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All The Days Of My Life So Far
You think your life is nuts?
Since I was sixteen, I've spent time on Death Row, tried to sell my baby sister on the black market, been stranded at the altar (repeatedly), lied about my son's paternity, and fought viciously with just about everybody in town. Well, okay, it wasn't really me--it was my character, Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives. But like Sami, I've had my share of struggles. I've been told I was fat, watched fellow actresses starve themselves, been cruelly rejected, and wondered if I would ever date. (Hey, the first time I kissed a boy was in front of a TV camera!) There was even a time when I hated myself.
Sound familiar?
This is my story. It's an account of my years on daytime's most popular soap, and of my life off-screen--the major ups and downs, the craziness of Hollywood, balancing work and play, looking for love, concerns about weight, peer pressure, and finally learning to accept myself for who I am. I'll tell you fun stories about myself and my co-stars... .recollections of my most memorable scenes... .and everything you've always wanted to know about Sami. I think you'll find a lot in these pages that will remind you of all the days of your life... .and perhaps inspire you to follow your own dreams in the days to come.
Since I was sixteen, I've spent time on Death Row, tried to sell my baby sister on the black market, been stranded at the altar (repeatedly), lied about my son's paternity, and fought viciously with just about everybody in town. Well, okay, it wasn't really me--it was my character, Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives. But like Sami, I've had my share of struggles. I've been told I was fat, watched fellow actresses starve themselves, been cruelly rejected, and wondered if I would ever date. (Hey, the first time I kissed a boy was in front of a TV camera!) There was even a time when I hated myself.
Sound familiar?
This is my story. It's an account of my years on daytime's most popular soap, and of my life off-screen--the major ups and downs, the craziness of Hollywood, balancing work and play, looking for love, concerns about weight, peer pressure, and finally learning to accept myself for who I am. I'll tell you fun stories about myself and my co-stars... .recollections of my most memorable scenes... .and everything you've always wanted to know about Sami. I think you'll find a lot in these pages that will remind you of all the days of your life... .and perhaps inspire you to follow your own dreams in the days to come.
299 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2001
34 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
Alison Sweeney
7 books209 followersAlison Ann Sweeney is an American dramatic actress, author, novelist and reality show host. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha 'Sami' Brady on NBC's long running 'Days of our Lives.' In this role, she has earned a Daytime Emmy Award. In 2007, she became the host of 'The Biggest Loser.'
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 15, 2015
If you are a fan of Days, than you will love it!
I'm not that person, but I love Alison from The Biggest Loser, so I enjoy this book as well.
I don't like so much parts about Days simply because I didn't look them so much :-)
I'm not that person, but I love Alison from The Biggest Loser, so I enjoy this book as well.
I don't like so much parts about Days simply because I didn't look them so much :-)
September 20, 2011
I started watching Days of Our Lives with my mom when I was in 5th grade. At first, it was just catching the show when I was home sick or on vacation from school. But by the time I hit the summer before 8th grade, I was religiously watching every day, along with the awesomely-horrible Passions that came on right after. I taped both of these shows on my VCR every single day all the way up until I was a senior in high school.
So that being said, when I walked past this book in the library I knew I had to read it. After watching Sami Brady's shenanigans for years, how could I not want more background info on the actress who plays her? I am also now a huge fan of The Biggest Loser which Alison Sweeney hosts, but unfortunately this book was published before she got that gig. (I would have loved to hear her thoughts on it!)
Although I haven't watched Days in years, all of the story lines came back to me while reading this. I vividly remember Kate ruining Sami and Austin's wedding (well, one of them) by revealing that Lucas was the father of Will and not Austin; and I think I was only 12 when that episode aired!
Needless to say, I loved this book for the nostalgic trip back in time. Alison seems like such a sweetheart on Biggest Loser , and that shines through in this book. It wasn't the most well-written book I've ever read, and she repeats herself a LOT. But it was a blast being transported back to Salem, and for that I have to give it 4 stars.
So that being said, when I walked past this book in the library I knew I had to read it. After watching Sami Brady's shenanigans for years, how could I not want more background info on the actress who plays her? I am also now a huge fan of The Biggest Loser which Alison Sweeney hosts, but unfortunately this book was published before she got that gig. (I would have loved to hear her thoughts on it!)
