Ellie Kemper is everything. You could totally get a sense of her throughout this book. It was cute, sweet and a great read. I love this and would recommend.

What a great upbeat memoir! I enjoyed Ellie Kemper’s roles on both the Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. This memoir gives some of that same flavor with a boast of mirth. I really didn’t think I could love Ellie Kemper more, but turns out, I can. This book is fun and laugh-out-loud funny! I love her self-deprecating prose and style of storytelling. My Squirrel Days by Ellie Kemper is an instant favorite.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Synopsis from the Publisher/NetGalley.com
Meet Ellie, the best-intentioned redhead next door. You’ll laugh right alongside her as she shares tales of her childhood in St. Louis, whether directing and also starring in her family holiday pageant, washing her dad’s car with a Brillo pad, failing to become friends with a plump squirrel in her backyard, eating her feelings while watching PG-13 movies, or becoming a “sports monster” who ends up warming the bench of her Division 1 field hockey team in college.

You’ll learn how she found her comedic calling in the world of improv, became a wife, mother and New Yorker, and landed the role of a bridesmaid (while simultaneously being a bridesmaid) in Bridesmaids. You’ll get to know and love the comic, upbeat, perpetually polite actress playing Erin Hannon on The Office, and the exuberant, pink-pants-wearing star of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

If you’ve ever been curious about what happens behind the scenes of your favorite shows, what it really takes to be a soul cycle “warrior,” how to recover if you accidentally fall on Doris Kearns Goodwin or tell Tina Fey on meeting her for the first time that she has “great hair—really strong and thick,” this is your chance to find out. But it’s also a laugh-out-loud primer on how to keep a positive outlook in a world gone mad and how not to give up on your dreams. Ellie “dives fully into each role—as actor, comedian, writer, and also wife and new mom—with an electric dedication, by which one learns to reframe the picture, and if not exactly become a glass-half-full sort of person, at least become able to appreciate them” (Vogue.com).

Some of it is funny and cute--I liked hearing about behind the scenes of The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, but overall there's not much to take away from this. It's not that I think everyone needs to overcome impossible odds in order to have something important to say, but Kemper doesn't offer any sort of advice to those interested in the profession, doesn't talk about balancing life as a working actress with being a new mother, it just sort of seems like she's lived a charmed life. I'm surprised at how alike Ellie Kemper seems to Erin from the Office and Kimmy Schmidt, so if you'd like to read a book that sounds like either of those characters could have written it, this is a good offering.

This was light and clever, but the cleverness comes at the expense of authenticity. The end result is a book that feels more like it was written by an Ellie Kemper character instead of Ellie Kemper the actual person.

Kemper writes in a sweet and charmingly self-deprecating style, and while I enjoyed this and the content on her time on The Office, I mostly found this a skippable read.

I was thoroughly entertained by Kemper's memoir, mainly because of how clearly her voice shines through the whole book. Kemper was a very charming and charismatic lead to hear about for a little while. It was fun to get an inside look at The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

I enjoyed the short format of the essays. I do wish that their sequence was a bit more concrete because the jumping back and forth in time did get jarring, even if the memories were thematically similar. I also wasn't a huge fan of how the essays assumed that you had a lot of background knowledge about the Hollywood celebrity name-dropping, especially because the frame of reference for the audience differs depending on the age and generation of the reader.

Overall, this wasn't a groundbreaking memoir, but it was a nice breath of fresh air to read a lighthearted and funny book about an actress who is so entertaining.

***I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is a pleasant memoir with a few interesting stories. I think, if she hadn't made a disclaimer early on in the book that some of the stories were possibly made-up, I would have enjoyed the book more. There were cute stories, but not so many laugh-out-loud moments. I give this book 3 stars out of 5.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

This book featured some interesting insight from Kemper during her role on The Office, the main reasonI picked up the book. These parts were fascinating but the rest of the book was average. Kemper Chronicles her rise through improv which sort of felt like a never ending story but there were parts sprinkled in that made me chuckle.

All in all, The Office insights were worth reading the book and I’d recommend it for that alone.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

In <i>My Squirrel Days</i>, Ellie Kemper tells stories from her life growing up, getting into improv, and becoming an actress. I liked Kemper on the Office and was intrigued by the title of her memoir. However, I felt like her memoir was missing something. I am not sure if it felt like she was trying to hard on some of her jokes; if her stories just didn't have enough meat to them, or what. The book was OK, and I'm glad to know a little more about Kemper, but it was easy to put down when I needed to do something else.

