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How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey's Anatomy
The first inside story of one of TV's most popular and beloved dramas, Grey's Anatomy .'I'm a Black woman casting my own show. I wanted their world to look like the world that I live in. I don't think about it in those terms [diversity], and I militantly think I don't have to.' Shonda Rhimes'Multiple generations have discovered Derek through Netflix. They are passionate around the world. It's humbling.' Patrick DempseyMore than 15 years after its premiere, Grey's Anatomy remains one of the most beloved dramas on television in the US and the UK. It continues to win its time slot and has ranked in the Top 20 most watched shows in primetime for most of its 17-season run. It currently averages more than 9 million viewers each week.Now it's time to hear from the people who made the show happen.A cultural touchstone, it introduced the unique voice and vision of Shonda Rhimes, it made Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh and T.R. Knight household names, and injected words and phrases into the cultural lexicon like 'McDreamy,' and 'you're my person.' And the behind-the-scenes drama has always been just as juicy as what was happening in front of the camera, from the high-profile firing of Isaiah Washington to Katherine Heigl's fall from grace and Patrick Dempsey's shocking death episode. The show continued to haemorrhage key players, but the beloved hospital series never skipped a beat.Lynette Rice's How to Save A Life takes a deep dive into the show's humble start, while offering exclusive intel on the behind-the-scenes culture, the most heartbreaking departures and the more polarizing plotlines. It's the perfect gift for all Grey's Anatomy stans out there.'It's incredible how this show just keeps resonating with the young generation. It's really touching.' Ellen Pompeo'As much of my life as I feel like I [gave that] character, she has saved me and helped me grow into the artist that I am. . . . If [Shonda] didn't ask me to come back for the series finale, I would hurt her.' Sandra Oh
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 426 reviews
September 25, 2021
I expected this book to be more of an insider story than a combination of quotes from cast&crew. I was disappointed. Unfortunately the information here are mostly available online if you simply google the actors and such, you’ll find everything that’s written in this book. However, it is still nice to see them all in one place, especially for a Grey’s Anatomy fan.
I was simply expecting something else and didn’t get what I expected.
I was simply expecting something else and didn’t get what I expected.
September 23, 2021
I’m not just a Grey’s Anatomy fan, I’m a super fan. I own every episode of the show on iTunes, own a playlist of over 300 of the show’s most iconic songs, I’ve seen the entire series over a dozen times, probably closer to twenty times.
Grabbing HOW TO SAVE A LIFE was a no brainer, anatomy pun intended (though no reference to Amelia’s son who was born without a brain and lives for only minutes). I was a bit concerned Lynette Rice might do a hatchet job on the show, but found the account to be fair to the show and the cast.
I loved the inside stories and tidbits of information that I didn’t know. The only character/actress I disliked showed me my thoughts were warranted although I think I’d I liked the person I could have found reasons to confirm that as well. The reasons I dislike her are the same reasons others like her. One actor was redeemed in my mind.
My only criticism is that the narrator mispronounces Sara Ramirez’s first name. Kate Mulligan uses the American, not the Latina pronunciation which someone should have caught before the audiobook was released.
If you’re a GREY’S ANATOMY or tv fan, you’ll love HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, though if you aren’t, skip it.
Grabbing HOW TO SAVE A LIFE was a no brainer, anatomy pun intended (though no reference to Amelia’s son who was born without a brain and lives for only minutes). I was a bit concerned Lynette Rice might do a hatchet job on the show, but found the account to be fair to the show and the cast.
I loved the inside stories and tidbits of information that I didn’t know. The only character/actress I disliked showed me my thoughts were warranted although I think I’d I liked the person I could have found reasons to confirm that as well. The reasons I dislike her are the same reasons others like her. One actor was redeemed in my mind.
My only criticism is that the narrator mispronounces Sara Ramirez’s first name. Kate Mulligan uses the American, not the Latina pronunciation which someone should have caught before the audiobook was released.