Although I haven't watched Days in years, all of the story lines came back to me while reading this. I vividly remember Kate ruining Sami and Austin's wedding (well, one of them) by revealing that Lucas was the father of Will and not Austin; and I think I was only 12 when that episode aired!
Needless to say, I loved this book for the nostalgic trip back in time. Alison seems like such a sweetheart on Biggest Loser , and that shines through in this book. It wasn't the most well-written book I've ever read, and she repeats herself a LOT. But it was a blast being transported back to Salem, and for that I have to give it 4 stars.
May 5, 2020
Not the best written celebrity bio I have ever read and Sweeny’s frequent and annoying use of rhetorical questions made me want to scream- Don’t you want to know how I memorized all those lines? I bet you’re wondering how Sami got away with that one, aren’t you? This distraction aside, her book is a fun and light read that only took me about three or four sittings over a few days to complete. This book was published in 2005, so both Sami and Sweeny have done a lot since the book was written, but as the actress focuses on her debut and first 10 years on Days she is covering the 90’s which was a time of great storytelling on Days. I remember eating lunch between classes at IU and watching the show with friends especially to see if Sami was finally going to get her hooks into hunky Austin.
I also appreciate that Sweeny uses her fame and celebrity to address women’s issues and her own body issues very candidly and at great length. Most of the second half of the book is dedicated to this and how she eventually was able to find acceptance and self love, and she offers suggestions on how we can do the same.
As a fan and viewer of Days of our Lives for over 35 years, I would absolutely recommend this book to other fans. Sweeny includes plenty of behind the scene stories about herself and her co-stars.
I also appreciate that Sweeny uses her fame and celebrity to address women’s issues and her own body issues very candidly and at great length. Most of the second half of the book is dedicated to this and how she eventually was able to find acceptance and self love, and she offers suggestions on how we can do the same.
As a fan and viewer of Days of our Lives for over 35 years, I would absolutely recommend this book to other fans. Sweeny includes plenty of behind the scene stories about herself and her co-stars.
October 17, 2017
I just love Alison Sweeney and this book gave me a look into her life and I so enjoyed it!
February 11, 2021
I love her as a person & have loved her for years as Sami Brady. I most enjoyed her talking about Days or her personal life. Not so much about diet & exercise bc I am an "extra fries" person not exercise lol. I hope she writes another book soon!!
February 26, 2022
Love it! Ali is so down to earth. She makes her fan's feel like we are her friends. Reading the book is like a hanging out with a friend you've known forever and can talk about everything together.
June 8, 2013
Alison Sweeney's "All The Days Of My Life (so Far)" spotlights her first decade on the show Days of Our Lives--since then, she has been on the show for another decade.
As a fan of the show and Alison's character Sami Brady, I was riveted to the pages, learning what it was like for her to inhabit this character, who apparently is quite different from Alison herself. While Sami is a troublemaker that doesn't mind breaking the rules to get what she wants, Alison seems to be a well-balanced person with strong values and a positive attitude about life and how to accomplish what she wants.
She acknowledges her good fortune in earning the role at age sixteen and continuing in it; she also credits the other actors on the show for helping her out along the way, as well as the loving family where she grew up with values that would sustain her.
I also enjoyed how she talked about achieving a healthy lifestyle, which, to her, worked out much better than endless trendy diets that only work for awhile. She has demonstrated her ability to create a life that is healthy and happy, and when she describes what works for her, she does so in a very mature way, pointing out that not everyone can follow the same path. Finding one's own journey is the best way to go.
Learning more about the behind-the-scenes moments at the show, as well as some of the storylines that made her character memorable, was a definite benefit to reading this book. Admittedly, I am a soap opera addict...and have watched DOOL (on and off) since 1966. VCRs and DVRs have made regular viewing possible.
Since writing this book, Sweeney has gone on to achieve success on other shows (The Biggest Loser) and has written additional books. For me, this book earned five stars. I hope to be watching Sweeney achieve her dreams for many years to come.
As a fan of the show and Alison's character Sami Brady, I was riveted to the pages, learning what it was like for her to inhabit this character, who apparently is quite different from Alison herself. While Sami is a troublemaker that doesn't mind breaking the rules to get what she wants, Alison seems to be a well-balanced person with strong values and a positive attitude about life and how to accomplish what she wants.
She acknowledges her good fortune in earning the role at age sixteen and continuing in it; she also credits the other actors on the show for helping her out along the way, as well as the loving family where she grew up with values that would sustain her.
I also enjoyed how she talked about achieving a healthy lifestyle, which, to her, worked out much better than endless trendy diets that only work for awhile. She has demonstrated her ability to create a life that is healthy and happy, and when she describes what works for her, she does so in a very mature way, pointing out that not everyone can follow the same path. Finding one's own journey is the best way to go.
Learning more about the behind-the-scenes moments at the show, as well as some of the storylines that made her character memorable, was a definite benefit to reading this book. Admittedly, I am a soap opera addict...and have watched DOOL (on and off) since 1966. VCRs and DVRs have made regular viewing possible.
Since writing this book, Sweeney has gone on to achieve success on other shows (The Biggest Loser) and has written additional books. For me, this book earned five stars. I hope to be watching Sweeney achieve her dreams for many years to come.
January 17, 2014
Let me start by stating that although I don't read a lot of them anymore, I do love Biographies. I am also a fan of Ali Sweeney, not for her Days of our Lives work, but for The Biggest Loser, and for her advocacy of healthy eating over extreme starvation dieting.
However this book was disappointing.
I admit, I got it free through Pixel of Ink (if you have a Kindle and you haven't already, you must check it out -www.pixelofink.com) and I didn't check the release date first. This was published in 2003, so it was quite a few years before her TBL work began. But as I enjoy Biographies I decided to give it a go.
The first half of the book was a rehash of her favorite Sami scenes from DOOL. I don't watch the show, although I do remember when her character was introduced as I used to watch it in school holidays. This was disappointing. If I had wanted to read about Sami I would have purchased a DOOL book.
She did spend several chapters discussing her food and weight battles, although they felt like they had been heavily edited. There just wasn't enough emotion in it. As someone who had battled weight her entire life, these chapters felt contrived.
My biggest issue with the book, was that it felt fake. Ali was 26 when she wrote this, but it read like a 70 year old school teacher. It was very "proper". There was no heart in it. No real emotion. No humour. No spunk! She spent most of the book thanking her fans and saying how blessed she is. Which I'm sure she is, but say it like a 26 year old, not like her Grandma.
I did stick with it, and normally I wouldn't bother finishing a book I'd rate a 2. Her life is interesting. Her story telling abilities need work.
However this book was disappointing.
I admit, I got it free through Pixel of Ink (if you have a Kindle and you haven't already, you must check it out -www.pixelofink.com) and I didn't check the release date first. This was published in 2003, so it was quite a few years before her TBL work began. But as I enjoy Biographies I decided to give it a go.
The first half of the book was a rehash of her favorite Sami scenes from DOOL. I don't watch the show, although I do remember when her character was introduced as I used to watch it in school holidays. This was disappointing. If I had wanted to read about Sami I would have purchased a DOOL book.
She did spend several chapters discussing her food and weight battles, although they felt like they had been heavily edited. There just wasn't enough emotion in it. As someone who had battled weight her entire life, these chapters felt contrived.
My biggest issue with the book, was that it felt fake. Ali was 26 when she wrote this, but it read like a 70 year old school teacher. It was very "proper". There was no heart in it. No real emotion. No humour. No spunk! She spent most of the book thanking her fans and saying how blessed she is. Which I'm sure she is, but say it like a 26 year old, not like her Grandma.
I did stick with it, and normally I wouldn't bother finishing a book I'd rate a 2. Her life is interesting. Her story telling abilities need work.
April 23, 2015
Right now I am reading All the Days of My Life (So Far). It's an autobiography written by the actress Alison Sweeney (who was on "Days of Our Lives" and the host of "The Biggest Loser"). I used to be a huge "Days of Our Lives" fan. Her character (Sami Brady) was one of my favorites. I'm not watching the show anymore (mainly because I don't have cable right now...however, I couldn't stomach Sami anymore after she became involved with her rapist). I have been enjoying this book so far. She gives some behind-the-scenes information about the show. She also talks about her struggles with weight loss and what finally worked for her. She is a really positive person, which is a good thing but kind of annoying at times. She doesn't have a bad thing to say about anyone, which seems kind of unrealistic to me. She wrote this book 11 years ago, so it would be nice to read an updated account of her life now!
May 5, 2011
I picked up this book because I am a huge Days of Our Lives fan, and Alison Sweeney's character is my fave on the show. The book started out interesting when she was describing how she got the part on DOOL and I enjoyed reading about all the old storylines that I'd forgotten about. I found Alison's advice about weight management to be realistic; something that anyone can do whether you're a Hollywood starlet or a busy woman on the go. It's all about moderation and consistency.
January 2, 2012
Would love to read a more current book from her to see how her life has changed in the past 8 to 10 years, but I enjoyed reading this even though it was a bit old. I love Days, and I love the character of Sami. I hope good things continue to come Alison's way when her soap opera career ends, and we get new opportunities to see her in television and movies. I think she's an excellent actress, and from her book, she seems like a down-to-earth person.
March 29, 2014
With Alison leaving Days, I decided to get her bio from the library. After reading about the schedule for the soap, I can completely understand why she is quitting to be with her kids. Talk about a hectic schedule! I'm surprised she even had time to have them :-) I admire her for everything she has done (and for eating worms just to continue for charity on Fear Factor!!). Good luck in her future and I look forward to reading more stuff by her!
August 26, 2013
It was interesting to see just how Alison's life unfolded and how she got where she was. I like the way she related to the reader but at the same time it did tend to drag a little.
I loved reading about all the old storylines as when Sami appeared in Alison's form that was about when I was watching religiously.
Worth a read on a rainy afternoon.
I loved reading about all the old storylines as when Sami appeared in Alison's form that was about when I was watching religiously.
Worth a read on a rainy afternoon.
April 22, 2014
I have been watching Days of Our Lives since the beginning and I love Allison Sweeney. I loved reading about how she grew up on the show and reading about some of her most memorable scenes. I hope she never leaves "Days" as it will never be the same without her. This is an older book and a lot has happened in Salem since Allison wrote it but I enjoyed being brought back to the past.
April 3, 2008
This is an inspiring book.. but you really have to be a fan of Day's of Our Lives because it is an autobiography of Alison Sweeny aka "Sammy". It brought out her human side and I enjoyed reading her struggles with weight, also. Good Read!
December 5, 2008
Sami is my favorite character on Days of our Lives (been watching since 6th grade). It was interesting to hear how things work on set and all she went through to get where she's at. I could actually hear her voice as I was reading it.
April 3, 2011
I like Alison Sweeney, but this book was a little dull. She talked a lot about her character Sami - most readers of the book are probably well acquainted with the antics of Sami... there's no need to refresh our memories.
Good on her for the healthy weight loss though.
Good on her for the healthy weight loss though.
February 10, 2012
This is not extremely well written, but it is a cute insight to Alison's life and the Days schedule. I was most interested in the chapters on her lifestyle change that helped her to become more fit and healthy. It was written in a non-preachy way that I found engaging.
Gave to a Bookcrosser
Gave to a Bookcrosser
October 22, 2013
I love Alison Sweeny but this felt a lot like a self help book. I didn't like the long drawn out advice on what seemed like every topic you can think of, but enjoyed the recap of Sami Brady and personal stories from her past and with her costars.
May 18, 2016
Great job Alison
Ali's books are always captivating and holds one's attention. She is very talented in everything she does. I would recommend anyone who loves "Days of our Lives" that they read Ali's books. You won't be disappointed.
Ali's books are always captivating and holds one's attention. She is very talented in everything she does. I would recommend anyone who loves "Days of our Lives" that they read Ali's books. You won't be disappointed.
October 11, 2008
I bought this book when I lived in New York because Alison Sweeney was doing a signing at Barnes and Noble. So my copy is signed AND I got my picture taken with her. I know you are sooooo jealous!
March 24, 2012
it was a little disappointing.
January 29, 2011
an OK, book she gave us in site about her long life dream to become an actress and meeting new friend , at the same time she lets us in about her insecurities about her weight.
May 8, 2011
NOT A REVIEW. (With her work on The Biggest Loser, Sweeney qualifies as a "celebrity" for purpose of The Female Celebrity Autobiography GR list.
June 23, 2012
A very fun look into the best soap opera on daytime tv!! Love Sammi and loved to read all about the actress Allison Sweeny who has played her since she was a young teen.
January 12, 2014
I like Alison Sweeney, but this book was not well written and not all that interesting. I struggled to finish it.
September 22, 2015
Guilty pleasure read especially if you are a fan of Days!
June 29, 2015
Inspiring!
December 22, 2015
I love the book I love sami aka Allison I am glad I order this I will read more of her books
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews