And So It Is...: A Memoir of Acceptance and Hope

by Jamie-Lynn Sigler

I’m Just Here to Remind You has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.

Genres: Memoir, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Biography Memoir, Health

Audible Audio

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Jamie 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

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blatantly honest and emotionally raw.

[Tony Farinella · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’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.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Tammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Ayah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could say so much 😭 when I wasn’t crying, I was smiling. What a remarkable woman. Such beautiful perspective. Meadow Soprano forever!!!!!!!!

[Tara Cignarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

And So It Is… by Jamie Lynn Sigler
Book 116
4 Stars (4.7 Amazon 4.37 Goodreads)
Release Date 5/4/26
Audio
Words 102,000
#whiskersandwordsbookreview #onesentencereview #thesopranos

----- I enjoyed this for the most part, good as a memoir, but also felt like it was all about the bad stuff in her life.

Have you watched The Sopranos or do you like mafia books?

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. ♥️

[Erika Bazzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Know what you're looking for going in.

I picked up it to read behind-the-scenes Sopranos stories. If that's what you're looking for, this probably isn't the book for you. This is a compelling memoir of someone navigating overnight stardom, a terrible starter marriage, a debilitating and scary disease, and finally a health challenge with her son. If that sounds like the kind of book you're looking for, you should definitely pick up And So It Is.

Despite the limited Sopranos stories, I kept reading. I was cheering for Jamie - to dump the jerk, to find a better relationship, to find a way to navigate her illness and career.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember watching the Sopranos years ago but Meadow didn't stand out to me for some reason but after reading the actress' memoir I now want to go back and watch the series over again. I had no idea that she had MS and so young! An amazing story and especially for people with MS, I highly recommend this. 4 stars

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply personal and honest memoir about the Soprano actress's struggle with an eating disorder while on the show and her diagnosis and revelation of MS. Jamie also goes on to share the horrifying health scare she had with her youngest son. Moving, open and highly recommended for anyone who liked other MS memoirs like Fallosophy, Mean baby or You with the sad eyes. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy that was excellently read by the author herself.

[Cristina Cappiello · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Mediaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Emma Cierlitsky]

I’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

[Fauntel Deshayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve heard people say it’s hard to rate memoirs because that’s somebody’s life and their most vulnerable stories being shared with you - how do you rate that? I’ve read a respectable amount of memoirs and I’ve never really had this issue until this one. Jamie has been through a lot and her memoir details from start to finish all of those missteps and struggles over the years. It’s obvious why she focuses so much on the eating disorder, her ill-fated marriage and the MS, the latter of which I felt was the most illuminating part of her story because it feels so uniquely hers. That said, I felt as though these elements were so omnipresent throughout her life - reaching as far as before and in the midst of her Sopranos run to present day - that the struggles became very repetitive at a certain point to hear, especially because Jamie handled her eating disorder very similarly to how she handled MS with keeping secrets and walking on eggshells around people to keep the condition hidden. Now, of course, this is a real life story and I understand that part of what makes it so meaningful is the length of time she took before revealing what she was going through. I’m not critiquing Jamie’s life or anything like that. But from strictly a writing perspective, I think the memoir might have benefited from perhaps a different structure or a deeper dive into Jamie’s relationship with other people to really help the book feel more tonally varied. At a certain point, I did wonder why she held onto the MS secret for as long as she did, just because she admitted it had such a huge impact on a lot her relationships and I don’t know if also she is at the point in her life yet where she’s ready to reflect pointedly on that thought herself. On a larger note, perhaps Jamie could have benefited from waiting a few more years before getting out her story because I felt like she’s looking back on all of the stages of her life with the same lens. There’s a lot of shame and even still now a lot of anger at how she treated herself back then. Simultaneously, there are some people in her life who wronged her that I feel like she paints in too forgiving a light for what they did. All of it makes me not value Jamie’s story any less as it’s presented here, but it does make me wonder if the memoir might have been more reflective if she had been given a few more years to heal before coming forward with this book.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

“I can’t handle pity. It makes me uncomfortable. It shows me that what I’m doing to combat it or cover it isn’t working.”

Jamie’s memoir follows this cycle: First, hiding, shame, self-pity, insecurity, & selfishness. Then disclosure, acceptance, love, & support. Back to hiding. This is repeated for over 30 years.

Beginning at 14 years old, Jamie spares no effort in covering up her health, be it her eating disorders or her MS. Eventually she confides in someone and they are unbelievably supportive - so much so that she says she doesn’t know why she waited so long to say something. But she doesn’t fully open up and continues to live in constant cover-up mode. She compromised productions professionally & relationships personally, all the while no one could understand why because they didn’t have the full picture. It was painful to listen to. Maybe Jamie would have benefited from waiting and gaining more perspective before writing a memoir? I would have appreciated more from the perspective of living outside of hiding, fully accepting herself and her circumstances, to balance it out.

[Katie Gress · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Excellent.

[Emma Gennaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly one of the best memoirs I've listened to!!!!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful story of life with a chronic illness.

[Cyndi T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may have liked it better if I had watched the sopranos. For me it was a typical actor's charmed life with a side story of health challenges. I hope it helped her grow and cope.

[Joshua Rosati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Round up, glad that she came to terms with her illness.

[Suzanne]

Writing this was probably therapeutic. I enjoyed the Soprano stories, the interactions she shared with James Gandolfini, but that was about it unfortunately.

[Melonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good 4.5/5 🌟 wish could give half stars on here

[Sarah Tsibulsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.