If you’re a GREY’S ANATOMY or tv fan, you’ll love HOW TO SAVE A LIFE, though if you aren’t, skip it.
September 13, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I had a lot of fun with it, and I learned a decent amount as well. It was compulsively readable, and I finished it in a day. As a Film/TV major, I think this was a valuable book to read, and as a Grey’s fan, it was just super fun. I think that if you’re interested in working in TV, this is also a good book to read, whether or not you like Grey’s at all. It gives you a really good look at how a writer’s room operates, how stories break, the overall bureaucracy and how network execs influence who stays and who goes in a show, etc. And for Grey’s fans, this is something I would definitely recommend because it’s pretty juicy, and like Daisy Jones, it’s written as an oral history, and different people’s accounts of the same event/situation vary, so it’s interesting and authentic in that sense.
My only real gripe with this book is the author refers to Shonda Rhimes as "Yale-educated" when she went to Dartmouth, when literally everyone knows she went to Dartmouth 🤦🏽♀️.
My only real gripe with this book is the author refers to Shonda Rhimes as "Yale-educated" when she went to Dartmouth, when literally everyone knows she went to Dartmouth 🤦🏽♀️.
October 15, 2021
Code Blue--this book is a deadly, wrong-headed, disappointing "oral history" of the TV show. It required almost no writing on the part of the "author" (who wrote almost nothing so she simply was an editor) and includes a whole lot of quotes taken from a variety of sourses, often out of context or making no sense when pieced together.
Rice depends way too much rehashed info from her own Entertainment Weekly, which is a biased propaganda publication that kisses up to Hollywood instead of offering objective journalism. She even quotes the EW writers she worked with, like about what they thought when interviewing Ellen. Seriously? Seems like space filler and giving credence to those that didn't do a good enough job "reporting" on the show in the first place. If anything this book proves how weak Entertainment Weekly truly is at being more than just a PR tool for Hollywood, and Rice is one of the main ones to go right along with it.
This should have been completely written by an objective author who knows how to tell the true "inside story" instead of just providing a skewed view based on limited rehashed perspectives and her own bias from years trying to cater to those in the TV business. Some readers will be happy just to find a few juicy bits here that confirm some of the rumors, but if you're looking for a true narrative regarding how the show was created, produced, and acted then you won't find it here. It's like a bad cut-and-paste term paper a student would turn in for a school project in order to avoid doing the true work.
Rice even ends the book with the last sentence saying "the real story is never going to be fully told." You judge whether that makes the book worth ready. For me it was DOA.
Rice depends way too much rehashed info from her own Entertainment Weekly, which is a biased propaganda publication that kisses up to Hollywood instead of offering objective journalism. She even quotes the EW writers she worked with, like about what they thought when interviewing Ellen. Seriously? Seems like space filler and giving credence to those that didn't do a good enough job "reporting" on the show in the first place. If anything this book proves how weak Entertainment Weekly truly is at being more than just a PR tool for Hollywood, and Rice is one of the main ones to go right along with it.
This should have been completely written by an objective author who knows how to tell the true "inside story" instead of just providing a skewed view based on limited rehashed perspectives and her own bias from years trying to cater to those in the TV business. Some readers will be happy just to find a few juicy bits here that confirm some of the rumors, but if you're looking for a true narrative regarding how the show was created, produced, and acted then you won't find it here. It's like a bad cut-and-paste term paper a student would turn in for a school project in order to avoid doing the true work.
Rice even ends the book with the last sentence saying "the real story is never going to be fully told." You judge whether that makes the book worth ready. For me it was DOA.
October 1, 2021
More Fluff Than Substance
This is a breezy read for Grey's fans (or former fans like me who stopped watching years ago, but still keep up with the goss), but it is also a very sanitized, surface level telling of a show that is known to be as dramatic off-screen as it is on.
At the end of the book, in the acknowledgements, Rice quotes a source who says something like, “the real story won't be told because people won’t go on the record like me.” And unfortunately, that definitely comes across in this book. There are a few unnamed sources who deliver quotes with some actual teeth about behind-the-scenes negotiations with actors and hint at the interpersonal drama, but most of this seems to be sourced from pre-existing press interviews from EW or other publications. The new interviews from the book appear to be largely from former writers and smaller-part actors
Katherine Heigl is probably the most redeemed by the book, but too little time is given to discussing the interpersonal conflicts that led to the explosion in publicity and drama that culminated in the third season of the show.
There is no new information about Justin Chambers' abrupt exit, even from veiled sources. And the Patrick Dempsey exit section is just a retread of Rice's article for EW. (It is clear getting the Dempsey exclusive interview is a highlight of Rice's professional career, and I commend her for that, but I wish the book had gone more in-depth and beyond the publicist-approved messaging the actors and show wanted to portray.)
The oral-history format feels like the wrong approach for a book claiming to be “the inside story,” especially if the interviews are going to be largely culled from (or written in the same style) as the PR-friendly missives you get in EW, People, or TVLine. Very few people seem willing to share the actual truth, leading the reader to try to infer the actual interpersonal dynamics at play.
This isn’t a bad book. It just doesn’t give the world the real inside story. The goss is stale.
This is a breezy read for Grey's fans (or former fans like me who stopped watching years ago, but still keep up with the goss), but it is also a very sanitized, surface level telling of a show that is known to be as dramatic off-screen as it is on.
At the end of the book, in the acknowledgements, Rice quotes a source who says something like, “the real story won't be told because people won’t go on the record like me.” And unfortunately, that definitely comes across in this book. There are a few unnamed sources who deliver quotes with some actual teeth about behind-the-scenes negotiations with actors and hint at the interpersonal drama, but most of this seems to be sourced from pre-existing press interviews from EW or other publications. The new interviews from the book appear to be largely from former writers and smaller-part actors
Katherine Heigl is probably the most redeemed by the book, but too little time is given to discussing the interpersonal conflicts that led to the explosion in publicity and drama that culminated in the third season of the show.
There is no new information about Justin Chambers' abrupt exit, even from veiled sources. And the Patrick Dempsey exit section is just a retread of Rice's article for EW. (It is clear getting the Dempsey exclusive interview is a highlight of Rice's professional career, and I commend her for that, but I wish the book had gone more in-depth and beyond the publicist-approved messaging the actors and show wanted to portray.)
The oral-history format feels like the wrong approach for a book claiming to be “the inside story,” especially if the interviews are going to be largely culled from (or written in the same style) as the PR-friendly missives you get in EW, People, or TVLine. Very few people seem willing to share the actual truth, leading the reader to try to infer the actual interpersonal dynamics at play.
This isn’t a bad book. It just doesn’t give the world the real inside story. The goss is stale.
January 24, 2024
Obiektywnie nie była to książka na 5 gwiazdek, ale kocham greys i daje 5 bo mogę. W sensie bylo bardzo fajne i można było się dowiedzieć duzo ciekawych rzeczy spoza fabuły serialu i zza kulis itp. ale No to nie była taka typowa książka fabularna tylko bardziej wypowiedzi aktorów i produkcji. Dla zbzikowanego fana serialu (czyli mnie) must have
May 18, 2025
After bingeing Grey’s Anatomy to catch up, I stumbled upon this book by Lynette Rice. It tackles many of the behind-the-scenes stories and tidbits that fans will surely enjoy. Rice explores the great storylines and delves deeply into the characters, as well as the actors who portray them. This is a winning piece for Grey’s fans who want a little more.
