"Mothers lock up your... selves. Old Wang's on the prowl."

Any amount of time spent with Phil Wang is never enough. I've been watching his comedy ever since he slid into guest spots on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and British panel show podcasts. His style of humour is understated but insightful, and it was wonderful to see him develop a more complex narrative in Sidesplitter. It's not a memoir, he makes that clear from the beginning, then eases up. Okay, it's kind of a memoir. Phil uses his British-Malaysian lived experience to discuss contemporary relationships to identity, family, history, race, and cultural belonging. His comedy helps to avoid sentimentality, but it's also grounded in enough perception that there's levity even in the heaviest moments.

The through-line, however, is faint. Phil's thesis is that both sides of his identity complete him, even if that means never fully belonging to either England or Malaysia. Some sections are overdrawn and the momentum of his narration slows, but even in its slower moments, Sidesplitter is still funny in its one-liners and anecdotes. The balance between comedy and storytelling can be difficult to walk, especially when towing lines like cultural appropriation and inclusive language. Even when talking extensively about frequent flier miles, Phil Wang writes with a bold personal and cultural awareness.

Ultimately, there's a gratifying maturity in Sidesplitter. Phil's comedy has grown from his first panel shows, and that's reflected radiantly here. His writing is at times reservedly emotional, and at other times perfectly sardonic. ("She was very French but also very nice, if you can imagine such a thing.") A few pacing issues aside, Sidesplitter is more than your average Public Figure book deal. If you've seen even a little of Phil Wang's standup, definitely go for this book. Just don't call it a memoir. It's not. Sort of.