What do you think?
Rate this book
And So It Is...A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope
The star of the legendary HBO series The Sopranos and podcast co-host with Christina Applegate, Jamie Lynn Sigler opens up about the vicissitudes of life, from early stardom to heartache and love, motherhood, and illness, offering readers an unflinchingly vulnerable exploration of the experiences that have transformed her life.
Jamie Lynn Sigler is both the girl-next-door and a superstar. Tapped at the young age of sixteen to star as Meadow Soprano, daughter of mob boss Tony Soprano, by the time the series ended in 2007, Jamie, then twenty-five, suffered from an eating disorder, kept private her diagnosis of MS, and entered a disastrous early marriage—all under the scrutiny of a less-than-kind public eye. Over the next years, Jamie would remarry, become a mother, launch a hugely popular podcast and, most recently, nearly lose her beloved son to a mysterious illness.
Amidst the stardust showered and all the slings and arrows that life has thrown, Sigler emerges with grace and a generosity of spirit that she is ready to share. In this moving and fiercely honest memoir, she reflects on her life and her years on The Sopranos. But this is no tale of woe; Jamie guides us through her darkest moments and comes out the other side emboldened and not embittered. A natural storyteller, she shares memories of her time portraying Meadow Soprano and beyond, including her often painful journey of self-discovery. In this unflinching account, Jamie holds nothing back; her resilience, candor, and her heart-bursting capacity for love shine through on every page.
And So It Is... offers the best of memoir from a cherished voice that invites us to share the most challenging and equally blessed moments of life’s journey. A triumphant story from one of America’s favorite stars.
Jamie Lynn Sigler is both the girl-next-door and a superstar. Tapped at the young age of sixteen to star as Meadow Soprano, daughter of mob boss Tony Soprano, by the time the series ended in 2007, Jamie, then twenty-five, suffered from an eating disorder, kept private her diagnosis of MS, and entered a disastrous early marriage—all under the scrutiny of a less-than-kind public eye. Over the next years, Jamie would remarry, become a mother, launch a hugely popular podcast and, most recently, nearly lose her beloved son to a mysterious illness.
Amidst the stardust showered and all the slings and arrows that life has thrown, Sigler emerges with grace and a generosity of spirit that she is ready to share. In this moving and fiercely honest memoir, she reflects on her life and her years on The Sopranos. But this is no tale of woe; Jamie guides us through her darkest moments and comes out the other side emboldened and not embittered. A natural storyteller, she shares memories of her time portraying Meadow Soprano and beyond, including her often painful journey of self-discovery. In this unflinching account, Jamie holds nothing back; her resilience, candor, and her heart-bursting capacity for love shine through on every page.
And So It Is... offers the best of memoir from a cherished voice that invites us to share the most challenging and equally blessed moments of life’s journey. A triumphant story from one of America’s favorite stars.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published May 5, 2026
About the author
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
1 book25 followersJamie Lynn Sigler is an actress best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on HBO’s The Sopranos. She is the co-host, with her friend, actress Christina Applegate, the podcast MeSsy, about their friendship and multiple sclerosis. She lives in Austin.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
June 20, 2026
I absolutely adore Jamie Lynn Sigler, and in every interview I’ve seen with her, she seems like the sweetest, most down-to-earth celebrity on the planet. However, sometimes overly kind and forgiving individuals don’t write the most compelling memoirs. It’s clear she’s not going to say anything inflammatory about anyone or name any names in her book.
As a Hollywood memoir, the Sopranos stories are endlessly fascinating, and I wanted as many of them as possible. She paints a vivid picture of James Gandolfini and the aura that he carried on set. She’s way too hard on herself for her missteps (her musical career, being young and making mistakes that didn’t hurt anyone but herself) and she’s far too forgiving of those who manipulated and used her.
As a self-help book, which chronicles her battle with Multiple Sclerosis, her traumatic first marriage, and her resilience in the face of immense challenges, such as her son’s hospital visit, it is a feel-good story that is both inoffensive and not particularly groundbreaking or captivating.
I had high hopes for this book, as I admire Jamie Lynn Sigler and consider her one of the nicest celebrities in Hollywood. However, the book falls short in terms of its length and fails to delve deeply into her acting career or her experiences working with various actors throughout her career.
This is a book about a strong and brave woman who hid her illness and quietly suffered while trying to keep it all together. I imagine writing this book was very cathartic and emotional for her. After a while, the book became too repetitive and I became frustrated when it was clear she was holding back her opinions on certain individuals.
This book is inspiring and positive, but it needed a better combo platter of Hollywood life and real life.
As a Hollywood memoir, the Sopranos stories are endlessly fascinating, and I wanted as many of them as possible. She paints a vivid picture of James Gandolfini and the aura that he carried on set. She’s way too hard on herself for her missteps (her musical career, being young and making mistakes that didn’t hurt anyone but herself) and she’s far too forgiving of those who manipulated and used her.
As a self-help book, which chronicles her battle with Multiple Sclerosis, her traumatic first marriage, and her resilience in the face of immense challenges, such as her son’s hospital visit, it is a feel-good story that is both inoffensive and not particularly groundbreaking or captivating.
I had high hopes for this book, as I admire Jamie Lynn Sigler and consider her one of the nicest celebrities in Hollywood. However, the book falls short in terms of its length and fails to delve deeply into her acting career or her experiences working with various actors throughout her career.
This is a book about a strong and brave woman who hid her illness and quietly suffered while trying to keep it all together. I imagine writing this book was very cathartic and emotional for her. After a while, the book became too repetitive and I became frustrated when it was clear she was holding back her opinions on certain individuals.
This book is inspiring and positive, but it needed a better combo platter of Hollywood life and real life.
Read
June 24, 2026It’s always interesting too hear the words from a Long Island Girl since that’s where I spent my life. Feeling Less Then and Inferior was a Gen X hold. We all got it pushed relentlessly to be thin and attractive. Look at all us pretty and super thin girls and know we adamantly disagreed. The answer was always to start another diet. If you were actually part of Hollywood, I can only imagine the pressure.
Jamie-Lynn starts struggling with her weight. She begins an unhealthy relationship with food, and obsesses about being too big. She is just 20 when she is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, yet she keeps this a secret for a long time. She meets her boyfriend, AJ Discala and soon after goes on to marry him. He is cruel and manipulative. This toxic relationship puts even more tension and pain on her as she is trying to come to terms with having MS, her self-image, and being well known. She doesn’t feel good enough and her husband doesn’t try to help her through all that. He steals money from her earnings from the Sopranos. The marriage only lasted 2 years as she soon realizes the mistake she has made.
Having, a Severe Disease so Young is Life Changing and Terrifying. She carries much shame about having MS and worries if it’s found out she will not get acting jobs. She is not necessarily wrong, but comes to realize it would have been better to let people in and help her navigate this disease. She begins to build inner strength and rely on her voice more. MS takes much away, but it also leaves her with compassion and love. She comes to understand that she doesn’t have to be perfect in order for others to love her. It was quite moving as the years go on, how she shifts and changes her perspective to engage in her life and seeks positive ways to cope. She has done an incredible job.
I am so sorry this happened but thank you for speaking up to help others. I just read Christina Applegate’s book and JLS really helped Christina through her initial diagnosis. It is great they now do a Podcast called, MeSsy. All my best to this courageous and thoughtful woman.
Jamie-Lynn starts struggling with her weight. She begins an unhealthy relationship with food, and obsesses about being too big. She is just 20 when she is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, yet she keeps this a secret for a long time. She meets her boyfriend, AJ Discala and soon after goes on to marry him. He is cruel and manipulative. This toxic relationship puts even more tension and pain on her as she is trying to come to terms with having MS, her self-image, and being well known. She doesn’t feel good enough and her husband doesn’t try to help her through all that. He steals money from her earnings from the Sopranos. The marriage only lasted 2 years as she soon realizes the mistake she has made.
Having, a Severe Disease so Young is Life Changing and Terrifying. She carries much shame about having MS and worries if it’s found out she will not get acting jobs. She is not necessarily wrong, but comes to realize it would have been better to let people in and help her navigate this disease. She begins to build inner strength and rely on her voice more. MS takes much away, but it also leaves her with compassion and love. She comes to understand that she doesn’t have to be perfect in order for others to love her. It was quite moving as the years go on, how she shifts and changes her perspective to engage in her life and seeks positive ways to cope. She has done an incredible job.
I am so sorry this happened but thank you for speaking up to help others. I just read Christina Applegate’s book and JLS really helped Christina through her initial diagnosis. It is great they now do a Podcast called, MeSsy. All my best to this courageous and thoughtful woman.
April 14, 2026
Totally engaging from start to finish. I was a huge fan of The Sopranos, so I went in already interested, but this ended up being so much more than behind-the-scenes nostalgia.
Honest, vulnerable, and surprisingly warm. Jamie shares the messy parts of her health struggles, relationships, motherhood, and growing up in the spotlight. She shared in a way that feels real, not heavy. I loved how conversational it felt, like she’s just telling her story without trying to polish it. Emotional at times, but also hopeful and easy to read. I flew through this.
Honest, vulnerable, and surprisingly warm. Jamie shares the messy parts of her health struggles, relationships, motherhood, and growing up in the spotlight. She shared in a way that feels real, not heavy. I loved how conversational it felt, like she’s just telling her story without trying to polish it. Emotional at times, but also hopeful and easy to read. I flew through this.
June 26, 2026
Thank you Harper for sending me a free copy!
We all have personal challenges and struggles but it’s safe to say actress Jamie Lynn Sigler has dealt with more than her fair share. In her memoir she discusses her MS diagnosis and why she kept it secret for so many years as well as the progression of the disease. She also opens up about her toxic first marriage, the death of her brother, her son’s medical issues and the ups and downs of her acting career.
This book serves as a reminder to give grace to people as you just never know what a person is dealing with in life. I give her credit for laying it all on the table and showing that underneath the talent and fame, she has insecurities like the rest of us. The anxiety of wondering at any given moment if you are saying or doing the wrong thing is relatable. It was nice seeing the personal growth where she’s more accepting of herself and knows she is doing the best she can. It makes her better equipped to handle whatever comes her way.
There’s a sense of sadness while reading everything she has faced but ultimately it’s an inspiring read about finding inner strength. A good memoir as it’s refreshingly honest.
We all have personal challenges and struggles but it’s safe to say actress Jamie Lynn Sigler has dealt with more than her fair share. In her memoir she discusses her MS diagnosis and why she kept it secret for so many years as well as the progression of the disease. She also opens up about her toxic first marriage, the death of her brother, her son’s medical issues and the ups and downs of her acting career.
This book serves as a reminder to give grace to people as you just never know what a person is dealing with in life. I give her credit for laying it all on the table and showing that underneath the talent and fame, she has insecurities like the rest of us. The anxiety of wondering at any given moment if you are saying or doing the wrong thing is relatable. It was nice seeing the personal growth where she’s more accepting of herself and knows she is doing the best she can. It makes her better equipped to handle whatever comes her way.
There’s a sense of sadness while reading everything she has faced but ultimately it’s an inspiring read about finding inner strength. A good memoir as it’s refreshingly honest.
May 8, 2026
I could say so much 😭 when I wasn’t crying, I was smiling. What a remarkable woman. Such beautiful perspective. Meadow Soprano forever!!!!!!!!
May 22, 2026
Raw and REAL! I love The Sopranos, but what Jamie put herself through to convince herself she didn’t have MS, then learning to live life anyway is amazing. I rarely give 5 stars. ♥️
June 7, 2026
After having just finished binge-watching The Sopranos this was such a perfect read!
I really thought I knew what MS was but Jamie’s sincere and honest testimony is so powerfully enlightening. One of the best (if not the best) celeb memoir I’ve read!
I really thought I knew what MS was but Jamie’s sincere and honest testimony is so powerfully enlightening. One of the best (if not the best) celeb memoir I’ve read!
May 8, 2026
A good memoir. Unlike her friend Christina Applegate, who wrote barely one paragraph about her time on Married with Children in her recently released memoir You with the Sad Eyes, Jamie Lynn Sigler knows why most readers are picking up this book: for stories about her eleven years as a member of the Sopranos cast. She shares details about the audition process and a few stories from working on the show. This book shares the struggles that she endured off set, including a magical relationship that turned into a nightmare marriage and the diagnosis of MS.
Ultimately, Sigler shares through her experience that it is better to share life-changing information with the people around you, and that more than likely, you'll discover compassion you didn't know existed. That asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
Ultimately, Sigler shares through her experience that it is better to share life-changing information with the people around you, and that more than likely, you'll discover compassion you didn't know existed. That asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
May 25, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ What a story of resilience. Amazing to think of what she was personally going through behind the scenes of The Sopranos and the later years, and what the world just didn’t know. Jamie Lynn Sigler is remarkable.
June 3, 2026
Very well done autobiography, put together professionally with all the key necessary elements that move along at a brisk pace. Sigler is the rare memoirist who makes time on her pages for self-reflection and introspection that leads to her regular admissions of how she failed in her life and would do things differently.
You probably expect it to be sad, knowing up front that she has MS, but it goes beyond the depressing physical aspects to show that it wasn't just the autoimmune disease that was her problem--she was starring in a major TV hit, had plenty of money, was invited to all the right parties, and seemingly had a man who cared for her--but she was still unhappy, anxious, and felt terrible about herself.
There are a lot of ups and downs, and it's difficult to sometimes understand why the writer made the choices in life that she did. But these can give way to readers thinking about how they would react--such as when her brother went into a coma and was totally unresponsive for a week, until the family pulled the plug, Sigler sang to him and a tear fell from his eye before he took his last breath.
Namely, some of this can be emotionally unsettling.
There is enough about the Sopranos, some mentions of her other work, and there probably could have been more depth about career and relationships, but this is being filtered through the eyes of someone who now sees life and career and family and her body very differently. Sigler is trying to tell you what matters.
I came away appreciating the lessons she learned but not some of her life choices. She likes to party, and never does she make a connection between her late-night drug usage or drinking, and the negative impact it may have on her body. There's one disturbing chapter called "The Good Place," in which she details taking "plant medicine" with her husband--namely illegal drugs. Suddenly the hallucinations turn her life around? Not the kind of role model I admire.
Then there are very mixed feelings about the odd ending--after her ten-year-old son goes through a horrifying illness that forced him to spend over a month in the hospital only a year before she wrote this. Sigler says she "was finally able to give myself credit for the hard work I've done and for the community I've built around my family. I reached out for help from my friends and loved ones and they came running...ultimately, this is a story of a woman who learned to ask for help."
Really? Her story is that she was good at asking others for help? I can see that it was important for her to learn that, but she considers that the ultimate lesson? Not to tell the truth or stop being so anxious over things she can't control or to believe she can accomplish more that she thought by fighting with all that's in her for herself or to have faith in God (who she turns to again when her son is dying)? It's an odd thing hear her to say, "I'm a superhero because I begged dozens of other people for help," because that doesn't make the story hers but that of the community that is forced to help her as she continually falls apart.
And that's seen in the acknowledgments, which not only lists 100 people but dedicates individual paragraphs to each, along with full-on groups like the production people of The Sopranos, her Plaza Playhouse, and her "Shabbat crew." Many of the things mentioned in those eight final pages make the reader wonder where were the detailed stories attached to some of these names?
Things to take away from those of us that are survivors (some I wish she would have stated more directly but the ideas can be drawn from what she writes):
1. Don't hide your diagnosis. I know she feared never getting to work again, but when she hid the disease from almost everyone she put herself in a cage that others could see but not figure out why she was acting so weird. Telling others helps with healing and survival.
2. Find someone who really is your advocate and will be there for you no matter what. Usually it's a single driving force or a small group, not the dozens she begs for help. Sadly, in the early days of her diagnosis, she surrounded herself with non-relatives, one of whom became her first husband that was the biggest moocher ever (he is now in prison) and she rejected her parents. Often blood family members are the only ones you can trust, and if you have significant money then don't trust anyone else with it because many people make bad decisions based on gaining from your illness.
I will also add that while it's good that she learned to reach out to others, there were things she could have done herself and Sigler became overly dependent on everyone she encountered (including many strangers), which can be an unhealthy shift of personal responsibility.
3. Eat. A major mistake she makes early in the physical issues is she tries to diet her way to health, eventually purging and putting her body into crisis mode in the midst of her work success. Even if you don't feel like it, eat consistently and regularly, enough to fuel your body fighting the disease. My honest advice is: when you feel like eating less, eat more--force yourself to fight back with nutrients. And if you keep telling yourself you're not thin enough or pretty enough, get yourself to a good therapist who can help you rewrite your inner voice.
4. Quickly swallow your pride and use whatever you can to help yourself--such as incontinence diapers! It's hard to believe but for a couple of years Sigler suffered through repeated embarrassment when she peed herself, refusing to use Depend-type diapers. It makes no logical sense and (after her boyfriend forced her into one as she was walking on stage to do a sitcom taping) proves that you as a patient don't always knows what's best for you, so listen to others even if it's humiliating!
5. Find a spiritual practice that can relieve the stress and give comfort. She admits that at age 30, in the midst of her body falling apart, "I had no foundation. I had no faith, no practice, or form of self-care. When the work disappeared and my body started revolting against me, I had nothing to rely on." She had long before turned away from God when she saw that things didn't get better for her...but there was so much more for her to learn.
6. Have gratitude. Live for the things you're grateful for. We can all focus on what we don't have, but after sitting in doctor's offices, emergency rooms, hospital beds and chemo treatment centers, you'll quickly realize that things could be a whole lot worse so be thankful for what you've got.
"Maybe that's why I am writing this book and sharing my story. My hope is that no one else chooses a path of pain and dishonesty for fear of not being loved, accepted, and supported because of a persona struggle or physical disability or invisible illness. This is my warning: don't choose the road built with lies because it leads to a cliff where there's nowhere to turn."
Amen. Many have built their lives upon lies, some have great success because of it while others have great pain due to it. No matter what, lies lead to an unstated reaction from others that is making your life worse, though you may never realize it. And this memoir is filled with lies, not only from the author but shockingly from Hollywood support staff, managers, PR people, and medical professionals who agree to "cover" for her. Those people should have charges filed against them and jailed for failing to do what's best for the patient.
Hopefully this book will be used to inspire those with any type of debilitating condition to fight with all that's in them, not give up hope, tell the world the truth so others can provide support, but be cautious of who to trust. And so it is...there's more to life than just your body; the trick is to set your mind on the things above in the midst of the physical suffering.
You probably expect it to be sad, knowing up front that she has MS, but it goes beyond the depressing physical aspects to show that it wasn't just the autoimmune disease that was her problem--she was starring in a major TV hit, had plenty of money, was invited to all the right parties, and seemingly had a man who cared for her--but she was still unhappy, anxious, and felt terrible about herself.
There are a lot of ups and downs, and it's difficult to sometimes understand why the writer made the choices in life that she did. But these can give way to readers thinking about how they would react--such as when her brother went into a coma and was totally unresponsive for a week, until the family pulled the plug, Sigler sang to him and a tear fell from his eye before he took his last breath.
Namely, some of this can be emotionally unsettling.
There is enough about the Sopranos, some mentions of her other work, and there probably could have been more depth about career and relationships, but this is being filtered through the eyes of someone who now sees life and career and family and her body very differently. Sigler is trying to tell you what matters.
I came away appreciating the lessons she learned but not some of her life choices. She likes to party, and never does she make a connection between her late-night drug usage or drinking, and the negative impact it may have on her body. There's one disturbing chapter called "The Good Place," in which she details taking "plant medicine" with her husband--namely illegal drugs. Suddenly the hallucinations turn her life around? Not the kind of role model I admire.
Then there are very mixed feelings about the odd ending--after her ten-year-old son goes through a horrifying illness that forced him to spend over a month in the hospital only a year before she wrote this. Sigler says she "was finally able to give myself credit for the hard work I've done and for the community I've built around my family. I reached out for help from my friends and loved ones and they came running...ultimately, this is a story of a woman who learned to ask for help."
Really? Her story is that she was good at asking others for help? I can see that it was important for her to learn that, but she considers that the ultimate lesson? Not to tell the truth or stop being so anxious over things she can't control or to believe she can accomplish more that she thought by fighting with all that's in her for herself or to have faith in God (who she turns to again when her son is dying)? It's an odd thing hear her to say, "I'm a superhero because I begged dozens of other people for help," because that doesn't make the story hers but that of the community that is forced to help her as she continually falls apart.
And that's seen in the acknowledgments, which not only lists 100 people but dedicates individual paragraphs to each, along with full-on groups like the production people of The Sopranos, her Plaza Playhouse, and her "Shabbat crew." Many of the things mentioned in those eight final pages make the reader wonder where were the detailed stories attached to some of these names?
Things to take away from those of us that are survivors (some I wish she would have stated more directly but the ideas can be drawn from what she writes):
1. Don't hide your diagnosis. I know she feared never getting to work again, but when she hid the disease from almost everyone she put herself in a cage that others could see but not figure out why she was acting so weird. Telling others helps with healing and survival.
2. Find someone who really is your advocate and will be there for you no matter what. Usually it's a single driving force or a small group, not the dozens she begs for help. Sadly, in the early days of her diagnosis, she surrounded herself with non-relatives, one of whom became her first husband that was the biggest moocher ever (he is now in prison) and she rejected her parents. Often blood family members are the only ones you can trust, and if you have significant money then don't trust anyone else with it because many people make bad decisions based on gaining from your illness.
