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Why Not Me?
Goodreads Choice Award
Winner for Best Humor (2015)
From the author of the beloved
New York Times
bestselling book
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
and the creator and star of
The Mindy Project
comes a collection of essays that are as hilarious and insightful as they are deeply personal.
In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it's falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you're constantly reminded that no one looks like you.
In "How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet's Confessions", Kaling gives her tongue-in-cheek secrets for surefire on-camera beauty, ("Your natural hair color may be appropriate for your skin tone, but this isn't the land of appropriate-this is Hollywood, baby. Out here, a dark-skinned woman s traditional hair color is honey blonde.") "Player" tells the story of Kaling being seduced and dumped by a female friend in L.A. ("I had been replaced by a younger model. And now they had matching bangs.") In "Unlikely Leading Lady", she muses on America's fixation with the weight of actresses, ("Most women we see onscreen are either so thin that they're walking clavicles or so huge that their only scenes involve them breaking furniture.") And in "Soup Snakes", Kaling spills some secrets on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and close friend, B.J. Novak ("I will freely admit: my relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell.")
Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who's ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who've never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.
In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it's falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you're constantly reminded that no one looks like you.
In "How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet's Confessions", Kaling gives her tongue-in-cheek secrets for surefire on-camera beauty, ("Your natural hair color may be appropriate for your skin tone, but this isn't the land of appropriate-this is Hollywood, baby. Out here, a dark-skinned woman s traditional hair color is honey blonde.") "Player" tells the story of Kaling being seduced and dumped by a female friend in L.A. ("I had been replaced by a younger model. And now they had matching bangs.") In "Unlikely Leading Lady", she muses on America's fixation with the weight of actresses, ("Most women we see onscreen are either so thin that they're walking clavicles or so huge that their only scenes involve them breaking furniture.") And in "Soup Snakes", Kaling spills some secrets on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and close friend, B.J. Novak ("I will freely admit: my relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell.")
Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who's ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who've never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2015
About the author
Mindy Kaling
26 books250k followersMindy Kaling is an actor, writer, producer, and director. She currently stars in the Hulu original comedy series “The Mindy Project," which she also writes and executive produces.
Before "The Mindy Project," Mindy was best known for her work on the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning NBC show “The Office.” In addition to directing, producing, and portraying celebrity-obsessed Kelly Kapoor, Mindy wrote 18 episodes of the series, including the Emmy nominated episode “Niagra.”
In 2011, Mindy penned the comedic memoir Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns), which continues to be featured on New York Times’ and USA Today’s best-seller lists. Mindy’s second memoir Why Not Me? was released in September 2015 and launched at #1 on the New York Times’ best-seller list.
In 2005, Mindy made her film debut as the object of Paul Rudd's unwanted affections in Judd Apatow’s THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN. Most recently, Mindy lent her voice to the character Disgust in the Oscar-winning Pixar animated film INSIDE OUT alongside Amy Poehler and Bill Hader, and was seen in THE NIGHT BEFORE alongside Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. She will next begin production on OCEAN’S 8 alongside Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway.
Mindy was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2012. In 2014, she was named one of Glamour’s women of the year.
Before "The Mindy Project," Mindy was best known for her work on the critically acclaimed, Emmy Award-winning NBC show “The Office.” In addition to directing, producing, and portraying celebrity-obsessed Kelly Kapoor, Mindy wrote 18 episodes of the series, including the Emmy nominated episode “Niagra.”
In 2011, Mindy penned the comedic memoir Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (And Other Concerns), which continues to be featured on New York Times’ and USA Today’s best-seller lists. Mindy’s second memoir Why Not Me? was released in September 2015 and launched at #1 on the New York Times’ best-seller list.
In 2005, Mindy made her film debut as the object of Paul Rudd's unwanted affections in Judd Apatow’s THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN. Most recently, Mindy lent her voice to the character Disgust in the Oscar-winning Pixar animated film INSIDE OUT alongside Amy Poehler and Bill Hader, and was seen in THE NIGHT BEFORE alongside Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. She will next begin production on OCEAN’S 8 alongside Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway.
Mindy was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2012. In 2014, she was named one of Glamour’s women of the year.
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September 22, 2015
Update 9/22/15: This isn't going to be my best review ever. Since last night I've been fighting exhaustion, and I think I might have a sinus infection, but I wanted to get this review done within 24 hours of finishing because I know that I will forget what I want to say about it if I wait any longer than that.
First, I liked this book more than her first one, although I do admit my memory of that one is a bit squidgy. From what I do remember, I thought it was incredibly readable and I loved her voice. It also made me laugh out loud, which is hard to do. But I also remember wanting more from it. It didn't feel like there was anything cohesive behind it, and I wanted a little bit more personal stuff. And I don't mean I wanted her to dish on her personal life, I mean that I wanted to get a better idea of who she is and what she cares about. I wanted substance. Both of those things were addressed this time around.
With Why Not Me?, Mindy (we are on a first name basis) keeps that lovely readable tone and laugh out loud sense of humor, but she also adds in a little more heart, and the whole thing is tied together essentially by the same big thing, which is how her life has changed in the past three years after having her own TV show. She tells you in her introduction that wanting people to like her is no longer her main motivation. Now, she wants you to know her. (I nearly cheered out loud when I read that bit, but I was sitting in Whole Foods, so I held myself back.)
All of the essays in the book are funny, but the best ones are the ones where she wrestles with the question, Who is Mindy Kaling? Like, the essay about her hatred of weddings was good, but it was so lightweight in comparison to the essay where she talks about making a new friend, and having that friend abandon her for whatever reason. She talks frankly about her public image, her body image, and her sense of self. She also talks about her "weird as hell" relationship with BJ Novak, which turns out to be a hilarious and poignant piece of writing. She acknowledges her flaws in several essays: her tendency to be a bad sport, her up and down issues with her body, her self-confidence. My absolute favorite chapter though, was the one where she writes an alternate history to her own life and it turns into a romantic comedy. She is SO GOOD at writing romantic comedy. When The Mindy Project eventually comes to an end, I just want her to make movies where people fall in love. Or maybe write a romance in book form. Swoon.
