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andeez's review against another edition
4.0
A fan of Sutton Foster, I was so curios as to "how crafting saved her life". I have a daughter majoring in musical theatre and that girl is ALL ABOUT THE CRAFTING.
The book wasn't what I expected, but I'm still glad I read it. I'm a sucker for a memoir. And the Sutton I listen to in song and watch on stage and screen has a story to tell. The book wasn't life changing for me, but it was fun to read in this summer season. I'm glad I read it.
The book wasn't what I expected, but I'm still glad I read it. I'm a sucker for a memoir. And the Sutton I listen to in song and watch on stage and screen has a story to tell. The book wasn't life changing for me, but it was fun to read in this summer season. I'm glad I read it.
bethywa's review against another edition
3.0
I love Sutton - she is the princess of Broadway. Also, long live Bunheads!
Anyway, when she was doing promotion for this book I got the impression that it would be a book where she weaves (crafting pun intended) her life into the crafting projects that have helped her mental health through specific points of it. It felt a little more disjointed than I had hoped. I feel that she didn't quite get to truly how crafting saved her life and that is what is in the title. It seems more like "How crafting helped me mantain good mental health," which is live-saving to a degree but not quite as big. I don't know.
All that being said, I truly loved hearing her tell her story. There was so much I did not know and especially appreciated hearing about her relationship with her mother. Her own learning, growing, and hardship can help somebody help to learn and grow in theirs as well. She is pure talent and I would recommend her book to anyone who loves Broadway and even to those who do not know Broadway but do know a complicated relationship with a mother or mother figure.
Anyway, when she was doing promotion for this book I got the impression that it would be a book where she weaves (crafting pun intended) her life into the crafting projects that have helped her mental health through specific points of it. It felt a little more disjointed than I had hoped. I feel that she didn't quite get to truly how crafting saved her life and that is what is in the title. It seems more like "How crafting helped me mantain good mental health," which is live-saving to a degree but not quite as big. I don't know.
All that being said, I truly loved hearing her tell her story. There was so much I did not know and especially appreciated hearing about her relationship with her mother. Her own learning, growing, and hardship can help somebody help to learn and grow in theirs as well. She is pure talent and I would recommend her book to anyone who loves Broadway and even to those who do not know Broadway but do know a complicated relationship with a mother or mother figure.
caseysilk's review against another edition
4.0
I am just a fan girl and this book did nothing to diminish that!!
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVE Sutton Foster!!! Her memoir was so open, honest, relatable and equally funny and heartwarming. She talks about her career, various projects, her love of crafting and her struggles with infertility, IVF, adoption and being a working mother. Great on audio read by the author. HIGHLY recommended!!
illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's review against another edition
4.0
In this honest and genuine memoir, Foster--of Broadway, Bunheads, and Younger fame--weaves the stories of the different crafts she has made into the timeline and narrative of her life. I was impressed with her candor in sharing her experiences.
Considering the breadth of what Foster has experienced, any reader or listener should expect to have at least one emotional reaction to the book. I cried while reading it.
I recommend listening to the audiobook version.
**Spoilers contained in the content warnings**
Content warnings: anxiety, strained family relationships, cheating, agoraphobia, divorce, grief, cancer, heart disease, death of a loved one--including hospital scene, infertility, IVF, miscarriage, adoption
Considering the breadth of what Foster has experienced, any reader or listener should expect to have at least one emotional reaction to the book. I cried while reading it.
I recommend listening to the audiobook version.
**Spoilers contained in the content warnings**
Content warnings: anxiety, strained family relationships, cheating, agoraphobia, divorce, grief, cancer, heart disease, death of a loved one--including hospital scene, infertility, IVF, miscarriage, adoption
sdt0087's review against another edition
5.0
I love Sutton Foster, and this book only made me love her more! Her quirky personality, vulnerability, Broadway stories, of course craft tales made this such a fun read. Ready to jump into my next craft project!
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I had no idea who Sutton Foster was when I starting listening to this memoir. I've never seen any of the TV shows or Broadway plays she's been in, nor am I even very familiar with any of them. I'm not a celebrity follower and I know very little about musical theater in general. So, why did I read this book? (1) I needed a new audiobook to listen to and this one was immediately available at my library, (2) I needed a book that fit a reading challenge prompt for "A Memoir By Someone Who Might Use Glitter Regularly," and (3) I was curious to see how crafting could save someone's life. Even though I probably would have liked this book a lot more if I was a Sutton Foster fan who wanted to learn more about her life, I still found HOOKED to be a decent read/listen. Not phenomenal, but engaging enough that I listened to the whole thing and enjoyed it for the most part.
Even though I have little interest in theater or TV, it was interesting to get an insider's view into those worlds. Foster has been performing for a long time and has a wide variety of experience in theater, TV, and stage. Although I don't relate at all to Foster's glamorous life, I do understand crafting (at least cross-stitching) as a way to soothe anxiety, channel anger, work through grief, and create multi-generational bonds. I'm not heavy into other crafts, so I actually liked that—despite what its title suggests—Foster's memoir focuses less on crafting and more on her life experiences. The idea of talking about her life within a framework of her arts/crafts pieces appealed to me, although I did find the book's non-chronological timeline confusing and repetitive at times, which definitely got annoying.
Since I use audiobooks to make tedious things like driving, exercising, and doing housework more bearable, I never listen to anything too heavy. While Foster's book does touch on serious subjects like mental illness, infertility, anxiety, grief, etc., it's mostly a lighter listen that is, on the whole, engaging and entertaining. Foster narrates her own book and her voice is upbeat and easy on the ears. For these reasons, I finished the book. Like I said above, I enjoyed it for the most part.
If I could, I would give HOOKED 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.
Even though I have little interest in theater or TV, it was interesting to get an insider's view into those worlds. Foster has been performing for a long time and has a wide variety of experience in theater, TV, and stage. Although I don't relate at all to Foster's glamorous life, I do understand crafting (at least cross-stitching) as a way to soothe anxiety, channel anger, work through grief, and create multi-generational bonds. I'm not heavy into other crafts, so I actually liked that—despite what its title suggests—Foster's memoir focuses less on crafting and more on her life experiences. The idea of talking about her life within a framework of her arts/crafts pieces appealed to me, although I did find the book's non-chronological timeline confusing and repetitive at times, which definitely got annoying.
Since I use audiobooks to make tedious things like driving, exercising, and doing housework more bearable, I never listen to anything too heavy. While Foster's book does touch on serious subjects like mental illness, infertility, anxiety, grief, etc., it's mostly a lighter listen that is, on the whole, engaging and entertaining. Foster narrates her own book and her voice is upbeat and easy on the ears. For these reasons, I finished the book. Like I said above, I enjoyed it for the most part.
If I could, I would give HOOKED 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.
wild_dog's review against another edition
3.0
This might have been more engaging if I knew who this lady was (as she's a celebrity) but it was engaging regardless. I read a lot of memoires, and hate most of them, but this one did NOT fall into that category. Foster has a great tone, she comes across as very genuine and tells a series of stories that have real weight. This was just all around a nice read.
booksaremypeople's review against another edition
4.0
You may know Sutton Foster as Eliza from the series Younger, but she is also a renowned 2-time Tony Award Winner and she is currently starring on Broadway with Hugh Jackman in the Music Man. Hooked is a memoir perfect for crafters and fans of musical theater. Foster takes readers through various projects she has made as the backdrop to important moments throughout her life; her fraught relationship with her mother, becoming a performer and her struggles with infertility. This was a really moving, funny and inspirational book about resilience and determination, and the will to persevere and finish projects! Learn more on my book recommendation podcast, Books Are My People.