I will also add that while it's good that she learned to reach out to others, there were things she could have done herself and Sigler became overly dependent on everyone she encountered (including many strangers), which can be an unhealthy shift of personal responsibility.
3. Eat. A major mistake she makes early in the physical issues is she tries to diet her way to health, eventually purging and putting her body into crisis mode in the midst of her work success. Even if you don't feel like it, eat consistently and regularly, enough to fuel your body fighting the disease. My honest advice is: when you feel like eating less, eat more--force yourself to fight back with nutrients. And if you keep telling yourself you're not thin enough or pretty enough, get yourself to a good therapist who can help you rewrite your inner voice.
4. Quickly swallow your pride and use whatever you can to help yourself--such as incontinence diapers! It's hard to believe but for a couple of years Sigler suffered through repeated embarrassment when she peed herself, refusing to use Depend-type diapers. It makes no logical sense and (after her boyfriend forced her into one as she was walking on stage to do a sitcom taping) proves that you as a patient don't always knows what's best for you, so listen to others even if it's humiliating!
5. Find a spiritual practice that can relieve the stress and give comfort. She admits that at age 30, in the midst of her body falling apart, "I had no foundation. I had no faith, no practice, or form of self-care. When the work disappeared and my body started revolting against me, I had nothing to rely on." She had long before turned away from God when she saw that things didn't get better for her...but there was so much more for her to learn.
6. Have gratitude. Live for the things you're grateful for. We can all focus on what we don't have, but after sitting in doctor's offices, emergency rooms, hospital beds and chemo treatment centers, you'll quickly realize that things could be a whole lot worse so be thankful for what you've got.
"Maybe that's why I am writing this book and sharing my story. My hope is that no one else chooses a path of pain and dishonesty for fear of not being loved, accepted, and supported because of a persona struggle or physical disability or invisible illness. This is my warning: don't choose the road built with lies because it leads to a cliff where there's nowhere to turn."
Amen. Many have built their lives upon lies, some have great success because of it while others have great pain due to it. No matter what, lies lead to an unstated reaction from others that is making your life worse, though you may never realize it. And this memoir is filled with lies, not only from the author but shockingly from Hollywood support staff, managers, PR people, and medical professionals who agree to "cover" for her. Those people should have charges filed against them and jailed for failing to do what's best for the patient.
Hopefully this book will be used to inspire those with any type of debilitating condition to fight with all that's in them, not give up hope, tell the world the truth so others can provide support, but be cautious of who to trust. And so it is...there's more to life than just your body; the trick is to set your mind on the things above in the midst of the physical suffering.
Read
May 15, 2026I’ve decided I’m no longer going to rate memoirs because it isn’t my place to rate someone else’s life story. I love the Sopranos and Jamie writes about her experience with MS in such a beautiful and devastating way
May 18, 2026
There's this thing that celebrities sometimes do where they write a memoir, but they don't give the reader any details about what it was actually like to work behind the scenes of a famous movie or show that shot them to fame. As a reader we want to know what in the heck that experience was actually like as well as their back story about their life. I felt like Jamie-Lynn gave us those glimpses inside The Sopranos that I was itching to know more about. I also found it interesting how grounded she is. Throughout her entire memoir I never once got the sense that she views herself as a celebrity - it might be the most modest celebrity memoir I've ever read (and I tend to read a lot of them). A lot of Jamie's memoir is focused on her MS diagnosis when she was only 20 years old - from the early warning signs to the diagnosis to how it progressed and affects her life to this day. I genuinely was drawn in. Jamie-Lynn is the same age as me as I was often curious about her as I've watched The Sopranos twice now (and I have to admit I'm tempted to go back for round 3 after listening to this). I have a newfound respect for her and everything she has endured and her outlook on life. I also felt like I learned a lot more about MS and how it can affect those who fight it. I had a roommate in college who had MS and at the time I remember knowing it was serious, but I didn't really understand the disease or what it could have been like for her to live with it. I appreciate that she wrote this and shared her story with the world.
June 23, 2026
I don’t typically rate memoirs however this book just blew any other i have read. It could be because I related to this so incredibly much. You felt her raw emotions in the book as she faces challenges and life events.
i was crying throughout at least 25-50% of this book.
i felt so seen and heard regarding the struggles of MS.
i encourage anyone who doesn’t have it to read this book to give some insight on the diagnosis process, daily struggles, the shame of a chronic illness, and how to grow from it
When her son goes through his own trauma in the hospital, I balled. As a first time mom to a little boy, i can’t imagine the heartache this must have been especially after her own neurological illness
definitely my favorite memoir thus far
i was crying throughout at least 25-50% of this book.
i felt so seen and heard regarding the struggles of MS.
i encourage anyone who doesn’t have it to read this book to give some insight on the diagnosis process, daily struggles, the shame of a chronic illness, and how to grow from it
When her son goes through his own trauma in the hospital, I balled. As a first time mom to a little boy, i can’t imagine the heartache this must have been especially after her own neurological illness
definitely my favorite memoir thus far
May 17, 2026
Beautifully written. I lost track of how many times I cried. It's such a moving and powerful story of a girl navigating life. The way the body holds onto trauma, suppressed emotions, shame, guilt, just everything and the physical cost is just so tragic and inspiring at the same time. The miracle of life and learning from the cards we are dealt. Seeing the work of God and having faith. This book is fantastic. Jamie is vulnerable and authentic.
June 15, 2026
4.5 stars. Excellent.
May 8, 2026
Listened to it in one day. So good. A fun story of a little girl trying to be famous, finding fame, but then having to find strength to deal with not only her health struggles, but her son’s as well. So well done.
May 15, 2026
Now I am ready to watch the sopranos again!
June 8, 2026
Audiobook read by the author.
Read people's stories.
Learning about her struggle with MS was eye opening.
Read people's stories.
Learning about her struggle with MS was eye opening.
May 14, 2026
I raced through this story and loved every minute of it. It felt like a conversation, listening to Jamie Lynn Sigler just tell her story- told with so much love and heart. Recommend this to everyone. 🤍
May 24, 2026
If you were a young star on one of the most iconic dramas in television history, you would assume that your career has been made and nothing could go wrong in your life. So you pick up this book, by one of the four most important actors on said show, and you find out that it’s not all sunshine and lollipops. In fact, this celebrity brings with her the sense of being a beautiful bird locked in a crystal cage --- seen but not really known, singing for you whenever you want, regardless of how sad, sick or tired it may be.
This is a long way of saying that Jamie Lynn Sigler’s memoir of the offstage and onstage life of Meadow Soprano will become (like Lena Dunham’s FAMESICK) an excellent reminder that when you get what you wish for, you lose a lot of control in this brand-driven society. AND SO IT IS… is perhaps the most effective and heartbreaking memoir in a sea of like-minded books by women who have had to hide their personal lives from the public in order to keep working.
Sigler has more spiritual goals in mind. Her early struggles as an actor lead her to find true grace for herself and those who have let her down throughout her life. (Sigler’s close friend, Christina Applegate, makes a similar case in YOU WITH THE SAD EYES.) But Sigler has a voice that not only tells the truth but expresses it in such a way as to shock and dishearten readers as she explains one situation after another where she was young and unknowing, and people worked their wiles to get things from her that she couldn’t even comprehend were happening. Sigler is no fool. Her adult self offers nothing but comfort and understanding to her younger self. In that way, this is a bold and meaningful read and a real how-to on what not to do as a budding actor.