Still, I did find myself wishing for just a little bit more heft here. It's definitely still lightweight reading overall, despite the moments where she gets real. But it accomplishes its purpose. It makes you laugh, and you come away knowing Mindy Kaling (hopefully the real one) just a little bit better.
____
Update 9/21/15: Liiiiiiiked it a looooooot. Full review tomorrow when my brain isn't trying to fall out of my ears from tiredness.
____
Update 5/5/15: CUUUUUTE COVER :) She has great hair. And that is important.
____
June 12, 2014:
Dear Mindy Kaling,
I know we can't be best friends. (There's a line, and I'm probably at the back.) But I would please like to request, please, that you give us lots of behind the scenes details about The Mindy Project, please, particularly about Chris Messina and kissing and dancing and maybe some other stuff, too. Please. Like about how awesome and funny you are. And stories about race and being a lady and family and homeownership and dating of course.
But mostly Chris Messina.
Love,
Ashley
First, I liked this book more than her first one, although I do admit my memory of that one is a bit squidgy. From what I do remember, I thought it was incredibly readable and I loved her voice. It also made me laugh out loud, which is hard to do. But I also remember wanting more from it. It didn't feel like there was anything cohesive behind it, and I wanted a little bit more personal stuff. And I don't mean I wanted her to dish on her personal life, I mean that I wanted to get a better idea of who she is and what she cares about. I wanted substance. Both of those things were addressed this time around.
With Why Not Me?, Mindy (we are on a first name basis) keeps that lovely readable tone and laugh out loud sense of humor, but she also adds in a little more heart, and the whole thing is tied together essentially by the same big thing, which is how her life has changed in the past three years after having her own TV show. She tells you in her introduction that wanting people to like her is no longer her main motivation. Now, she wants you to know her. (I nearly cheered out loud when I read that bit, but I was sitting in Whole Foods, so I held myself back.)
All of the essays in the book are funny, but the best ones are the ones where she wrestles with the question, Who is Mindy Kaling? Like, the essay about her hatred of weddings was good, but it was so lightweight in comparison to the essay where she talks about making a new friend, and having that friend abandon her for whatever reason. She talks frankly about her public image, her body image, and her sense of self. She also talks about her "weird as hell" relationship with BJ Novak, which turns out to be a hilarious and poignant piece of writing. She acknowledges her flaws in several essays: her tendency to be a bad sport, her up and down issues with her body, her self-confidence. My absolute favorite chapter though, was the one where she writes an alternate history to her own life and it turns into a romantic comedy. She is SO GOOD at writing romantic comedy. When The Mindy Project eventually comes to an end, I just want her to make movies where people fall in love. Or maybe write a romance in book form. Swoon.
Still, I did find myself wishing for just a little bit more heft here. It's definitely still lightweight reading overall, despite the moments where she gets real. But it accomplishes its purpose. It makes you laugh, and you come away knowing Mindy Kaling (hopefully the real one) just a little bit better.
____
Update 9/21/15: Liiiiiiiked it a looooooot. Full review tomorrow when my brain isn't trying to fall out of my ears from tiredness.
____
Update 5/5/15: CUUUUUTE COVER :) She has great hair. And that is important.
____
June 12, 2014:
Dear Mindy Kaling,
I know we can't be best friends. (There's a line, and I'm probably at the back.) But I would please like to request, please, that you give us lots of behind the scenes details about The Mindy Project, please, particularly about Chris Messina and kissing and dancing and maybe some other stuff, too. Please. Like about how awesome and funny you are. And stories about race and being a lady and family and homeownership and dating of course.
But mostly Chris Messina.
Love,
Ashley
August 19, 2018
IT'S HAPPENING!!!!
My thoughts on this book.
My thoughts on this book.
September 22, 2015
Probably the most relatable memoir I've ever read!
October 29, 2021
2021 review: This is a difficult book to fairly judge, as on one hand it's a pretty exceptional piece of memoirish writing with lashings of great comedy from this American-Indian celebrity who manages to be 'honest', helpful, entertaining and poignant as well as funny; on the hand at 220+ pages it feels like a collection of blogs, great blogs, but not really a book that I'd have been happy to pay £7.99 for (which I didn't). Then again since so many 'memoirs' don't even come close to this on so many levels, is what I raised worth mentioning? I don't know, but I felt the need to share.
An absolute must-read for women of colour, all younger women, fans of The Office and The Mindy Project. Good enough for me to keep in my collection and desperately seek her other work, but then I am already a big fan. 8 out of 12, doesn't seen fair, but most of the chapters on dating and dating related issues did very little for me. Worth reading alone for the fictionalised dating chapter of an alternate Mindy Kaling, written solely in digital communications (email, Twitter, texts etc.), and it's extremely funny!
An absolute must-read for women of colour, all younger women, fans of The Office and The Mindy Project. Good enough for me to keep in my collection and desperately seek her other work, but then I am already a big fan. 8 out of 12, doesn't seen fair, but most of the chapters on dating and dating related issues did very little for me. Worth reading alone for the fictionalised dating chapter of an alternate Mindy Kaling, written solely in digital communications (email, Twitter, texts etc.), and it's extremely funny!
December 22, 2022
if mindy kaling started a cult i'd be its founding member.
this book is very sweet and funny (if maybe a teeny tiny bit less funny than the last one) and earnest and my single complaint from the last book was solved because this was body positive and nice!
mindy kaling forever.
bottom line: as long as mindy kaling is writing books, i'm reading em!
------------
reading books by asian authors for aapi month!
book 1: kim jiyoung, born 1982
book 2: siren queen
book 3: the heart principle
book 4: n.p.
book 5: the hole
book 6: set on you
book 7: disorientation
book 8: parade
book 9: if i had your face
book 10: joan is okay
book 11: strange weather in tokyo
book 12: sarong party girls
book 13: the wind-up bird chronicle
book 14: portrait of a thief
book 15: sophie go's lonely hearts club
book 16: chemistry
book 17: heaven
book 18: the atlas six
book 19: the remains of the day
book 20: is everyone hanging out without me? and other concerns
book 21: why not me?
this book is very sweet and funny (if maybe a teeny tiny bit less funny than the last one) and earnest and my single complaint from the last book was solved because this was body positive and nice!
mindy kaling forever.
bottom line: as long as mindy kaling is writing books, i'm reading em!
------------
reading books by asian authors for aapi month!
book 1: kim jiyoung, born 1982
book 2: siren queen
book 3: the heart principle
book 4: n.p.
book 5: the hole
book 6: set on you
book 7: disorientation
book 8: parade
book 9: if i had your face
book 10: joan is okay
book 11: strange weather in tokyo
book 12: sarong party girls
book 13: the wind-up bird chronicle
book 14: portrait of a thief
book 15: sophie go's lonely hearts club
book 16: chemistry
book 17: heaven
book 18: the atlas six
book 19: the remains of the day
book 20: is everyone hanging out without me? and other concerns
book 21: why not me?
October 20, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaan. I was really hoping I’d like this one more. I mean, Mindy and I have quite a bit in common and I thought we could possibly be kindred spirits. We both enjoy testing out new inventions . . .
(Who says you can’t take alcohol in to youth sporting events? Amateurs!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Speaking of alcohol, we both abide by the policy that alcohol “when obtained, need[s] to be ingested quickly in case someone trie[s] to take it away. You know, the way a raccoon eats from a garbage can” . . . .
We both think the best day at work is a day when someone is having a birthday and there is free cake to be scored . . .
We agree that being a feminist simply means “that men and women are created equal.” It doesn’t mean anyone with a penis is the enemy (just those named Jeff and Ron 2.0).
We both believe that the only way to truly get something in life is to earn it. (Thank Jeebus for the story about her mother and her thoughts on “participation trophies” – GO MINDY’S MOM!)
We both have body issues, but have learned to say F*&^ IT! and order a Big Mac sometimes anyway . . .
But then I learned that she doesn’t watch reality television . . .
I know, right? Blasphemous. In fact, her lack of knowledge about nearly everything pop culture related kind of boggled my mind. I get that she works like 18 hour days, but you’d think if you have become famous by writing adorkable 20/30-somethings you would at least know the character names of “that guy from Magic Mike, who also played a hot werewolf and was supposed to have a huge wang” . . . . .
Mmmmmmm, huge wang. Where was I? Oh yeah – Mindy’s lack of pop culture knowledge. It’s almost like she’sAnne a Martian!
She also admitted she dreams of being best buds with Goop, which just makes me want to . . . .
And followed that up with yet another reference to Caddyshack NOT being funny, which had me scared she was a closeted “offended by errrrything” type of B-Lister (seriously, check your vagina at the door if that’s what it takes because Caddyshack is a motherf’ing classic). However, later she told a story about offending an anti-vaxxing popstar and redeemed herself a wee little bit.
It didn’t last long, though, when she talked about Seth Rogan being a good kisser . . .
Just no. But once again she had a redemption arc by admitting that everyone in Hollywood lies about the fact that doing a sex scene is “uncomfortable” and “just another part of the job.” Nope, Mindy freely owns that “sex scenes are the tits.” Hehehehehe.
Bottom line is, for a book written by a comedian, this wasn’t full of hardy hars. There was a little too much talking about how she’s always been the funniest person in the room (while not being particularly funny in her anecdotes) and continual name-dropping of various meet/cutes with the President (I could elaborate, but I’ve already met my quota on offending dozens of GR members this month) for me to fully get on board. However, if you (or a young female in your life) are looking for some good advice regarding owning who you are, Mindy surprisingly had some quality stuff to offer:
“Work hard, know your shit, show your shit, and then feel entitled. Listen to no one except the two smartest and kindest adults you know, and that doesn’t always mean you parents. If you do that, you will be fine.”
And also:
“No food is as delicious as food you eat standing a foot away from a trash can. Ask any possum.”
That’s right, Mindy. I may no longer find you relatable as I did in Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me , but we’ll always have . . . .
ORIGINAL "REVIEW":
After reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me , I fell fast and hard for Mindy Kaling. However, by Season 3 of The Mindy Project I was more like this . . .
and her television program no longer made the cut for my DVR schedule.
Can she write a good second book? Or has she become an insufferable asshole? Those questions and more will be answered this Fall.
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaan. I was really hoping I’d like this one more. I mean, Mindy and I have quite a bit in common and I thought we could possibly be kindred spirits. We both enjoy testing out new inventions . . .
(Who says you can’t take alcohol in to youth sporting events? Amateurs!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Speaking of alcohol, we both abide by the policy that alcohol “when obtained, need[s] to be ingested quickly in case someone trie[s] to take it away. You know, the way a raccoon eats from a garbage can” . . . .
We both think the best day at work is a day when someone is having a birthday and there is free cake to be scored . . .
We agree that being a feminist simply means “that men and women are created equal.” It doesn’t mean anyone with a penis is the enemy (just those named Jeff and Ron 2.0).
We both believe that the only way to truly get something in life is to earn it. (Thank Jeebus for the story about her mother and her thoughts on “participation trophies” – GO MINDY’S MOM!)
We both have body issues, but have learned to say F*&^ IT! and order a Big Mac sometimes anyway . . .
But then I learned that she doesn’t watch reality television . . .
I know, right? Blasphemous. In fact, her lack of knowledge about nearly everything pop culture related kind of boggled my mind. I get that she works like 18 hour days, but you’d think if you have become famous by writing adorkable 20/30-somethings you would at least know the character names of “that guy from Magic Mike, who also played a hot werewolf and was supposed to have a huge wang” . . . . .
Mmmmmmm, huge wang. Where was I? Oh yeah – Mindy’s lack of pop culture knowledge. It’s almost like she’s
She also admitted she dreams of being best buds with Goop, which just makes me want to . . . .
And followed that up with yet another reference to Caddyshack NOT being funny, which had me scared she was a closeted “offended by errrrything” type of B-Lister (seriously, check your vagina at the door if that’s what it takes because Caddyshack is a motherf’ing classic). However, later she told a story about offending an anti-vaxxing popstar and redeemed herself a wee little bit.
It didn’t last long, though, when she talked about Seth Rogan being a good kisser . . .
Just no. But once again she had a redemption arc by admitting that everyone in Hollywood lies about the fact that doing a sex scene is “uncomfortable” and “just another part of the job.” Nope, Mindy freely owns that “sex scenes are the tits.” Hehehehehe.
Bottom line is, for a book written by a comedian, this wasn’t full of hardy hars. There was a little too much talking about how she’s always been the funniest person in the room (while not being particularly funny in her anecdotes) and continual name-dropping of various meet/cutes with the President (I could elaborate, but I’ve already met my quota on offending dozens of GR members this month) for me to fully get on board. However, if you (or a young female in your life) are looking for some good advice regarding owning who you are, Mindy surprisingly had some quality stuff to offer:
“Work hard, know your shit, show your shit, and then feel entitled. Listen to no one except the two smartest and kindest adults you know, and that doesn’t always mean you parents. If you do that, you will be fine.”
And also:
“No food is as delicious as food you eat standing a foot away from a trash can. Ask any possum.”
That’s right, Mindy. I may no longer find you relatable as I did in Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me , but we’ll always have . . . .
ORIGINAL "REVIEW":
After reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me , I fell fast and hard for Mindy Kaling. However, by Season 3 of The Mindy Project I was more like this . . .
and her television program no longer made the cut for my DVR schedule.
Can she write a good second book? Or has she become an insufferable asshole? Those questions and more will be answered this Fall.
March 20, 2019
I feel a lil weird rating essays about someone's life, but this was.. fine? I chuckled at times but I just don't think celebrity essay collections are really for me.
September 25, 2016
OMG! I'm so embarrassed that I didn't know who Mindy Kaling was, I just saw that a lot of people like the book and thought I would read it. Then I found out she was on The Office (which I have never watched and need to some day) and that she has her own show and books and things. I live under a rock at times.
I liked the book good enough, she is really funny. I could give a million funny excerpts but I won't do that, but there is one where she is giving her daily routing driving to work and this one thought was particular funny and scary to me. lol
5:45 a.m.
Now I begin my drive in the dark from West Hollywood to Universal Studios. I have seen some fascinating examples of humanity in these hours. Meth heads arguing in the parking lot of a Kumon, a man pleasuring himself on a bus-stop bench. Years ago I would've called them creeps. Now I call them my commute buddies.
She also has pictures throughout the book. Not of the stuff above!!!!
There are little email sections and a little brain where it shows what she's thinking.
Oh God, and when she was talking about getting all of this email from these prisoners. I had that happen when one of my penpal buddies/not buddy anymore, added me to a prison list and I started getting a bunch to my PO Box. These things happen to everyone!
I think she has a great sense of humor and she seems to be a very inspirational person to a lot of people and I think that is just great!
*I would like to thank Blogging for Books for a print copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
December 16, 2015
I read Mindy Kaling's first memoir/essay collection Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and other concerns) about four years ago, but I just realized that I never actually wrote a review for it - I also just realized that I never made a "memoir" shelf, so that's been corrected. I'll go back and write a review of Kaling's first book at some point, I promise.
The cliff notes version of my thoughts on Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me is that I enjoyed it, but Kaling was very clearly being selective with what she wanted to share and what she wanted to leave out, and the whole thing felt slightly incomplete. Overall, it was funny but ultimately unsatisfying.
I'm happy to report, therefore, that Why Not Me? is a much more focused and tightly-constructed memoir. Kaling's first book was a mishmash of funny essays and stories about her childhood and time spent working in Hollywood; Why Not Me? has a much clearly defined thesis: how Mindy Kaling achieved her success as a writer/actor/producer, what contributed to this and what didn't help, and how she grapples with that success.
There are still a few funny essays thrown in - "Things to Bring to My Dinner Party", "4am Worries", and my favorite, "A Perfect Courtship in My Alternate Life" where Kaling imagines an alternate-universe Mindy who teaches Latin at a private school in New York and has a sparring flirtation with the history teacher. She has a whole chapter of the emails exchanged by this fictional version of herself and the history teacher, and I would absolutely watch that movie - especially because I imagined Chris Messina as the history teacher. Kaling probably did too, because when she's introducing the section she writes, "I will have a stern man in anything I ever write; I just love a gruff guy with a heart of gold. I guess what I'm saying is Walter Matthau is the man of my dreams."
But for the most part, the book deals with Kaling's work. She has a chapter titled "A Day in the Life of Mindy Kaling" and guys, Mindy Kaling's life is exhausting. On days when she's shooting her show, she gets up at 5 am and goes to bed at 12:30 am. In between is nothing except work, meal breaks, and a nap. "About 50 percent of the time," Kaling writes, "I have enough energy to remove my clothes and put on pajamas when I go to bed. Otherwise I just fall asleep in the clothes I went to work in, which I like to think of as a sexy, ongoing walk of shame."
For me, the message that comes across most clearly in Why Not Me? (and to a lesser extent, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? is this: Mindy Kaling is not successful because of luck or good connections. Mindy Kaling is successful because she works so, so hard for everything she has. She might not be your favorite comedian, her show might not be your favorite show, she might not understand that no one really cares that much about her relationship with BJ Novak (seriously girl: you dated, you broke up, you're still friends. We've all heard the song; stop releasing remixes and pretending they're new), but you can't deny that Kaling has earned everything she has.
The title of the book addresses this plainly - like a lot of women in comedy (especially minority women in comedy) Kaling frequently encounters people who act like she is doing something radical and presumptuous by appearing on TV.
"The conversation about me and my show is so frequently linked to the way I look that people who are deciding whether or not to watch my show must think subconsciously, Oh, that's that show about body acceptance in chubby women, because that's all they seem to hear about it. And my show is about so much more than that! It's about the struggles of a delusional Indian thirtysomething trying to scam on white dudes!"
In its best moments, this book is a response to all the people who ever looked at Mindy Kaling and sneered, "Why should you be on TV?" Kaling's response: "Because I work really hard and also, why not?"
At the end of the book, Kaling addresses the concept of confidence. It's something she gets asked about a lot, and she cites a Q&A she did once where a young Indian girl asked her where she gets her confidence.
"Context is so important. If this question had been asked by a white man, I might actually have been offended, because the subtext of it would have been completely different. When an adult white man asks me, 'Where do you get your confidence?' the tacit assumption behind it is: because you don't look like a person who should have any confidence. You're not white, you're not a man, and you're not thin or conventionally attractive. How were you able to overlook these obvious shortcomings to feel confident?'
...Confidence is just entitlement. Entitlement has gotten a bad rap because it's used almost exclusively for the useless children of the rich, reality TV stars, and Conrad Hilton Jr., who gets kicked off an airplane for smoking pot in the lavatory and calling people peasants or whatever. But entitlement in and of itself isn't so bad. Entitlement is simply the belief that you deserve something. Which is great. The hard part is, you'd better make sure you deserve it. ...Work hard, know your shit, show your shit, and then feel entitled."
The cliff notes version of my thoughts on Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me is that I enjoyed it, but Kaling was very clearly being selective with what she wanted to share and what she wanted to leave out, and the whole thing felt slightly incomplete. Overall, it was funny but ultimately unsatisfying.
I'm happy to report, therefore, that Why Not Me? is a much more focused and tightly-constructed memoir. Kaling's first book was a mishmash of funny essays and stories about her childhood and time spent working in Hollywood; Why Not Me? has a much clearly defined thesis: how Mindy Kaling achieved her success as a writer/actor/producer, what contributed to this and what didn't help, and how she grapples with that success.
There are still a few funny essays thrown in - "Things to Bring to My Dinner Party", "4am Worries", and my favorite, "A Perfect Courtship in My Alternate Life" where Kaling imagines an alternate-universe Mindy who teaches Latin at a private school in New York and has a sparring flirtation with the history teacher. She has a whole chapter of the emails exchanged by this fictional version of herself and the history teacher, and I would absolutely watch that movie - especially because I imagined Chris Messina as the history teacher. Kaling probably did too, because when she's introducing the section she writes, "I will have a stern man in anything I ever write; I just love a gruff guy with a heart of gold. I guess what I'm saying is Walter Matthau is the man of my dreams."
But for the most part, the book deals with Kaling's work. She has a chapter titled "A Day in the Life of Mindy Kaling" and guys, Mindy Kaling's life is exhausting. On days when she's shooting her show, she gets up at 5 am and goes to bed at 12:30 am. In between is nothing except work, meal breaks, and a nap. "About 50 percent of the time," Kaling writes, "I have enough energy to remove my clothes and put on pajamas when I go to bed. Otherwise I just fall asleep in the clothes I went to work in, which I like to think of as a sexy, ongoing walk of shame."
For me, the message that comes across most clearly in Why Not Me? (and to a lesser extent, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? is this: Mindy Kaling is not successful because of luck or good connections. Mindy Kaling is successful because she works so, so hard for everything she has. She might not be your favorite comedian, her show might not be your favorite show, she might not understand that no one really cares that much about her relationship with BJ Novak (seriously girl: you dated, you broke up, you're still friends. We've all heard the song; stop releasing remixes and pretending they're new), but you can't deny that Kaling has earned everything she has.
The title of the book addresses this plainly - like a lot of women in comedy (especially minority women in comedy) Kaling frequently encounters people who act like she is doing something radical and presumptuous by appearing on TV.
"The conversation about me and my show is so frequently linked to the way I look that people who are deciding whether or not to watch my show must think subconsciously, Oh, that's that show about body acceptance in chubby women, because that's all they seem to hear about it. And my show is about so much more than that! It's about the struggles of a delusional Indian thirtysomething trying to scam on white dudes!"
In its best moments, this book is a response to all the people who ever looked at Mindy Kaling and sneered, "Why should you be on TV?" Kaling's response: "Because I work really hard and also, why not?"
At the end of the book, Kaling addresses the concept of confidence. It's something she gets asked about a lot, and she cites a Q&A she did once where a young Indian girl asked her where she gets her confidence.
"Context is so important. If this question had been asked by a white man, I might actually have been offended, because the subtext of it would have been completely different. When an adult white man asks me, 'Where do you get your confidence?' the tacit assumption behind it is: because you don't look like a person who should have any confidence. You're not white, you're not a man, and you're not thin or conventionally attractive. How were you able to overlook these obvious shortcomings to feel confident?'
...Confidence is just entitlement. Entitlement has gotten a bad rap because it's used almost exclusively for the useless children of the rich, reality TV stars, and Conrad Hilton Jr., who gets kicked off an airplane for smoking pot in the lavatory and calling people peasants or whatever. But entitlement in and of itself isn't so bad. Entitlement is simply the belief that you deserve something. Which is great. The hard part is, you'd better make sure you deserve it. ...Work hard, know your shit, show your shit, and then feel entitled."
September 15, 2015
Alright, I'm going to take a deep breath and say it; I didn't love this book. I love Mindy. I do. I love her sense of humour, her style, the way she doesn't seem to give too much of a fuck about what other people think, and her ambition. This book just didn't fit into any of those reasons of why I love her. There was a bit too much of the I'm-so-famous-look-at-how-famous-I-am-now Mindy, and not enough of the I'm-making-it-in-Hollywood-but-I'm-still-a-big-dork Mindy that I loved so much in her first book.
The book felt like it was rushed and the love and time spent on the first one isn't there. There is a whole chapter of what her life is like now and how busy she is, and I think she was just too busy to write this book.
Heartfelt essays have been replaced with vapid ones, and burst out laughing essays have been replaced by blowing air through your nose a little harder than normal essays.
The book felt like it was rushed and the love and time spent on the first one isn't there. There is a whole chapter of what her life is like now and how busy she is, and I think she was just too busy to write this book.
Heartfelt essays have been replaced with vapid ones, and burst out laughing essays have been replaced by blowing air through your nose a little harder than normal essays.
January 22, 2016
i love mindy kaling. i think she's the kind of awesome that can never be overrated. she's funny, she's relatable, she's empowering, and she feels so genuine. reading this book felt like having a nice, long heart-to-heart with her, filled with laughs and awkwardness and occasionally moving snippets and just a whole lot of fun. it also felt like reading a diary, and at some parts--especially when she delves into her own fears and concerns--i couldn't decide whether this read more like her thoughts or my own. of course, not all of this book is funny and not every joke lands, but a lot of it is great. there's also a little chapter dedicated to fictional/alternate-life mindy and her interactions with a fictional grumpy history teacher, and honestly, although it's fiction in a collection of generally non-fiction essays, that part was probably my favorite section of the book.
mindy kaling is talented, and i love her.
mindy kaling is talented, and i love her.
March 1, 2017
3.5 stars for Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling
This was an enjoyable, entertaining, and a light read which was exactly what I needed for getting myself used to listening to audiobooks!
I do have a print copy of this book so I was able to follow along and see all the pictures and messages that were included with this book.
This was an enjoyable, entertaining, and a light read which was exactly what I needed for getting myself used to listening to audiobooks!
I do have a print copy of this book so I was able to follow along and see all the pictures and messages that were included with this book.
September 30, 2015
You all know how much I love Mindy. I liked hearing about her next chapters post-Office life and also about her thoughts on BJ Novak! It was a really short book, but I still enjoyed it. I wanted to give it 5 stars (I actually did initially), but after thinking about it, I realized that I wasn't completely satisfied. The shortness of the book bothered me and it didn't feel complete. The parts that were there were AWESOME. I think I just wanted a bit more. Still totally worth a listen/read because MINDY.
July 17, 2017
Mindy is somebody we’d all like as our bestie. The chapter with her address to Harvard Law is especially brilliant
January 22, 2016
Unpopular Opinion Time
I think I'm more of a Mindy Lahiri fan than a Mindy Kaling one.
It's been awhile since I have finished a book and was left feeling so apathetic. I enjoy the Mindy Project and The Office, but I just don't find Mindy all that interesting to read about. I feel like I'm reading someones diary and not in a good way.
I think I chuckled once while reading this, but my main thought was often “how is this even worthy of a mention?” I normally don't mind rambly narratives, but this one was just too mundane for me. The writing is not bad, but the content is just not there. 2.5/5
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Bin
Check out more of my reviews here
I think I'm more of a Mindy Lahiri fan than a Mindy Kaling one.
It's been awhile since I have finished a book and was left feeling so apathetic. I enjoy the Mindy Project and The Office, but I just don't find Mindy all that interesting to read about. I feel like I'm reading someones diary and not in a good way.
I think I chuckled once while reading this, but my main thought was often “how is this even worthy of a mention?” I normally don't mind rambly narratives, but this one was just too mundane for me. The writing is not bad, but the content is just not there. 2.5/5
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Bin
Check out more of my reviews here
March 27, 2016
YESSS I'll read anything she writes. Mindy is a gem. She is bright, humorous and very genuine. Her giving advice about everything from clothes to boys to careers, she is the role model young girls should look up to. I love her inspirational voice and humour and she still makes me laugh just by speaking, her voice is too cute. I listened to the audiobook and loved it. Her essays aren't as funny as the first book but this one is a little more serious which is also still as good.
August 31, 2016
“People get scared when you try to do something, especially when it looks like you're succeeding. People do not get scared when you're failing. It calms them. But when you're winning, it makes them feel like they're losing or, worse yet, that maybe they should've tried to do something too, but now it's too late. And since they didn't, they want to stop you. You can't let them.”
I seriously love Mindy Kaling! her first book was amazing, and this one was just as amazing if not better. I caught myself laughing to a lot of her stories and I loved hearing about the start up of the Mindy Project.
I also loved a lot of the parts about confidence, and just being yourself.
Really look forward to more books if she writes more in the future :)
I think she should write a fictional novel cause shes an amazing storyteller :D
I seriously love Mindy Kaling! her first book was amazing, and this one was just as amazing if not better. I caught myself laughing to a lot of her stories and I loved hearing about the start up of the Mindy Project.
I also loved a lot of the parts about confidence, and just being yourself.
Really look forward to more books if she writes more in the future :)
I think she should write a fictional novel cause shes an amazing storyteller :D
Read
August 28, 2017I think this concludes my foray into celebrity memoir type books for a while now. Kaling seems a nice person, but both of her books left me fairly unaffected. Not bad at all, but not very funny either, which was what I had hoped for.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
October 11, 2015
Sweet, funny Mindy Kaling. Her delightful audiobook was the perfect prescription for a long and stressful week.
I had read Mindy's first book a few years ago and enjoyed it, but I think this second memoir was a little stronger. She wrote more about her career and how hard she works, she wrote about her good friends and family, and she wrote about the pressures she faces over her appearance. There are also some silly chapters, like about how she enjoys kissing guys on her show "The Mindy Project," why she dislikes weddings, and she fantasizes an alternate reality in which she became a Latin school teacher and struck up a romance with a colleague. She also shares her 4 a.m. worries, how fame has changed her, and a cute speech she gave to the Harvard Law School class in 2014. My favorite section was about her friendship with fellow "Office" writer and actor B.J. Novak, and she shares a few good stories about working with him.
In short, this memoir is like a romantic comedy wrapped up in a cute little book jacket.
Mindy has a nice fan base, and if you have enjoyed her TV and film work, you would probably get a kick out of this book. I would also recommend it to young girls, because I think Mindy is a good role model. She advocates working hard and building your self-confidence: If you believe in yourself and work hard, you have a fighting shot at having your dreams come true.
Favorite Quote
"People talk about confidence without ever bringing up hard work. That's a mistake. I know I sound like some dour older spinster chambermaid on Downton Abbey who has never felt a man's touch and whose heart has turned to stone, but I don't understand how you could have self-confidence if you don't do the work. I work a lot. Like, a lot a lot ... Hard work is such a weird thing. As children and teenagers you are told it's a really good thing, but for adults it suddenly becomes the worst thing in the world. We do a thing in America, which is to label people 'workaholics' and tell them that work is ruining their lives ... The truth is, I have never, ever, ever met a highly confident and successful person who is not what a movie would call a 'workaholic.' We can't have it both ways, and children should know that. Because confidence is like respect; you have to earn it."
I had read Mindy's first book a few years ago and enjoyed it, but I think this second memoir was a little stronger. She wrote more about her career and how hard she works, she wrote about her good friends and family, and she wrote about the pressures she faces over her appearance. There are also some silly chapters, like about how she enjoys kissing guys on her show "The Mindy Project," why she dislikes weddings, and she fantasizes an alternate reality in which she became a Latin school teacher and struck up a romance with a colleague. She also shares her 4 a.m. worries, how fame has changed her, and a cute speech she gave to the Harvard Law School class in 2014. My favorite section was about her friendship with fellow "Office" writer and actor B.J. Novak, and she shares a few good stories about working with him.
In short, this memoir is like a romantic comedy wrapped up in a cute little book jacket.
Mindy has a nice fan base, and if you have enjoyed her TV and film work, you would probably get a kick out of this book. I would also recommend it to young girls, because I think Mindy is a good role model. She advocates working hard and building your self-confidence: If you believe in yourself and work hard, you have a fighting shot at having your dreams come true.
Favorite Quote
"People talk about confidence without ever bringing up hard work. That's a mistake. I know I sound like some dour older spinster chambermaid on Downton Abbey who has never felt a man's touch and whose heart has turned to stone, but I don't understand how you could have self-confidence if you don't do the work. I work a lot. Like, a lot a lot ... Hard work is such a weird thing. As children and teenagers you are told it's a really good thing, but for adults it suddenly becomes the worst thing in the world. We do a thing in America, which is to label people 'workaholics' and tell them that work is ruining their lives ... The truth is, I have never, ever, ever met a highly confident and successful person who is not what a movie would call a 'workaholic.' We can't have it both ways, and children should know that. Because confidence is like respect; you have to earn it."
November 18, 2018
i wanted to love this bc mindy kaling is like the cutest human ever but this was just.....really unfunny and the topics were so erratic??
didn't win me over. sad.
1.5 stars
didn't win me over. sad.
1.5 stars
September 20, 2015
Listened to this one on audiobook.
I say this about every celebrity memoir, but I think that my reaction to any celebrity memoir is basically how I feel about that celebrity in general. In the case of Mindy Kaling, I have a 70/30 love-disinterest ratio going on with her and that is basically how I felt about the book.
I say this about every celebrity memoir, but I think that my reaction to any celebrity memoir is basically how I feel about that celebrity in general. In the case of Mindy Kaling, I have a 70/30 love-disinterest ratio going on with her and that is basically how I felt about the book.
December 31, 2015
3.5 stars
The announcement of another Mindy Kaling book, so soon after her 'meh' and shrug-eliciting Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? did not exactly set my mouth watering in anticipation. Though I thoroughly loved her (along withsoup snake soulmate BJ Novak's) writing and acting for almost a decade of The Office episodes, her first book was (to me) a mishmash of banality, curiously lacking in the humor that made me love her so.
After reading Glenn's terrific, positive endorsement of Why Not Me?, I had to give it a try. Gotta say though, that my rekindled enthusiasm for this follow-up set of essays was tempered by a lukewarm. binge-watch of The Mindy Project. It kept my interest enough to slide through (as of this writing) all 70+ episodes, and further solidified my admiration of her work ethic, but only sporadically did I find myself laughing as hard as I did with The Office material.
The book itself, though quite a bit similar to her first one, is much more funny, and much less superficial than the selfies of her volcanic acne issues and lists of NBA stars she'd most like to boink that made the first book so ho-hum to me. There were a few clunkers in this collection, too (particularly the list of differences between Mindy Kaling and Mindy Lahiri, her on-screen OB-GYN character on The Mindy Project). Mostly though, just lots of funny, poignant stuff. Her ode to Novak, "Soup Snakes", was just about the most perfect blend of comedy and soul-baring I've seen from her. Her account of meeting Obama (3 times) and subsequent crush on one of his aides could've been a boasty, name-droppy mess, but, nope, quite a blast. Her commencement speech to Harvard Law graduates (a weird, but essential inclusion here) is as wacky and funny as you'd expect from someone so utterly clueless about the legal profession. Her tributes to her recently passed mom are heartfelt, yet still manage to be funny. A kooky, epistolary glimpse at her first career choice after graduating from Dartmouth (Latin teacher at a private academy) didn't fail to bring the funny, either.
Despite the few missteps (like her TMI-candor of loving to film sex scenes on TMP), I laughed throughout this breezy collection. I was pleasantly surprised. (Now, if only her TV show could improve...)
The announcement of another Mindy Kaling book, so soon after her 'meh' and shrug-eliciting Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? did not exactly set my mouth watering in anticipation. Though I thoroughly loved her (along with
After reading Glenn's terrific, positive endorsement of Why Not Me?, I had to give it a try. Gotta say though, that my rekindled enthusiasm for this follow-up set of essays was tempered by a lukewarm. binge-watch of The Mindy Project. It kept my interest enough to slide through (as of this writing) all 70+ episodes, and further solidified my admiration of her work ethic, but only sporadically did I find myself laughing as hard as I did with The Office material.
The book itself, though quite a bit similar to her first one, is much more funny, and much less superficial than the selfies of her volcanic acne issues and lists of NBA stars she'd most like to boink that made the first book so ho-hum to me. There were a few clunkers in this collection, too (particularly the list of differences between Mindy Kaling and Mindy Lahiri, her on-screen OB-GYN character on The Mindy Project). Mostly though, just lots of funny, poignant stuff. Her ode to Novak, "Soup Snakes", was just about the most perfect blend of comedy and soul-baring I've seen from her. Her account of meeting Obama (3 times) and subsequent crush on one of his aides could've been a boasty, name-droppy mess, but, nope, quite a blast. Her commencement speech to Harvard Law graduates (a weird, but essential inclusion here) is as wacky and funny as you'd expect from someone so utterly clueless about the legal profession. Her tributes to her recently passed mom are heartfelt, yet still manage to be funny. A kooky, epistolary glimpse at her first career choice after graduating from Dartmouth (Latin teacher at a private academy) didn't fail to bring the funny, either.
Despite the few missteps (like her TMI-candor of loving to film sex scenes on TMP), I laughed throughout this breezy collection. I was pleasantly surprised. (Now, if only her TV show could improve...)
November 4, 2017
I enjoyed this one more than her first book, although both were just so lighthearted yet packed with great stories and advice. It's very good, clean humor, and Mindy is so energetic and playful that I can't help but love her. In this one she focuses a lot on confidence and friendships, and I thought a lot of her advice was so endearing and I actually underlined some of her thoughts near the end.
This book talks a lot more about The Mindy Project, which I don't watch and don't intend to watch, but she still made it funny and interesting to learn about the behind the scenes. Additionally, this book made me really want to pick up BJ Novak's book, so i'm gonna go look that up now.
This book talks a lot more about The Mindy Project, which I don't watch and don't intend to watch, but she still made it funny and interesting to learn about the behind the scenes. Additionally, this book made me really want to pick up BJ Novak's book, so i'm gonna go look that up now.
September 21, 2015
I loved Mindy Kaling's first book Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me? (and Other Concerns). I also love Mindy Kaling's show The Mindy Project. I basically love anything Mindy Kaling does, with good reason, including her new book Why Not Me?. Honestly if Mindy Kaling is explaining to me how the REM cycle works, she'll find a way to turn it into the most fascinating, funny, and exciting thing ever. I love her humour and it translates really well in writing. I found myself laughing out loud countless times in the 240 pages of Why Not Me?
I was curious to see what direction she'll be taking with this book that hasn't been done in her previous one. I mean it's somewhat a biography.. what is more to tell than what has been told and what we already know about Mindy? apparently a lot. Her book is more anecdotes about past experiences or fictional stories she made up. You seriously feel like she is directly speaking to you. Her choice of photos and captions are stellar.
Why Not Me? isn't just funny, we get to read about the whole issue with Fox's cancellation of The Mindy Project and Hulu picking it up. I was so happy that was included. I also am especially fond of the last chapter in her book which she addresses a question a girl asked at one of her fan meetings but she regretted not being able to give her a proper answer. Lastly, I love that she talked about body images and how she found herself thrust into being the representative of 'real women with curves'. All her chapters were so interesting and amusing, I never grew bored of reading her book. I wish she writes more and not just this type of book, but an actual fictional story. She included a snippet of what her life would be like if she didn't pursue the path she's on, and man, by the end of that story, I wanted more. Mindy can be a fantastic chick lit writer!
To sum it up, I was not disappointed one bit, even though I've been waiting for this book for over a year. I love Mindy Kaling and her humour will always bring a smile and laugh to me. I am hoping she'll continue writing books, be it fiction or non fiction. I definitely recommend people to pick this up, you honestly won't be disappointed.
I was curious to see what direction she'll be taking with this book that hasn't been done in her previous one. I mean it's somewhat a biography.. what is more to tell than what has been told and what we already know about Mindy? apparently a lot. Her book is more anecdotes about past experiences or fictional stories she made up. You seriously feel like she is directly speaking to you. Her choice of photos and captions are stellar.
Why Not Me? isn't just funny, we get to read about the whole issue with Fox's cancellation of The Mindy Project and Hulu picking it up. I was so happy that was included. I also am especially fond of the last chapter in her book which she addresses a question a girl asked at one of her fan meetings but she regretted not being able to give her a proper answer. Lastly, I love that she talked about body images and how she found herself thrust into being the representative of 'real women with curves'. All her chapters were so interesting and amusing, I never grew bored of reading her book. I wish she writes more and not just this type of book, but an actual fictional story. She included a snippet of what her life would be like if she didn't pursue the path she's on, and man, by the end of that story, I wanted more. Mindy can be a fantastic chick lit writer!
To sum it up, I was not disappointed one bit, even though I've been waiting for this book for over a year. I love Mindy Kaling and her humour will always bring a smile and laugh to me. I am hoping she'll continue writing books, be it fiction or non fiction. I definitely recommend people to pick this up, you honestly won't be disappointed.
January 18, 2023
“I am notorious for making impassioned speeches about things nobody cares about.”
Why Not Me is a solid collection of essays. A few of the essays have a serious theme, but the majority of them do not. Ms. Kaling is charming storyteller (especially in reading the audiobook) and seems like a genuine, down-to-earth, fun person. A light, pleasant, quick read.
February 24, 2016
*4.5
Man I love Mindy!!
I listened to this book via Audible, that't the way to do it! Her books are fantastic audiobooks, Mindy has such a great story telling ability and her reading this book made it that much better! I enjoyed this book even more than her first one! there was only one section that I didn't like, it was a series of emails and I found it to be a bit repetitive and boring! Other than that, this book was FABULOUS, just like Mindy herself :)
Man I love Mindy!!
I listened to this book via Audible, that't the way to do it! Her books are fantastic audiobooks, Mindy has such a great story telling ability and her reading this book made it that much better! I enjoyed this book even more than her first one! there was only one section that I didn't like, it was a series of emails and I found it to be a bit repetitive and boring! Other than that, this book was FABULOUS, just like Mindy herself :)
September 27, 2018
On my second time read through of Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling, I couldn't get enough. I enjoyed the book in hardcover, but I REALLY enjoyed it in audio. Audio is 100% the way to go with this one. Perfect narration and I laughed out lough numerous times. My mood wasn't that great today and this book brought my spirits way up.
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April 22, 2021
I love Mindy Kaling with all my heart. I love all her shows and movies. I love her Instagram updates and her Tweets and everything in between. And I also wanted to love this book but I couldn't love it as much as I wanted to.
There are some really laugh out loud moments and everything about Mindy is very relatable and likable but still this book fell short on my expectations. May be I expected way too much, I don't know. It is still very funny and enjoyable though.
3.5 stars
There are some really laugh out loud moments and everything about Mindy is very relatable and likable but still this book fell short on my expectations. May be I expected way too much, I don't know. It is still very funny and enjoyable though.
3.5 stars
August 23, 2017
Very amusing in places but I was made very aware throughout that I wasn't the target audience. Not a bad read, particularly if you're a fan of Kaling's television work, but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody else, to be honest.
Buddy-read with the missus.
Buddy-read with the missus.
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