kristyh12's review against another edition
4.0
Love her!! Also loving her new late night show! She’s hilarious and honest. 💕❤️💕
autumngk's review against another edition
5.0
I'd known of Busy not from Instagram, but of viral clips of her talk show (and then realizing she was in White Chicks). I was OBSESSED with her show and was devastated when it was cancelled, immediately following her on all socials I could. Her honestly about human rights issues that were invading politics like abortion spoke so profoundly as someone that began their senior year of high school watching that election happen and couldn't do anything but...well, watch. And I know, we're all tired of hearing about 2016 blah blah....... but this is Busy's lived experience. She was in the room at the Javits Center with all those other celebrities surrogates or whatever they're called; that does something to a person whether us normies want to believe it or not.
Philipps tangent filled recounting of her journey to where life has lead her is nothing but the most genuine example of someone loving themselves and being comfortable with their body and mind after the world has put them through the wringer. Not everyone is blunt to the point: and she lets us know that's okay. Some of us need to take a moment to debrief on smaller details within the story. Busy doesn't give a f**k if it annoys you, it's not your story. She's telling strangers that have been entertained by the fictitious her how she needs to tell her real lived experiences.
This is most definitely 100% one of those books you need the audiobook for. Hearing the voices she uses for her mother, the father of her children, her friends and past coworkers. Each memory she recounts is filled with surprises both for you and sometimes even her. Laughter comes just as much as sadness, grief is as frequent as happiness. Busy is a true storyteller, and we're so lucky to be living in her world. Because it truly is HER world-she sparkles that damn much. What a wonderful human we're amongst.
Philipps tangent filled recounting of her journey to where life has lead her is nothing but the most genuine example of someone loving themselves and being comfortable with their body and mind after the world has put them through the wringer. Not everyone is blunt to the point: and she lets us know that's okay. Some of us need to take a moment to debrief on smaller details within the story. Busy doesn't give a f**k if it annoys you, it's not your story. She's telling strangers that have been entertained by the fictitious her how she needs to tell her real lived experiences.
This is most definitely 100% one of those books you need the audiobook for. Hearing the voices she uses for her mother, the father of her children, her friends and past coworkers. Each memory she recounts is filled with surprises both for you and sometimes even her. Laughter comes just as much as sadness, grief is as frequent as happiness. Busy is a true storyteller, and we're so lucky to be living in her world. Because it truly is HER world-she sparkles that damn much. What a wonderful human we're amongst.
caitlin192's review against another edition
3.0
I really only "knew" Busy through Dawson's Creek and that she had kids. I knew she'd been on Cougar Town but I'd never watched it, and I kind of want to now.
I loved this. It was a quick read and it's easy to believe that you're just grabbing a glass of wine with a friend and chatting. Phillips is a good writer and keeps a reader engaged.
I actually didn't follow her on Instagram, (I do now) but it seems like she's carved out a spot for herself there. Philips portrayed hard things (date rape, anxiety, dealing with pervy Hollywood guys, etc) with levity and grace.
I loved this. It was a quick read and it's easy to believe that you're just grabbing a glass of wine with a friend and chatting. Phillips is a good writer and keeps a reader engaged.
I actually didn't follow her on Instagram, (I do now) but it seems like she's carved out a spot for herself there. Philips portrayed hard things (date rape, anxiety, dealing with pervy Hollywood guys, etc) with levity and grace.
magical_tess's review against another edition
3.25
I just wanted to know more about this woman. It was like reading a gossip mag. I liked when she talked about sparkly people✨
smouthworth's review against another edition
5.0
Really more of a 4, but I wanted to counteract the one star review. This is a cute, fun book that made me feel like I was having dinner with Busy Phillips, and I think that’s exactly what it was trying to be!
kerryanndunn's review against another edition
4.0
Busy Philipps is badass. And she gives no fucks. She does not shy away from revealing the ugliness under the sparkly veneer of Hollywood, revealing how awful that place can be, especially to women. She’s honest about her relationships good and bad, her work, her marriage, her anxiety, her pregnancies, and motherhood. It’s all relatable while also totally not being relatable because she’s an actor and lives a larger than normal life. But that’s what makes her interesting. She seems like a real person who could be your friend, not some untouchable star. I find her very self aware which is a good thing. All in all, I enjoyed her book very much.
iffles's review
4.0
I only knew of Busy from Freaks and Geeks and Dawson's Creek, but I loved her character in both shows. No-nonsense, doesn't apologize for who she is, beautiful (while not being stick skinny!). She was basically everything I wanted to be.
So when I saw she wrote a memoir that other people liked, I read the description on goodreads and realized I HAD to read this book. "Breakout star on Instagram stories"? I'm instagram-obsessed! (I didn't start following her until after reading the book, so I was never aware of this breakout-star power of hers), "painful and painfully funny teen years", well, that describes most teenage girls, right? I can relate.
This book was so well written. While each chapter told a story of a different part of her life, it also came together as one cohesive story and didn't feel disjointed at all. Busy has a way of writing that entertained me, and really made me relate to her. And it seemed like no part of her life was off-limits for her to write about. She talked about some painful things that happened to her as a teenager, as an actor, and in love. But she talked about so many happy moments, too, and I found myself laughing out loud at points.
I also started watching Cougar Town as soon as I finished the book, so clearly I got a little Busy-obsessed, which means it had to be good.
(side note. You may or may not know that Busy is close friends with Michelle Williams, and John came upstairs as I was reading the chapter where Heath Ledger died, and he looked at me and said "you look like someone died" and I said "YES! HEATH LEDGER!" ... to which had had a very confused "you know that happened years ago..." look on his face.)
So when I saw she wrote a memoir that other people liked, I read the description on goodreads and realized I HAD to read this book. "Breakout star on Instagram stories"? I'm instagram-obsessed! (I didn't start following her until after reading the book, so I was never aware of this breakout-star power of hers), "painful and painfully funny teen years", well, that describes most teenage girls, right? I can relate.
This book was so well written. While each chapter told a story of a different part of her life, it also came together as one cohesive story and didn't feel disjointed at all. Busy has a way of writing that entertained me, and really made me relate to her. And it seemed like no part of her life was off-limits for her to write about. She talked about some painful things that happened to her as a teenager, as an actor, and in love. But she talked about so many happy moments, too, and I found myself laughing out loud at points.
I also started watching Cougar Town as soon as I finished the book, so clearly I got a little Busy-obsessed, which means it had to be good.
(side note. You may or may not know that Busy is close friends with Michelle Williams, and John came upstairs as I was reading the chapter where Heath Ledger died, and he looked at me and said "you look like someone died" and I said "YES! HEATH LEDGER!" ... to which had had a very confused "you know that happened years ago..." look on his face.)
wordsbetweenlines's review
4.0
4.5⭐️
This was a very bingeworthy audiobook. I listened to it in two days. And loved it.
I knew who Busy was from Dawson Creek and Cougartown and listening to her tell her own story made me love her even more.
She is witty, raw, vulnerable and engaging.
thuglibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Actress Busy Philipps has written a memoir that is both entertaining and enlightening. Busy IS that woman that you see on tv, irreverent, funny, smart and beautiful. She is also that rare species seen in Hollywood; a self effacing actress with a sense of humor who knows that she is lucky to be famous. Busy is very open about her struggles, both on the road to stardom and in her personal life. She also calls out by name some of the men who objectified/harassed women and who gave rise to the #metoo movement.
I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
I read an advance copy and was not compensated.