The fact that Grey’s Anatomy has served to entertain many people over the last two decades is not lost on the reader. From an idea that Shonda Rhimes pitched to ABC, through to the various forks in the road on set, Grey’s emerged as a stellar piece of television that pushed boundaries each season. Rice explores the early days and explains how trying to get the show on television proved a monumental task, as well as trying to cast the show with the perfect collection of actors. Many unknown people became household names as the show progressed, serving to springboard characters into being beloved by many on a weekly basis. This includes Ellen Pompeo, T. R. Knight, and Justin Chambers, as well as the well-known Patrick Dempsey, adding depth to the show.
Rice delves not only into various twists and turns, but also how the writers handled keeping too many reveals from leaking before airing. The means to surprising those who tune in proved harder the longer the show progressed, as online presence made leaks easily presentable. I always find surprises to be the best part of the show, so keeping leaks from ruining things is something I try to dodge.
Tackling some of the most memorable episodes and the stunning turns that left the show moving in directions no one could predict, Rice explains how Shonda sought to make the show something more than simply a medical drama or soap opera. While there is no shortage of relationship match-ups, the depth of characters and their interactions cannot be lost on the attentive fan. Characters make the show, though one cannot discount the strength of writers or the idea-makers to ensure a powerful delivery. Rice makes sure the themes of the show are well supported, some being medical situations, while others are personal struggles. There were no shortage of shocking examples found in the show, many of which proved emotionally draining.
As the show has progressed well past the publication of this book, things have surely taken many twists in the last number of years, including the thankful paring back of Ellen Pompeo—loved by many but who has proven to be a whiny and centric character who uses her titular role to claim being the show’s lynchpin—which has forced Grey’s to reinvent itself. New faces arrive and ideas emerge, entertaining and frustrating the fan on a weekly basis. Having binge watched the show over a short period of time, I can see the strengths and weaknesses that emerge, as well as the aforementioned irritants of certain characters over the years. A newer version of this book would surely have a great deal more to tell and additional scandals to tackle. The show is so complex that there is nothing stagnant as episodes progress, even if some criticise that the fire is less a raging flame in recent seasons. While there are critics of the show, Rice makes sure to explain that there will always be those who do not see things in the same way. Years later, the sentiments resonate amongst many, though no one can impress everyone equally.
Lynette Rice delivers a great piece that adds a number of wonderful ideas for fans of Grey’s Anatomy. The book explains a great deal of the storylines, characters, and themes that emerge in society. Rice is able to deliver everything in a well-documented book, with chapters that are full of strong interviews and key tidbits of information series fans would not likely know. There is nothing missing from the book, save an update for when I read the piece and the advancements in the show at the time. It was the perfect complement to a great show and kept me hooked until the final pages. Filling gaps and advancing storylines, Rice delivers a winning piece that will have me talking for weeks to come, now that I just finished Season 21. What a thrill for a show that had kept me hooked!
Kudos, Madam Rice, for a great piece that impressed me.
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March 1, 2025
I’m somewhere between 2 and 3 stars for this one. I was the hugest Grey’s Anatomy fan until they killed off McDreamy, and I only watched the first ten seasons for that very reason. I thought it was going to be a deep dive into making the show and some behind the scenes info. But this book is just a compilation of oral histories… and it’s all over the place. The chapters aren’t really connected in any way and it just seems to be a book that continually highlights how supposedly great Shonda Rhimes is, with most of the information readily available via Google.
October 2, 2021
3.5
katherine heigl did not deserve to be set up like that, she was done dirty. and now we finally have proof.
some great stuff in here about how TV production in america works. broadcast (or as called in the book, appointment) TV era was truly a whole another beast from the current streaming phase(?) and we get some insights into that.
fun fact: alex was cast and added to the show after the pilot was already shot because the test audience wanted a bad boy in there 😭😭😭
everyone in the main cast had some messy stuff going on here except for sandra oh, love that for her. and love that she got out on her own terms, with a happy ending for crisitna and followed this up with more successes. ellen could never relate.
