Legitimate Kid: A Memoir

Written by Aida Rodriguez

Narrated by Aida Rodriguez

“Aida Rodriguez is part of the next wave of talented comedic storytellers that I dreamt about when I was trying to break down barriers in the industry. Besides being a fierce Latina powerhouse, she’s FUNNY AS HELL! So buy this book. No really, BUY THIS BOOK!!! I don’t want any problems, ya heard?!”—John Leguizamo, Emmy and Tony Award–winning actor, writer, and producer 

A poignant and moving memoir-in-essays from stand-up comedian Aida Rodriguez on the power of overcoming hardship and transforming pain into laughter.

Aida Rodriguez has, to put it mildly, lived a whirlwind life. Her rags-to-riches story is mind-blowing: She was kidnapped as a child by her mother in the Dominican Republic and brought to the US. She was later kidnapped again by her grandmother and uncle and moved from New York to Florida. As an adult, she ended a difficult marriage and endured homelessness with her children in Los Angeles. But through it all she never lost her sense of humor.

Born with a wonderful wit and an irrepressible spirit, Aida used her gifts and worked tirelessly, turning tragedy and pain into biting comedy that takes on everything from misogyny and racism to social media and news headlines. She eventually released a hit HBO Max special, which led to multiple development deals—success that won her a nationwide audience, opened doors, and helped her expand the way Latinos are represented in comedy.

 In this, her highly anticipated first book, Aida charts her many ups and downs. From personal setbacks to career highs and everything in between, Legitimate Kid is endearing, shocking, and ultimately life-affirming. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Oct 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9780063241312

Aida Rodriguez

Aida Rodriguez is a comedian, writer, and actor—a favorite of critics and fans alike. Esquire magazine declared of her, “This is Rodriguez’s genius— using comedy to turn pain into progress, to give voice to the voiceless, and to laugh instead of cry.” Aida’s comedy special Fighting Words is streaming on HBO Max. She is a key collaborator on the platform’s Entre Nos franchise, which features the brightest up-and-coming Latinx comedy talent. Aida was not only a breakout star of the series early in her career, she also recently stepped behind the camera to direct its current batch of specials. She is a guest writer for BuzzFeed and Oprah Daily as well as a regular commentator on The Young Turks. She lives in Los Angeles. 

Reviews for Legitimate Kid

[Stephanie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is very touching and poignant. I have appreciated Aida's comedy and her strong political views for many years. This look inside coming to terms with the parents she did not lack and her being enough as a mother and all the roles she filled in her life is incredibly beautiful. As someone who grew up without a father and an absentee mother coping with raising myself and the trauma in my life, it is wonderful to see another woman realize she is enough and she will get through the trauma. A truly incredibly inspiring story of hope and overcoming adversity.