I'll Have What She's Having

Chelsea Handler is an American author, stand-up comedian, television and podcast host, producer, and activist. She grew up in New Jersey with her five siblings, Chet, Shana, Simone, Roy, and Glen, and her parents, Rita and Seymour. In her stand-up comedy, television appearances, podcasts, and writing, Handler incorporates childhood and family stories into her reflections on life. She is known for making light of difficult family situations, while also using her personal background as a throughway to discussing grief, trauma, and healing.

Handler made her foray into the comedy and cinematic worlds when she was in her early twenties and moved across the country to Los Angeles. From 2002-2005 she appeared on shows including Girls Behaving Badly, Weekends at the D.L., The Bernie Mac Show, My Wife and Kids, The Practice, E!, Scarborough Country, The Tonight Show, and On the Lot. She rose to national and international fame in 2006 when her show, The Chelsea Handler Show, began airing on E! Concurrently, Handler did stand-up comedy on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival, VH1’s Love Lounge, Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld, and The View. In 2007, her comedy series Chelsea Lately began airing on E!

Along with The Chelsea Handler Show and Chelsea Lately, Handler is best known for her work with and appearances on After Lately, In the Motherhood, and Are You There, Chelsea? In 2016, Handler pivoted her now-renowned humor when she filmed the Netflix documentary series Chelsea Does. The show is a comedy talk show, but engaged more expansive topics and issues, including racism, drugs, and marriage. In 2018, Handler widened her sociopolitical reach with Hello, Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea, another Netflix documentary series where Handler interrogates her own white privilege and its effect on her life. This series launched much of Handler’s subsequent social activism and marks a notable shift in the tenor of her work. In 2020, she filmed a stand-up special called Evolution for HBO; in 2022, she filmed a special called Revolution for Netflix, and in 2023, she returned to host the Critics’ Choice Awards—all experiences she alludes to in I’ll Have What She’s Having. These specials also feature similar content as Handler’s most recent memoir, including discussions of therapy, family, romance, and friendships.

I’ll Have What She’s Having is Handler’s seventh book. The title is preceded by My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands (2005), Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea (2008), Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (2010), Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me (2011)—a collaboration with other writers, family members and friends—Uganda Be Kidding Me (2014), and Life Will Be the Death of Me…and You Too! (2019).

In her most recent 2025 publication, I’ll Have What She’s Having, Handler delves into her therapy journey and the changes she made in her personal life to foster health, happiness, and love. The title combines elements of humor writing, memoir, and self-help to nuance the familiar celebrity memoir genre. By sharing elements from her personal life, Handler offers encouragement and hope to women in particular.

Handler’s publications are in conversation with other celebrity memoirs and self-help titles including Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Amy Schumer’s The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo, and Slane Crosley’s Look Alive Out There.