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stilljennsy 's review for:
This Will Only Hurt a Little
by Busy Philipps
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.