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Ali's Well That Ends Well: Tales of Desperation and a Little Inspiration
* 4 hours, 15 minutes *
'New York Times' best-selling author Ali Wentworth offers a comedic look at family, friendship, and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic in her new collection of laugh-out-loud comic vignettes.
Ali Wentworth has been hailed for her comedic charm, acerbic wit, and relatable life blunders by readers, critics, and some of the funniest people on earth.
In 'ALI'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL', Wentworth turns her gimlet eye to the year no one saw coming. With her signature irreverent style, she shares the hysterical, absurd, and sometimes trying moments that got her and her family through the pandemic and their experience with the disease that has affected millions of lives. Thoroughly relatable, absolutely charming, and filled with both hilarious and poignant moments.
©2022 Ali Wentworth (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers
'New York Times' best-selling author Ali Wentworth offers a comedic look at family, friendship, and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic in her new collection of laugh-out-loud comic vignettes.
Ali Wentworth has been hailed for her comedic charm, acerbic wit, and relatable life blunders by readers, critics, and some of the funniest people on earth.
In 'ALI'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL', Wentworth turns her gimlet eye to the year no one saw coming. With her signature irreverent style, she shares the hysterical, absurd, and sometimes trying moments that got her and her family through the pandemic and their experience with the disease that has affected millions of lives. Thoroughly relatable, absolutely charming, and filled with both hilarious and poignant moments.
©2022 Ali Wentworth (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers
4 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 10, 2022
277 people are currently reading
2886 people want to read
About the author
Ali Wentworth
10 books204 followersAli Wentworth is the author of the New York Times bestseller Ali in Wonderland. She made a name for herself on the comedy show In Living Color and has appeared on such television shows as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Seinfeld, Head Case, and The Oprah Winfrey Show, for which she was a correspondent. Her film credits include Jerry Maguire, The Real Blonde, Office Space, and It’s Complicated. A native of Washington, D.C., she lives in New York City with her husband, George Stephanopoulos, and their two girls.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
June 7, 2022
Ali’s Well That Ends Well: Tales of Desperation and a Little Inspiration by Ali Wentworth is a look at life during the pandemic, as you have never read before. This audiobook, read extremely well by the author, is a comedic look at a subject which has changed our lives, most of the time not for the good. Wentworth has proven again that there is always something funny about any subject, no matter how serious. This is a breath of fresh air after all the bad news, the fears and our changed lives. She can describe any situation in such a way that will make you laugh till you cry. Treat yourself to some light humour in these troubled times. Highly recommended.
July 15, 2022
If you have never read a book of essays by Ali Wentworth, actress, comedian and wife of Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos, you are seriously missing out on an enjoyable, funny, laugh out loud read. Her latest book covers her, and her families lives during Covid, which also includes her hound mix dog and obese dachshund! If that does not pique your interest, I don’t know what will!
She begins the book with an essay on she herself being one of the first people to get Covid early on when not much was known about the virus. She realized she really did have it when her hound dog who had been missing for a few days jumped on her bed and she smelled…well, nothing! She praises her husband George who slipped meals in or came to check her in hazmat gear. Her thanks to him was that in her delirium and after watching season after season of Mad Men on Netflix continuously, accused him of having an affair with one of the women characters on the show!
In another essay she explains how her family enjoyed their food tremendously during their isolation especially Carvel’s whale shaped ice cream cakes which they all relied on to keep them happy. Until the night she got a 10:00 pm call from her doctor telling her they had to talk about her cholesterol readings. The ice cream almost killed her!
But, in Ali fashion she does try to make something good out of something bad. During the family’s isolation, she discovered “clamming” a solitary sport which has now grown into an obsession for her and a not so benefit for her loved ones who now seem to eat clams continuously. She also explains how what began as a purging of her basement, turned into a sobbing love letter to her from her family and how hard it became letting her daughter go when it was time for her to move into college.
