Review: Rideshares, Wrecks and Sex by Joe. F. N. Schmo

In Rideshares, Wrecks and Sex: Confessions of a Convicted Uber Driver by author Joe. F. N. Schmo – a bold pseudonym in any genre – readers are given a front-seat view to the madness that can unfold between the doors of an Uber ride.

The interesting twist in this non-fiction tale is that the author is not your average ride-share driver: he is a convicted felon with a lot to lose, but knows that Uber may be a good game in town for a steady income that he can control. Gainful employment for ex-felons can be few and far between, but getting behind the wheel of a car and talking to people is something that he does particularly well. Moving from the boring parking lots of gas stations to the manic scene of a bank robbery, Joe’s night is anything but average.

There is a high-octane, energy-drink fueled energy to the writing that fits in perfectly with the ridiculous events and riders that Joe comes across throughout his weekend. There is sex in the backseat and back-alley awkwardness behind strip clubs, as well as more flirtation and semi-inappropriate conversations than you could imagine. Joe has a quick tongue and a love for beautiful women, and while this paints his career in a rather debonaire light, he also gets himself into trouble more often than not, which forces him to talk his way out of potentially dangerous situations by the skin of his teeth. His “never say die” attitude also drags him into some hilarious situations, including a swinger’s party near the end of the book that may convince a number of readers to take up ride-sharing as a side hustle, or avoid it at all costs.

Joe has a good heart, and a more complicated backstory than might be suggested by the “convict” label. Not only do we get to see a vodka-soaked, cleavage-filled, profanity-laced adventure through the dark heart of a Phoenix night, but the varieties of human nature are also on display. The dialogue is sharp and believable, as though Joe was transcribing conversations as they happened in his actual backseat. This authenticity makes the chapters flow and the energy pique at all the right moments. Despite being a mostly ridiculous series of events and fares, this book smacks of truth, strange as it may be.

The execution of this wild ride, however, could have been done better. Joe’s conversations with his conscience can be difficult to separate from actual chats happening in the book, and the formatting of certain scenes makes it difficult to tell exactly what is going on. The author’s desire to cram in as much excitement and energy into these chapters can sometimes be overwhelming, and could have been slowed down with similar effect. The language is colorful and descriptive, but some of the stories do get repetitive, and the constant influx of characters can get a bit confusing to sort out who’s new and who’s a repeat customer.

That being said, in the storied tradition of reckless, wild and gonzo writing, Rideshares, Wrecks and Sex is raunchy, brutally honest, and hilarious.