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Average at Best: A memoir from the creator of Pub Choir®
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26Astrid Jorgensen is on a mission to teach the world to sing. But she’s not promising to make anybody better at singing – she simply wants people to feel less ashamed of whatever voice they have.
By its very nature, ‘best’ is rare and you’re not going to get much of it in life. And I sure don’t want to miss out on deeply experiencing the fullness of my one precious existence, searching for the sliver of ‘best’.
Average At Best is a powerful, funny, and deeply honest memoir about embracing mediocrity if you want to get anything done. As the creator of Pub Choir® – a global phenomenon that unites complete strangers to connect, laugh, and make beautiful music – Astrid takes you behind the curtain as she unflinchingly stares down her dizzying highs, her crushing lows, and everything in between.
Astrid has performed on stages around the world, rubbed shoulders with Prime Ministers and celebrities, and has taught hundreds of thousands of people how to work together in literal harmony. Along the way, she low-key became the best at something, while sometimes feeling the worst. Is that … balance?
From almost becoming a nun (seriously) to committing unspeakable crimes against a chip packet, this joyful, inspired debut traverses the divide between confidence and doubt, performance and authenticity. Because most things happen between the extremes. This is an imperfect perfectionist’s account of how all of it counts in the end.
By its very nature, ‘best’ is rare and you’re not going to get much of it in life. And I sure don’t want to miss out on deeply experiencing the fullness of my one precious existence, searching for the sliver of ‘best’.
Average At Best is a powerful, funny, and deeply honest memoir about embracing mediocrity if you want to get anything done. As the creator of Pub Choir® – a global phenomenon that unites complete strangers to connect, laugh, and make beautiful music – Astrid takes you behind the curtain as she unflinchingly stares down her dizzying highs, her crushing lows, and everything in between.
Astrid has performed on stages around the world, rubbed shoulders with Prime Ministers and celebrities, and has taught hundreds of thousands of people how to work together in literal harmony. Along the way, she low-key became the best at something, while sometimes feeling the worst. Is that … balance?
From almost becoming a nun (seriously) to committing unspeakable crimes against a chip packet, this joyful, inspired debut traverses the divide between confidence and doubt, performance and authenticity. Because most things happen between the extremes. This is an imperfect perfectionist’s account of how all of it counts in the end.
256 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 11, 2026
123 people are currently reading
776 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
November 1, 2025
My husband did a dangerous thing this week… he bought me a book.
My rude and ungrateful response was “Don’t you know that I hate it when someone buys me an unsolicited book?” I am a big reader and I have a long and carefully curated TBR, and if that book isn’t on that list, I’ve just been given a job to do! No thank you, that’s an obligation read!
Well, I am eating my hat because this was actually really great.
You might not know the name Astrid Jorgensen but you’ve probably heard of her brainchild Pub Choir. She and her small team travel the world doing gigs where she teaches a venue full of people, with no presumed musical talent or knowledge, how to sing a popular song from start to finish. You learn it together over the course of an hour, sing it together once or twice, and then leave with a smile on your face and your heart full of joy.
This book is a memoir of sorts, about her early life and the creation of Pub Choir. It was a light, quick read, clever and interesting and honestly laugh-out-loud funny.
I was fascinated to read about how Astrid’s brain works - she has no inner monologue, but it’s like she can visualise music, and this has helped her to create the unique way she teaches a song to us amateur enthusiasts. She also HATES noise, and loves silence, which was an interesting tidbit for someone who has made a career around music!
Trigger warning - there is a chapter on disordered eating. It’s not a deep dive and is written from a place of recovery. But could be confronting.
Thanks hubby, and sorry I was so ungrateful! This book is a gem.
If you haven’t been to a Pub Choir yet, you’ve been missing out! It’s so fun, and Astrid is just fantastic.
My rude and ungrateful response was “Don’t you know that I hate it when someone buys me an unsolicited book?” I am a big reader and I have a long and carefully curated TBR, and if that book isn’t on that list, I’ve just been given a job to do! No thank you, that’s an obligation read!
Well, I am eating my hat because this was actually really great.
You might not know the name Astrid Jorgensen but you’ve probably heard of her brainchild Pub Choir. She and her small team travel the world doing gigs where she teaches a venue full of people, with no presumed musical talent or knowledge, how to sing a popular song from start to finish. You learn it together over the course of an hour, sing it together once or twice, and then leave with a smile on your face and your heart full of joy.
This book is a memoir of sorts, about her early life and the creation of Pub Choir. It was a light, quick read, clever and interesting and honestly laugh-out-loud funny.
I was fascinated to read about how Astrid’s brain works - she has no inner monologue, but it’s like she can visualise music, and this has helped her to create the unique way she teaches a song to us amateur enthusiasts. She also HATES noise, and loves silence, which was an interesting tidbit for someone who has made a career around music!
Trigger warning - there is a chapter on disordered eating. It’s not a deep dive and is written from a place of recovery. But could be confronting.
Thanks hubby, and sorry I was so ungrateful! This book is a gem.
If you haven’t been to a Pub Choir yet, you’ve been missing out! It’s so fun, and Astrid is just fantastic.
October 3, 2025
maybe biased because I adore Astrid and have been attending Pub Choir since 2018? maybe.
however, this is the first book I have read in a day in years. Astrid's earnest, funny and inspirational nature is so perfectly captured by her words and story. championing that the arts are for everyone and making space for it to be accessible for all is such a near and dear topic. reading this made me want to start creating again. I hope I do.
however, this is the first book I have read in a day in years. Astrid's earnest, funny and inspirational nature is so perfectly captured by her words and story. championing that the arts are for everyone and making space for it to be accessible for all is such a near and dear topic. reading this made me want to start creating again. I hope I do.
November 21, 2025
The best memoir I’ve read in ages. Astrid is brave, vulnerable and laugh out loud funny. I love reading memoirs by people who take risks and live life to the full. Astrid even at her tender age of 34, fits that bill. Thank you 🙏
October 12, 2025
Loveddd this book! Astrid’s sense of humor for the crazy things she’s been through made me laugh out loud at times. The way she’s developed Pub Choir is such an inspiration, and it was nice to hear the long story of it. Highly recommend, super quick read!
October 6, 2025
On stage, Astrid Jorgensen transforms from introverted music nerd into a choral colossus. In these pages, she is revealed as a beautiful writer who blends heart, wit and insight with rare skill.
November 25, 2025
I was not sure what to make of this. It ranged from very insightful to overly self indulgent. But I couldn't put it down.
October 9, 2025
This book was funny, honest, and full of Astrid’s quick wit. So glad Astrid read it herself. Astrid’s storytelling offers a joyful glimpse into her life beyond the microphone and I physically laughed out loud.
January 29, 2026
Goodness, this book had me giggling, drowned in my own thought of mortality and of the trials that are faced by everyone, as well as in all of the power of somebody who genuinely wants to attain a goal for the betterment of the people around them! I would highly recommend this book, if you like laughing, pub choir, and a little bit of music theory along the way!!
October 8, 2025
Astrid is as captivating on the page as she is on stage. Unputdownable, I laughed my way through to the final chapter, where I inevitably cried my way through a beautiful love story. Thank you Astrid for sharing your stories of singing, scissor lifts, and shit. Incredible work.
October 7, 2025
Absolutely loved this book!
It's clever, chaotic in the best way, and somehow both deeply relatable and totally unexpected.
It's clever, chaotic in the best way, and somehow both deeply relatable and totally unexpected.
February 21, 2026
This book was an absolute delight. It hits you with humour first and then you're suddenly like, why am I emotional about choir practice??
It's genuinely funny without trying to hard, soulfully honest without being preachy and unexpectedly profound in life lessons.
Having been to several Pub Choir nights and hearing Astrid speak at the writers’ festival, it feels especially beautiful to hear her origin story and all the little anecdotes she’s collected along the way.
Astrid Jorgensen writes with such honesty and heart that by the end, the story feels less about a choir and more about belonging, courage, and choosing joy in a messy world.
It's genuinely funny without trying to hard, soulfully honest without being preachy and unexpectedly profound in life lessons.
Having been to several Pub Choir nights and hearing Astrid speak at the writers’ festival, it feels especially beautiful to hear her origin story and all the little anecdotes she’s collected along the way.
Astrid Jorgensen writes with such honesty and heart that by the end, the story feels less about a choir and more about belonging, courage, and choosing joy in a messy world.
October 15, 2025
Cute, quirky memoir.
November 10, 2025
It's fun to hear the back story of one of my favorite entertainers. She's just as funny in audiobook form as she is on stage!
December 19, 2025
going to pub choir has been on my bucket list for ages. This memoir is fantastic. she is also a great writer amongst a million other talents. laugh out loud funny. loved it. and highly recommend.
January 4, 2026
I loved this memoir. Astrid is completely vulnerable in her writing, sharing her strengths and weakness with relatable humour. The way she describes what she has learnt about humanity and music through her (sort of accidental) success with Pub Choir is touching and sometimes profound.
Her chapter on her time as a teacher was a definite (hilariously accurate) highlight!
This is a book I will think about many times into the future.
Her chapter on her time as a teacher was a definite (hilariously accurate) highlight!
This is a book I will think about many times into the future.
Read
December 11, 2025This was hysterical
February 9, 2026
I'm a big fan of Pub Choir and popup/one night choirs in general. One could say it has become an obsession - working on starting some things like in my area. So a chance to pick the brain of the Pub Choir creator was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I did not expect the frankness and self-deprecating (and self-defecating - IYKYK) perspective. But it all fit together to help understand that imperfect world of singing with strangers. And the book touched on many challenges Astrid faced along the road. Thanks for opening your life through this book.
November 8, 2025
Delightfully written, funny and a genuinely interesting glimpse into the woman and story behind the phenomenon that is Pub Choir. Astrid Jorgensen absolutely radiates energy on stage and she’s no different on the page. Definitely better than average!
March 12, 2026
Omg Astrid! This is the best biography I have read in ages, literally laughing out loud so inappropriately. You're an incredibly talented human, musician, and author. Also loved interspersing the chapters with watching YouTube clips of Pub Choir/Couch Choir/America's Got Talent. Wish the book was longer! Such a fan girl right now. Also don't remember the last time I physcially could not put a book down until I was finished. Thanks for sharing all your truly shit stories 😆💩🙌🎵❤️
October 10, 2025
This memoir is funny and inspiring. Now I really want to attend a Pub Choir event myself!
February 14, 2026
Easy read. Super light hearted. Can’t help but love her
March 1, 2026
5 STARS ⭐��⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe check: Creative Chaos, Laugh Out Loud Funny
full review ⬇️
Every now and then a book pops up on social media with friends absolutely raving about it and when you trust their taste completely, you just jump in.
Enter stage left Average At Best.
Firstly, the title is a lie. This book is well above average. It’s absolute pure gold.
It’s the memoir from Astrid Jorgensen, the creator of Pub Choir.
I’m slightly ashamed to admit I hadn’t heard of Pub Choir before listening (have I been living under a rock… or just buried under my towering TBR pile? 😅). But you can BET the first thing I did after finishing was look up the next event near me.
For anyone else unaware, Astrid created Pub Choir to bring strangers together to sing, connect and make music. And this memoir tells the wildly entertaining story of how that came to be.
It’s a full belly laugh journey through Astrid’s musical discovery, the chaotic creation of Pub Choir and the surreal ride it’s taken her on.
Astrid narrates the audiobook herself. She’s candid, self aware and so naturally funny. Her narration really captures the true warmth, personality and comedic timing perfectly. I genuinely can’t imagine consuming this book any other way.
If you’re after a memoir that guarantees laughter, joy and a genuinely good time, add this to your list immediately (and you too may find yourself singing opera style to the chapter introductions 🎵)
Vibe check: Creative Chaos, Laugh Out Loud Funny
full review ⬇️
Every now and then a book pops up on social media with friends absolutely raving about it and when you trust their taste completely, you just jump in.
Enter stage left Average At Best.
Firstly, the title is a lie. This book is well above average. It’s absolute pure gold.
It’s the memoir from Astrid Jorgensen, the creator of Pub Choir.
I’m slightly ashamed to admit I hadn’t heard of Pub Choir before listening (have I been living under a rock… or just buried under my towering TBR pile? 😅). But you can BET the first thing I did after finishing was look up the next event near me.
For anyone else unaware, Astrid created Pub Choir to bring strangers together to sing, connect and make music. And this memoir tells the wildly entertaining story of how that came to be.
It’s a full belly laugh journey through Astrid’s musical discovery, the chaotic creation of Pub Choir and the surreal ride it’s taken her on.
Astrid narrates the audiobook herself. She’s candid, self aware and so naturally funny. Her narration really captures the true warmth, personality and comedic timing perfectly. I genuinely can’t imagine consuming this book any other way.
If you’re after a memoir that guarantees laughter, joy and a genuinely good time, add this to your list immediately (and you too may find yourself singing opera style to the chapter introductions 🎵)
February 2, 2026
What an absolute corker of a book. I love it when a writer lets you climb right inside their enthusiasm for life and Astrid Jorgensen does this with such generosity and joy that it’s impossible not to be swept along.
Astrid is a born storyteller. She can make just about anything entertaining — from starting Pub Choir, to travelling to Africa at 16 to become a nun, to the extremely relatable problem of needing to do an ugent poo. She's joyful, self-aware and wonderfully unpretentious.
This book made me laugh out loud more than once, but it also has a surprising emotional undercurrent. You’ll smile a lot, and yes, you might have a little cry too — the good kind, the kind that sneaks up on you and reminds you why connection matters.
If you’re choosing formats, go the audiobook. Astrid narrates it herself, and her cheerful, musical voice makes it feel like she’s telling you stories over a long road trip — the kilometres just disappear.
Light, funny, generous and full of heart. Do yourself a favour and read this one. It’s absolute joy.
Astrid is a born storyteller. She can make just about anything entertaining — from starting Pub Choir, to travelling to Africa at 16 to become a nun, to the extremely relatable problem of needing to do an ugent poo. She's joyful, self-aware and wonderfully unpretentious.
This book made me laugh out loud more than once, but it also has a surprising emotional undercurrent. You’ll smile a lot, and yes, you might have a little cry too — the good kind, the kind that sneaks up on you and reminds you why connection matters.
If you’re choosing formats, go the audiobook. Astrid narrates it herself, and her cheerful, musical voice makes it feel like she’s telling you stories over a long road trip — the kilometres just disappear.
Light, funny, generous and full of heart. Do yourself a favour and read this one. It’s absolute joy.
November 16, 2025
I can’t remember the last book that made me laugh this much. Astrid is literally laugh out loud funny. I thought the layout and pacing was perfect. The ending was a beautiful moment to finish on. Astrid was also very honest, in many different ways. I appreciated this, as often I feel memoirs are too shiny. Throughout the book I was reminded that she, like all of us, is a complex, imperfect character. But her bright moments outshone her bad. In fact, she is such an accomplished force of nature that the only thing that bugged me slightly was the book’s title- ‘Average at Best’. I assume this was to better-appeal to us plebeians, but it felt like a bit of a reach. I’d rather the book was titled more boldly, along the lines of- ‘Astrid’s Out Of This World’s Adventures!’ Etc. The book’s contents feel like the latter, so it would be a better match. I listened to the audiobook which had delightful harmonies and reading by the author. I learnt a lot, about music and life, and will be thinking about this book for a long time. 5 stars 🌟🎤😍
January 13, 2026
This book. Never in my entire existence has a book caused tears of laughter to trickle out of my incredibly serious eyes. From start to finish, I felt like I was reading texts from a friend. If you have been to a Pub Choir show, you will know that Astrid is hilarious, down-to-earth and a brilliant musician.
As a parent of young children, I am no stranger to rolling my eyes at any talk of poop, farts, and other things that may be deposited into your porcelain bank. With this book however, no eye-rolling took place. Instead, I had to quietly stand up from the bed on which I was snuggled up with my sleeping toddler, as the laughter I tried and failed to suppress was causing said toddler to stir.
I also promptly re-read multiple parts to my husband, as I was desperate to share the absolute joy that this book gave me.
I will absolutely be recommending this book to everyone who asks me for recommendations.
As a parent of young children, I am no stranger to rolling my eyes at any talk of poop, farts, and other things that may be deposited into your porcelain bank. With this book however, no eye-rolling took place. Instead, I had to quietly stand up from the bed on which I was snuggled up with my sleeping toddler, as the laughter I tried and failed to suppress was causing said toddler to stir.
I also promptly re-read multiple parts to my husband, as I was desperate to share the absolute joy that this book gave me.
I will absolutely be recommending this book to everyone who asks me for recommendations.
December 3, 2025
Paperback, and I also watched some YouTube clips of her Pub Choir
My book of the year! Astrid is such a wonderful force of nature and her book really represents her. Read for bookgroup and it's a book I keep recommending to everyone. Her stories are funny, gentle, touching, excruciating, reflective and often hilarious and downright astounding at times. It's an absolute joy of a book and one I'll return to. Considering buying the audio version too just to hear her narrate it.
My book of the year! Astrid is such a wonderful force of nature and her book really represents her. Read for bookgroup and it's a book I keep recommending to everyone. Her stories are funny, gentle, touching, excruciating, reflective and often hilarious and downright astounding at times. It's an absolute joy of a book and one I'll return to. Considering buying the audio version too just to hear her narrate it.
March 19, 2026
4/5: Probably one of the best audiobooks I'll ever enjoy in this lifetime purely because of the way Astrid narrated the story of her life, the ups and downs and how she formed Pub Choir. Never heard of Pub Choir prior to this book, and I'm definitely keen to attend a show now, if only it didn't sell out so quickly! :')
December 27, 2025
By reading this book you will understand the creative mind who came up with a successful idea.
November 12, 2025
Brilliant, Loved this book, super funny, very entertaining for so many reasons and just brilliant to hear a story of someone following their own path with a fun success story 😁 and made me feel being average at best is actually pretty great!
Just one question... whyyyyy talk about accessible venues for wheelchairs and learning Auslan but refuse to read a section of the book on audio because you deem it too boring thereby making visually impaired miss out? ...maybe that's going to be in book 2 🤣 ... please don't ignore visually impaired 🙏 also all the people who need accessible venues and facilities that aren't actually in a wheelchair and visibly different....like many visually impaired just for starters.
I've listened to several audiobooks where they have managed to describe or read out various charts, tables and visual materials. If I get this book for my mum I will literally have to read out the table of names and deeds to her in a much more boring voice, likely with eye rolling and sighs as she complains about how I'm reading it 😱 sad for all the people that miss out (including the library e-audiobook borrowers) as it's pretty interesting! Love a bit of dirt and imagining who did what!
Still 5 stars and I feel my review backs up the author's experience of getting complaints no matter what you do 😜 much better than average book, totally recommend
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Just one question... whyyyyy talk about accessible venues for wheelchairs and learning Auslan but refuse to read a section of the book on audio because you deem it too boring thereby making visually impaired miss out? ...maybe that's going to be in book 2 🤣 ... please don't ignore visually impaired 🙏 also all the people who need accessible venues and facilities that aren't actually in a wheelchair and visibly different....like many visually impaired just for starters.
I've listened to several audiobooks where they have managed to describe or read out various charts, tables and visual materials. If I get this book for my mum I will literally have to read out the table of names and deeds to her in a much more boring voice, likely with eye rolling and sighs as she complains about how I'm reading it 😱 sad for all the people that miss out (including the library e-audiobook borrowers) as it's pretty interesting! Love a bit of dirt and imagining who did what!
Still 5 stars and I feel my review backs up the author's experience of getting complaints no matter what you do 😜 much better than average book, totally recommend
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
November 18, 2025
I love it when a book surprise you - honestly! Be it a plot twist, update on facts previously held, perspectives that needed updating, and even how you're reflected in the authors words - bring it on!
A few things that surprised me in this book:
* Astrid Jorgensen is not Scandinavian, but born in New Zealand and is Australian - initially I thought she was
* Even I think I could do okay at a Pub Choir lead by Jorgensen - tone deaf but happy be in the unity of a choir
* You can tell all kinds of stories, even personally horrifying stories, in your memoir - but you must be very brave
Jorgensen powerfully, energetically, and creatively shares her stories from her life thus far, but they not just simply retold "And then I, and then, and then I...." they dropped before you as if on a tray that you forgot was hot and picked up with your bare hands.
At the end of this book the final chapter simply moves your heart and you're compelled to review all the stories you'd read up to this point with the new information. Wow. This book is not just Astrid's story but the story of amazing women in her family who have overcome.
One of the key take aways from this book is not find your Ikigai but a splendid retelling of the matrix of Jorgensen's hard work, courage, pluck, the right time and sacrifice.
I hope one day to join a Pub Choir.
A few things that surprised me in this book:
* Astrid Jorgensen is not Scandinavian, but born in New Zealand and is Australian - initially I thought she was
* Even I think I could do okay at a Pub Choir lead by Jorgensen - tone deaf but happy be in the unity of a choir
* You can tell all kinds of stories, even personally horrifying stories, in your memoir - but you must be very brave
Jorgensen powerfully, energetically, and creatively shares her stories from her life thus far, but they not just simply retold "And then I, and then, and then I...." they dropped before you as if on a tray that you forgot was hot and picked up with your bare hands.
At the end of this book the final chapter simply moves your heart and you're compelled to review all the stories you'd read up to this point with the new information. Wow. This book is not just Astrid's story but the story of amazing women in her family who have overcome.
One of the key take aways from this book is not find your Ikigai but a splendid retelling of the matrix of Jorgensen's hard work, courage, pluck, the right time and sacrifice.
I hope one day to join a Pub Choir.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews