Books
Books
Rebecca is the author of two books: Good Things Happen to People You Hate (William Morrow, 2019) and Floral Estrangements: Taunt Your Rivals & Vanquish Your Enemies through the Language of Flowers (Chronicle Books, 2025).
"In this incredibly titled essay collection, former Gothamist editor Rebecca Fishbein chronicles the ups and downs of living in New York, working in media, and getting by. With a funny but not cynical tone, Fishbein’s collection is the ideal companion for millennials making their way through a world that often seems poised for disaster, while trying to remain optimistic." (Refinery 29)
“Laugh-out-loud funny. Fishbein's essays are so fiercely honest, you'll find yourself wishing –– as I did –– that I'd only had this book to lean on sooner. Fishbein writes for the Jane Austen-obsessed soul, the virginal college wallflower, the drunk person waiting for a subway at 2 a.m., and so many more.” (Sarah Grant, Rolling Stone)
“Rebecca Fishbein has taken a scene rife with egotism, abuse, and narcissistic absurdities―that is, millennial New York media in the twenty-teens―and depicted it with knowingness, humor and a dogged compassion. Satirical, surprising, and sympathetic, Good Things Happen to People You Hate breathes new life into the personal essay. God, I love this book.” (Moira Donegan, The Guardian)
Is there anything more savage than an archly composed bouquet? The Victorians didn’t think so, which is why their flower symbols weren’t just endearing—they were also cheeky, rude, and downright hostile. This illustrated floriography will help you choose the perfect Floral Estrangement for your situation, such as:
- The “Maybe You Shouldn't Have Given Me Your Phone Password” (Yellow Chrysanthemum, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Basil, Yellow Rose, Tansy)
- The “Still Thinking about the $1K I Spent to Be a Bridesmaid at Your Destination Wedding” (Black-Eyed Susan, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Delphinium, Orange Lily)
- The “His Mommy Issues Are Now Your Problem” (Withered White Rose, Pine, Delphinium)
With incredible, subtly hostile illustrations of flowers throughout, this is a sumptuous, decadent, guilty pleasure of a gift or self-purchase. As a modern bard says, “Don’t get sad, get even.”