I don't usually rate memoirs as it's too personal, but as it's an ARC, I have to.

I didn't know much about Kelly Bishop's career, other than Gilmore Girls. This was an interesting look at a long and varied career - starting from ballet lessons, to dancer, to chorus girl, to Tony-award winning plays, small TV parts, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls and beyond - interspersed with her personal life (abusive, bullying father; gambling, cheating husband; affairs; friends; and the love of her life). One aspect I found particularly interesting was Kelly's attitude to jobs - she's very clear that at times, jobs were for money (or a holiday!) but there's obvious interest in learning about acting and how everything works.

There's both a lot of details (there's a synopsis of nearly every play/character mentioned) and a lot missed out (I've no idea who some of the names are, but maybe if I knew more about 1970s actors?). The book runs from her childhood to present day (so if you're looking for Gilmore Girls, it's chapters 10 and 11). There's a quite a lot about her second husband and his career - it's clear how much Kelly loves Lee and how they supported each other.

Throughout the book, Kelly shows she has been breaking boundaries and fighting for her rightful place (and pay) for her whole career. The book feels like a conversation, one-sided, a little long in places but interesting. It ends with emotional stories of Edward Herrmann and her husband, and putting everything into going for your dreams (although goes a little woowoo for me when there's talk of a medium).

If you're a fan of Kelly's work, it's an interesting look at her life. If you're hoping for an in depth, expose on all the Gilmore Girls gossip, this isn't the book for you (despite the intro by Amy Sherman-Palladino).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Kelly Bishop has a special place in my heart because of her time in Gilmore Girls and since rewatching it hundreds of times as an adult, Emily Gilmore has become my favourite character. So of course, I knew I was going to love this book. I knew before reading of her time as a dancer and loved getting to know that part of her life and how she wanted to become an actress. I felt that this book went into a deeper dive on her life than I thought she would including her talking about her decision to have an abortion and her many affairs. I found this so brave and strong and it made me love her even more.

I found the chapters around Gilmore Girls too short for my liking, but let's be honest, I could read thousands of pages about the casts time during filming GG and never get bored so I'm hard to satiate when it comes to my beloved show!

This book is an absolute joy full of incredible stories, and if you love Kelly as much as me, you'll have an amazing time. I laughed and I cried and now I'm in a Kelly Bishop rabbit hole where I'm watching every possible clip of those moments she's written about.

I'm still quite shocked that I got to read this ARC before release but I am so so happy about it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House / Vintage Books for the opportunity to read this.

"Carole Bishop ... has survived in show business for twelve years."
This is a fitting summary of Kelly Bishop's life story: she got into show business through dance and let work opportunities lead her.
Since she and her mother first bonded through ballet dance, Kelly was drawn to the stage -- but she was always aware that there was a world and a life beyond it.

A charming, determined woman, Kelly took every rehearsal as seriously as if it were the final performance, making connections with everyone in the company and always prioritising the show. She was also someone who never backed down, even in front of directors: if there's a dancer or singer that's going to push back about something in the show, because she knows it could be better, it's Kelly. And I got a kick out of hearing that it was mostly men that she sparred with and won.

It wouldn't be a showbiz memoir without some affairs, and here Kelly does not shy away from laying out her mistakes. She paints herself as an open, caring person who often found herself tied to the wrong kind of man. But she's also someone who learns her lessons quickly, and when she finally fell in love with her life partner, it was a beautiful story.

Of course, the 'Gilmore Girls' story is a big part of this book and that much-anticipated section was a good read, from the first meeting with Amy Sherman-Palladino to the first season right through until Kelly said goodbye to Ed Herrmann on his deathbed,


This is a quick read that covers decades in show business in just enough detail; it does a good job of describing the work but at every turn it is Kelly -- her thoughts, dreams, memories -- at the centre.

Kelly Bishop is the third Gilmore Girl. I adored Emily Gilmore, the line delivery, the looks she gave, you could feel through the TV how much she wanted to understand her daughter but just couldn't. Kelly Bishop was phenomenal in that role. I loved learning about her dancing past. Her first marriage. She was very brave to talk about her abortion and I have massive respect for her honesty about the situation. An actress I have really admired but now I think I am an even bigger fan. I think after reading this, I need a rewatch of Gilmore Girls. Definitely recommend this book. I loved it.

I loved this memoir. It was both funny and honest.i really enjoyed reading about Emily's life. If you love autobiographies make sure you can read this one

succinct, sweet, and honest - my favourite kind of memoir. a snappy read and brilliant snapshot into an amazing life.

from the title i did expect a little bit more of a deep dive into gilmore girls, but still a worthy read and i loved her honesty about the production, particularly of seventh season. and of course we all know emily was team luke from day one

I just zipped through this book! Just as elegant and discreet as you’d expect from the Emily Gilmore actress, this was a delight to read. Kelly spills all the details of her life, and it by turns hugely funny and heartbreaking at the same time. If you’ve ever been interested in the Gilmore Girls at all, this is a loveable, affectionate look at one of the key members of the cast. A must read for any fan.