But, with all her positivity, there were some not so nice lessons which were learned. Although they hardly had contact with the neighbors around them, when Ali discovered she had Covid they supported her by dropping notes into her mailbox saying if you need anything just call. Except for one neighbor who, of course is nameless, happened to see her husband George in a drug store and called the local rag to say he was out galivanting while his wife was on death’s door. So, it seems, just like us even celebrities can have horrible neighbors!
Overall, the essays are filled with sassy, funny, make you smile stories or heartfelt anecdotes which can make you tear up. But spread throughout the book are great stories with celebrity name drops. And having met Ali, I can honestly tell you she is the same way in person, real, funny and wonderfully gossipy!
She begins the book with an essay on she herself being one of the first people to get Covid early on when not much was known about the virus. She realized she really did have it when her hound dog who had been missing for a few days jumped on her bed and she smelled…well, nothing! She praises her husband George who slipped meals in or came to check her in hazmat gear. Her thanks to him was that in her delirium and after watching season after season of Mad Men on Netflix continuously, accused him of having an affair with one of the women characters on the show!
In another essay she explains how her family enjoyed their food tremendously during their isolation especially Carvel’s whale shaped ice cream cakes which they all relied on to keep them happy. Until the night she got a 10:00 pm call from her doctor telling her they had to talk about her cholesterol readings. The ice cream almost killed her!
But, in Ali fashion she does try to make something good out of something bad. During the family’s isolation, she discovered “clamming” a solitary sport which has now grown into an obsession for her and a not so benefit for her loved ones who now seem to eat clams continuously. She also explains how what began as a purging of her basement, turned into a sobbing love letter to her from her family and how hard it became letting her daughter go when it was time for her to move into college.
But, with all her positivity, there were some not so nice lessons which were learned. Although they hardly had contact with the neighbors around them, when Ali discovered she had Covid they supported her by dropping notes into her mailbox saying if you need anything just call. Except for one neighbor who, of course is nameless, happened to see her husband George in a drug store and called the local rag to say he was out galivanting while his wife was on death’s door. So, it seems, just like us even celebrities can have horrible neighbors!
Overall, the essays are filled with sassy, funny, make you smile stories or heartfelt anecdotes which can make you tear up. But spread throughout the book are great stories with celebrity name drops. And having met Ali, I can honestly tell you she is the same way in person, real, funny and wonderfully gossipy!
May 16, 2022
I wasn't sure I was ready to read a book about the COVID-19 pandemic, and definitely not one that was "humor", but I went to this book / talk with Wentworth and Brooke Shields and decided from the excerpts they shared that I was ready. I read it in almost one sitting.
This wasn't as good as some of Wentworth's prior books because it was laser focused on the eighteen months of the pandemic from when we all went into lockdown to when she brought her eldest to college the following September. There was some of her trademark humor-yes, we did all go feral!-but some of this was just too serious to laugh about. And there were some moments I just could not identify with, like her family not having enough space when they had a house. Or too soon for me to laugh about.
Still a good read, especially if you're a dog owner. You'll love her pups' antics. Like with her podcast, I appreciated the range of topics she looked at: from (not) getting plastic surgery to facing mortality with her stepfather's death and her own covid19 diagnosis. The one complaint was it wasn't linear so it wasn't always clear when in the pandemic she was writing about.
This wasn't as good as some of Wentworth's prior books because it was laser focused on the eighteen months of the pandemic from when we all went into lockdown to when she brought her eldest to college the following September. There was some of her trademark humor-yes, we did all go feral!-but some of this was just too serious to laugh about. And there were some moments I just could not identify with, like her family not having enough space when they had a house. Or too soon for me to laugh about.
Still a good read, especially if you're a dog owner. You'll love her pups' antics. Like with her podcast, I appreciated the range of topics she looked at: from (not) getting plastic surgery to facing mortality with her stepfather's death and her own covid19 diagnosis. The one complaint was it wasn't linear so it wasn't always clear when in the pandemic she was writing about.
May 10, 2022
I've read several of Ms. Wentworth's books. There's never anything deeply substantive, but they're always enjoyable. For someone arguably rich and famous, and married to someone even more rich and famous, she comes across very much like an everywoman. She's like that really funny friend you have. And who doesn't need a funny friend?
P.S.: Worth reading for the chapter on charades at Marlo Thomas's house alone!
P.S.: Worth reading for the chapter on charades at Marlo Thomas's house alone!
October 2, 2022
Zero stars. This is an incredibly boring, misguided, unfunny book that is only in print because Wentworth and her husband are rich liberal elitists that pal around with editors and publishers. It's extremely short--185 pages, but 17 of those are blank space (yes, I counted) and the wide double-spaced lines mean this word count is more like a short term-paper than a full memoir.
One "chapter" is three paragraphs long. And the only interesting story in the book is a couple of pages devoted to charades at Marlo Thomas's house. You know you've got trouble when the highlight is making Jaws arms in the home of an actress who hasn't done anything significant in almost 50 years.
I've learned there are two things that, if they are chapters in an autobiography, mean the writer has run out of content and is just putting in filler: pets and birthing stories. Wentworth starts the book with a dull story about her dog at the beach and then thinks it's important to mention him throughout. That leads into what I've learned is the new third topic that proves an author has little to write about: what she did during the pandemic.
This entire book is about the dull life she had catching Covid, what shows she binged, what she ate, her husband getting medicine (and slammed for it on social media since he was spreading her germs), and how she seemed to ignore rules by venturing out when others weren't supposed to. Then she ends with a downer as her stepfather dies, not of Covid but of old age during the pandemic. The irony of course is that despite the title it does not end well.
The whole thing takes less than two hours to read and is a waste of time. Publishers like HarperCollins needs to stop feeding the egos of New York Democrat media elitists that still mention Andrew Cuomo positively (which Wentworth does in a puzzling reference). Save the environment by not printing silly junk like this.
One "chapter" is three paragraphs long. And the only interesting story in the book is a couple of pages devoted to charades at Marlo Thomas's house. You know you've got trouble when the highlight is making Jaws arms in the home of an actress who hasn't done anything significant in almost 50 years.
I've learned there are two things that, if they are chapters in an autobiography, mean the writer has run out of content and is just putting in filler: pets and birthing stories. Wentworth starts the book with a dull story about her dog at the beach and then thinks it's important to mention him throughout. That leads into what I've learned is the new third topic that proves an author has little to write about: what she did during the pandemic.
This entire book is about the dull life she had catching Covid, what shows she binged, what she ate, her husband getting medicine (and slammed for it on social media since he was spreading her germs), and how she seemed to ignore rules by venturing out when others weren't supposed to. Then she ends with a downer as her stepfather dies, not of Covid but of old age during the pandemic. The irony of course is that despite the title it does not end well.
The whole thing takes less than two hours to read and is a waste of time. Publishers like HarperCollins needs to stop feeding the egos of New York Democrat media elitists that still mention Andrew Cuomo positively (which Wentworth does in a puzzling reference). Save the environment by not printing silly junk like this.
April 13, 2022
Ali Wentworth is well know for her self effacing comedy. Readers will find that in the book, but they will also read about serious issues that many people have had to deal with in the last two years.
Friendships that didn't make it through the Covid season, political differences that erupt into arguments and the logistics of living 24/7 in a house with others.
Readers might be surprised by the heartfelt writing of Ali's regarding her daughter who is getting ready to graduate high school. She is not ready to stop being a parent and her love for her daughters shows. Quick read.
* I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
Friendships that didn't make it through the Covid season, political differences that erupt into arguments and the logistics of living 24/7 in a house with others.
Readers might be surprised by the heartfelt writing of Ali's regarding her daughter who is getting ready to graduate high school. She is not ready to stop being a parent and her love for her daughters shows. Quick read.
* I read an advance copy and was not compensated.
December 23, 2022
So, let me sum this up as succinctly as possible.
Privileged woman with privileged kids, famous husband, and out of control dogs disses on other privileged women during the pandemic.
Also see: privileged woman dishes out offensive stereotypes of Southern people and the Smoky Mountains and tells what I think is probably a big fabricated, prejudiced story.
