Have I Told You This Already? by Lauren Graham


Publication Date: November 15, 2022


Plot: Candid, insightful, and wildly entertaining essays about life, love, and lessons learned as an actress in Hollywood, from the beloved star of Gilmore Girls and New York Times bestselling author of Talking as Fast as I Can.


With her signature sense of humor and down-to-earth storytelling, Lauren Graham opens up about her years working in the entertainment business—from the sublime to the ridiculous—and shares personal stories about everything from family and friendship to the challenges of aging gracefully in Hollywood. In "RIP Barneys New York," she writes about an early job as a salesperson at the legendary department store -- and the time she inadvertently shoplifted; in "Ne Oublie" she warns us about the perils of coming from an extremely forgetful family; and in "Actor-y Factory" she recounts what a day in the life of an actor looks like (unless you’re Brad Pitt).


Filled with surprising anecdotes, sage advice, and laugh-out-loud observations, Graham's latest collection of all-new, original essays showcases the winning charm and wit that she's known for

MY THOUGHTS:

If you asked me what my favorite tv show is, I would, without a doubt, tell you that it's Gilmore Girls. I've watched it all the way through more than a dozen times, and I clearly remember sneakily watching reruns as a kid when my dad didn't want me watching a show about "a girl that was a pregnant teenager." Oh how times have changed, and oh how little my dad actually knew about this show lol.


With my love for Gilmore Girls came my book addiction because I wanted to be smart & well-read like Rory, and it also brought me to my favorite fictional character of all time, Lorelai Gilmore. My love for Lorelai runs deep, so much so that I named my favorite, spunky pet chicken after her. And my love for this character even connected me with one of my best friends for the very first time.


No one could have portrayed Lorelai like the incredible Lauren Graham. I LOVE & ADORE LAUREN GRAHAM!!! From the moment that I first started watching Gilmore Girls, I was an instant fan of Lauren Graham. Her quirky personality, her fast way of talking, and her humor spoke to me, and I continued to follow her career over the years watching everything she was in.


I want her to be my friend. I want to hang out with her, drink coffee with her, and watch old Gilmore Girls episodes with her. Lauren Graham's humor, wit, and wisdom is SO refreshing.


Her first memoir, Talking As Fast As I Can, was a clear 5-star read, mostly focusing on her career and her time on Gilmore Girls. While not quite as good as her previous novel, this book features fun stories about celebrity encounters she has had and a few Hollywood secrets. There is no "Gilmore Girl's super fan" pre-requisite to having a good laugh with this one. It's funny and relatable all on its own. This is such a cozy read. Lauren's writing is like talking to a friend. While you read it, you can just picture her telling you these stories with her never-ending wit and amazing heart.


Oh, and did I mention that Lauren narrates the audiobook? If you're a fan of audio, you should definitely give it a listen 🤎 If this book is on your list at all, get after it! It's one that will make you smile.

☆ Rating: 4/5 stars 

FAVORITE QUOTES


“Sometimes we polish an experience to make facts line up more closely with feelings or exaggerate moments to make a better dinner party tale. And sometimes, mercifully, details become blurry over time, maybe because the sharp reality is too painful to carry.”


“I only wondered and worried about how long it was going to take. “Someday” doesn’t like to tell you when it plans to arrive.”


“Sometimes, mercifully, without our even asking it to, memory holds hands with fact and helps dull its edges during times when the reality is too overwhelming to fully take in a joyous moment, like the birth of a child, or in a darker one, when pain is too great to comprehend, like the loss of a loved one.”

FAVORITE QUOTES


“Sometimes we polish an experience to make facts line up more closely with feelings or exaggerate moments to make a better dinner party tale. And sometimes, mercifully, details become blurry over time, maybe because the sharp reality is too painful to carry.”


“I only wondered and worried about how long it was going to take. “Someday” doesn’t like to tell you when it plans to arrive.”


“Sometimes, mercifully, without our even asking it to, memory holds hands with fact and helps dull its edges during times when the reality is too overwhelming to fully take in a joyous moment, like the birth of a child, or in a darker one, when pain is too great to comprehend, like the loss of a loved one.”