the sexual content but that is who she is and all her comedy is about for the most part.



Trigger warning: She does go into detail of sexual abuse and domestic violence.