4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Minka for her brave honesty. This is a true testament that you never know what a person is going through or where they have come from and to always show grace. I hope that Minka is out there in the world living joyfully and peacefully.

I have no doubt this book will encourage many adults to tackle their childhood traumas that they have left unaddressed. There are so many wonderful quotes and thought provoking statements in this book that I have definitely shelved away for later.

I hope Minka will continue to write and catch us up to where she is now and how she is doing. There's so many things to say about this book, all good, so just check out the read! I didn't want to put it down, it read as a page-turner even though it's nonfiction and you know sort-of how it all turns out. Minka has truly lived a life and has a story to be told.

*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars

Tell Me Everything is a gripping, well-paced memoir that will hook you from the very first page, and keep you glued to the page until the very end.

Many know actress Minka Kelly for her famous roles and for her philanthropy. But this memoir delves into her life in a way that is thoroughly surprising, both poignant, and triumphant. It’s the kind of book that reminds us that we truly don’t know what someone else is going through, and that the effects of trauma and neglect can take a lifetime to heal.

Kelly demonstrates her resilience, and her fight for survival, while also acknowledging her privilege. I found the entire book to be absolutely enthralling. And I, for one, have an even greater respect for the human being who Minka Kelly is, and marvel at what she has overcome to be the success she is today. But, more than that, Kelly reminds us all of those moments in life when we can either sink or swim; when we have to channel all of our inner strength to survive and thrive.

A sincere thanks to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a fast paced and enjoyable memoir. It has all the juicy details of a famous person’s life you could ask for. Heartbreaking as well. You will learn a lot and if you are not a fan of hers you may become one.
Recommended For: Fans of Minka Kelly or memoirs.

Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly is an absolutely mind-blowing memoir that often reads like a juicy novel. I was a fan of Kelly through one of my favorite tv shows, Friday Night Lights, and never imagined how from from reality her fantastic portrayal of Lyla was. Here, Kelly shares her experiences growing up in unfathomable circumstances and, against all odds, triumphing. Truly inspirational!

Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Company. What a well-needed book, and even better, it is true. Who would have thought Minka Kelly had this situation. I, like everyone else, watched her for years, and we all imagined a different existence. Thank you for telling your story and offering hope to many of us. The bad relationships had me turning pages and wondering more and more. Her childhood made her who she is today, strong, prosperous, and resilient. Thank you for this story and for sharing it with the world.

I finished this book last night at 2 am or should I say this morning. Needless to say, I am still reeling from what I have read. This book is intense knowing that this happened in real life. I am used to reading fiction and it's rare when I want to read a memoir written by a public figure. When I saw this on netgalley, I immediately requested it as I was intrigued by the synopsis. I would have never thought Minka would have gone through such awful things. It's been a while since I've picked up a book that I can't put down let alone stay up until the wee hours of the morning deciding that finishing a book is more important than being mentally present the next day lol. This book did just that. I am in awe of how strong and resilient she is. Though she admits that she still has a lot of work to do to heal as an adult, you cannot discount how brave Minka is to withstand all the challenges in her life even as a young child. When I see Minka Kelly now, I will see her as someone with more than just a pretty face. I hope this book continues to inspire people all over the world going through the same things she had.

Wow. I love reading memoirs and often grab one written by someone I know little about. I watched Minka Kelly on Friday Night Lights - and just as she says in the book - thought she had been blessed with the perfect life. Wouldn't we all like to be Lyla in that little cheerleading outfit.

But the story that Kelly writes is about as far from Lyla as can be. She was raised by her single mother and lived in a storage unit for awhile. Her mother never owned a home and they moved from friend to friend throughout her childhood. She moved in with a boyfriend and his father at about 17 when her mother took off for a year. Itt is just one heartbreaking story after another. But the reason this story needs to be told is that Kelly somehow find it within herself to use her skills of intelligence and hardworking to become independent. She tells all the ups and downs of relationships and family drama. She shares her therapy - both good and bad. She is honest about struggling to improve her acting and how her past shadowed her future.

I found this book as a fascinating study on so many levels. Child development, mothering, addiction, and so much more. I admire Kelly for her involvment with ABLE - a company developed to counsel women from Ethiopia who had turned to survival sex to provide for themselves and their children. The women are also given 6 months of hands on training to make products such as jewelry, clothing, and handbags to be sold to provide a new life for them. So amazing.

This is an incredible book. I had no idea what Minka’s life was like before we all fell in love with FNL. I wanted to rescue her over and over as I read about her chaotic childhood. So much moving, upheaval, neglect, violence, and abuse. She had to grow up so fast. Yet emotionally, she was so far behind. The fact that she’s still here today is worth celebrating, and I’m so glad she told her story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy!

This is one of the most unexpected memoirs I have ever read. I've known Minka Kelly as an actress but knew nothing about her personal life and background. I cannot believe what she has been through as a child and teenager, growing alongside a drug-addicted mom, a mom she could not rely on, abusive men coming and going in her life. This is a great book to read about resilience. I personally enjoyed reading it as a mom always questioning if I do enough for my children to make them happy. After reading this, Minka confirmed that I am a terrific mom and we all come intl motherhood with our own baggage and we all do the best we can with what we have.

☆☆ 4.5 stars ☆☆

"I knew deep in my bones what Maya Angelou once described: “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” That ache filled me."

