My Squirrel Days: Tales from the Star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and The Office

by Ellie Kemper

Comedian and star of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and host of The Great American Baking Show Ellie Kemper delivers a hilarious, refreshing, and inspiring collection of essays “teeming with energy and full of laugh-out-loud moments” (Associated Press).

“A pleasure. Ellie Kemper is the kind of stable, intelligent, funny, healthy woman that usually only exists in yogurt commercials. But she’s real and she’s all ours!” —Tina Fey

“Ellie is a hilarious and talented writer, although we’ll never know how much of this book the squirrel wrote.”—Mindy Kaling

Meet Ellie, the best-intentioned redhead next door. You’ll laugh right alongside her as she shares tales of her childhood in St. Louis, whether directing and also starring in her family holiday pageant, washing her dad’s car with a Brillo pad, failing to become friends with a plump squirrel in her backyard, eating her feelings while watching PG-13 movies, or becoming a “sports monster” who ends up warming the bench of her Division 1 field hockey team in college.

You’ll learn how she found her comedic calling in the world of improv, became a wife, mother and New Yorker, and landed the role of a bridesmaid (while simultaneously being a bridesmaid) in Bridesmaids. You’ll get to know and love the comic, upbeat, perpetually polite actress playing Erin Hannon on The Office , and the exuberant, pink-pants-wearing star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

If you’ve ever been curious about what happens behind the scenes of your favorite shows, what it really takes to be a soul cycle “warrior,” how to recover if you accidentally fall on Doris Kearns Goodwin or tell Tina Fey on meeting her for the first time that she has “great hair—really strong and thick,” this is your chance to find out. But it’s also a laugh-out-loud primer on how to keep a positive outlook in a world gone mad and how not to give up on your dreams. Ellie “dives fully into each role—as actor, comedian, writer, and also wife and new mom—with an electric dedication, by which one learns to reframe the picture, and if not exactly become a glass-half-full sort of person, at least become able to appreciate them” (Vogue.com).

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Humor, Biography, Comedy, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2018

About the author

Elizabeth Claire Kemper is an American actress and comedian. She played the receptionist Erin Hannon in the NBC comedy series The Office (2009–2013) and later the starring role in the Netflix comedy series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), for which she has received two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Kemper also appeared in the films Bridesmaids (2011) and 21 Jump Street (2012).

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Look, I really, really like Ellie Kemper as an actress and a person. I relate to her a lot as I have a similar upbeat, somewhat spastic personality and a tendency to pee when I laugh too much (TMI??). However, and there is no nice way to say this, sometimes you can be a funny, interesting person but not in a fill a book kind of way.

My husband asked me why I wasn't in love with this book and I asked him, Would you want to read a book based on my life? He said no. Super quickly, I might add.

Ellie Kemper is very talented, but she had a lucky, bump-free rise to fame. She is from a very wealthy, cohesive family who supported her financially and emotionally; she went to Princeton where she was free to explore comedy; she got recognized for her talent early on and was cast quickly as an actress and model; and she met and married a great guy and remains happily married. As one white girl from a happy, moderately wealthy family who played mediocre field hockey to another, I say good for you! - but that journey isn't compelling to read about.

Some parts of the book were really, really funny. Ellie Kemper is witty and smart, both things I adore, and some of her dialogue cracked me up. I liked the insights into The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and I related to her parenting sections, but I couldn't stop thinking that this book should have been written maybe 10 years from now when Ellie Kemper has more to say.

I hate to say this, but the story wasn't funny enough to just be a funny memoir without a really interesting backstory about Ellie Kemper's rise to fame. I found her to be charming, but the book never rose above just okay for me.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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[disco · Rating 3 out of 5]

You guysssss.

These celebs keep trying to convince us that they have important stories to tell, but I just don’t know if they do! There are laughable moments in this but overall I spent a lot of valuable time reading about a brunch order that was missing it’s lentils. SPOILER ALERT: The lentils were just small y’all.

[Miranda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Plans, schedules, and structure make me feel secure in a world that - let's just say it - is going straight to hell."

Ellie Kemper - aka Erin Hannon on the Office and Kimmy from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - is best known for her amazing comedic timing and quirky characters.

She's written a memoir of her Squirrel Days - aka that time when you are busy, busy, busy. Constantly running from place to place and doing thing after thing. Burning off the energy as quick as you can consume it.