As with so many other recent memoirs (Eleanor Coppola, Annabelle Gurwitch, Selma Blair, Dunham and Applegate), Sigler has been struggling for decades with multiple sclerosis, which she fought hard (with a staggering run of treatments and medications, experimental and prescribed) while continuing to appear not only on “The Sopranos” but also in two Disney Broadway shows and various sitcoms. In all of them, there are those who see what’s happening but don’t offer accommodations and others who do (like the beloved Michael Lehmann, sitcom director for the ages).
All along, Sigler has the support of her mother and grandmother, strong Latinas with true faith in both her and God. The stories of their family life are some of the most beautiful in the book. From this foundation of unconditional love, she learns and grows as her talent becomes more under her control and her body less controllable.
Sigler opens the book with a story about her son’s almost fatal immune system issues, and immediately we get the sense that we are reading the story of someone for whom the people in her life trump the celebrity functions of her acting world. She comes across as an intelligent, mature woman who has learned so much from both her career foibles and her medical hardships, and she chooses compassion, grace and peace over tabloid drama every time.
Figures like James Gandolfini, the late great star of “The Sopranos”; baseball legend Lenny Dykstra’s truly decent son, Cutter, with whom she has her son, Beau; and her best friend, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, give her the same committed care and grace, love and time, that her family does. Her gratitude and all she has learned from them come shining through her prose at every turn. It is comforting to know that in a story featuring a ton of bad guys, there are some very good ones, too.
AND SO IT IS… offers both hope and compassion for people with chronic illnesses everywhere regardless of their line of work. Sigler also gives readers plenty of backstage drama but ultimately finds peace as she gets older, wresting back control of her career and her physical and mental states. She should be so proud of herself for crafting a tale of bravery, growth and maturity and telling it with class and style.
Reviewed by Jana Siciliano
This is a long way of saying that Jamie Lynn Sigler’s memoir of the offstage and onstage life of Meadow Soprano will become (like Lena Dunham’s FAMESICK) an excellent reminder that when you get what you wish for, you lose a lot of control in this brand-driven society. AND SO IT IS… is perhaps the most effective and heartbreaking memoir in a sea of like-minded books by women who have had to hide their personal lives from the public in order to keep working.
Sigler has more spiritual goals in mind. Her early struggles as an actor lead her to find true grace for herself and those who have let her down throughout her life. (Sigler’s close friend, Christina Applegate, makes a similar case in YOU WITH THE SAD EYES.) But Sigler has a voice that not only tells the truth but expresses it in such a way as to shock and dishearten readers as she explains one situation after another where she was young and unknowing, and people worked their wiles to get things from her that she couldn’t even comprehend were happening. Sigler is no fool. Her adult self offers nothing but comfort and understanding to her younger self. In that way, this is a bold and meaningful read and a real how-to on what not to do as a budding actor.
As with so many other recent memoirs (Eleanor Coppola, Annabelle Gurwitch, Selma Blair, Dunham and Applegate), Sigler has been struggling for decades with multiple sclerosis, which she fought hard (with a staggering run of treatments and medications, experimental and prescribed) while continuing to appear not only on “The Sopranos” but also in two Disney Broadway shows and various sitcoms. In all of them, there are those who see what’s happening but don’t offer accommodations and others who do (like the beloved Michael Lehmann, sitcom director for the ages).
All along, Sigler has the support of her mother and grandmother, strong Latinas with true faith in both her and God. The stories of their family life are some of the most beautiful in the book. From this foundation of unconditional love, she learns and grows as her talent becomes more under her control and her body less controllable.
Sigler opens the book with a story about her son’s almost fatal immune system issues, and immediately we get the sense that we are reading the story of someone for whom the people in her life trump the celebrity functions of her acting world. She comes across as an intelligent, mature woman who has learned so much from both her career foibles and her medical hardships, and she chooses compassion, grace and peace over tabloid drama every time.
Figures like James Gandolfini, the late great star of “The Sopranos”; baseball legend Lenny Dykstra’s truly decent son, Cutter, with whom she has her son, Beau; and her best friend, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, give her the same committed care and grace, love and time, that her family does. Her gratitude and all she has learned from them come shining through her prose at every turn. It is comforting to know that in a story featuring a ton of bad guys, there are some very good ones, too.
AND SO IT IS… offers both hope and compassion for people with chronic illnesses everywhere regardless of their line of work. Sigler also gives readers plenty of backstage drama but ultimately finds peace as she gets older, wresting back control of her career and her physical and mental states. She should be so proud of herself for crafting a tale of bravery, growth and maturity and telling it with class and style.
Reviewed by Jana Siciliano
June 27, 2026
Holy sh*t! (Am I allowed to say that here?? I’ll censor just in case..) But really 🤯 wow. It’s not often I will stay up until 2 a.m. just to finish a book. Especially a celebrity memoir.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one, but I can guarantee you it wasn’t what I actually read. I often feel weird rating memoirs/autobiographies since it seems like a gray area to give a numbered score to someone’s experiences and feelings. I generally focus more on how those things are presented in the writing of the book. This is an easy 5-star for me, though. Not just in the way Jamie presented her feelings and experiences (which was beautiful in its own right) but also in how she wrote this book. I’m not sure if a ghostwriter was involved or if this is all her own writing, but either way it was very well done and one I would read again. And I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way about a celeb memoir.
She comes across as so genuine and open. You get the feeling that she has really done the work to come to a place of acceptance with herself and it’s like she gives you the courage to do the same. I hate to compare her to her podcast costar but as they both have recently released books and I have recently read/listened to both, it’s hard not to. In all the ways that Christina’s book left me feeling drained and frustrated, Jamie’s book gave me life. They are such night and day individuals. Which seems to give them a chance to learn from and balance once another. Another positive takeaway I have from reading this. They’re obviously in very different places in their respective health journeys and Jamie has had much more time and experience to get to the place she is now, so it’s not fair to compare the two. It’s also just hard not to at the same time. I digress.
I never watched the Sopranos (which now I may have to do so even though quite a few plot lines were spoiled here), and I wasn’t overly familiar with Jamie as an actress. I’m honestly not sure I’ve ever seen any of her work. I’ve always been vaguely familiar with her name, but that was about it. I grew to know her a bit more upon listening to her podcast and really appreciated how vulnerable and honest she allowed herself to be. It’s almost hard to believe she is the same person she wrote about here when you listen to her speak today. She spent so many years working so hard to hide her diagnosis and deny who she was in the process. It is a beautiful thing to see her fully embrace herself, and I enjoyed learning how she came to be that person today.
Unlike many celebrity memoirs, but very like her, she was vulnerable and allowed us into her story in a way that felt complete. It didn’t feel exaggerated or vague in odd ways. It felt like sitting with a friend. I didn’t realize the traumatic things she has been dealing with more recently, and reading about that part of her story nearly brought me to tears. And I’m not one to cry while reading books. To hear her recount these events in her own words with a strong voice full of emotion is incredibly moving. I appreciated hearing her perspective of the events in hindsight and the things she feels she has learned in the wake of it all. Even as it is ongoing to this day. She comes across as extremely grateful and not in a fake, forced way.
