Chelsea Handler Talks Sexting, Psychedelics and Starting a 'Spiked' Lemonade Stand in 'Surprisingly Vulnerable' Book (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Chelsea Handler with her dog Doug, and her new book ‘I’ll Have What She’s Having’.Photo:John Russo

John Russo

Chelsea Handleris getting vulnerable in her latest literary endeavor!Next year, the comedian andNew York Timesbestselling author is celebrating her 50th birthday with the release of her seventh book,I’ll Have What She’s Having, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal.Set to hit shelves on Handler’s actual birthday, Feb. 25, 2025, the memoir in essays is a highlight reel of sorts, telling the “hilarious and tender stories about Chelsea Handler’s path to becoming the woman she always wanted to be,” according to an official synopsis.Much likethe iconicWhen Harry Met Sallyscenethat inspired its title,I’ll Have What She’s Havingpromises to serve up both vulnerability and the outrageous humor Handler’s fans have come to know and love.“I wanted to fast-forward through all of my youth and misery, and become the more glamorous, successful, adult version of myself. The woman I’d become would be passionate and fiery and courageous. She’d never be afraid to tell the truth, no matter the consequences. She’d make others feel brighter, better. She’d make a living being herself,” Handler writes, of the journey the book details.In other words, the book doesn’t hold back, revealing a string of hilarious — and true — stories plucked and stitched together from Handler’s life, dating all the way back to her early childhood days.At 10 years old, the comedian “opened a lemonade stand and realized she’d make more money if the drinks were spiked,” a synopsis reads. “So she added vodka to her recipe and used her earnings to upgrade herself to first-class on a family vacation — leaving her parents and siblings in coach.”In another story, a 19-year-old Handler “moved to Los Angeles and got fired from her temp job when she admitted she didn’t know how to transfer calls.”“She played pickleball with the scions of an American dynasty. She sexted a governor. She shared psychedelics with strangers in Spain,” the synopsis continues. “When she accidentally ended up at dinner withWoody Allen, she decided she wouldn’t leave the table without asking him a very pointed personal question. She went on national television and talked about having threesomes.”In addition to outrageous and adventurous anecdotes, however, the book is also “surprisingly vulnerable,” highlighting some of the comedian’s more tender and personal moments, the description promises.Chelsea Handler and her dog Doug.John Russo“Chelsea’s truest calling is showing up for her family — canine and human, biological and chosen,” the synopsis adds. “She’s come to embrace spending time with herself, meditating, remaining open to love, and ending relationships with grace when that’s what’s called for. She is a sister to the many women who rely on her.”At the end of the day, the book pledges to leave readers with lots of laughs, but also make them think, “I’ll have what she’s having.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.I’ll Have What She’s Havingcomes out Feb. 25, 2025 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.

Chelsea Handleris getting vulnerable in her latest literary endeavor!

Next year, the comedian andNew York Timesbestselling author is celebrating her 50th birthday with the release of her seventh book,I’ll Have What She’s Having, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal.

Set to hit shelves on Handler’s actual birthday, Feb. 25, 2025, the memoir in essays is a highlight reel of sorts, telling the “hilarious and tender stories about Chelsea Handler’s path to becoming the woman she always wanted to be,” according to an official synopsis.

Much likethe iconicWhen Harry Met Sallyscenethat inspired its title,I’ll Have What She’s Havingpromises to serve up both vulnerability and the outrageous humor Handler’s fans have come to know and love.

“I wanted to fast-forward through all of my youth and misery, and become the more glamorous, successful, adult version of myself. The woman I’d become would be passionate and fiery and courageous. She’d never be afraid to tell the truth, no matter the consequences. She’d make others feel brighter, better. She’d make a living being herself,” Handler writes, of the journey the book details.

In other words, the book doesn’t hold back, revealing a string of hilarious — and true — stories plucked and stitched together from Handler’s life, dating all the way back to her early childhood days.

At 10 years old, the comedian “opened a lemonade stand and realized she’d make more money if the drinks were spiked,” a synopsis reads. “So she added vodka to her recipe and used her earnings to upgrade herself to first-class on a family vacation — leaving her parents and siblings in coach.”

In another story, a 19-year-old Handler “moved to Los Angeles and got fired from her temp job when she admitted she didn’t know how to transfer calls.”

“She played pickleball with the scions of an American dynasty. She sexted a governor. She shared psychedelics with strangers in Spain,” the synopsis continues. “When she accidentally ended up at dinner withWoody Allen, she decided she wouldn’t leave the table without asking him a very pointed personal question. She went on national television and talked about having threesomes.”

In addition to outrageous and adventurous anecdotes, however, the book is also “surprisingly vulnerable,” highlighting some of the comedian’s more tender and personal moments, the description promises.

Chelsea Handler and her dog Doug.John Russo

“Chelsea’s truest calling is showing up for her family — canine and human, biological and chosen,” the synopsis adds. “She’s come to embrace spending time with herself, meditating, remaining open to love, and ending relationships with grace when that’s what’s called for. She is a sister to the many women who rely on her.”

At the end of the day, the book pledges to leave readers with lots of laughs, but also make them think, “I’ll have what she’s having.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

I’ll Have What She’s Havingcomes out Feb. 25, 2025 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.

source: people.com