Who's That Girl: The Untold, Definitive History of New Girl

by Thea Glassman

Go inside the writers’ room and onto the set of the honorary queen of comfort shows—with exclusive interviews from the creator, cast, writers, directors, and crew.

Since its finale, New Girl has quietly become one of the most rewatched shows in streaming history—a certified comfort classic. Taking the well-worn hangout sitcom formula and giving it a weird, wonderful twist, the series landed in that rare space between Friends-style warmth and sheer comedic chaos. Sitcom conventions were bent (if not broken), as the cast and writers shaped characters in real time—from Nick Miller’s legendary “turtle face” and Winston’s codependent relationship with his cat, to Schmidt’s endless barrage of absurd, quotable one-liners.

More than just a sitcom, New Girl became a generational touchstone, embedding itself in pop culture and personal routines alike. Fans still yell “No notes!” at friends, argue over the rules of True American, and nod to the Douchebag Jar as a model of self-regulation. It’s the show that made “adorkable” a household word, gave Prince and Taylor Swift two of TV’s greatest cameos, and delivered some of the most beloved moments in modern comedy—like the slow-burn brilliance of Nick and Jess’s kiss, the utter chaos of Prank Sinatra, or Schmidt’s passionate monologue about “chut-a-ney.”

In Who’s That Girl, entertainment journalist Thea Glassman takes readers behind the scenes with in-depth interviews with creator Liz Meriwether and the creative team, telling the story of how a scrappy, offbeat pilot evolved into a streaming juggernaut. Packed with heart, hilarity, and never-before-heard stories, this is the definitive tribute to the ultimate feel-good show.

So grab your Feelings Stick, declare your love of puzzles, argue about towel rotation, and embrace your You’re officially invited back to Apartment 4D.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Memoir, Adult, Pop Culture, True Story, Tv

272 pages, Hardcover

Published July 28, 2026

Reviews

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Thank you Thea Glassman and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this novel.

Man, I need to watch New Girl again. This book gave me so much nostilga over the show and with some of the background information that went into making this book really makes me want to revisit as it's been so long.

I think this novel really is for the fans of the show but not really for the general readership but that's okay.

Narration was good, fit well with the story.

Good read.

[Samidha; समिधा · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted more gossip!

[Kate Foliage_and_Fiction · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 stars (Thank you macmillan audio for the ALC)

I’m feeling the need to go into another rewatch of New Girl, that is for sure.

Overall this was okay. It was fun to reminisce about the series and pull back the screen a bit to see all the little pieces at play. I liked hearing about how much improv there really was and how the actors and writers really collaborated and were so playful with trying out new jokes.

It felt like it took me forever to get through this though. The overall story had less humor than I was hoping for and it struggled to keep my attention.

It was fun hearing Nelson Franklin (who played Robby) on parts of this audiobook!

I watched the series when it aired and I’ve rewatched it at least 6 or 7 times.
I think if you’re a die hard fan and you want to learn more about the shows making, then you should grab this.
If you were a casual watcher I think it might be a bit…meh? Sorry!

[anovelaccount (Kayla) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a New Girl fan, this is for you! I still remember sitting down to watch this show with my husband and us both absolutely cracking up over the jokes. We still quote so many of the zippy one liners regularly in our house. And please don’t ask me to pick a favorite character because still to this day I am incapable.

This book was full of nostalgic moments from the show, but it also had so many fun tidbits that I had no idea about! I am, and will forever more be, that person who wants to annoy anyone who will listen about behind-the-scene anecdotes from shows and movies. So my husband got an earful as I read this one. 🤣 I loved hearing about the beginnings of the show, its highs and lows, and its end, along with its resurgence in popularity during the pandemic shutdown.

I think (???) this is the only nonfiction book I’ve read this year, which should say something about me, but I flew through this one in less than a day. It absolutely deepened my love for the show, I loved the specific call outs to various scenes and episods as well as clips from interviews with the cast, and yes, I absolutely want to do a re-watch now! This is a definite yes from me to anyone who loves New Girl and enjoys knowing how a show developed.

🎧I loved listening to this one! It was easy to digest and fun to hear Nelson Franklin (played Robbie on the show) narrate some of the book. While most of me wants to recommend solely listening to this one via audio, immersive reading with audio and a physical copy might be the best route because there are some cute behind the scenes photos in the book that are worth checking out! So do both 🥰

[Susie | rekroceisusreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who’s that Girl explores the history of development and execution of the beloved sitcom, New Girl; and the creative vision of the show’s creator Elizabeth Meriweather.

This is a great book if you want to revisit the characters and set of Apartment 4D. I particularly enjoyed learning more Easter eggs and how much free reign was given to the core actors with the development of their characters and quicks, along with the amount of improve that was utilized to make the comedy expand the bounds of traditional sitcom. This was a book that took me down memory lane, especially in the early days of the show when Zooey was so iconic. I certainly modeled so much of my style after her and forgot how much the early days of this show were burned into my core memory.

The essays appropriately dive into the hype of the show, the highs and lows, and the unique timing with the death of prime time, network television competing with the emergence of streaming services.

The audio was great and the narrator had a cadence that is somewhat reminiscent of Zooey Deschanel. Plus the inclusion of Nelson Franklin (Robby) reading bonus chapter excerpts was a nice addition.

I’m definitely about to embark on my 7th(?) rewatch now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the early audio copy of this book to read and review before its release on July 28th.

[KellyJ1028 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adored New Girl. That quirky, chaotic little show made me laugh nonstop, and the characters felt like friends I hung out with every week. Listening to the audiobook and hearing the origin story was such a treat. All the behind‑the‑scenes bits, the personal stories the creators wove into the characters, and how hard they worked to make something fresh and different. It made me love the show even more. Apartment 4D will always live in my heart.

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these new nonfiction books that are coming out about TV shows. I read one about The Vampire Diaries and was so excited to read this one about New Girl. Thea Glassman did such a thorough job of capturing the show's essence through her interviews, quotes, and overall personal enjoyment of the show. It was so cool to learn about decisions and cast choices that led it to the sitcom I know and love. I really enjoyed this one, and hope to see more books like this!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I have watched New Girl so many times, it was great getting to learn how the show came to be, how the cast came to be and the backstory behind some of the most memorable episodes and story lines. The story is put together so well. It takes you on a journey through each season of New Girl giving you a behind the scenes view on the show. I typically have a hard time with audiobooks but actually really liked this book in that format. It played like a documentary and it was easy to stay interested and pay attention to the story. It made me love the show even more and I have already started another rewatch.I will definitely be buying a copy of the book for my shelf!

ARC from NetGalley

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So nostalgic going back to a show I watched regularly and loved. It was a fun sneak peek behind the show, characters, and creators. It makes me want to go back and restart the show knowing these little facts and anecdotes.

I listened to this as an ARC and enjoyed the narrator. They held my attention with good tone and cadence.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved watching New Girl. That quirky show made me laugh so much and I loved the characters and their relationships with one another. It was interesting to listen to this audiobook and learn about the New Girl origin story and get a peek behind the scenes. The creator and writers put so much of their own life/stories into the characters and worked hard to make it funny and different than everything else on TV at the time. It launched many of their careers (other than Zooey of course). I plan to rewatch it soon after listening to this!

[Sheri Zamot · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a New Girl fan, this book is a sweet treat. It made me giggle as I revisited some of my favorite episodes and moments. I loved the behind the scenes facts. It was enjoyable to hear what was going on in the background along with all the work that goes into making that short 22 minutes of absolute joy. Time for a rewatch!

ARC provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley - release July 28, 2026

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like getting a warm hug from an old friend. New Girl is one of my comfort shows so this book was an absolute read for me. So thankful to SMP and Macmillan Audio for the ALC and finished copy!
I loved getting behind the scenes looks at how the show came to be. We get to learn how Meriwether came to create the show, how the characters came to be casted, and some insights to how a few of our favorite episodes happened! One of my favorite episodes is the one with Prince. I loved the party, the clothes montage with Jess, and how the characters reacted to meeting prince (Nick’s little scream and faint will forever be one of my favorite moments).
This is a must read for all those who love New Girl. It’s a trip down memory lane and will be such a comfort to those who found a little piece of home in the show.

[Jon Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun behind-the-scenes look at a great show. I was reminded of many of the funny lines and scenes. Maybe worth some YouTube clips for an hour, but didn't convince me to do a rewatch.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. All the feels. TWENTY NINNNE.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun behind-the-scenes look at the show. I was surprised how much improv was encouraged, and how often off-script jokes made it in. It sounds like the actors are nice people who were good to each other over the course of the show. I hope the book sets off another resurgence of binge-watching. I know that's what reading it made me want to do.

[Soumya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good oral history of a movie or tv show!

[Camryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this 100 stars if I could. A must-read for any New Girl fan 🤭 All day!

Best quotes:
"This was not a show about a weird girl surrounded by a bunch of guys saying "you're weird"; this was a chance to move that narrative aside and let them all be oddballs together." -Who's That Girl

"I'm not dumb just because I like to craft." -Zoey DeChanel

[Emily · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.

Like many 20 something adults, I love New Girl, so I was excited to read this book and get a peek into the making of my favorite comfort show. It was fun learning about how some of the shows best jokes came to be, and that most of it was just the actors being given the space to act how they felt their characters were going to act. It's also very interesting to see that Season 7 truly was a rush job and them trying to give their characters a true goodbye after the ending in Season 6 that felt like the end of the series. Fox could've done better by the show and at least told them they would give them a limited run to end the show instead of rushing it how they did at the end of 6 in case it wasn't picked back up. it's refreshing to hear that the writers recognized what they were doing and were also unhappy about it overall, but did the best they could.

Some things got left out that I felt were important, and some things were included that I felt didn't truly need to be mentioned at so much length. Some episodes got lots of spotlight and some were never mentioned. The flow how what was talked about also didn't fully make sense to me, at some point we talk in depth about something that happens in season 4 just to circle back and talk about something that happened in season 1 in depth, followed by season 3, then back to 2. It would've made more sense to me, as a reader, for a season by season walk through talking in depth to all the points they need to talk about, and just fly by mention it later for a reminder of what we already talked about.

Otherwise a great read for anyone wanting to look behind the camera at the making of New Girl

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much fun! It certainly made me want to go back rewatch it and I have started the show again. I loved how the author talked to EVERYONE! Cast, crew, directors, writers, creator, slecial guests. Everyone was covered! And it was really interesting how the cast was able to adding and rewrite as they acted. Also so interesting to hear parts that at the time were not working, that now I think how great they are…knowing how the show works out.
The only thing I wish the author may have done was explain some of the jobs of the crew. Obviously the big ones are known like director or writer. But there was one, show runner, that seemed very important but I didn’t know what the position was. Anyway, really enjoyed the book! Highly recommend for New Girls fans!

** thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for a review copy of this audiobook. My opinions are my own.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Downloaded this audio as background noise on a drive and ended up loving every minute of this. I laughed, I cried, I finally understood why Coach became Winston, and most importantly I am going to be doing another rewatch from the beginning with it being more fun knowing all these little bits and pieces from behind the scenes. I just have so much more appreciation for the comedy and filming of this show. Idk I’m an even bigger New Girl nerd now. Oops. 4.5 to be more specific, idk why I took off .5, I just felt a little miffed that it said “exclusive interviews with the cast” and though they would be narrating hahahaha was disappointed it was just content from interviews the author did with the cast.

[Leila Pahlavan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m a huge fan of New Girl, so I absolutely loved getting a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show. I especially enjoyed learning more about the episodes, character relationships, guest appearances and all the little details that went into creating the series. It was fascinating to see what was happening behind the scenes of a show I’ve enjoyed for so many years.

I would highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of New Girl. It was such a fun read and a great companion to the series.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't watch a ton of TV. There are a few shows that I spend a lot of time with and like the characters, usually because a friend or relative shares. This is one of those shows and it's so easy to like the cast and the setup.
Thanks to NetGalley I got to experience this on audio and I enjoyed it so much. I learned a lot about the show too and why they made some of the unconventional decisions they did.
The narrators were so good too. I recommend this to everyone who likes the show.

This is a review of the audiobook.

[Taylor Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Girl is one of my comfort series, so when I saw this book, I immediately requested to listen on NetGalley!

I absolutely loved learning about the history of the show and all the little details from behind the scenes. Getting a glimpse behind the curtain to see how these quirky, lovable characters came to be and how certain scenes and episodes were developed was so fun. From the sounds of it, the crew seemed to work pretty cohesively which helped to create the hilarity we see in each episode.

Thank you so much to Thea Glassman and Macmillian Audio for a gifted copy of the audiobook!

[Amanda | escapetoerilea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for sending me this gorgeous gifted physical copy as well as the egalley!

Who's That Girl by Thea Glassman

New Girl is one of my favorite shows and I remember being (lovingly not creepily) obsessed with Zooey and Emily Deschanel and was so excited when this show started. It is such a walk down memory lane to read all about the moments I remember and so interesting to see what was happening behind the scenes! Oh the nostalgia! This is a great time, especially for fans of the show! And now I want to go rewatch it!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a massive New Girl fan, this book gave so many behind the scenes conversations and decisions that just made me fall even more in love with New Girl. It was great that everyone seemed to be a part of this is one way or another with quotes on certain topics. I loved this and now excuse me while I go start another rewatch on New Girl.

[Allison Kunze · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I thought this book was fun and insightful even as someone who has only watched a couple episodes and a bunch of clips. I think fans of the show might enjoy it much more. The only thing I didn't love is that they market it as being full of interviews with actors in the show (which is true) but usually in this kind of audiobook, you get to hear those quotes and stories in their own voices.

[Kierra Bleyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE NEW GIRL!! This book made me want to rewatch it for the (probably) 11th time. Getting to know so many behind the scenes quirks makes me want to re-watch and catch all of these little moments that I may have missed before. It was fun learning some new facts about my favorite show :)

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved new girl therefore i loved this

[Ariella Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🎧: Loved this so much!! So fun to hear about the intricacies of my favorite show and characters and made me feel like I was doing a mini rewatch

[Sarah Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun audiobook to listen to. Learning how one of my favorite shows started and behind the scenes information was a treat.