I have been a fan of "Gilmore Girls" since I watched it for the first time in my twenties. Like many, I found comfort in the fictional Stars Hollow. The character of Emily Gilmore always fascinated me—her complexity, her moments of cruelty, and the glimpses of vulnerability that made her feel so real.

I was delighted to receive an eARC of this memoir from NetGalley. Kelly Bishop, born Carole Bishop, whom I've only known for playing Emily, tells the story of her career in ballet, Broadway, and later in TV and film, as well as her personal life. It was fascinating to see her career develop before she landed her iconic role on "Gilmore Girls".

Perhaps I was expecting a deeper dive into the set of the beloved series, but there wasn't much of that - and I didn't mind at all. The memoir focused more on her journey as an artist, which was a delightful surprise. There were a few tender moments that made me tearful, especially her goodbye with her Gilmore Girls co-star who played her husband, Edward Herrmann.

My only complaint was the writing style itself. I think this is one of those books that would work brilliantly as an audiobook (I've just checked, and the audiobook narrated by the author is coming out in the second half of September). So if you're considering getting this book, and I think you should if you've ever watched the show, perhaps choose the audio!

I haven't read that many memoirs, but this one was quite unputdownable. I ended up reading it in a couple of sittings. Afterwards, I looked up some of the people she mentions in the book and found a few older photographs of her early career days.

This book made me want to rewatch Gilmore Girls - it is, after all, the perfect show for autumn.

4/5 ⭐

Disclaimer: I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was a really interesting autobiography, and the ghostwriter captured Bishop's voice perfectly. The book was packed with humour and heart, carefully balancing stories from Bishop's personal and professional lives. I would have enjoyed more about her experiences on Gilmore Girls, but even so, what was written was great.

This is a wonderful memoir from a remarkable woman. The writing style is really accessible and enjoyable and her life story is gripping. From her Tony-winning performance in A Chorus Line to her roles in Dirty Dancing and of course Gilmore Girls this is a brilliant summary of her career. It also looks at her personal life. A fantastic read.

I have adored Kelly Bishops work for years so I’m beyond excited to say I loved her autobiography even more. You really get to know the woman behind these amazing parts as well as the real life struggles she went through as well!

This is just what I wanted from a Kelly Bishop memoir. Career focused peppered with behind the scene memories. If you’re a fan it’s worth reading.

I’m a huge fan of Gilmore Girls and Emily Gilmore is probably my favourite character, not least because of Kelly Bishop’s brilliant performances. I also love dance so the fact that Bishop started out as a dancer has always intrigued me. So, I was pleased to have an opportunity to read her memoir covering her early life and long career in show business. Bishop worked her way up from the bottom, her hopes of becoming a ballet dancer dashed after she moved to New York at 18, she took any dancing job she could get. She finally transitioned into acting in the early 1970s aged 30, undeterred by messy divorce proceedings, and desperate for cash to feed her menagerie of rescue animals – something that’s been a feature of her life ever since.

It's clear early on that Bishop is just as feisty as Emily but without the privilege or the family money. Her memoir, produced with the aid of Lindsay Harrison, is forthright and conversational. Admittedly it can be a bit breathless at times but it’s still a fascinating account of what it’s like to work in show business from the bottom up, as well as Broadway in the 1970s and 80s. Her early relationships were mostly disastrous, as was her first marriage to a man who spent all her money on gambling and alcohol. But her big break as a performer came with a central role in the premiere of a new musical, the now-iconic A Chorus Line. A role for which she won a coveted Tony award. Not that her life then became smooth sailing, she had some decent parts, some very minor ones in everything from B-movies to daytime soaps, although she memorably played Baby’s mother in Dirty Dancing. She also met second husband Lee Leonard the love of her life, and they were together for 37 years until his death from the last in a succession of cancer-related illnesses.

Bishop’s next, major break came when she auditioned for Gilmore Girls a pilot created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, kickstarting a lasting friendship and professional collaboration – Sherman-Palladino also contributed the foreword for Bishop’s book. Bishop also appeared in Sherman-Palladino’s Bunheads and more recently The Marvellous Mrs Maisel. As you might expect Bishop’s politically liberal, pro-choice, vocal about animal welfare, and slightly woo in time-honoured Hollywood tradition. She’s also amazingly resilient, now close to 80, she’s overcome devastating personal loss, illness and injuries but she's still marching on. I can’t wait to see what she does next.