Cross references: gaining 8 lbs doesn’t make you fat. Don’t make fun of women who get plastic surgery and Botox but then frequently mention how you feel old, old, and old, then talk about your looks so much, too.
Also file under: there is nothing new in her pseudo-philosophical insights. She’s admits it. Several times. She’s 100% correct. So why did she write this anyway?
Final thoughts: wow, glad this was only 4 hrs long. I almost didn’t make it. I didn’t realize until I finished the book that’s she’s allegedly a comedian. She just seems bitter.
Privileged woman with privileged kids, famous husband, and out of control dogs disses on other privileged women during the pandemic.
Also see: privileged woman dishes out offensive stereotypes of Southern people and the Smoky Mountains and tells what I think is probably a big fabricated, prejudiced story.
Cross references: gaining 8 lbs doesn’t make you fat. Don’t make fun of women who get plastic surgery and Botox but then frequently mention how you feel old, old, and old, then talk about your looks so much, too.
Also file under: there is nothing new in her pseudo-philosophical insights. She’s admits it. Several times. She’s 100% correct. So why did she write this anyway?
Final thoughts: wow, glad this was only 4 hrs long. I almost didn’t make it. I didn’t realize until I finished the book that’s she’s allegedly a comedian. She just seems bitter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2022
I didn't know what to expect with this book going in but I listened to the audiobook. I didn't know who Ali was before this book but I know now she has an obese dachshund. It wasn't for me; Im not the target audience for this book. It didn't resonate with me and that's okay. I needed something light to listen to durning work and this sufficed but it's not worth reading. Unless you really like Ali Wentworth.
June 14, 2023
I LOVE Ali Wentworth! This a short yet funny read. It's also what I classify as a "waiting room read" Ya know, easy to pick up and put down. Perfect size to slip into your purse or backpack. Good for a laugh and easy to share. She may have embellished a little (per her forward- LOL) but it's all great fun!
~Tanja
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May 19, 2022
This book focuses on the author's experience during the pandemic and how it affected her personally since she was one of the early cases. As with her previous books, she is brutally honest and does not hold anything back. There are many laugh out loud moments and this book is totally relatable. This is a quick and easy read and I look forward to her next book.
July 8, 2022
A post-pandemic short memoir by Ali Wentworth (yes, the one married to George), telling us about that time she had COVID and stories about getting through the day with her teenage girls, chocolate chip ice cream, and ideas about how to make the time pass. It was short, witty and a fun little book.
June 7, 2022
“I taped them to the walls of the bathroom. These are the windows of our lives. And there’s room on the wall for more. Because no matter what little square of earth I’m buried in, these snapshots do with me.” (185)
May 23, 2022
A short but very relatable collection of essays/stories about the author's experience during the pandemic. As one the earliest ones to catch COVID, Ali experienced health scares, isolation, stress, being stuck in her house with grown children and pets, plus being a caregiver for aging parents and getting ready for grown children to leave the nest. Lots of funny but very timely stories. This was great on audio read by the author (a celebrity I honestly didn't know much about).
June 4, 2022
Not ready to read covid/quarantine humor yet.
June 29, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Audio Version
Audio Version
July 10, 2023
Ali Wentworth always strives to find humor in even the direst of circumstances. This recounting of her personal pandemic experience is no exception. Her comedic voice shines through and although I don’t know if I’ll ever fully enjoy reading about the pandemic, she writes about it in such a way that makes me willing to ignore that notion.
From eating mint chocolate chip ice cream by the pint to chasing her hound, Cooper, around the house, this memoir is full of funny anecdotes and even plenty of reflective moments. It’s a quick, lighthearted read and I came away with the feeling that she’s someone I would’ve enjoyed quarantining with.
However, the book is not anything groundbreaking and it’s not wholly necessary. She does come off as tone deaf sometimes, but at face value it’s a nice change of pace and palate cleanser from what I’ve been reading lately.
Thank you to Harper for the gifted copy!
