This Can't Be Happening Collection Series by Rachel Rosenthal, Kevin Allison, Mani Sheriar, Rory Scholl

Coming out can be awkward enough—let alone coming out in the 1970s, in Ohio, as a Catholic schoolboy. In this fearless and funny true story, the host and founder of the hit podcast RISK! shares all.From first grade through junior high, twelve-year-old Kevin and his best friend, Ben, were inseparable. But when Kevin divulged his biggest secret, Ben froze him out. The pint-size cold war lasted two years—until they went head-to-head for student council president. Team Ben’s smear campaign began... moreComing out can be awkward enough—let alone coming out in the 1970s, in Ohio, as a Catholic schoolboy. In this fearless and funny true story, the host and founder of the hit podcast RISK! shares all.From first grade through junior high, twelve-year-old Kevin and his best friend, Ben, were inseparable. But when Kevin divulged his biggest secret, Ben froze him out. The pint-size cold war lasted two years—until they went head-to-head for student council president. Team Ben’s smear campaign began. The school took sides. And Kevin decided to run with it.Kevin Allison’s Two Henrys is part of This Can’t Be Happening, a collection of four true stories about making the best of a worst-case scenario curated by Kevin Allison, creator of the hit true storytelling podcast RISK! Outrageous, alarming, triumphant, and sometimes embarrassing, these fearless confessionals can be read, or listened to, in one what-on-earth-would-I-do? sitting. less

Who would want to steal the identity of a minimum-wage employee at a children’s museum? In this harrowing real-life detective story, a woman searches for the truth, clue after startling clue.Rachel hit the jackpot with her doting fiancé, Zach, who was starting a promising new political career at the Massachusetts State House. Then came money problems—Rachel’s was mysteriously disappearing, bank account by new bank account. She and Zach, her only lifeline, decided to play amateur sleuths... moreWho would want to steal the identity of a minimum-wage employee at a children’s museum? In this harrowing real-life detective story, a woman searches for the truth, clue after startling clue.Rachel hit the jackpot with her doting fiancé, Zach, who was starting a promising new political career at the Massachusetts State House. Then came money problems—Rachel’s was mysteriously disappearing, bank account by new bank account. She and Zach, her only lifeline, decided to play amateur sleuths. And they had to act fast. Because Rachel’s crippling paranoia was growing. She was losing more than money. She was starting to lose herself.Rachel Rosenthal’s Identity Thief is part of This Can’t Be Happening, a collection of four true stories about making the best of a worst-case scenario curated by Kevin Allison, creator of the hit true storytelling podcast RISK! Outrageous, alarming, triumphant, and sometimes embarrassing, these fearless confessionals can be read, or listened to, in one what-on-earth-would-I-do? sitting. less

What would happen if your baby’s birth father represented everything you despised and feared? In this profound and heartrending story, an adoptive mother is forced to discover the answer.After years of infertility, Mani and her husband, David, decided to adopt. When they matched with a teen mother, they were overjoyed, until the likely birth father contested. Frank was a violent white supremacist who had no intention of relinquishing parental rights... moreWhat would happen if your baby’s birth father represented everything you despised and feared? In this profound and heartrending story, an adoptive mother is forced to discover the answer.After years of infertility, Mani and her husband, David, decided to adopt. When they matched with a teen mother, they were overjoyed, until the likely birth father contested. Frank was a violent white supremacist who had no intention of relinquishing parental rights. With tenuous hope and consuming dread, Mani now had to go head-to-head with a hateful stranger. And she was totally unprepared for where it would lead.Mani Sheriar’s The Third Man is part of This Can’t Be Happening, a collection of four true stories about making the best of a worst-case scenario curated by Kevin Allison, creator of the hit true storytelling podcast RISK! Outrageous, alarming, triumphant, and sometimes embarrassing, these fearless confessionals can be read, or listened to, in one what-on-earth-would-I-do? sitting. less

An irresponsible twentysomething comic and his equally shameless grandmother join forces as proud pariahs in this dark and rowdy story of dicey family ties, kindred spirits, bad behavior, and bribery.When Rory’s judgmental mother told him that he took after his grandma Evelyn, he took it as a compliment. The ninety-two-year-old cocktail-toting, offtrack-betting party girl was every bit the troublemaker he was... moreAn irresponsible twentysomething comic and his equally shameless grandmother join forces as proud pariahs in this dark and rowdy story of dicey family ties, kindred spirits, bad behavior, and bribery.When Rory’s judgmental mother told him that he took after his grandma Evelyn, he took it as a compliment. The ninety-two-year-old cocktail-toting, offtrack-betting party girl was every bit the troublemaker he was. When she landed at a dead-end nursing home, Rory jumped at the chance to liven things up for bored Evelyn—with vodka, scratch-offs, bingo, and gaming. But even in this modest assisted-living casino, the risk of betrayal was a gamble.Rory Scholl’s Black Sheep is part of This Can’t Be Happening, a collection of four true stories about making the best of a worst-case scenario curated by Kevin Allison, creator of the hit true storytelling podcast RISK! Outrageous, alarming, triumphant, and sometimes embarrassing, these fearless confessionals can be read, or listened to, in one what-on-earth-would-I-do? sitting. less