Thought provoking and poignant, Minka Kelly's memoir, Tell Me Everything, illuminates the struggles young women face in today's society. Minka openly and honestly shares her tumultuous childhood and how it impacted her development into womanhood. I was unaware of how much adversity she experienced and my heart broke for her pain. A lost little girl trying to fit in and belong, seeking love and acceptance, wanting to be seen and valued, she often denied her feelings, obscuring the hurt in order to move forward. Everything she did was for the purpose of survival.

"You tell yourself whatever story you need to in order to accept certain realities."

Minka's life was consumed with hardship, an unending chaos marked by violence, trauma and sexual assault. Struggling emotionally and financially, she was often adrift, moving around to search for her place in the world. Feelings of low self-esteem and shame developed as reflections of her past, products of the environment she grew up in. This was not a story of the charmed life of a Hollywood starlet. Her struggles were eye-opening and called attention to the inequity perpetuated by the patriarchy and how women often fight a seemingly endless battle for equality.

Tangled up in old patterns and behaviors, Minka carried the hurt of previous generations, perpetuating the cycle of suffering and hopelessness. Although her options seemed to be exhausted and nonexistent, she finally found the courage, strength and resilience to take control of her life. She turned inward, owning her truth and taking responsibility for the consequences of her actions. She developed a sense of purpose and self-respect, rising above her circumstances and challenges to truly emerge a better woman on the other side.

Minka worked so hard to get to where she is today, taking nothing for granted, discovering new opportunities for growth and healing and, ultimately, hope. I admire her as a strong, independent woman who learned to take charge of her future while remaining true to herself. Her journey highlights the values of forgiveness and empathy along with the capacity to love and show grace. I loved how she redefined her relationship with her mother and how she came to understand why she was trapped in a vicious cycle in terms of her other relationships as well. She taught me how to love myself and embrace my sexuality and she inspired me through her philanthropic efforts to help other women overcome their own adversity by offering compassion to those on troubled paths. Her memoir was extraordinarily empowering and I highly recommend it for any woman to read.

"A woman fully awake to herself is a formidable creature. Just imagine what we’d all be capable of if we allowed ourselves access to our divine goddess power."

** Special thanks to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available May 2, 2023. **

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Wow! I had no idea of the challenges that Minka Kelly experienced growing up that ultimately led her to where she is today. You never know what someone's story is, and Minka takes the time to share her experiences of living in a storage unit with a hot plate, accompanying her mother to the strip club, abusive relationships and so much more. I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those a fan of Minka. She is a strong woman and has overcome so much. I did not know that Minka received her nursing degree and previously worked in ORs while taking acting auditions. She recognizes big picture and what is important due to the difficult situations she has experienced, such as having a strong career to fall back on.

5/5!

Tell Me Everything: A Memoir by Minka Kelly is a memorable and fascinating memoir that I will remember for a long time.

Minka tells the story with a lot of compassion towards the many people who have failed her, especially in regards to her mother who she loves passionately but also holds a lot of anger and resentment towards.

I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you for this ARC! I love a celebrity memoir and this did not disappoint. Minka Kelly writes about her difficult childhood in a raw, honest way. She speaks of her mother, her father, the family that raised her and the friends that helped along the way with love and compassion. I can't believe all that she has had to endure. If you are looking for details on her acting career and dating, you won't find them here. This is the story of her growing up and how that has impacted her as an adult. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite the difficult content. Warnings for sexual abuse.

What a gem. Great book.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

For some reason a lot of Minka's story seemed very familiar. I'm not sure if I have read to many celeb memoirs or People magazines but her book felt like something I already knew!

She shares a lot and the writing is pretty good. Not my favorite Hollywood story but still worthy!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars!

I have been a huge fan of Minka Kelly, I was a huge Friday night lights fan and. I saw her in an off broadway play years ago.
I always found her to be soft-spoken, wise beyond her years, someone who you could instantly be friends with.

This book was a real insight into her life, and what she had to not only endure , but rise above.

This is a beautifully written memoir of her mom, herself, and her life, and she doesn’t shy away from anything, if anything, she really does tell you everything!

A huge thank you to the author, the publisher in NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

5/5 stars! I am so grateful this "behind the veil" memoir of Minka's life exists. Prior to reading this, the only things I knew about this actor were that she had a few big-name stage credits and that she had dated Trevor Noah off and on for years; so basically what the paparazzi have shown the public over the years. After reading this book, I was reminded again to never judge a book by its cover. I was in foster care as a child and hopped from home to home with only a trash bag of belongings and a dirty stuffed animal as a friend. So I connected deeply with Minka's childhood. I'm in awe of this strong, resilient woman and am beyond happy I read this book.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Tell Me Everything: A Memoir by Minka Kelly is a memorable and fascinating memoir that I will remember for a long time.

This is such a real, raw, honest, and open memoir in so many ways. I learned so much more about not just the actress, Minka Kelly, but also the girl, woman, and inner being as well.

While others gloss over the difficut details of their past and inner thoughts, Minka did not shy away, and I truly appreciate her honesty and vulnerability in sharing her story.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Henry Holt & Company for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 5/2/23.

I read this in a day! I didn't know that much about Minka Kelly, but I always enjoy celebrity memoirs, and was happily surprised to receive this ARC.

Written in an unflinching and matter-of-fact tone, Minka brings us through her life. From her unstable childhood bouncing between homes, and couches, her difficult teen years, to adulthood, where she tackles not repeating dysfunctional patterns.

Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt & Co for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC!