You Look Like That Girl: A Child Actor Stops Pretending and Finally Grows Up

by Lisa Jakub

At the age of twenty-two, Lisa Jakub had what she was supposed to want: she was a working actor in Los Angeles. She had more than forty movies and TV shows to her name, she had been in blockbusters like Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day, she walked the red carpet and lived in the house she bought when she was fifteen.

But something was missing.

Passion. Purpose. Happiness.

Lisa had been working since the age of four, after a man approached her parents at a farmer's market and asked her to audition for a commercial. That chance encounter dictated the next eighteen years of her unusual - and frequently awkward - life. She met Princess Diana...and almost fell on her while attempting to curtsy. She filmed in exciting locations...and her high school asked her not to come back. She went to fancy parties...and got kind of kidnapped that one time. Success was complicated.

Making movies, traveling the world and meeting intriguing people was fun for a while, but Lisa eventually realized she was living a life based on momentum and definitions of success that were not her own. She battled severe anxiety and panic attacks while feeling like she was living someone else's dream. Not wanting to become a child actor stereotype, Lisa retired from acting and left L.A. in search of a path that felt more authentic to her.

In this funny and insightful book, Lisa chronicles the adventures of growing up in the film industry and her difficult decision to leave behind the only life she had ever known, to examine her priorities and write the script for her own life. She explores the universal question we all ask ourselves: what do I want to be when I grow up?

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Biography, Mental Health, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, Adult

275 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

I'm a writer.
And a reader.
And some other things, too.
I used to be an actor, but after an 18-year career, I decided to search for something that felt more authentic to me. I left Hollywood and moved to Virginia. I love books, yoga, my husband, and books some more.

Read more from me at www.RealLisaJakub.com - our my books My You Look Like That Girl (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...) and Not Just Me (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...)

Reviews

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband loves Robin Williams. And, since we have been together for twenty-one years now, Williams and all of his movies have been a tapestry of our relationship. Mrs. Doubtfire is one of our favorites.

Fast forward to our life now. We have two girls. My oldest has a book, 101 Movies to See Before You Grow Up: Be your own movie critic--the must-see movie list for kids, and Mrs. Doubtfire is listed. We bought a copy and my girls love it as much as we do.

So when my birthday arrived, my husband gave me a signed copy of Jakub's book. (I like that he didn't go the obvious route and get Mara Wilson's). Jakub's book is quiet and unassuming. She writes honestly about her career as an actress and how it affected the various relationships in her life. She doesn't dwell on the drama associated with actors, the gossip surrounding life on set or get caught up in name-dropping (in fact, she really doesn't say a whole lot about her famous co-stars).

This is a great testament to starting over and finding your niche. Jakub left behind a successful film career to have a different career. By the time I finished reading, I understood why.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually requested this book from the publisher - I was dying to read it.

In full disclosure mode, I have never seen Mrs. Doubtfire and I didn't know who Lisa Jakub was, but the title of the book attracted me and when I read a little more about the book and the author, I realized that I wanted to know more about this person.

Jakub has lead a very interesting life which she details here. I loved that she doesn't go on and on about certain aspects of her life - giving us way more detail than we need. There is no "juicy gossip" here or "tidbits that we can fixate on". Rather, Jakub writes about her life in a very philosophical manner, making this book very engrossing for me.

I am also a searcher and a person who wonders about my past life, my present life as well as about the people and events in it. Jakub writes about being happy, then wondering why she wasn't quite as happy. She writes about her insecurities and her search for something that will make her happy. She is extremely honest as she writes her story and this book felt almost like a diary at times.

We are witness to Jakubs inner thoughts and feelings and I felt as though I was along on her journey to discover what comes after "the career".

She writes very eloquently and is extremely down to earth. I loved, loved this book.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished reading a different book that was very good, but left me drained and sad. This one had the opposite effect.

There were plenty of times I felt pain reading about Lisa's experiences, but in this instance, what I was left with at the end was a sense of peace, hope, and camaraderie. I'm sad that it's over; I wish I was still reading it!

The fifth star is especially for that good feeling :)

EDIT: Oh wow, I just found out that one of my flatmates (who was asking me about the book) bought it on her kindle last night and stayed up to finish reading it!

But it really *is* that good and that readable.

[Millie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always been a fan of Lisa Jakub, ever since Mrs. Doubtfire. When I found her blog through Mara Wilson's Facebook page, I immediately started following her writing. When I found out that she was writing a book, I got very excited and followed the progress very closely. I bought it as a treat to myself and couldn't wait to finish my other books to start reading it. I wasn't disappointed!

To be a bit cliche', I laughed, I cried, I said, "WTF?!" (My husband and daughter gave me weird looks a couple of times when I would crack up after being quiet for so long.) Yep. Lisa's story of how she got into acting and eventually left was an eye-opener. Many people (myself included) tend to have either the view of "Oh wow, they must really love their jobs!" or "Holy hell, what a train wreck!" when it comes to actors. Being the pessimist that I am, I tend toward the latter. It's so rare to see an actor - especially a child actor - actually grow up and not self-destruct.

I think what I liked most about the story was that Lisa Jakub is REAL. If you get her newsletters or follow her on social media you can really see that, even more so when you read her book. She talks about what it was like to go to auditions, work with "real actors" and try to be a normal kid with all of the normal kid anxieties, like leaving her home, father, and dog in Canada for Los Angeles. She does all of this without sounding whiny and put-upon or, on the other end of the spectrum, pompous and self-important. Reading her book, you feel like you're having a conversation with a good friend while enjoying a cup of tea.

Normally, I would say that this book was too short (at just over 260 pages) but I think it was perfect. Somehow, she managed to fit a lifetime into that short amount of pages without leaving you feeling like she left huge chunks of her life out or rushing things. It was a wonderful read and I found myself wishing that I didn't need to do pesky things like sleep or be an adult with responsibilities. I just wanted to sit and read this book from cover to cover.

Like I said before, Lisa Jakub is very real and relateable. Anyone with any anxieties, depression, or just human feelings can relate to her. If you're looking for a new book to read that's funny, insightful, and leaving you wanting more, what are you waiting for? GO GET THIS BOOK!!

[Seth Arnopole · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Technically, this is a re-read)

People of a certain age tend to recognize Lisa Jakub because she was in Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day. My friend Chris and I always say that true sophisticates know her from the movie Matinee, since that one was the film that *we* liked. I hadn’t followed her career closely, but when she started blogging several years after leaving acting, I found the subjects she was writing about to be relevant to me, and I was excited to read her work in a longer form.

Lisa’s story in You Look Like That Girl is of working as an actor from the time she was discovered in Canada at age 4 (this book has a sentence that I have never read anywhere else: “I was a hand model for the Egg Board of Canada”) never quite feeling like she fit in, dealing with anxiety as she moved from commercials to television to movies. Her work brought many privileges, but also interrupted her education and cut her off from normal life experiences. Eventually, she found her way to adulthood, living a life away from Hollywood that felt more like what she wanted.

This isn’t a typical actor’s memoir. It doesn’t have the traditional arc of such tales. Even though the surreal life of a young actor is not something many of us have experienced, the anxiety, confusion, and youthful mistakes she recounts are all too relatable. The tone is kind, but with plenty of dry humor. I found myself eagerly awaiting the moment in the book when she finally leaves Hollywood, as enjoyable as her anecdotes from the business are!

[María Salas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me begin by just saying that her blog is 1000 times better than the book so be prepared..
Just like she warned at the beginning this is no tell-all (sadly) but i hated that when she got to the filming of big movies like Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day she cut it short to 2 pages -.- no funny anecdote or anything come on! but when it came to hyperventilating there were no page limits..

The book is nice, easy to read and you get to see what's really like to all those child actors that we so easily forget about, however it gets a little exhausting with all that complaining and the eternal excuse "i wanted to be liked so desperately that i'd let people humiliate me/almost kidnap me/live in my apartment for free.." (I often wondered what was the point of having her mom with her when she silently let her do pretty much everything a parent is supposed to prevent).
It's still an interesting read, and for me it gets the top rating an autobiography can ever get.

[John Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Jakub acted in one of my all-time favorite movies: Matinee. Therefore, I was highly interested in reading her memoir. Although she barely mentions Matinee, she writes a very heartfelt story of her conflicting emotions regarding acting and how in affected her life. She convincingly discusses her joys, her ups and downs, and her feelings about what she really wanted to do with her life. I would recommend this especially for anyone wanting to get a realistic picture of what life is like for most actors and actresses.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Jakub starting acting at age 4. She was in movies like Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day. When she was 22, she made the decision to leave it all behind. While the transition from child actor to regular person who gets recognized sometimes was not easy, it was what she needed to do. She had a very different childhood than most, but she doesn’t regret her experience. The book does not contain sordid details (unless you count the teamsters teaching a preschooler how to play craps). It is in need of an editor, however, due to the number of missing or incorrect words. I recommend “You Look Like That Girl…” to fans of Lisa Jakub and people who enjoy autobiographies.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. No celebrity name bashing or dropping. Lisa Jakub just gives you a straight forward, honest look into her life and making a decision to leave the Acting word behind. She also is forthcoming with her bad choices and decisions that almost lead her down a very wrong path. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of her acting work.

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I just need to read Matthew Lawrence’s memoirs.

[Kristin Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting memoir by "the Mrs. Doubtfire girl" with a strong writing voice. Ms. Jakub was honest, insightful, and eloquent. I very much enjoyed this.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)

When I was a teenager, I received a lot of comments regarding the striking resemblance I bore to Lisa Jakub. Friends and relatives just couldn’t get over how much we looked alike. I’d go so far as to say she’s my celebrity doppelganger. When I found out she was working on her debut novel, I knew I wanted to get to know the girl who’d appeared to be a lot like me, yet had lived an entirely different lifestyle and had vastly different experiences than I had. I wanted to learn more about the girl who’d decided at the age of 22 to end her acting career and take the road less traveled, for her. I was incredibly intrigued!

You Look Like That Girl: A Child Actor Stops Pretending and Finally Grows Up takes us through Lisa’s journey. She was discovered at the age of four, an age where most children are focused on preschool, not the camera. She quickly cemented herself as a quick-witted professional, talented and admired by the numerous big-name celebrities she’s worked with. I love the way Lisa describes her celebrity encounters. This isn’t a trashy tell-all. She writes with class and dignity, even when she references someone she didn’t particularly care for. She’s appreciative, regardless of the circumstances.

Even though Lisa and I are worlds apart where life experiences are concerned, I feel as though she’s very relatable. So many of us have been through circumstances where we feel lost, not sure of what we should do or which direction we should go in, in order to seek out happiness. The feeling of doing what’s best based on what others expect of us, not wanting to let anyone down. It’s a tough place to be in, no matter the occupation.

I was always impressed with Lisa as an actress, but I’m even more impressed with her as a writer. Lisa is so honest and very candid on what she’s been through. It's led her to the person she is today. I felt like I was getting a glimpse behind-the-scenes of what it’s really like when your life is under a microscope. It’s not easy. If you feel like you’re in a place where you want to seek out your own happiness, take a cue from Lisa, and check out You Look Like That Girl.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this on my kindle. I like to read memoirs. I have read many books over the years by former child actors. I guess I am interested in the "whatever became of?" Question. Lisa Jakub was born in Toronto Canada. She started her acting career at four years old when a acting scout saw her in public and suggested she try out for commercials. For about six years from four to ten she did commercials, print ads. and Tv shows in Toronto. She then went to Los Angeles with her mother at age ten to see what kind of work she could get. For the next 12 years she appeared in movies, and tv shows. I know her most from Mrs.Doubtfire. she also had roles in Independence day. Tv movies etc.
This memoir is not only mentioning the roles she had but the anxiety that went with being a child actor. She was never at ease on the red carpet, being recognized, just learning how to seal with being an actress. She had worked since four and had anxiety attacks, worrying about getting the next acting gig. At 22 she had all she could take of the acting business. She packed her bags, and got her dogs had headed to Virginia to start a new life out of the Hollywood lights. This is her "story" of her life as a child actress and her new life in Virginia. Lisa is very honest about her good and bad experiences in show biz. She wrote about being a sensitive person, not always feeling happy about being in show business. A good read. Glad to read she found a new life outside of show business.

[Aaron Steinmetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neither an indictment of Hollywood nor praise for it, Lisa manages that razor's walk of telling us what went right and what went wrong without prejudice or post-judice as she lived the life so many dream of, only to embrace the life so many have. It's funny, it's heartbreaking, it's relatable and in many ways it's everyone's story. I may have never walked a red carpet or shaken hands with royalty, but I've felt discomfort in my skin and anxiety when I should've felt joy, and Lisa's ability to invite us into her life ignites her story with a fire that carries from cover to cover. She shows us the grass on the other side, moles and all. Strongly recommend.

[Madelyn Ridgway · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that it is interesting to see how she felt at the times that she was on set of movies that I've seen before I knew who see was. She is very good at communicating her feelings through writing, and remembers a lot of things from her childhood. The only thing that made me uncomfortable was some of the language that was used, but I know that the book is best in her own words, and things I find uncomfortable aren't for most people.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable, when it comes to all the feelings and moods she goes through. I'm honoured she shared her story in this way. I laughed, I cried. It's always amazing to see proof of how much more there is to a person. I had no idea she had done so much; I know she's in "Mrs Doubtfire" but I hardly remember it, but I do know her from "Independence Day", "Bermuda Triangle" and "Picture Perfect". She writes so eloquently, I'm glad she gave up acting to pursue these other goals. I like her blog too.

[Vanessa Deroo · Rating 5 out of 5]

You Look Like That Girl is a honest, funny, poignant memoir about a girl who was an actress for too long and found her own happiness, at age 22, outside film sets. Lisa Jakub's voice is present,vibrant, and the post-LA life was for me the most exciting part of the book, because Lisa's new beginning was so real and intense it was just impossible not to smile along.
A great read.

[Katie Kwon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. She works so hard on her central thesis, that we all have struggles and that's relatable, that she loses some of the interest of her unique story. She does seem happy now and comes across as sweet, so I'm glad for her. Mostly I wonder what her parents were thinking to let their lives be taken up by her career.

[David Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the girl actress who I admit had a massive crush on after watching her in Mrs Doubtfire, an honest and witty account of her life under the spotlight from the age of 4 and how she found true happiness and life after leaving Hollywood's bright lights. Great read. Can't wait for more from Lisa!

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to this book as a fan of Lisa Jakub's film work. Her films are not all that easy to see, so I haven't seen more than a dozen of them so far, having run into very severe economic difficulties during the attempt, so I wasn't going to shell out for an Amazon seller at the time. The one-two of Mrs. Doubtfire and Matinee, especially Matinee (I wrote my graduate school exit exam question on film authorship on Joe Dante), worked for me, but her role in Independence Day made me think Hollywood had no idea what to do with her, and my 20 year-old mind didn't even want to attempt to see The Beautician and the Beast even knowing she was in it. Here we learn that, in spite of what a friend posted about her husband, Jeremy (no, she does not include his last name, stalkers!), insisting she leave Hollywood, it was the same on her side as well. I found her story especially relatable as someone who studied film (I wrote about Matinee both as an undergraduate and a graduate film student) and as someone who people seem to like to hear sing, when my ambition has always been to write and direct. People in my circle can't believe it that I'm not comfortable auditioning for extras casting, even as I ended up living in the New York City homeless shelter system for three years, but I think the only reason I'm even taking David Friedman's weekly singing class is that it had spun out of the Unity church.

I did indeed write a role with Jakub in mind while I was in college, it was Dryad in Monster in My Pocket, based on the comic book, toy line, video game, and other aspects of Morrison Entertainment Group's packaging of mythical monsters into a miniaturization fantasy, which I was brazen or foolish enough enough to repackage in a film the blended the styles of Godfrey Reggio and Robert Altman rather than Joe Johnston and Bert I Gordon, not that I wasn't familiar with the latters' films. The role I envisioned for her was Dryad, a tree-spirit with tree-like features res who was outspoken and compassionate, perhaps a bit too much like her Sandra character but under a lot of Jim Henson's Creature Shop style makeup (although I wanted her to still be recognizable rather than a slavish copying of the MIMP likeness), but surely better than the "ethnic" and "whore" roles Jakub derides in her book (I'm not sure why brown hair is associated with "ethnic"--I thought Jews had more influence in Hollywood than Nazis, who tended to be blonde). Ironically, Jakub had done a lot of early roles in commercials for canned pasta in spite of becoming vegetarian from a very early age, and an inflatable version of Dryad was sold as an inflatable premium with SpaghettiOs UPCs. I think I might have gotten one in an eBay auction before I left for grad school, but I forget.

Jakub's book is a compelling but somewhat lightweight read. She definitely has gifts she can hone, such as when she comments on when she finally appreciated viscerally that she was staying in the home where the Menendez Brothers had murdered their parents and then compares the home's remodeling to L.A. facelift culture. In spite of being a film major, I always saw myself as a New York indie filmmaker in spite of my predilection for fantasy, it was always fantasy as a surface for truth. Had the owners of Monster in My Pocket honored their original claim that they would read the script, they might have been shocked that a comic book inspired by a toy was making so many comments about religion and politics.

I was hooked immediately as Jakub detailed her loneliness that resulted in part from never mastering riding a bike (which I haven't either), and the way her peers looked upon her as some sort of museum piece when they realized she was someone they had seen in a commercial. (I'm pretty sure that as a child I saw the KFC ad she describes but does not show among the photographs), which she likens to whoring because she was already a vegetarian at this point.

Jakub clearly presents the book as a writer's journey rather than a Hollywood tell-all. There are parts of the book that are inappropriate for kids who may be fans of Mrs. Doubtfire and other roles in family-oriented films, although we never get more than the first names of men she slept with during the later parts of the book, and there is an amusing scene of her altruistic rescue of sorts of a stranger at the Larry Flynt Hustler Store. As with many writers' memoirs, she discusses her early experiences with reading (a "live nude girls" sign being interpreted by her three year-old mind as a plea for survival). Those looking for details about her film work may be a bit disappointed. Much of her early, unknown films are not addressed, although her experience with a prop gun in Eleni and John Malkovich's willingness to sit with her is very moving. She next moves to her earliest high-profile film, in which she focuses mainly on her avuncular relationship with Robert Duvall (Bobby) and a severe back injury that made her want to leave the production (as someone with serious back problems, she seemed to recover 100%, which I find amazing), but mainly resulted in a long hospital stay, having her lines reduced (to her appreciation), and a traumatic incident with well-intended gorilla costume. One of the films Jakub saw for the first time while recovering was To Kill a Mockingbird, with its finale having had a special poignancy for her, even though her injury caused her to miss Bobby's birthday.

Although she has a mostly complete filmography as an appendix at the back of her book, many of the films she made are not discussed at all, or are only mentioned if something of personal significance occurred. Fanboys may not like that the only thing she writes about Dream House was her difficulty with a role that involved her shooting a gun, considering what else appears in the film (which I have seen even though Jakub seems certain her readers have not), while she mockingly notes that an excerpt of Bermuda Triangle featuring her in a bikini has been pruriently excerpted on YouTube, which I have not seen as of this writing (either the full film or the excerpt, though the sex scene she mentions in Painted Angels, aka Wicked Wicked West, which she notes subsequent to discussing her first kiss in Matinee as having preceded her first actual sexual experience, does not show her nude).

Much of the latter part of the book is about her feeling like an outsider and feeling guilty for doing so. I sometimes feel this in my singing class because I am pursuing a career as a writer, not a performer, and am clearly not quite in my element in terms of relating to others in the class. She also discusses the house she lived in and shared with so many struggling actors out of her own generosity (although her mother made her boyfriend sleep at the other end of the house). Since I didn't finish my degree until December 1999, I doubt if I had gone to Hollywood immediately after graduating that the timing would having worked out. She doesn't make clear who did this to her, but there is a particularly harrowing moment in which she was forced on a director who hated her treated her like garbage, and insisted that she be on the floor.

[out of time on library computer; still to finish]

[Jonathan Crowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the past week, I have listed to Lisa Jakub reading the audibook of You Look Like That Girl. Not only did it make for a better commute, it added moments of peace to the day. It feels like you're sitting down with a friend you haven't seen in a far too long and who is catching you up on her life. (Though I would never presume that level of connection were I to meet Lisa in person---it's important to remember that distinction between author and reader/listener.)

As a speaker and as an author, Lisa's voice is pleasant and comforting, such that you could listen to/read the entire book in one sitting if you were so inclined. Whether or not one has ever been in the performing arts, there is a relatability in Lisa's experiences that inspires the reader to think, "No way. I thought I was the only person who felt that way." It's heartwarming and heartbreaking, funny and poignant. It's life.

If you want to hear a story about Hollywood's effect on a person, dive right in. There's even advice about the industry. But more importantly, if you are now or have ever found yourself questioning your path and needed the inspiration and the reminder that it's okay to start over, then this book is for you.

[Shelly Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very well written tale of a child star who grew up and decided to leave the star life behind. I don't know that I want to give any of the little details about this book away here because there's just something special about reading a memoir (or listening to, you can get this on audiobook as well with the author narrating it if you like that sort of thing) and going through the authors experiences as they are laid out for you. One thing about this book that is real nice is there isn't really a lot of finger pointing and bad blood stuff going on. It's just written as what it was and is. If something bad happened it's there because it happened and then she moves on and eventually goes from being a very young actress to a mature woman who looks like that girl...
Very good book and well written.

[April Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only film I clearly recall seeing her in was Mrs. Doubtfire as Lydie Hillard. She seemed to suddenly fall off the face of the earth (in the public eye). She was an actress I assumed would go on to do well & grow into adult aged TV & films. I came across her book & thought it would be interesting to see what became of her life. I assumed the book would be full of hidden gems, for the most part that really wasn't the case. She had little life as a child, no friends, kicked out of schools for lack of attendance and seemly had no real sense of stability. For the majority of the book she sounds as though she was more or less miserable in the acting roles she did get & of the struggle of landing those she could. It was striking at just how ill-equipped she was at mundane things most learn early on how to do & encounter. I can't imagine growing up in such a bubble that once you're on the outside everything is just foreign to you.

[Len Knighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once wrote that Lisa Jakub may never be a Pulitzer Prize winning author like Henry Adams but that I preferred her writing to his. After finishing her candid autobiography, I believe that if she develops her talent and passion for writing, that Pulitzer may come her way. She tells us of life as a child actor without overwhelming us with gossip and inside information. She exposes her insecurities, something hard for us to do. He writes of her relationships, without the details, making this a book suitable for anyone to read. And, at the end, she confesses what we already knew: she is just like us. And you know what? I like her. And I loved the book. And I hope I will have the chance to love her again as a writer.

Five stars

[Kyle Towns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing, honest and relatable

I'm not one to read memoirs. This is maybe my second ever. Lisa was touching, frank and exceedingly relatable. Even those people up there on the screen struggle with the same issues as the rest of us, and despite money, they're not even necessarily happy. Her words break that facade and remind us that we're all humans with our own loves and tragedies. Not so different.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've listened to a lot of celeb autobiographies over the past few years and at least 3 from former child actors. I really enjoyed Jakub's honesty and I always like when actors detail the filmmaking process. Jakub also has a nice moment discussing travel near the end of the book, which I listened to as I was solo travelling Wales and had just pulled over to take some pictures, so for me, it was a perfect moment for that passage to enter my life.

[Dan Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really interesting point of view for disillusionment in the industry and a way of looking at what you feel your real purpose is.

It lacks a bit of information about why Jakub got into the industry and how much of it was forced via family and how much was of her own accord and then sort of skips through situations at times with vagueness but in general it’s a nice story about how the industry isn’t either glitz and glam or drug infused mess but somewhere inbetween.

[Charlyn Keister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I enjoyed the insider's look into the world of acting and what it's like to experience fame. Lisa's sense of humor kept me chuckling and I wanted to cry with her during her difficult moments. This was one of those books where I kept saying, "One more chapter and then I'll put the book down" and it would turn into another chapter, and another.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting memoir of Lisa Jakub's life in Hollywood and her decision to leave it. At times, it could have been edited down a bit more to cut down on redundancy, but the stories she shared were fascinating and her perspective was down to earth. She's also a conversational writer, making this an easy read.

[Jessica Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sat next to the author at a book show several years ago. We made a little small talk. She seemed unusually reserved. Having read her book I can speculate what she was feeling. I NEVER read this type of book - celebrity memoir. This book was far more interesting and relatable than I ever would have imagined. I liked her voice. Hope she’s continuing to find her stillness.