but wow... actors are truly something else. I don't think people in any other profession/industry simply lose their heads after success like this. truly eye-opening.
the book ends with a note about how the real/full story of grey's anatomy will never be told because people will never agree to talk on record and now I'm mad about it because I want to know more. Tell me more.
anyway, back to my rewatch. s4, let's go.
p.s. there are a couple of factual errors
katherine heigl did not deserve to be set up like that, she was done dirty. and now we finally have proof.
some great stuff in here about how TV production in america works. broadcast (or as called in the book, appointment) TV era was truly a whole another beast from the current streaming phase(?) and we get some insights into that.
fun fact: alex was cast and added to the show after the pilot was already shot because the test audience wanted a bad boy in there 😭😭😭
everyone in the main cast had some messy stuff going on here except for sandra oh, love that for her. and love that she got out on her own terms, with a happy ending for crisitna and followed this up with more successes. ellen could never relate.
but wow... actors are truly something else. I don't think people in any other profession/industry simply lose their heads after success like this. truly eye-opening.
the book ends with a note about how the real/full story of grey's anatomy will never be told because people will never agree to talk on record and now I'm mad about it because I want to know more. Tell me more.
anyway, back to my rewatch. s4, let's go.
p.s. there are a couple of factual errors
Read
November 4, 2021** 2.5- 3 stars**
This wasn't terrible, I just don't get the point of it.
At the beginning of the book the author discusses how she spend over a year researching and interviewing in preparation for this book, however, some investigative masterpiece this is not. This just felt like 100 TV guide interviews stitched together to form a choppy narrative.
I think it the writer picked a lens to write through, this would have worked better. Is it going to be an expose on all of the behind the scenes drama? Is it going to be a chance to get to know the cast and crew? Is it going to explore Shonda Rhimes' success? It touched on some of these things but didn't go into any real detail... There was no meat.
Some of the anecdotes were interesting, but I would skip this and just go read a couple of TV guides and you will get the same idea...
This wasn't terrible, I just don't get the point of it.
At the beginning of the book the author discusses how she spend over a year researching and interviewing in preparation for this book, however, some investigative masterpiece this is not. This just felt like 100 TV guide interviews stitched together to form a choppy narrative.
I think it the writer picked a lens to write through, this would have worked better. Is it going to be an expose on all of the behind the scenes drama? Is it going to be a chance to get to know the cast and crew? Is it going to explore Shonda Rhimes' success? It touched on some of these things but didn't go into any real detail... There was no meat.
Some of the anecdotes were interesting, but I would skip this and just go read a couple of TV guides and you will get the same idea...
January 21, 2022
Such a great and insightful look into one of the most popular shows on ABC. This book is a great for the ultimate Grey’s fan and also includes all of the juicy moments you remember from the show, plus all of the behind the scenes drama we all know about. It was so great to go back and relive some of the wonderful moments from this amazing show which will be entering its 19th season this fall. Great read and one I’m so glad to go to in 2022.
September 27, 2021
I’m gonna say it - I am Grey’s OBSESSED. As I told some friends yesterday, did I have Bible verses read at my wedding? No. I had quotes from Grey’s Anatomy read during the ceremony. (And yes, “Pick me. Choose me. Love me.” was one of them 💙) So needless to say, I ADORED this book.
If you love Grey’s, this is essential reading. It was juicy, riveting, and I had the best time listening to it on audio. There are multiple cast members, writers, and others connected to the show interviewed, and the format is Daisy Jones-esque in the way the dialogue is written.
I loved seeing the different perspectives on major events, controversies, and episodes within the series. What did everyone really think about Isaiah Washington and his disgusting f slur? How was his exit decided to go? What really went down with the Katherine Heigl Emmy drama and pay demands? Tell me about Patrick Dempsey’s exit and his lack of presence for five full episodes in season 11!!
Well, I got my answers here.
One thing I’ve always, always been impressed with in Grey’s is the music. I have always said my dream job is a music supervisor, and I think Grey’s has had the best music supervision of any TV show. I like that they mentioned the music decisions (especially “How to Save a Life”) in here as well.
It was amazing, just go run and get it now.
If you love Grey’s, this is essential reading. It was juicy, riveting, and I had the best time listening to it on audio. There are multiple cast members, writers, and others connected to the show interviewed, and the format is Daisy Jones-esque in the way the dialogue is written.
I loved seeing the different perspectives on major events, controversies, and episodes within the series. What did everyone really think about Isaiah Washington and his disgusting f slur? How was his exit decided to go? What really went down with the Katherine Heigl Emmy drama and pay demands? Tell me about Patrick Dempsey’s exit and his lack of presence for five full episodes in season 11!!
Well, I got my answers here.
One thing I’ve always, always been impressed with in Grey’s is the music. I have always said my dream job is a music supervisor, and I think Grey’s has had the best music supervision of any TV show. I like that they mentioned the music decisions (especially “How to Save a Life”) in here as well.
It was amazing, just go run and get it now.
October 27, 2021
There were some interesting titbits throughout the book. I wasn’t a fan of how not everyone had in brackets who they were throughout because I had to keep skipping back to the start as I don’t know everyone’s real name. That annoyed me.
The fact that Ellen Pompeo becomes a massive diva who is quite disliked in recent years isn’t explored and there was no omg moments about Alex Karev’s character leaving which makes me think that there is much more to the behind the scenes of this show and the personalities “in charge” than meets the eye.
Ellen apparently, goes from 11 seasons of sitting in the background to demanding more money and running the show to the point people can’t take pictures without her say so. Seems weird no one would want to or is allowed to dish the dirt.
Greys was a great show that became a good show that’s become a no show for me.
The fact that Ellen Pompeo becomes a massive diva who is quite disliked in recent years isn’t explored and there was no omg moments about Alex Karev’s character leaving which makes me think that there is much more to the behind the scenes of this show and the personalities “in charge” than meets the eye.
Ellen apparently, goes from 11 seasons of sitting in the background to demanding more money and running the show to the point people can’t take pictures without her say so. Seems weird no one would want to or is allowed to dish the dirt.
Greys was a great show that became a good show that’s become a no show for me.
October 6, 2021
I was disappointed with this. It had some decent inside scoop, but it felt sanitized. Everyone was amazing to work with and everyone got along well. I just don't believe it. The stories also felt disjointed and you could tell that comments were included out of context and not part of the same conversation. TMZ has better scoop than this book.
March 24, 2023
as a retired die hard greys fan i probably would’ve enjoyed reading this two years ago. the book was just super expensive. especially in canada and at the time i didn’t use any online sites. years later i decided lemme download this. most of the information i knew. if you google the actors u can find a lot online. i didn’t read much. a lot of this book was just quotes and irrelevant info. also as a die hard pdemp (patrick dempsey) fan back in the day i wanted to know the things that were said. overall most of the info i knew and it resulted me just rly skimming through the second half of this book
November 27, 2022
Click here to hear my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
September 26, 2021
needed more amelia shepherd 💔
November 3, 2021
3/5 Stars
Note: For anyone on the fence about buying or reading all the information in the book is available online from different publishers. This book is a compilation of older interviews through the years.
I honestly couldn't decide if I wanted to give it 2 or 3 stars but overall I did enjoy the book so I went with 3. The reason I am rating this book on the low end is because of the editing and fact checking or rather lack-thereof. There were multiple times throughout the book where the "author" would give inaccurate information such as which season an event happened, which season a character was introduced, or backgrounds of people involved. I saw in another review that someone caught that the "author" incorrectly said that Shonda was Yale educated when she never attended yale. I personally did not catch this but I am not that familiar with Shonda and her background so I did not notice. However given the amount of incorrect information I found/noticed I am not surprised. I think this is absolutely unacceptable given the "author" only added three or four paragraphs a chapter and all the information and facts about the show are easily googleable. Small repeated errors like WHAT SEASON DEREK AND MEREDITH BROKE UP ARE UNACCEPTABLE.
Overall I did enjoy having all of the interviews and information compiled into one book for my collection and as a fan, even knowing what I know now I would still probably buy this for my shelves. I just wish there was a better fact checker or editor.
Note: For anyone on the fence about buying or reading all the information in the book is available online from different publishers. This book is a compilation of older interviews through the years.
I honestly couldn't decide if I wanted to give it 2 or 3 stars but overall I did enjoy the book so I went with 3. The reason I am rating this book on the low end is because of the editing and fact checking or rather lack-thereof. There were multiple times throughout the book where the "author" would give inaccurate information such as which season an event happened, which season a character was introduced, or backgrounds of people involved. I saw in another review that someone caught that the "author" incorrectly said that Shonda was Yale educated when she never attended yale. I personally did not catch this but I am not that familiar with Shonda and her background so I did not notice. However given the amount of incorrect information I found/noticed I am not surprised. I think this is absolutely unacceptable given the "author" only added three or four paragraphs a chapter and all the information and facts about the show are easily googleable. Small repeated errors like WHAT SEASON DEREK AND MEREDITH BROKE UP ARE UNACCEPTABLE.
Overall I did enjoy having all of the interviews and information compiled into one book for my collection and as a fan, even knowing what I know now I would still probably buy this for my shelves. I just wish there was a better fact checker or editor.
October 5, 2021
Overall, it was a quick and easy read. I liked hearing from the different actors, writers, producers, etc. I was frustrated that the character list at the beginning of the book was several pages but wasn’t in alphabetical order so it was hard to use it as a reference while reading. I also was annoyed that the author got some factual details wrong about the storyline. Im not a “die hard” grey’s fan but it seems she relied on her memory at times instead of actually researching what happened in the story. For example, she said Olivia gave George and Alex syphilis afterward. However, in the episode It’s revealed that Alex gave it to Olivia who then gave it to George. Small errors like that were annoying since I’d expect the author to know the storylines well if they’re writing about such a niche topic.
September 24, 2021
3.5 stars
I went into this expecting more gossip from behind the scenes but it felt like a lot was held back. The responses were vague and no real secrets were revealed.
I went into this expecting more gossip from behind the scenes but it felt like a lot was held back. The responses were vague and no real secrets were revealed.
March 30, 2022
How to Save a Life: The Inside Story of Grey’s Anatomy
Although it was not what I expected, I really enjoyed the read. My expectation was an insider look but it was really a compilation of quotes for past and present cast and crew members. It was very interesting to see which cast member participated in the book, and who did not. I was a bit concerned that there might be other things left out when I realized that there were vital cast members not included in the list at the beginning, but Lynette Rice did a really good job at balancing a lot of different information and it did not feel like anything vital was left out.
The book is split into 14 sections that each have a different topic focusing on events throughout the history of the show. It discusses the exits of important characters and the decisions that got them to the point, it also talked about how Shondaland grew and how Ellen Pompeo became one of the highest paid actresses.The book didn’t just give the classic behind the scenes information it also gave us a look at what the writers room is like, and the process that the writers must go through to create each episode. Unfortunately some of the information did not feel completely expressed to the level I wanted. I was hoping for more rare or exclusive information; a lot of it was taken from interviews that had previously aired.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. As a huge fan of Grey’s Anatomy it was really exciting to hear more about the people who played and created the ever so beloved characters and their experience with the show. If you are an avid Grey’s fan I highly recommend this book.
Although it was not what I expected, I really enjoyed the read. My expectation was an insider look but it was really a compilation of quotes for past and present cast and crew members. It was very interesting to see which cast member participated in the book, and who did not. I was a bit concerned that there might be other things left out when I realized that there were vital cast members not included in the list at the beginning, but Lynette Rice did a really good job at balancing a lot of different information and it did not feel like anything vital was left out.
The book is split into 14 sections that each have a different topic focusing on events throughout the history of the show. It discusses the exits of important characters and the decisions that got them to the point, it also talked about how Shondaland grew and how Ellen Pompeo became one of the highest paid actresses.The book didn’t just give the classic behind the scenes information it also gave us a look at what the writers room is like, and the process that the writers must go through to create each episode. Unfortunately some of the information did not feel completely expressed to the level I wanted. I was hoping for more rare or exclusive information; a lot of it was taken from interviews that had previously aired.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. As a huge fan of Grey’s Anatomy it was really exciting to hear more about the people who played and created the ever so beloved characters and their experience with the show. If you are an avid Grey’s fan I highly recommend this book.
July 21, 2023
This was so good! It was mostly oral history style and it worked so well. It reminded me of reading Daisy Jones and the Six, it was so interesting to hear all these different opinions on the same event by the people who were there behind the scenes.
I also thought for the casual fan, this book touched on everything you might be curious about perfectly. All the drama you might have heard about is in here with more detail, and the focus of the book was on the episodes/seasons of Greys that were the most notable. (For example, I'm glad they gave a disproportionately large focus on the early days of the show because learning things like they almost cast Rob Lowe as McDreamy (!!! how weird would that be !!!) are so much more impactful than casting choices that happen later in the show.) Basically, I felt like this book anticipated reader curiosity really well, instead of aiming for goals like giving every season equal coverage.
And I can't believe how quickly I flew through this! It's just good fun.
I also thought for the casual fan, this book touched on everything you might be curious about perfectly. All the drama you might have heard about is in here with more detail, and the focus of the book was on the episodes/seasons of Greys that were the most notable. (For example, I'm glad they gave a disproportionately large focus on the early days of the show because learning things like they almost cast Rob Lowe as McDreamy (!!! how weird would that be !!!) are so much more impactful than casting choices that happen later in the show.) Basically, I felt like this book anticipated reader curiosity really well, instead of aiming for goals like giving every season equal coverage.
And I can't believe how quickly I flew through this! It's just good fun.
May 26, 2023
If you’re a huge Grey’s fan like me you’ll definitely enjoy this book. It was an easy fun read with interviews from cast and crew members, directors etc. I learned so much more about the shoe that it will definitely have me look at the show different now but in a fun new way. I’m always up for learning as much as possible when it comes to Grey’s!
February 17, 2022
I really liked this book. I learned a lot from it! Sometimes i really wanted to punch some specific people…
April 8, 2022
i didnt think this was going to be just quotes and stuff from the actors but i liked it nonetheless <3
April 27, 2023
Amazing to get such a point of view from this show. I read a lot of things I didn't know before, about why chasing cars was used, about the guest stars. It was so so interesting to read!!
May 30, 2023
4 ⭐️ I’m a die hard Grey’s Anatomy fan so of course I had to get this book. It’s nice to have all Grey’s facts and interviews in one book. I just wish it had more than just interviews on it that you can easily Google.
December 26, 2024
Forgot to update this - thanks Lance for lending to me, a fun insight into Greys Anatomy 🩻
October 1, 2022
honestly enjoyable editors cut/gossip column expanded into a book. no notes 10/10
September 29, 2021
I won this book. I am a huge Grey’s Anatomy fan, so I was very excited. Very entertaining-probably like 3.7 stars for me for pure entertainment factor, definitely fun to read. I would have enjoyed more actual interviews with the stars from the show. I felt there was too much focus on the point of view from the writers and producers. Also, I would have liked a bit more fun speculation about how the show would end and maybe even a chapter devoted to each character. Some characters were talked about very little or not at all and they were some of my favorites like Amelia Shepherd. #HowToSaveALife
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