From eating mint chocolate chip ice cream by the pint to chasing her hound, Cooper, around the house, this memoir is full of funny anecdotes and even plenty of reflective moments. It’s a quick, lighthearted read and I came away with the feeling that she’s someone I would’ve enjoyed quarantining with.
However, the book is not anything groundbreaking and it’s not wholly necessary. She does come off as tone deaf sometimes, but at face value it’s a nice change of pace and palate cleanser from what I’ve been reading lately.
Thank you to Harper for the gifted copy!
June 14, 2023
Format Read: Paperback gifted by publisher (Harper) currently available
Review: This was a very short read but kept me hooked throughout. Lots of tales from covid and beyond. I related to her being in the middle generation with aging parents and teens leaving for college but did not relate with her regarding her marriage. It would have been okay had she had more tales of George Stephanopoulos.
Recommended For: Those who like memoirs or wants a short one by a middle-aged mom.
Review: This was a very short read but kept me hooked throughout. Lots of tales from covid and beyond. I related to her being in the middle generation with aging parents and teens leaving for college but did not relate with her regarding her marriage. It would have been okay had she had more tales of George Stephanopoulos.
Recommended For: Those who like memoirs or wants a short one by a middle-aged mom.
August 2, 2022
Celebrity, ALI WENTWORTH’s comedic tales of her Covid-19 quarantine.
“… but the pandemic caused me to reevaluate my social existence. I found I lost the appetite for chitchat. It’s not snobbery. I don’t feel more or less than, it’s just a matter of how I want to spend my energy. It’s a connection to empathy, kindness, depth, and a wider sense of altruism. And in its most base form — in with the good, out with the bad. And by “bad,” I mean assholes.”
Very relatable. Her writing style is a bit choppy. Short and entertaining read.
“… but the pandemic caused me to reevaluate my social existence. I found I lost the appetite for chitchat. It’s not snobbery. I don’t feel more or less than, it’s just a matter of how I want to spend my energy. It’s a connection to empathy, kindness, depth, and a wider sense of altruism. And in its most base form — in with the good, out with the bad. And by “bad,” I mean assholes.”
Very relatable. Her writing style is a bit choppy. Short and entertaining read.
August 21, 2022
Comedian, actress, and talk-show regular, Ali Wentworth, turns her wit and startlingly original way with words to the Covid-19 epidemic, the lockdown and her own (and her family's) brush with the virus. The psychology of isolation and re-emergence are handled with razor observation and laugh-out-loud humour. Another best-seller for Wentworth. - BH.
October 19, 2022
I waited for a bit to get this book through my library. Worth it!!!! I never thought I would laugh about the pandemic and the closures and isolation. But Wentworth did. I related to so many of her stories, even if I don't have a place to get a frozen cake shaped like a whale. Maybe I will make one of my own.
January 24, 2023
Short, fun humorous memoir about how she and her family navigated their way through the pandemic.
June 10, 2023
This could be titled “How I Spent the Covid Quarantine.” Wentworth is funny and poignant. Read when you need something to lift you up and make you laugh.
May 22, 2024
a mildly entertaining book, which accurately explains and showcases how we collectively went a little crazy and didn't know what to do next during 2020 and 2021.
September 21, 2024
Fun little romp.
November 24, 2025
DNF at 33%. She's likable and makes cute comments here and there, but I'm not really sure what this is trying to do?
June 24, 2022
I like Ali, she cracks me up.. this is a fun little book.. with some great quotes suitable for saving!
December 8, 2022
Some of the stories made me laugh, some made me cringe. I did learn some new things, so that’s always good!
May 29, 2022
A quick and easy read with some funny but mostly very relatable snapshots of the past two years as well as how the sense of community has changed as a consequence. I wouldn't call this eyeopening or the most funny read of the year, but it illustrates in a non-overbearing way that most things you've been thinking or going through the past two years are not unique to you.
July 12, 2022
This is a fun, short book that I listened to, very enjoyable and relatable. I’m not sure how much pandemic literature I want at this point, but this captures the early days (months?) of the pandemic well in a light tone.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews