Tonya never imagined her first job as a waitress would lead to a lifelong career in the hospitality industry. Tonya also never thought she would be referring to herself in the third person on the back of her own book, but here we are.

Okay, okay - I’m Tonya. You don’t know me and I don’t know you, so I know this might be a little awkward, but please stay and hear me out.

Have you ever wondered what your waitress is writing down on her notepad as she stands at the end of your table taking your order? Well, now you don’t have to, as you sat there going on about your gluten allergy but still choosing to order the bread basket, I was here. Remember when you told me you were mad about your steak being overcooked and how I sucked entirely as a person? I was still here, in front of you, writing it all down. I know you didn’t see yourself making a cameo in my book, but I appreciated every moment I spent with you and had to include our stories.

This is my no-holds-barred, often hilarious (my friends say so) memoir of my time as a hostess, server, and bartender. They often say (and I’m not sure who “they” is, but “they” are brilliant), that every person should work as a waiter. It teaches you about humanity: the good, the bad, and the even worse tippers. And so does this book.

I hope you enjoy these hilarious moments as much as I did reminiscing about them. So, go on. Sit down and pour yourself a drink. Where else in your life will you ever have somebody begging you for just the tip?