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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing
Minor: Sexual assault, Death of parent
I think i'm echoing other people in their reviews but this was hilarious and not at all what I thought. I thought it would be a little bit of his past coupled with "and now I was famous!" But instead we got such a great fascinating story about what it's like to endure the harsh realities of NYC and still manage to keep fighting.
*3.5 Stars
Looking back, I sort of feel bad for this rating. It's so hard to rate memoirs because you're rating on a connection with the author's life story and can't really rely on their writing style so much as they're (usually) not a writer by trade. I will say I don't remember having a problem with the writing; I just didn't think this memoir went far enough. Yes, it was cool to read about Rannells struggling in university and struggling finding acting jobs in NYC, and I really liked the section on Pokemon the Musical, which I absolutely forgot existed. But what I really wanted to see were anecdotes from his time on Girls or The New Normal or whatever, but this really stops before he gets to any of that. This was an okay memoir, and I liked the "A Summer in Ohio" vibes I got from his time at the farmhouse in upstate New York (if I remember correctly?) but I didn't love it as a whole.
Looking back, I sort of feel bad for this rating. It's so hard to rate memoirs because you're rating on a connection with the author's life story and can't really rely on their writing style so much as they're (usually) not a writer by trade. I will say I don't remember having a problem with the writing; I just didn't think this memoir went far enough. Yes, it was cool to read about Rannells struggling in university and struggling finding acting jobs in NYC, and I really liked the section on Pokemon the Musical, which I absolutely forgot existed. But what I really wanted to see were anecdotes from his time on Girls or The New Normal or whatever, but this really stops before he gets to any of that. This was an okay memoir, and I liked the "A Summer in Ohio" vibes I got from his time at the farmhouse in upstate New York (if I remember correctly?) but I didn't love it as a whole.
I hadn’t heard anything about this book on BOTM, but it was a great read! It was never a monthly pick, but I found it as I was browsing through the memoirs section, and knowing how funny Andrew is I needed to grab it. You will likely recognize him from the HBO show Girls or Broadway shows Hairspray and Book of Mormon.
This memoir covers his entry into the acting realm through his casting in Hairspray, so you won’t be getting any salacious Hollywood insight, if that’s what you are looking for. This one was funny, sweet, and painful at times thinking about that struggle of youth trying to achieve a dream, and I give it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5!
Follow https://www.instagram.com/thebphiles/ for all reviews!
This memoir covers his entry into the acting realm through his casting in Hairspray, so you won’t be getting any salacious Hollywood insight, if that’s what you are looking for. This one was funny, sweet, and painful at times thinking about that struggle of youth trying to achieve a dream, and I give it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5!
Follow https://www.instagram.com/thebphiles/ for all reviews!
this is more of a 4.5 but i'm just gonna bump it up because i love andrew rannells. this was funny, sad, relatable, and helpful. i can't really articulate my feelings more than that, but i'm sure the rating alone shows how much i enjoyed it.
This review is going to be extremely personal since I picked up this book the exact time I need this. It taught me so many life lessons starting in this weird adult world. I am obsessed with Andrew Rannells recently since I am obsessed with Falsettos, and he did portray Whizzer so so well. And his portrayal of Trent Oliver in the movie the Prom and Larry in Boys in the Band got me so excited. This book is talking about the first few years before he landed on his big break at Broadway. He's starting from zero and making his own way and that's really admirable. That 7 years gap from moving to New York and landing on Hairspray. He talked about so many difficult life choices because you can't have it all.
One of my other favorite quotes is also:
So yeah, I'm gonna plow ahead and thank Andrew Rannells for incredibly personal and reading the Pokemon Live! part made me giggle in the supermarket while queuing. I'm really thankful he shared this experience in a book! This is off to a good start in 2021!
This is what I had been dreaming of, trying to manifest, journaling about for years. This was supposed to be my time to have it all and keep it all. I was reminded of Tales of the City. No one gets all three at once. It took me a while to realize that my plans were not everyone else’s plans.
One of my other favorite quotes is also:
If you are going to enter into a career in the arts, it’s important to know that the most common feeling you will feel, and I’m talking on a daily basis, is rejection. Even if you aren’t actively rejected that day, the feeling of lacking something, of losing out, is always just stuck on you. You can’t shake it off, so you learn to plow ahead.
So yeah, I'm gonna plow ahead and thank Andrew Rannells for incredibly personal and reading the Pokemon Live! part made me giggle in the supermarket while queuing. I'm really thankful he shared this experience in a book! This is off to a good start in 2021!
3.5 stars, so I’ll round up to 4.
Quick, fun read. I’d imagine most would like more insight into Rannells’ acting career; however, I enjoyed reading about his pre-Broadway life. Seemed mostly open and honest, with a touch of jaded sass, but still enjoyable.
Quick, fun read. I’d imagine most would like more insight into Rannells’ acting career; however, I enjoyed reading about his pre-Broadway life. Seemed mostly open and honest, with a touch of jaded sass, but still enjoyable.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced