Hilarity Ensues
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Tucker Max |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
| Parent | Simon & Schuster |
Hilarity Ensues (2012) represents the third New York Times best-seller authored by Tucker Max. This book compiles his tales of excessive drinking and outrageous behavior, debuting at number two on the New York Times Bestseller List. Released by Simon & Schuster, the 416-page edition serves as the concluding entry in his fratire trilogy, succeeding I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell and Assholes Finish First.
Maintaining the tone and approach of Max's earlier publications, Hilarity Ensues further develops the "Miss Vermont" narrative initially introduced in I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell. Additionally, it contains a segment showcasing sext messages Max received after sharing his phone number publicly. Max declared this book as his final contribution to fratire, expressing his intention to pursue alternative endeavors.
Synopsis
The book opens with anecdotes from Max’s experiences living and working in Cancun during his time at Duke Law School. It then transitions to stories involving friends’ weddings and bachelor celebrations. Notable chapters include:
- "The Cancun Stories"
- "Drugs Are Bad, Mmmkay?"
- "Why Halloween Is Awesome"
- "Fat Girls Cross Tucker, Hilarity Ensues"
- "The Deadliest Vacation"
- "Sexting With Tucker Max: Mean"
- "The Fight Stories"
- "Meet My Friend Hate"
- "Tucker Ruins A Wine Tasting"
- "The Ex-Girlfriend Threesome Fallout"
- "In the Trunk"
- "The (Almost Banned, Now Complete) Miss Vermont Story"
- "Tucker Max: Knee Abuser"
- "Sexting with Tucker Max: A/S/Location, Location, Location"
- "The Law School Weddings and Bachelor Parties"
Release and marketing
The promotional campaign for Hilarity Ensues stood out due to its provocative strategies. Max leveraged SponsoredTweets.com to both market the book and mock celebrities such as Chris Rock, Snooki, Nick Cannon, and Kim Kardashian. One notable tweet attributed to Kardashian read: "I loved Tucker Max's new book because it's a lot like the men I date: black on the outside, full of dirty words and insults on the inside." This approach ultimately led to Max’s ban from the platform for breaching ethical guidelines.
In another controversial move, Max sought to donate $500,000 to Planned Parenthood in Texas. Although initially accepted, the organization later refused the donation citing concerns about public image. This episode attracted widespread media attention across outlets including Forbes, The Huffington Post, TIME, Slate, and Jezebel, thereby increasing visibility for the book.
Coinciding with the release date, Max offered his fourth book, Sloppy Seconds: The Tucker Max Leftovers, as a complimentary digital download. He presented it as a token of appreciation for readers who had supported his earlier works.
Reception
Hilarity Ensues entered bestseller rankings such as those of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, garnering predominantly positive critiques. While Kirkus Reviews characterized the book as a series of "repetitive barhopping anecdotes," other outlets commended its entertainment value. Barnes & Noble remarked that it would "reinvigorate fans" of the author's earlier works with its outrageous stories centered on bachelor parties and law school adventures. Alec Bemis, writing for Book Forum, emphasized that the book transcends typical frat humor, describing it as "an excellent read" that fulfills expectations throughout.