Four essay collections balance wisdom and high-spirited humor, tackling weighty topics with exhilarating playfulness that will encourage freewheeling discussion. 

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life

In her funny, fearless We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, Samantha Irby—a popular blogger who writes for the Hulu comedy series "Shrill"—opens up about what it's like to be a bisexual black woman in today's world. Irby is frank and unfiltered in essays on her troubled childhood and alcoholic father, her adventures in dating and sex, and the strange nature of personal connection in the digital age. Themes of gender, race and self-love run through these bold autobiographical set pieces. Irby's progressive sensibility and cutting-edge comedic attitude will set the tone for spirited and unrestrained conversation.

One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter

Scaachi Koul ponders her background as the daughter of immigrants in her slyly humorous debut, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter. In this wide-ranging collection, the Buzzfeed staffer writes about interracial romance, internet harassment and the unique blend of cultures that has informed her identity. Book clubs will find much to dig in to here, as Koul shares her thoughts on minority issues and sexism. Her shrewd observations and well-honed sense of humor will inspire rousing conversation—and lots of laughter. 

I Miss You When I Blink

In her delightful book of essays, I Miss You When I Blink—new in paperback this month—Emmy Award-winning co-host of "A Word on Words" and bestselling author Mary Laura Philpott offers insights into the vicissitudes of modern womanhood. Whether she's reflecting on the challenges of being a mom, her struggles with depression or the nagging need so many of us feel to have an Instagram-worthy life, Philpott is a companionable presence on the page, and her compassion for like-minded readers is palpable. Book clubs will find weighty topics in this collection, but the author's sparkling wit and lively narrative style make for an all-around upbeat reading experience.

Calypso

With his 10th book, the essay collection Calypso, David Sedaris proves again that he's a master of the amusing anecdote. From the vagaries of book tours to his experiences as a litter collector in England, Sedaris' comic scenarios are sure to make readers smile. His one-of-a-kind views on the human condition, the passing of youth and the inescapable bonds of kin will fire up book club conversation without dampening spirits. Pieces focusing on family matters, such as the suicide of Sedaris' sister Tiffany, can feel wistful, yet the author's trademark hilarity prevails. 

In this heartwarming if occasionally self-indulgent essay collection, Philpott (Penguins with People Problems) shares her struggle with depression despite an outwardly perfect life. Philpott weaves together a collection of anecdotes about her struggles with perfectionism, failure, and coming to terms with her need for change. She discusses her experiences with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome caused by fertility medication, her disconnect from the mundane conversations with friends after they all had children, and her ongoing war with her neighbor over their respective troublemaking pets. Amid this, she became weighed down by an "existential angst" and at times missed work deadlines, stopped washing her hair, and forgot about scheduled commitments. Philpott's prose is conversational and easy to settle into ("Maybe we all walk around assuming everyone is interpreting the world the same way we are, and being surprised they aren't, and that's the loneliness"). However, her tone, while aiming to be witty, can come across as arrogant ("I'm not a monster. I just want everything to be perfect. Is that so much to ask?"). Readers who worry their type-A personalities have led them to be unsatisfied with their successes, or those who yearn for change but can't pinpoint exactly why, will find this book comforting and reassuring. Agent: Kristyn Keene, ICM.(Apr.)