I’ve learned that Jamie is an incredibly strong person, and I appreciate that she is willing to share her story with the world. No one ever wants to be a spokesperson for a disease, but she is a shining example of how to work with the cards you’re dealt and the lessons they stand to provide. I am honestly considering purchasing this one for my shelf to reread sometime, and that is not something I do. So that likely says more than this rambling stream of thought ever could. I am just very grateful to have read this and hope it can help others to feel the same way.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one, but I can guarantee you it wasn’t what I actually read. I often feel weird rating memoirs/autobiographies since it seems like a gray area to give a numbered score to someone’s experiences and feelings. I generally focus more on how those things are presented in the writing of the book. This is an easy 5-star for me, though. Not just in the way Jamie presented her feelings and experiences (which was beautiful in its own right) but also in how she wrote this book. I’m not sure if a ghostwriter was involved or if this is all her own writing, but either way it was very well done and one I would read again. And I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way about a celeb memoir.
She comes across as so genuine and open. You get the feeling that she has really done the work to come to a place of acceptance with herself and it’s like she gives you the courage to do the same. I hate to compare her to her podcast costar but as they both have recently released books and I have recently read/listened to both, it’s hard not to. In all the ways that Christina’s book left me feeling drained and frustrated, Jamie’s book gave me life. They are such night and day individuals. Which seems to give them a chance to learn from and balance once another. Another positive takeaway I have from reading this. They’re obviously in very different places in their respective health journeys and Jamie has had much more time and experience to get to the place she is now, so it’s not fair to compare the two. It’s also just hard not to at the same time. I digress.
I never watched the Sopranos (which now I may have to do so even though quite a few plot lines were spoiled here), and I wasn’t overly familiar with Jamie as an actress. I’m honestly not sure I’ve ever seen any of her work. I’ve always been vaguely familiar with her name, but that was about it. I grew to know her a bit more upon listening to her podcast and really appreciated how vulnerable and honest she allowed herself to be. It’s almost hard to believe she is the same person she wrote about here when you listen to her speak today. She spent so many years working so hard to hide her diagnosis and deny who she was in the process. It is a beautiful thing to see her fully embrace herself, and I enjoyed learning how she came to be that person today.
Unlike many celebrity memoirs, but very like her, she was vulnerable and allowed us into her story in a way that felt complete. It didn’t feel exaggerated or vague in odd ways. It felt like sitting with a friend. I didn’t realize the traumatic things she has been dealing with more recently, and reading about that part of her story nearly brought me to tears. And I’m not one to cry while reading books. To hear her recount these events in her own words with a strong voice full of emotion is incredibly moving. I appreciated hearing her perspective of the events in hindsight and the things she feels she has learned in the wake of it all. Even as it is ongoing to this day. She comes across as extremely grateful and not in a fake, forced way.
I’ve learned that Jamie is an incredibly strong person, and I appreciate that she is willing to share her story with the world. No one ever wants to be a spokesperson for a disease, but she is a shining example of how to work with the cards you’re dealt and the lessons they stand to provide. I am honestly considering purchasing this one for my shelf to reread sometime, and that is not something I do. So that likely says more than this rambling stream of thought ever could. I am just very grateful to have read this and hope it can help others to feel the same way.
May 29, 2026
I have never related to someone else's story so much in my life. I went into this only knowing that JLS had MS, and I too have MS. I have read a lot of memoirs simply because the authors have MS like Selma Blair and Christina Applegate. While I can related to their diagnosis, our lives dont have any other parallels.
This is not the case here. We are both in our early 40s, married with children, and navigating a MS diagnosis. We both kept it a secret for years and how that affects a person.
When JLS talks about knowing immediately that she was pregnant with her 2nd child and was telling people before having a positive pregnancy test...I did the exact same thing with my 2nd. I have 2 daughters though, while she has 2 sons.
I was brought to tears when she was opening up about her struggles with her son's health. My youngest daughter also had health issues that came on suddenly, were life threatening, and miraculously she recovered from. My daughter suffered from myocarditis caused by MIS-C. Basically heart failure that came on fast and strong, and was brought on by Covid. Never wanting to leave their side, fearing the worst while praying for any small victories.
When Jaime talks about her experiences, thoughts, fears related to her son, I was in tears. Tears for Bo, for Jaime as a mother, for their family and friends. Tears for my own daughter, for my family and friends. For myself, knowing that we made it through, and that there is at least one person in the world who can understand me and so many of my life experiences. That we can be molded by so many similarities, good and bad, and come out stronger for it. Without being ashamed and without feeling so alone.
Even when they were leaving the hospital and ran into the doctor that was so pivotal in the beginning of Bo's diagnosis and treatment. My family also has a doctor that was pivotal in the diagnosis and quick treatment of my daughter. Feeling that gratitude and knowing that those people helped steer the course for our children's recovery, it is another astounding parallel.
I am not a celebrity, but seeing the bravery and openess of one, knowing that people can be so similar and relating in so many ways...that is life altering - as a woman, sister wife, mother, and friend.
This is not the case here. We are both in our early 40s, married with children, and navigating a MS diagnosis. We both kept it a secret for years and how that affects a person.
When JLS talks about knowing immediately that she was pregnant with her 2nd child and was telling people before having a positive pregnancy test...I did the exact same thing with my 2nd. I have 2 daughters though, while she has 2 sons.
I was brought to tears when she was opening up about her struggles with her son's health. My youngest daughter also had health issues that came on suddenly, were life threatening, and miraculously she recovered from. My daughter suffered from myocarditis caused by MIS-C. Basically heart failure that came on fast and strong, and was brought on by Covid. Never wanting to leave their side, fearing the worst while praying for any small victories.
When Jaime talks about her experiences, thoughts, fears related to her son, I was in tears. Tears for Bo, for Jaime as a mother, for their family and friends. Tears for my own daughter, for my family and friends. For myself, knowing that we made it through, and that there is at least one person in the world who can understand me and so many of my life experiences. That we can be molded by so many similarities, good and bad, and come out stronger for it. Without being ashamed and without feeling so alone.
Even when they were leaving the hospital and ran into the doctor that was so pivotal in the beginning of Bo's diagnosis and treatment. My family also has a doctor that was pivotal in the diagnosis and quick treatment of my daughter. Feeling that gratitude and knowing that those people helped steer the course for our children's recovery, it is another astounding parallel.
I am not a celebrity, but seeing the bravery and openess of one, knowing that people can be so similar and relating in so many ways...that is life altering - as a woman, sister wife, mother, and friend.
June 18, 2026
It's a bad look when a middle-aged white guy gives a lowball score to a memoir by a Latina author. I really wanted to rate this 5/5. I grew up one town over from Ms. Sigler and was watching "The Sopranos" from the night of its January 1999 premiere all the way through its controversial final episode -- at which point I, like Ms. Sigler, had relocated to Los Angeles.
The good stuff first. The chapters from the "Sopranos" set are crisp and moving, especially fond memories of the late James Gandolfini and Tony Sirico, and how the very young actress was terrified of David Chase (wouldn't we all be?). This is Ms. Sigler's second book (the first is not acknowledged) but for fans of "The Sopranos" it's a necessary read. The frank discussion of her multiple sclerosis and how it affects her is very powerful, as is her decades-long fear of disclosing her illness.
Now what I didn't like. Ms. Sigler is not a firm believer in Western medicine. The book features visit after visit to naturopaths, chiropractor upon chiropractor, and plant-medicine "healers". Many chapters feature epiphanies about how these alternate treatments gave her such clarity into her physical health and mental wellness.... but she later admits that none of this helped the disease, so it was all bunk. She gives a sales pitch for a foam ball attached to a power drill, lending it equal medical weight to the eminent neurologist and MS specialist who eventually assumes her care. This was frustrating, for me personally at least.
The author has recently spoken publicly about how her one-week guided tour of Israel in 2008 gives her special insight into what's happening in that country now. Oddly, the birthright trip appears in the book not at all, replaced instead by chapters and chapters of the author's home-grown magpie spirituality, as she moves through a world where prayer heals fatal diseases and angels are real. If such belief systems appeal to you, please add two stars to my review.
The good stuff first. The chapters from the "Sopranos" set are crisp and moving, especially fond memories of the late James Gandolfini and Tony Sirico, and how the very young actress was terrified of David Chase (wouldn't we all be?). This is Ms. Sigler's second book (the first is not acknowledged) but for fans of "The Sopranos" it's a necessary read. The frank discussion of her multiple sclerosis and how it affects her is very powerful, as is her decades-long fear of disclosing her illness.
Now what I didn't like. Ms. Sigler is not a firm believer in Western medicine. The book features visit after visit to naturopaths, chiropractor upon chiropractor, and plant-medicine "healers". Many chapters feature epiphanies about how these alternate treatments gave her such clarity into her physical health and mental wellness.... but she later admits that none of this helped the disease, so it was all bunk. She gives a sales pitch for a foam ball attached to a power drill, lending it equal medical weight to the eminent neurologist and MS specialist who eventually assumes her care. This was frustrating, for me personally at least.
The author has recently spoken publicly about how her one-week guided tour of Israel in 2008 gives her special insight into what's happening in that country now. Oddly, the birthright trip appears in the book not at all, replaced instead by chapters and chapters of the author's home-grown magpie spirituality, as she moves through a world where prayer heals fatal diseases and angels are real. If such belief systems appeal to you, please add two stars to my review.
May 6, 2026
read if you like:
📚 memoirs
📺 “the Sopranos”
😷 stories about chronic illness
summary:
I picked up this book after seeing it on @becca’s Instagram, and wow I’m glad I did. It’s a memoir written by Jamie Lynn Sigler, who starred on “The Sopranos” and other shows, and who recently started a podcast with Christina Applegate about their journeys with MS. The book starts with her journey into acting, and talks about her experience growing up in the front of the camera, her struggles with an eating disorder, and her ultimate diagnosis with MS. It follows the ups and downs of her career and relationships, and her worries about going public with her disease, and what that would mean for those around her.
I found this book heartbreakingly honest and real about the exhausting pressures of trying to look “fine” while privately struggling. She lets you behind the curtain of who she really is — a messy, funny, and kind woman who, despite her fame and beauty, still struggles with the same challenges as the rest of us. The book is written in a very conversational and vulnerable way, reflecting the honesty of who she really is, flaws and all. It talks about motherhood, fame, and the grief of the life you imagined for yourself, while still finding joy in the one you actually have.
This isn’t full of nonstop Hollywood stories or tales about what it’s like to be on a hit TV show. It’s much more introspective and emotional, focusing on strength, mental health, chronic illness and self-acceptable. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t put it down, and honestly, isn’t that the best kind of book?
📚 memoirs
📺 “the Sopranos”
😷 stories about chronic illness
summary:
I picked up this book after seeing it on @becca’s Instagram, and wow I’m glad I did. It’s a memoir written by Jamie Lynn Sigler, who starred on “The Sopranos” and other shows, and who recently started a podcast with Christina Applegate about their journeys with MS. The book starts with her journey into acting, and talks about her experience growing up in the front of the camera, her struggles with an eating disorder, and her ultimate diagnosis with MS. It follows the ups and downs of her career and relationships, and her worries about going public with her disease, and what that would mean for those around her.
I found this book heartbreakingly honest and real about the exhausting pressures of trying to look “fine” while privately struggling. She lets you behind the curtain of who she really is — a messy, funny, and kind woman who, despite her fame and beauty, still struggles with the same challenges as the rest of us. The book is written in a very conversational and vulnerable way, reflecting the honesty of who she really is, flaws and all. It talks about motherhood, fame, and the grief of the life you imagined for yourself, while still finding joy in the one you actually have.
This isn’t full of nonstop Hollywood stories or tales about what it’s like to be on a hit TV show. It’s much more introspective and emotional, focusing on strength, mental health, chronic illness and self-acceptable. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t put it down, and honestly, isn’t that the best kind of book?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Although a very talented actor, to me Jamie Lynn Sigler shines brightest as herself.
I consumed this book via audio, which is my preferred way to absorb autobiographies. The author narrates, and I truly loved it. Her voice is great, and she adeptly brings all of the emotions that her story holds. No sentences were repeated, nor were there any distracting features in the audio. Smooth and easy listening.
As for the content, whoa (in the best way!)
Jamie Lynn held her MS diagnosis so privately for such a long time, and remains fairly under the radar despite decades of fame. I certainly didn’t expect this book to be as broad and intensely open-hearted as it is. It’s one of the most “welcome in” celebrity memoirs I’ve ever read. Jamie Lynn shares a lot about what built her- including eating struggles, the stink of living with MS, and fighting for her own son’s life. She is unashamed of anything, and I feel that perhaps writing a whole other book on how to do that would go over well.
She seems to be a thoughtful, kind, and loving human. She somehow balances sadness and anger with intense gratitude and forward momentum. Often with big challenges, people can become stuck in emotions. Jamie seems to feel them, yet also live in the now. She’s a bright light, and I’m happy to have “gotten to know her.” I’ll be highly recommending this!
I consumed this book via audio, which is my preferred way to absorb autobiographies. The author narrates, and I truly loved it. Her voice is great, and she adeptly brings all of the emotions that her story holds. No sentences were repeated, nor were there any distracting features in the audio. Smooth and easy listening.
As for the content, whoa (in the best way!)
Jamie Lynn held her MS diagnosis so privately for such a long time, and remains fairly under the radar despite decades of fame. I certainly didn’t expect this book to be as broad and intensely open-hearted as it is. It’s one of the most “welcome in” celebrity memoirs I’ve ever read. Jamie Lynn shares a lot about what built her- including eating struggles, the stink of living with MS, and fighting for her own son’s life. She is unashamed of anything, and I feel that perhaps writing a whole other book on how to do that would go over well.
She seems to be a thoughtful, kind, and loving human. She somehow balances sadness and anger with intense gratitude and forward momentum. Often with big challenges, people can become stuck in emotions. Jamie seems to feel them, yet also live in the now. She’s a bright light, and I’m happy to have “gotten to know her.” I’ll be highly recommending this!
June 25, 2026
And So It Is...A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope is an intimate and inspiring account of Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s journey living with multiple sclerosis while navigating a successful acting career, family life, and the pressures of public expectations. Best known for her role on The Sopranos, Sigler writes with remarkable honesty about the years she spent concealing her diagnosis, the fear of being defined by her illness, and the emotional burden of maintaining a façade of normalcy. Rather than focusing solely on her celebrity experiences, the memoir delves into the universal challenges of vulnerability, self-acceptance, and finding purpose amid circumstances beyond one's control.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its authenticity. Sigler does not present herself as an unshakable source of inspiration; instead, she candidly shares moments of doubt, frustration, grief, and resilience. This openness makes her eventual journey toward acceptance all the more meaningful. The memoir balances difficult discussions about chronic illness with messages of hope, gratitude, and personal growth, offering encouragement to anyone facing adversity. More than a story about living with multiple sclerosis, And So It Is... is a thoughtful reflection on embracing imperfection, redefining strength, and learning to move forward even when life unfolds differently than expected.
The book’s greatest strength lies in its authenticity. Sigler does not present herself as an unshakable source of inspiration; instead, she candidly shares moments of doubt, frustration, grief, and resilience. This openness makes her eventual journey toward acceptance all the more meaningful. The memoir balances difficult discussions about chronic illness with messages of hope, gratitude, and personal growth, offering encouragement to anyone facing adversity. More than a story about living with multiple sclerosis, And So It Is... is a thoughtful reflection on embracing imperfection, redefining strength, and learning to move forward even when life unfolds differently than expected.
May 12, 2026
I applaud anyone who writes a memoir or autobiography and puts EVERYTHING out there - the good and the bad and that's something that Jamie does with this. She doesn't shy away from the dark moments of her life and she writes with an authenticity that sometimes I find lacks in other celebrity memoirs. She's someone who's been through a lot and it shows.
I enjoyed the first part more than the second part. It was fun getting to learn about the beginnings of her career and her time on The Sopranos. And it was heartbreaking reading about her MS diagnosis and how much it altered every aspect of her life especially because she was so young when first diagnosed.
Which brings me up to why I'm rating this only 3 stars instead of 4. As we get further into the book there's a lot of talk of religion and woo woo alternative medicine and talk of Marianne Williamson which sorry had me rolling my eyes so hard and side eyeing her. Like I guess good for her if Marianne helped her in her life, but... I don't have anything nice to say so I should probably stop.
All in all I think it's worth the read, but there were just too many aspects of this that weren't for me.
I enjoyed the first part more than the second part. It was fun getting to learn about the beginnings of her career and her time on The Sopranos. And it was heartbreaking reading about her MS diagnosis and how much it altered every aspect of her life especially because she was so young when first diagnosed.
Which brings me up to why I'm rating this only 3 stars instead of 4. As we get further into the book there's a lot of talk of religion and woo woo alternative medicine and talk of Marianne Williamson which sorry had me rolling my eyes so hard and side eyeing her. Like I guess good for her if Marianne helped her in her life, but... I don't have anything nice to say so I should probably stop.
All in all I think it's worth the read, but there were just too many aspects of this that weren't for me.
May 9, 2026
5 stars! I already loved Jaime from the Messy podcast with Christina Applegate, and after hearing her talk about her MS journey over the years, I finally felt like I found someone whose experience was so similar to mine. I also read Christina’s book and gave that 5 stars too, but this one hit especially close to home.
The way Jaime shares her story is honest, vulnerable, funny, heartbreaking, and real. For so many years I hid my MS from most people too, and hearing her openly talk about the fear, exhaustion, strength, and everyday reality of living with MS made me feel seen in a way I can’t fully explain.
If I ever met Jaime, I feel like we’d be instant friends. I cheer for her from afar and pray for everyone living with MS because no two journeys are exactly alike, but connection matters so much. Thank you, Jaime, for sharing your story and helping others feel less alone. And so it is. 🩷
The way Jaime shares her story is honest, vulnerable, funny, heartbreaking, and real. For so many years I hid my MS from most people too, and hearing her openly talk about the fear, exhaustion, strength, and everyday reality of living with MS made me feel seen in a way I can’t fully explain.
If I ever met Jaime, I feel like we’d be instant friends. I cheer for her from afar and pray for everyone living with MS because no two journeys are exactly alike, but connection matters so much. Thank you, Jaime, for sharing your story and helping others feel less alone. And so it is. 🩷
June 27, 2026
oh my, 5 stars for Jamie!!!! this memoir made me cry multiple times 🥹
Such an inspiring story of inner strength and finding how to love yourself even when your own body is fighting against you.
I loved Jamie in The Sopranos and she really is a great actress. It was honestly interesting listening to the story of a self-titled ‘C list celebrity’ and what struggles come with not being the biggest star but still dealing with being in the public eye, especially while hiding a chronic disease for most of your career.
I loved listening to the audiobook that Sigler self narrates. Starting from early childhood up into her current life with her two boys and amazing husband, Jamie leads you through a self written and explored journey of hope, loss, grief, and new-found joy. I cherished listening to her grow through each chapter, and I think anyone could have bits and takeaways from Jamie’s heart wrenching story.
One of my top memoirs I’ve read so far!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Such an inspiring story of inner strength and finding how to love yourself even when your own body is fighting against you.
I loved Jamie in The Sopranos and she really is a great actress. It was honestly interesting listening to the story of a self-titled ‘C list celebrity’ and what struggles come with not being the biggest star but still dealing with being in the public eye, especially while hiding a chronic disease for most of your career.
I loved listening to the audiobook that Sigler self narrates. Starting from early childhood up into her current life with her two boys and amazing husband, Jamie leads you through a self written and explored journey of hope, loss, grief, and new-found joy. I cherished listening to her grow through each chapter, and I think anyone could have bits and takeaways from Jamie’s heart wrenching story.
One of my top memoirs I’ve read so far!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 19, 2026
What a powerful and heartfelt memoir by Jamie-Lynn Sigler. It's raw, vulnerable, and honest. Jamie discusses her upbringing, Jewish heritage, and her rise to fame on The Sopranos. She talks about relationships, motherhood, and her close knit friend circle. Most importantly, she talks about her battle with MS, and how she was forced to hide it for over a decade in fear of not getting cast for roles.
As a fellow Jewish woman who has a family member with MS, I felt for Jamie and her struggles. She battles a serious medical condition, but due to the entertainment industry, it's something she felt she needed to keep a secret. I'm so glad she eventually shared her diagnosis and now her story, as she's so incredibly inspiring. Jamie opened up about real issues in Hollywood, as well as in her relationships with controlling men. She shed a light on the pressure to fit in in multiple ways, including staying thin. I applaud Jamie for her courage to share this memoir, and I have a new found respect and admiration for her. Mazel Tov, Jamie, on this incredible memoir.
As a fellow Jewish woman who has a family member with MS, I felt for Jamie and her struggles. She battles a serious medical condition, but due to the entertainment industry, it's something she felt she needed to keep a secret. I'm so glad she eventually shared her diagnosis and now her story, as she's so incredibly inspiring. Jamie opened up about real issues in Hollywood, as well as in her relationships with controlling men. She shed a light on the pressure to fit in in multiple ways, including staying thin. I applaud Jamie for her courage to share this memoir, and I have a new found respect and admiration for her. Mazel Tov, Jamie, on this incredible memoir.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews