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Who's That Girl: The Untold, Definitive History of New Girl
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.
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.
Audible Audio
Published July 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
July 28, 2026
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!
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!
August 29, 2026
I wanted more gossip!
August 14, 2026
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 🥰
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 🥰
July 26, 2026
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.
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.
September 1, 2026
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!
July 18, 2026
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
ARC from NetGalley
July 15, 2026
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.
I listened to this as an ARC and enjoyed the narrator. They held my attention with good tone and cadence.
August 18, 2026
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!
September 1, 2026
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
ARC provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley - release July 28, 2026
July 23, 2026
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.
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.
August 23, 2026
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.
July 19, 2026
5/5 - New Girl is one of those shows that will forever live in my mind. It had amazing characters, funny quotable moments, and so much heart. I haven’t seen it in a long time, but getting an ARC of this book made me start a rewatch. If you’re a fan of the series, you’re going to love this book. So much history and deep diving into how the show was birthed and how so many lovable moments and scenes came to be. It truly was a treat as a die hard fan! A must-read, AND listen too! Thank you to the author, publishers, and NetGalley for a ARC audiobook in exchanged for an honest review.
August 14, 2026
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
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
August 24, 2026
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.
August 20, 2026
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.
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.
August 9, 2026
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.
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.
August 12, 2026
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!
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!
August 24, 2026
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!
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!
August 2, 2026
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.
August 9, 2026
If you like New Girl, you will enjoy this book. It's a lot of fluff though so if you are looking for behind the scenes drama, you'll have to look elsewhere. But overall, it is a good look back at one of the coziest shows of the past decade and a half.
August 11, 2026
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 :)
August 13, 2026
i loved new girl therefore i loved this
August 16, 2026
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
August 18, 2026
This was a fun audiobook to listen to. Learning how one of my favorite shows started and behind the scenes information was a treat.
August 28, 2026
I was late to the New Girl train (watched it maybe 2 years ago?). But quickly realized it was a show made for me.
Hearing more about the cast and journey behind the scenes was amazing. Can’t wait to rewatch with all of this new info.
Hearing more about the cast and journey behind the scenes was amazing. Can’t wait to rewatch with all of this new info.
August 30, 2026
i love new girl, but didn’t LOVE this book. it was a good read and had some interesting background info, but i found the timeline jumping awkward and some of the through-lines repetitive
September 3, 2026
No notes
July 29, 2026
Back to Apartment 4D and I couldn’t be happier! This book is absolutely perfect for fans new and old of the show. I love reading about everything from the original inspiration for the show to the casting process to creating True American to the delicate process that led us to Nick and Jess. I especially enjoyed Winston’s chapter! Full of memories and fun facts, Who’s That Girl will have you wanting to re-binge the show IMMEDIATELY and fall back in love with these characters. I’m so glad I got to read this one!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy!
July 31, 2026
ALC Review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
New Girl is unequivocally my favorite television show. As soon as I heard Thea Glassman was releasing a comprehensive retelling of how the show came to be, was run, and ultimately received by audiences I immediately wanted to read it. To my shock and utter surprise, I was able to not only get my hands on an advanced copy, but an audio version.
The audio version of Who’s That Girl: The Untold, Definitive History of New Girl is narrated by Yael Rizowy with brief appearances by Nelson Franklin (Robbie). Listening to this audiobook was even better than I imagined. While I like to think of myself as a devoted fan with an extensive knowledge on the subject matter, I walked away with a plethora of new information.
Glassman produced a well researched product while still remaining entertaining. My one complaint with this book is that it does not follow a linear timeline. This was a bit tricky to follow as an audiobook, but had I had a physical copy I believe it wouldn’t’ have been as noticeable.
If you are a fan of New Girl, pop culture, etc. I highly recommend reading this book!
I received a complimentary copy (audio) of this book courtesy of Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Thea Glassman. This is an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
New Girl is unequivocally my favorite television show. As soon as I heard Thea Glassman was releasing a comprehensive retelling of how the show came to be, was run, and ultimately received by audiences I immediately wanted to read it. To my shock and utter surprise, I was able to not only get my hands on an advanced copy, but an audio version.
The audio version of Who’s That Girl: The Untold, Definitive History of New Girl is narrated by Yael Rizowy with brief appearances by Nelson Franklin (Robbie). Listening to this audiobook was even better than I imagined. While I like to think of myself as a devoted fan with an extensive knowledge on the subject matter, I walked away with a plethora of new information.
Glassman produced a well researched product while still remaining entertaining. My one complaint with this book is that it does not follow a linear timeline. This was a bit tricky to follow as an audiobook, but had I had a physical copy I believe it wouldn’t’ have been as noticeable.
If you are a fan of New Girl, pop culture, etc. I highly recommend reading this book!
I received a complimentary copy (audio) of this book courtesy of Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Thea Glassman. This is an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 1, 2026
this was an interesting and insightful read about the makings of New Girl. it's been one of my comfort shows and is often playing in the background during the day. reading about how the show came to be made me want to look back at each episode mentioned, hoping to catch a glimpse of the little things i missed. knowing how things could've gone differently had the creators and cast not believed in themselves & their characters, i think i'll definitely be rewatching with fresh perspective now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews