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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This Will Only Hurt a Little- This buzzy memoir by Busy Philipps is just what I like in a celebrity memoir. Written in her authentic voice, this is an honest and quirky story about her experiences in Hollywood and before. Busy doesn’t fuck around and tells you what she thinks. I hate when celebrity’s just drop blind items throughout and leave you guessing who really was the asshole. She rarely does that and she doesn’t come out looking perfect either! So many interesting stories that will be new even after her press junket and Instagram. We are roughly the same age so all the 80’s and 90’s references were spot on! If you follow Busy, you know how raw and emotional she is and that’s clear throughout this book. Love her fearless nature and thought this was a very well done memoir. Fast read (I read this in a day) and you will end up routing for her success if you didn’t already.
I got INTENSE whiplash reading this and Thick and the same time. This book is full of blatant brags, petty complaints, insane privilege, and name dropping. She hates on everyone without seeing how she's ever at fault. At the end she states her awesome life happened because she "willed" it to be. Oh please. You'd think actors would understand how much BS there is to meritocracy. I'm so glad this book is over. I kept thinking she would grow up during this but it didn't happen so don't be fooled like I was!!!
Listened to half of it. Got the gist. She’s an ok storyteller but I got bored with the kind of stories she was telling. 2.5⭐️
I listened to this as an audiobook read by Busy herself-which is the main reason why I enjoyed it, I think. I knew Busy mainly from instagram, and I never followed her career closely. She definitely doesn’t hold back, talks about certain actors‘ bad behaviour and how Hollywood treated her (and other women), particularly concerning her appearance.
I am guilty of loving a celebrity memoir just like the next basic white girl. I have been a lukewarm fan of Busy's for a while now, gaining a real appreciation for her when I binge-watched Cougar Town earlier this year and then again when she began real-talk posting about her Whole 30 struggles on Instagram. Picking up her book, I was not sure at all what to expect. I knew nothing about her history and very little about her personal life outside of the fact that she is married and has two daughters with "celebrity baby names". That is to say, I went into reading this with little-to-no bias and almost no background.
At first, I was not a fan of the style in which this book was written. Run-on and fragmented sentences, stories that often jumped around, flighty remarks, and paragraphs of writing that felt as if the author drank a dozen Red Bulls to put on paper. I nearly called it quits for this reason because it's not what I gravitate towards. However, it didn't take me long to realize this is just how Busy talks. She writes like she is having a conversation with you, long and tiring - but ultimately, filled to the brim with energy and emotion. That is something I have come to love about memoirs; the voice is fresh and is typically unlike what you would read from an established writer.
Throughout the book, Busy takes us on a journey from growing up wild in Scottsdale, Arizona to her decision to pursue her very own talkshow. From the perspective of highlighting her career as an actor, this was interesting enough. It shows the ways in which the industry works, how even actors struggle with managing their money, and that they too can be screwed over by those they care about in favor of having their name attached to the next big thing. (Looking at you, Will Farrell in ice skates.) From the perspective of her personal life and all of her beliefs and struggles, I thought this was the most interesting part. Despite not knowing much about her beforehand, I already respected her penchant for badassery, her ability to consistently speak her mind. It's almost refreshing to know now that was not always the case. It's a trait she's had to stand up for, hone, and make her own over the years.
I will say - for sake of offering a trigger warning should it be needed - she does discuss rape and sexual harassment a good bit throughout her stories. While they do offer value, they may be uncomfortable or painful to some readers who have been through similar situations. Just proceed with caution if you think there may be an issue there.
All in all, I think this is one of the best celebrity memoirs I've read in a while. Filled with honesty and energy, it shines a light on Hollywood and its culture and reminds us that we have to stand up for what we want - whether we are looking for our next big role or simply trying to live our life on our own terms.
At first, I was not a fan of the style in which this book was written. Run-on and fragmented sentences, stories that often jumped around, flighty remarks, and paragraphs of writing that felt as if the author drank a dozen Red Bulls to put on paper. I nearly called it quits for this reason because it's not what I gravitate towards. However, it didn't take me long to realize this is just how Busy talks. She writes like she is having a conversation with you, long and tiring - but ultimately, filled to the brim with energy and emotion. That is something I have come to love about memoirs; the voice is fresh and is typically unlike what you would read from an established writer.
Throughout the book, Busy takes us on a journey from growing up wild in Scottsdale, Arizona to her decision to pursue her very own talkshow. From the perspective of highlighting her career as an actor, this was interesting enough. It shows the ways in which the industry works, how even actors struggle with managing their money, and that they too can be screwed over by those they care about in favor of having their name attached to the next big thing. (Looking at you, Will Farrell in ice skates.) From the perspective of her personal life and all of her beliefs and struggles, I thought this was the most interesting part. Despite not knowing much about her beforehand, I already respected her penchant for badassery, her ability to consistently speak her mind. It's almost refreshing to know now that was not always the case. It's a trait she's had to stand up for, hone, and make her own over the years.
I will say - for sake of offering a trigger warning should it be needed - she does discuss rape and sexual harassment a good bit throughout her stories. While they do offer value, they may be uncomfortable or painful to some readers who have been through similar situations. Just proceed with caution if you think there may be an issue there.
All in all, I think this is one of the best celebrity memoirs I've read in a while. Filled with honesty and energy, it shines a light on Hollywood and its culture and reminds us that we have to stand up for what we want - whether we are looking for our next big role or simply trying to live our life on our own terms.
https://literallaura.home.blog/2019/08/18/relatable/
I finally finished this book after I accidentally dropped my audiobook version from the library. I finished this via a hardback, so I got two perspectives: how Busy sounds narrating her life and how it is all written out.
This was a fun read, though the ending made me a little sad withtalking about the first time Trump won and how he has won again, along with her mom saying that before Roe v. Wade, things were tough CONSIDERING IT'S BEEN OVERTURNED . If you like more humble autobiographies, or are a fan of any of Busy's shows/movies, you'll enjoy this rare insight to her life.
This was a fun read, though the ending made me a little sad with
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Super simple summary: I really liked this memoir! She’s so funny and honest. I laughed a lot and also cried. She talks about childhood & growing up & life. Getting an abortion, getting into acting, getting parts she wanted, getting rejected because of Hollywood bs.
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
The only thing I’ve ever seen Busy Philipps in is Dawson’s Creek (Pacey forever 💕), but I’m a sucker for celebrity memoirs, so I grabbed this from the library and promptly started following her on IG. I adored the conversational tone. Some folks might not like that approach, but it felt like we were a couple of friends hanging out, gushing and bitching about life. I liked that. She’s not afraid to admit mistakes along with triumphs. I respect her honesty. A solid celebrity story; excellent on audio!