A fun celebrity memoir. If you like Ellie Kemper, you will probably enjoy reading this. I mostly know her from Unbreakable, and this was fun, but I skimmed a lot of it.

I received a free ebook version of this book fromNetgalley. I enjoyed this book more than I expected. I had seen a couple of Miss Kemper's episodes of The Unbreakable Kimmy and, although it may not be everyone's cup of tea, I found learning more about the actress quite entertaining. I would also like to note that while I read this, it was written in the way she speaks in Kimmy--bubbly and full of joy for life. I'd definitely suggest this book to a friend.

This book was great! I could really hear Ellie in it and I’ve always been a huge fan of hers- my only complaint would have to be that the title has squirrel in it- I hate those!! Anwyay, this book was funny and candid and I’d definitely recommend it to any fan of Ellie’s. I’m off to rewatch Kimmy Schmidt now!!

Very cute & quick read. If you like Ellie Kemper, you'll enjoy her book - she's very much like the characters she plays - a little goofy, a little funny, a little cute, but over-all good-natured and kind.

Kemper sustains her cheery, quirky persona through engaging vignettes about her path to comedy and encounters with some of the greats.

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve akways liked Ellie’s work and this book was exactly what I expected—funny and sweet. If you like Ellie, read it. If you don’t know of her yet, still read it and then binge her TV shows.

Great quick read with stories from Ellie's life growing up and into adulthood. I have loved her since the Office, so was really excited to read this! I would have liked a little bit more of her life during the Office, but all in all, I really enjoyed this book!

While the essays were enjoyable they really didn’t hang together as a book. I really wanted to love this book as I love Ellie kemper.

This book was fun and cute. While I enjoyed it and got a few good laughs it just didn’t wow me. I love memoirs but this one fell a bit short. She is just as bubbly and funny as you would expect though. She had some cute stories but overall it wasn’t a favorite for me.

I received an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you to Scribner for providing me with a copy of Ellie Kemper’s memoir, My Squirrel Days, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- Comedian Ellie Kemper reflects on her childhood and shares stories from her journey towards success in the entertainment industry.

LIKE- I’m a huge fan of Ellie Kemper and I was happy to see that she is just as charming and funny the page, as she is in her acting roles.

My Squirrel Days strikes a good balance of stories from Kemper’s pre-fame years to tidbits from her professional career. I think this should be required reading for anyone who is interested in getting into the arts, as Kemper shares both rejections and triumphs, but most important she reveals her tenacity. I imagine that most people think that a regular role on a hit show like The Office, might bring instant fame and wealthy, but Kemper ( although not losing sight on her fortune in landing the role) keeps it in check and shows that not everything is as easy or glamorous as it seems. It reminded me of a similar sentiment that Anna Kendrick mentions in her memoir, Scrappy Little Nobody. Wealthy and fame do not always come quickly in the entertainment industry, even when you land a great role in a hit television series or film.

I really enjoyed the chapter on Tina Fey and the behind-the-scenes of Kemper’s show, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I love this quirky show and I wish that Kemper’s memoir had included even more about Kimmy.

Kemper’s writer’s voice is hilarious. She sets up early on that she was a curious and intense child, a personality trait that carried into her adulthood. She often pokes fun at her own uber-driven behavior. One chapter focuses on her Soul Cycle addiction and how she was very particular about needing a certain bike in the studio. I don’t do Soul Cycle, but as a very particular, routine person, I found myself relating to this chapter.

Her fan-girl love towards David Letterman and excitement over being a guest on his show is a delight to read. Her wacky idea to make him toast is just awesome.

DISLIKE- I hate to say this, but although I enjoyed reading Kemper’s book, I don’t feel that it is a memoir that will make a lasting impression. Even as I am writing this review, about a week after finishing her book, I needed to go back to remember details.

RECOMMEND- Yes, if you’re a fan of Kemper or breaking into the arts and needing to get a little encouragement. My Squirrel Days is a humorous, light-read that will brighten your day. Plus, gotta love anything with a squirrel on the cover!

I really enjoyed this book. I find Ellie Kemper to be really funny (I love Kimmy Schmidt) and this book did not disappoint. She had a lot of entertaining stories and I found myself laughing out loud while reading. I think I'd have to say my favorite story was "Hulk". I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who is a fan of Ellie Kemper.