"I knew that I needed to quiet my mind; lucky for me, there is no place to quiet your mind like the northernmost edge of Manhattan's Times Square."

We go into a bit about her childhood - from PG 13 movies to becoming a hockey addict - and then transition to her comedic career and eventually becoming a mother.

"... Being a Mom is hard, but trying to remain rational while hungry is even harder."

So, for the most part I was entertained by this book, but not gripped.

Even when I was writing the summary above, I was struggling to find something to talk about...and I think that was (in general) my issue for this book.

Kemper's life worked out really well - loving parents, fabulous college, easy(ish) slide into acting, etc - and honestly, good on her.

It is fabulous to have such a fantastically supportive family and steady life - it's what everyone is going for.

BUT it doesn't make a hugely entertaining book.

There wasn't much of a personal struggle conveyed within these pages and while she had quite a few good jokes in it, I just never felt like I had to finish the book.

There never was a moment where I locked myself in the room and forbade everyone in the house from even knocking - just so I could finish the book.

So, overall, it was enjoyable but not likely one I'd be interested in returning to or recommending.

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[Heidi Wiechert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie Kemper, the hilarious actress from the Netflix show "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," shares a few essays highlighting moments from her life. I laughed out loud a few times, both in amusement and embarrassment for Kemper. She's not afraid to make fun of herself.

The best part of the memoir is, as I read it, I could hear each word being read in Kemper's distinctive voice. She definitely has a style of expressing herself that stays true for the whole book.

"As a reasonably talented person who is also part fraud, I cannot praise highly enough the virtues of enthusiasm and tenacity as substitutes for finely honed skills or intensive training. And in this book, Reader, I will tell you about the numerous times that I have made up in pluck what I have lacked in natural ability." pg 4

Unlike other readers, I didn't fault this book for its mundane subject matter. I think, no matter our age or experience, people have valid things to say. Maybe it didn't make for a gripping read, but I was able to relate to many of Kemper's childhood experiences.

I too grew up near St. Louis, Missouri. I also went on an elementary school age field trip to Hannibal, Missouri, to learn about Mark Twain.

I also get scatter-brained when meeting authors I admire, like this moment between Kemper and Doris Kearns Goodwin:

"Doris Kearns Goodwin smiled brightly, and I leaned in, enthusiastically, to hug her. Unfortunately, she had begun to turn away by then, and — arms still outstretched — I lost my balance, stumbling forward and accidentally pushing the legendary biographer to the ground." pg 24-25

My experience: It was near Thanksgiving in 2005. George R.R. Martin was coming to Denver to do a book signing at the Tattered Cover because he had recently published A Feast for Crows. (And I'm still super pissed that he didn't finish writing his series before the television show ended, but that's neither here nor there.)

But this was long before the television show. The only people showing up for a signed copy of Martin's new book were the nerdy bookworms like me and my then-boyfriend now-husband, Lance, who I dragged along because I didn't want to drive downtown by myself.

We arrived late and had to sit at the back. But that was cool, because I was there! We got to listen to him chat about his vision for the series and then a couple people from the audience asked him questions. Someone asked who his favorite character was, and he said, Tyrion, which hit me as a total surprise. But I guess if I had thought about it and the extraordinary luck Tyrion enjoys in a world where every other person gets slaughtered in ever more inventive and disgusting ways, I could have guessed.

Then, we all queued up to have our new book signed! Because of my position in the nook-area, I was the second-to-last in line. I was hopping up and down in excitement for almost an hour as everyone filed past the bespectacled and hat-sporting author. We finally got to the front, I handed my book to his assistant, who pushed it in front of him.

"Hi!" I exclaimed and then just stood there, grinning like Hodor and equally as eloquent. Martin turns to Lance and says, "What's her name?", which Lance gamely told him and then gave him the correct spelling. Meanwhile, I'm talking a blue-streak in my head.

"Say something," I told myself. "Now's your chance." And nothing came out. "This man has provided you with hours of entertainment and you've got nothing!" My book was signed. He handed it to me. We were walking away from the table... and I frantically turned back and blurted out, "Happy Thanksgiving!"

George R.R. Martin smiled and said, "Happy Thanksgiving to you too." And that was that.

Here's to people like Ellie Kemper, who lose their minds when they meet rock-star authors, get stuck in Japanese temples, and amuse themselves perhaps more than they entertain others. It may not make for the most exciting book, but it's real and that matters. Recommended for readers who are a fan of Kemper's work and enjoy humorous memoirs.

[StMargarets · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ellie Kemper is a nice Catholic girl from the mid-west. I can say this because I'm a nice Catholic girl from the mid-west and I recognize my own.

Being a nice Catholic girl from the mid-west, being born into a very wealthy St. Louis family, going to Princeton, and then having your wealthy family support you while you wait to break into show business doesn't make for a very interesting memoir, however.

From the author's telling and from what I've read in her Wikipedia entry her first 36 years have been charmed. Not playing much for the field hockey team at Princeton and some disappointing auditions are the few clouds she acknowledges in her sunny life. And that's fine. It's kind of a breath of fresh air to read about someone who has done the right things and is rewarded for it.

The book is episodic,with short chapters. although arranged in chronological order. Each one would make for a cute story to tell on the Tonight Show.

The title refers to an incident as a child when she communed with squirrels in her back yard and ended up falling into a stream and having the squirrel laugh unsympathetically. By contrast, Mindy Kaling's memoir is called Why Not Me?, which spells out her philosophy of success and Tina Fey's is called Bossypants, which explains her drive and ambition. I wish EK would have reflected a bit more in her memoir, but that might be her sunny super power
- just accepting what comes her way without guilt or worry.

I wish her all the best as Kimmy Schmidt is winding down. I do like her on screen.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Kemper's solid work in her comedic supporting roles on NBC's The Office and on the big screen in Bridesmaids and The Secret Life of Pets. Although it seems a little early in her career to pen a memoir - to be fair, she's not alone in this recent and burgeoning cottage industry for under-40 performers - I gave it a look since my community's library had it on their new release shelf.

Well, it turns out that she can write pretty well, too. Kemper keeps the tone self-deprecating and down-to-earth in discussing childhood, schooling, and early jobs. She had a few interesting stories / anecdotes though minimal laugh-out-loud moments. It was a pleasant but conventional book.

[Ellie]

I JUST GOT APPROVED ON NETGALLEY BRB SCREAMING :D

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

There comes a time in every sitcom actress's life when she is faced with the prospect of writing a book. When my number was up, I told myself that I would not blink. I would fulfill my duty as an upbeat actress under contract on a television series and serve my country in the only way I knew how. I would cull from my life the very greatest and most memorable of anecdotes, I would draw on formative lessons learned both early on and also not too long ago, I would paint for the reader a portrait of the girl, the teenager, the woman I am today, and I would not falter. I would write a book.

Although this Author's intro is meant to be gently ironic, it feels like the most truthful passage in My Squirrel Days: Ellie Kemper was asked if she would like to write a book, so she did. What follows is a series of what Kemper calls “essays”, and what I would call “chapters”, in which she tells the story of her life in a tone of light self-deprecation. This reads less HAHAHAAAHAHAHH than an amusing conversation with a friend of a friend – nothing gets too personal and you don't feel any burning desire to probe deeper as you look at your watch and note that time is passing pleasantly enough – and for what it is, this book is fine. (Note: I read an ARC and quotes may not be in their final forms.)

My voice has not been described as “warm” or “professional-sounding” as often as it has been described as “please speak more quietly”, so it is a testament to my skill as an actor that I successfully played a receptionist in an office for over four years on NBC. “How did you do it, Ellie?” a lot of people have not asked me. “Were the computers on set actually connected to the internet?” more people wanted to know.

(Turns out, although I had never wondered: Yes, the computers on the set of The Office were connected to the internet and Kemper spent a lot of her time online shopping in the background.) Kemper seems to have been born under a lucky star, into a loving and well-off family. After what sounds like a trauma-free childhood, Kemper attended Princeton (where she fortuitously dropped out of field hockey to join the improv club) and then Oxford, and when she then still didn't know what to do with her life, Kemper's parents continued to support her so the budding comedienne could move to Chicago for an unpaid advertising internship (where her first attempt at writing copy was turned into a local McDonald's radio spot) and where she took intensive classes with various famous Chicago improv groups. After moving to NYC, Kemper continued to work on improv with her fellow Chicago alumni, appeared in a number of national TV commercials that allowed her to quit her one menial job, and after not being hired at SNL, she was offered the role on The Office. This bump-free career trajectory – and an acting CV that has two sitcoms, one theatrical movie release, and a turn as the cranky vet tech in a training video for vet techs – doesn't really feel dramatic enough or lengthy enough to merit a memoir at this stage in Kemper's life; but she was offered a book deal and she took it (and who could blame her?)

I know that a lot of women wish that they had just a fraction of my tendency to fart from being so nervous ease on the red carpet; I understand that many fashion houses are desperate to forbid me from wearing a dress with their name on it because I will irrefutably lower their cachet for my face. But I value my privacy and I really am a lazy homebody at heart, so for these reasons, it fills me with happiness* to let other ladies rule the red carpet.

*rage and envy

While on the one hand My Squirrel Days has this persistently chipper and self-deprecating tone, every now and then Kemper tells a story about losing her cool with underlings, confessing that now she channels her “inner Kimmy Schmidt” to remain positive in the face of setbacks (even her mother had to tell her once that yeah, her job sounds hard, but it's a job that plenty of people dream of having.) While reading this book, I got the sense that Kemper was channeling the kind of cheerful and wholesome character that she is known for playing – smiling on the outside while concealing something more interesting at the heart of her – and while a pleasant reading experience, there's nothing really truthy or fascinating or universal to be found here. Still, I am not unhappy to have spent this time with what Kemper put out.

[Colleen C · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I'm a self-professed lover of celebrity memoirs, I wasn't in love with Ellie Kemper's My Squirrel Days. Although there were a couple of entertaining essays, many of the topics were mundane and sometimes boring (e.g. complaining to waiters about a lentil and quinoa salad; joking about telling grandchildren about taking 500 SoulCycle classes). While I think any topic can be interesting in the hands of the good writer, I just didn't care much for style of writing in this collection. I also wish that Ellie had provided more detailed insight into working on the sets of The Office and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

(Note: Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the opportunity to review this ARC ahead of publication).

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 48% - Ellie Kemper seems like a lovely person, but this memoir is just so, so average.

[Penny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this. I didn't.
I hoped it would be funny. It wasn't.

[Orsolya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nowadays, the Hollywood consensus seems to be that if you are an actor/actress with even a nominal amount of success; then writing a memoir is the expected next rung on fame ladder. Ellie Kemper, the bubbly but fiery redhead known for her Netflix sitcom “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, her role as Erin on “The Office”, and as Becca in the comedy film, “Bridesmaids”; joins this list populated with her Hollywood peers-turned-authors and opens the window to her life in, “My Squirrel Days”.

Kemper’s approach to the stylistic formatting of “My Squirrel Days” diverges away from the chronological memoir outline and instead presents a chapter-by-chapter topical focus exploring various incarnations of Kemper. In this way, the content of “My Squirrel Days” feels somewhat like an interview but is, on the other hand, more fleshed out in the creativity aspect. The consequence of this method of storytelling is that there is a constant back-and-forth jump in sequencing, making for clunky and clouded reading.

Without a doubt, Kemper is a strong writer. Her pace, language, and imagery is accessible but also vivid and exemplifies one who could pen a powerful fictional novel. Much of “My Squirrel Days” reads like a compilation of short stories. The only issue in this direction is that Kemper tries too hard to be humorous and infuse the text with jokes that simply fall flat. Kemper’s comedic timing is on-point and subtle with her acting but bluntly, sort of annoying in her personal memoir.

“My Squirrel Days” leans heavily on the side of simply rehashing memories. Readers certainly learn about Kemper through her experiences and shared recollections, however, Kemper holds back and doesn’t dive deep into her inner psyche, emotions, and/or reactions to her life events leaving much mystery and a shroud over entire being. Fans are prevented from getting as close to Kemper as they would prefer.

On a positive note, Kemper doesn’t follow the typical Hollywood habit of namedropping other celebrities they have ‘partied’ with, glamorizing drugs, or displaying a “woe is me” – attitude begging for pity in their diva lives. Kemper doesn’t even step foot into these topics and comes across as very down-to-earth.

The final chapters of “My Squirrel Days” find Kemper opening up a bit more and knocking down some of her emotional walls. Although she still holds back; the memories reveal her personality more accurately and brings a fresh feel to the pages. Readers reach a new level of clarity and a feeling of finally getting to know Kemper better.

“My Squirrel Days” ends smoothly and wraps up the piece in a summarized way. Sadly missing from the memoir are a section of photo plates pr photos strewn throughout (there are less than five throughout the book). This absence is noticeably felt.

Kemper’s “My Squirrel Days” is a readable but entertaining collection of essays making for a compelling, quick (1 day) read. Although the piece isn’t mind-blowing or a hard expose; Kemper’s writing is strong, her storytelling is illustrative, and her personality is likable making the overall text enjoyable. “My Squirrel Days” is recommended for fans of Ellie Kemper or any of her acting projects.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Squirrel Days. . .

This was a quick choice at the library. . .the author is charming and sweet and all the darling things other reviewers have noted. However, I would love to read the book she writes in about 50 years. There are too many living people mentioned in this book for a real-io, true-lio unfolding of events and context. AND that said, maybe it is exactly as described, a cupcake of a life. As such it doesn’t have much relevance to mine. I’ve got lessons to learn and stupidities to recognize, cruelties to acknowledge and hopes to which clinging is the first task of every day. This fine lady doesn’t appear to have any of that.

She’s funny in a Squeaky clean way (and that’s not bad), honest in that sweet 6 year old way, and relentlessly optimistic to a degree that gives me a headache. Her book has no ups or downs. . . just floats on happy bubbles from start to finish. I need a little more to ponder on in these latter days of life.

May she cheer on happily for all her days! She’ll be on my TBR list in 5 decades. I’ve got it calendared.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Ellie Kemper. She seems like a nice, fun person. But as far as her storytelling goes, I feel like not enough of the things she's experience in life are all that interesting. That sounds mean, I'm sorry. For me, I don't find improv that interesting, and she did a lot of that before becoming an actress. I didn't know that about her. I also thought her story about the times she's been to Europe & Japan a little dry. There were definitely some funny parts throughout the book and I want to check out Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and even rewatch The Office. I did like that it wasn't full of language and she didn't feel the need to talk about her 'first time'. I liked that there were pictures, but there could've been more. People like pictures. But I hated the footnotes, because I just hate footnotes.

[Brandon Forsyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a Norman Rockwell housewife secretly plotting to murder her perfect family (WITH COMEDY), Ellie Kemper deliciously sets up and then undercuts her shucks-golly Midwestern persona in this charming collection of essays, loosely structured around the idea of the different "roles" she's played in her life. I found them totally charming and often laugh-out-loud funny. That's right Internet, I spelled out lol. DEAL WITH IT.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellie Kemper is a delight, and her fun comedic energy is a joy to be around (especially when listening to her narrate the audiobook)... but no offense I wouldn't quite put My Squirrel Days in the high ranks of comedy writing memoirs.

The book jumps around to silly stories about her childhood--like the squirrel story hence the title--family, acting, college years, early imrov work, etc. Eventually, she gets to marriage and motherhood. It's all quite charming, all hilarious and with a lot of heart. Nothing particularly scandalous or tragic seemed to have ever happened to her, which is fine because the lighthearted take on her life is what she was going for and it's always expressed well and quirky.

Generally speaking, for the Hollywood stuff the book is probably more for fans of the Office than for fans of Kimmy Schmidt. There are more quips about Steve Carell et. al than Tina Fey. Which is a bit of a shame for me as a fan as I'm very into the latter. The Office is classic no doubt, but I find a lot more depth in the societal analysis (and ridiculousness) of Kimmy Schmidt's world.

My Squirrel Days is pretty much totally apolitical, which can be a rare respite in books these days. Kemper even points this outright, how Kimmy's character has influenced her to be more optimistic in this contemporary era~

The last chapter does get into the backstory of the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt show with the pilot and Titus and everything, and was extremely interesting to me. It was rather late in the book though. So... in conclusion, I more recommend this book for fans of the Office and nothin necessarily wrong that :)

[Kristyn Kricket · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to have gotten an excerpt a few weeks ago and I devoured it greedily, wishing I had more of it to read. Today, my wish was granted as I received an advance reading copy of the entire book from Edelweiss. I raced through My Squirrel Days giggling like a loon and plotting out ways I could be best friends with Ellie. If you're a fan of the essays by Tina Fey, Mindy Kailing and Amy Poehler, you will LOVE this book.

[Janine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book extremely boring! She kept going off on weird tangents that seemingly had nothing to do with anything. I thought her anecdotes were very dry and revealed very little about her life. A hard pass for me on this one!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very on brand for the author. She put s forth stories that reinforce her public persona but does not disclose any information that is personal or meaningful.

[Katie Followell · Rating 1 out of 5]

You know when you have a paper due with a certain word count that has to be met, so you make up a lot of crap to meet that requirement? That's what this book is. Disappointed.

[Rachel Faust · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hilarious. Definitely better to listen, as I love that she narrated. I laughed out loud so many times. If you are a fan of her character in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt- Ellie Kemper is her in real life.

[Corey Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was interesting to learn about Ellie Kemper's life, this book felt like an extension of the façade she holds up as a mask to the public. Gratingly cheerful, saccharine, and occasionally funny.

Audiobook: Kemper's reading was fine, but the audio mix was sub-par. There were moments where I felt like my eardrums were being blasted out, and others where I struggled to hear what was being said.

[Girl Well Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

A special thank you to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie Kemper is a comedian and star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and appeared on the US The Office series. Her other written work includes writing for GQ, Esquire, The New York Times, McSweeney’s, and The Onion. In this collection of essays, Kemper delivers some funny bits about her journey from the suburbs to Hollywood, and becoming a full-fledged New Yorker.

My Squirrel Days is a heartfelt compilation with nods to nature, her upbringing, her career, her short stint in field hockey, and adulting. And because we are all a bit celebrity obsessed, she carefully name drops a few.

Let me preface this by saying I did enjoy parts of the book. Ellie is charming and you can't help but associate her with that infectious smile, but I feel like her life is not overly interesting. The "Hysteric" essay was the worst in the collection (total and unnecessary filler). That being said, it is a quick read—she is so likeable and endearing. My recommendation would be to listen to the audiobook rather than reading it because you would get to experience Kemper's fabulous personality and humour that was lost on the page.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There wasn’t much to this book. I found myself thinking about other things while listening. It didn’t make me laugh...just amused me at times. I borrowed the audiobook from the library thankfully. I think this book would have been better later in her career after she had done more.

[Mehrsa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love her on TV, but I could not take her character in a book. It felt false and grating.

[Abby · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I don't really expect much from celebrity memoirs. But this wasn't even fluffy or fun enough to sit and listen to while bored out of my skull at work.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could not have been published at a better time in my life!!! Thank you SO much to Netgalley, Scribner and Simon & Schuster for approving me to read this e-arc!!! I highly recommend this quirky little memoir to anyone and everyone !! It just came out in October 2018, so what are you waiting for?

First and foremost can I just shout from the rooftops that “ I love youuuuu Erin!!!!” Whoops, I mean Ellie...but I’m sure that she gets that a lot, right? I find it quite amusing that for the past four years my boyfriend, Jeremy, has been desperately trying to convince me to watch the show “ The Office” because he is such a huge fan and he felt that I would love it just as much. I, on the other hand was stalling. I enjoy watching shows like Dexter and Game of Thrones, Grey’s Anatomy or The Walking Dead. Give me drama, show me gore! But....when I logged onto Netgalley and saw Ellie Kemper’s biography arc I devised a little game. ( At this point in time I thought her name in the show was Meredith, and I had no clue what she brought to the show). I told Jeremy that I had requested to read the book and if I was approved, I would binge watch each and every episode of The Office with him, BUT if I was denied to read her arc....he could never ask me to watch it again. Needless to say...I failed because here we are! However, this may be the one and only time in my life that I’m ECSTATIC that I lost.

....And so began my journey watching the show. I wouldn’t allow myself to begin reading the story until I had a feel for Ellie’s character! When she FINALLY joined in at the end of season 5 I was jumping for joy!! “ Thats Ellie! “ I said. My boyfriend looked at me like, “ Duh.”

I found this book SO relatable!
First let me just tell you all of the characteristics that I have found both Ellie and I have in common after reading her book :
1. My cheeks ALSO look like “ they are storing nuts”... it seems my face is very resistant to losing its baby fat. But I’m 33 and still get carded, so who is laughing now?
2. I also used to put on truly AMAZING performances for my family except instead of plays, mine were dance recitals.
3. Hearing the words: tamagotchi , crimper, Skip- It ...IMMEDIATELY brought me back to my childhood days. We must be pretty close in age.
4. Everyone ( and I do mean everyone ) has told me at some point in my life to “ speak more quietly.”
5. I am extremely accident prone and can see myself easily getting stuck in a giant nostril, which also reminds me of how she had to back it out! I also came into this world butt- first Ellie! My mom needed a c- section. ( Sorry ma!)
6. I believe Rose Byrne is gorgeous too!
7. One of my favorite things to do is make lists. My work desk, my school projects, my daily activities, and even quick trips to the drugstore all require lists! I’m lost without them.
8. I can see how children’s names are becoming utterly ridiculous. It all began with Gwenyth Paltrow and her daughter Apple . That’s a girl right? Son...Apple? Not sure, but either way...absurd. I literally
LOL-ed at Cabinet and Morph. Sadly, this is our future.
9. I identify in being “ a natural born shut-in who dreads leaving the house.” It’s so comfy here, just bring me food.
10. I share a love of exclamation points too, and don’t even realize how much I use them at times, until they’ve already been sent to my recipient, Oh well, at least I’m passionate !!!

What I really enjoyed about this book : The pictures, the lists and schedules in her childhood hand-writing, going through the trials and tribulations of what it took Ellie to get where she is today—even working at a cupcake store called “ Crumbs” where she brewed teas, made lattes and couldn’t remember a thing about the damn cupcakes! One little failure though, where is the wedding picture?! Would have loved to see it!! My favorite part of the book is how she stops to address us personally every so often by saying...”Reader...” I don’t know about everyone else but sometimes when I’m reading a book my head starts to go off into la la land imagining who- knows-what , but calling us readers out, getting us to focus and come back to neutral ground was brilliant! Well done!

I find myself trying to picture her early days on the Letterman Show, making pieces of toast with Dave & Paul’s faces on them. Maybe I should google this! I can also imagine her dangling out of a giant nose! Each and every time that I watch the office I wonder what each of those cast members is buying on their computers in the background!

When I put this book down I immediately watched “Bridesmaids” once again and felt the need to yell out —- “ Thats graham crackers, vanilla pudding and whipped cream in her hair!” I was proud, I had behind the scenes information, but no one was impressed. Haha. I was. I also added “ Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt “ to “ My List” on Netflix and died laughing during the first episode! This may be my new show to binge watch, since I am now done watching The Office. I cried like a baby when it ended and I am so grateful to have watched each and every episode in a few short months. I could never attempt to count the amount of times I laughed so hard that I cried!

So, thank you again for approving me for this book. I learned to love Ellie Kemper EVEN more than I already did, and I got to watch a show that I never in a million years thought would become an instant favorite!

4.5 stars ! Well done...and keep kicking ass!

[Kate Vocke (bookapotamus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure I am not alone in my feelings that I feel like Ellie Kemper is my friend. I mean, she just might be the most fun, and happiest celebrity on the planet - free from scandal, always smiling, and just about as sugary sweet as one can be right? I was SO excited to read her book, and as much as she tries throughout to convince us that she's not all sugar and everything nice - but a bit more spice than most people realize ... well, I don't believe you Ellie!! Haha! Not one bit. Even if it is true! Sorry!

It's like those celebrities that have the tarnished images and try so, so hard to prove they're not bad, and try so hard to change their image after a scandal or rumor... by doing charity work, or smiling all the time or doing wholesome movies... Ellie is the opposite. She's trying throw some dirt on the squeaky clean with some silly cranky teenager stories, insulting other celebs, and not-so-sunny thoughts that go through her mind when someone tries to steal her Soul Cycle bike, but I'm just not buying it Ellie! Nor do I want to!!

I am convinced she is EXACTLY like her character, Kimmy Schmidt. Cheerful, naive, and adorable. And I will carry that with me forever! It took me a bit to get into the book - I really don't follow bios well, when its about childhood or mom stuff - but I devoured the celebrity scoops and interactions and this book is chock full of them. I STRONGLY suggest getting the audiobook for this one. I read this in my head, with her voice - and I just think Ellie telling her own story, in her own voice, full or snark and wit and charm would be the icing on the cake that is her sweet, sugary life story!

[Sim ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✔️ true crime (...that a wholesim being such as Ellie exists 😭)
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars

This was so enjoyable to listen to! Not sure if I intentionally listened to this after Tina Fey’s (something I’d do though) but they compliment each other so well. Laughed out loud and she really is such a lovable dork. Ellie is so humble and sweet too! And obviously love Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt 🙏🏼

+10 points to Gryffindor for the Hamilton reference

[April Overly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did laugh and enjoy the stories, but rather than recommend this, I will recommend "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and "Bossypants." Ellie Kemper and comedian memoirs are great, but each is brought to its zenith through Tina Fey's writing.