4.5 stars. This was a fascinating celebrity bio! I think it would be safe to say that Molly Shannon's entire life was shaped by a horrific car accident that took the lives of her mother, cousin, and baby sister when she was four years old. She was raised with her surviving sister by their loving, alcoholic father. The man is unlike any parent I've ever heard of--an absolutely fascinating character! Ms. Shannon displays both his good and his bad in a thoroughly loving portrait.

She's equally willing to show herself in her best and not-so-best light. There's no doubt that this is a candid memoir, but Ms. Shannon is no dummy. She picks and chooses her disclosures. She readily admits to scams and outright illegal acts, but her romantic life is barely hinted at. And that's fine. She doesn't owe all of her secrets to anyone.

She opens with the accident referenced above, as it's the unavoidable lens through which to view her life. From there, she spends significant time on her formative years. This is the part of bios that I usually tune out, but her upbringing was kinda insane and riveting! And from there she describes her education, her training, and the struggle every performer goes through as they pay dues. Though, not every performer has a "Mamet Scam" up their sleeve!

If you're feeling nostalgic, her reflections of her time on SNL will be right up your alley. Her story returns largely to her family life post-SNL, and she doesn't linger long. This is a very quick read, and you can imagine, it's also very entertaining. Ms. Shannon's still got it, and listening to her read the audiobook was a special treat.

If you asked if I was a Molly Shannon fan, I might have shrugged. She was funny on SNL, but I probably haven't thought of her in years. My point being, this is a biography of a genuinely interesting person. Her celebrity is the least of it.

Molly Shannon does a great job of narrating her life story in her signature charming way. She offers insight into her childhood and how she got to where she is.

Wow! I've always loved the characters Molly Shannon plays, but never knew much about her personal life - especially the tragedy of losing her mom, sister and cousin in a car accident. I will say I received this as an audio from NG and this was a pure joy to listen to. I could not put it down! The way Molly speaks and just genuinely tells the story of her life is heartbreaking and hilarious. I don't think reading it myself would've done it justice - I knew when I saw the pre-release I knew I had to listen to her tell it - so many thanks to NG and the publisher.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. Even though Shannon did reveal stuff from her troubled childhood I did not find the memoir very deep or insightful. I found Shannon did LOTS of name dropping, from those other stars she LOVES to those she worked with to those she socializes with. I also found her text a bit repetitive - at times she shared the same story more than once. I have listened to lots of celebrity memoirs and this was not one of my favorites.
Shannon is a great narrator.

Who doesn’t love a celebrity memoir voiced by the actual celebrity? Mary Katherine Gallagher is iconic, so I loved hearing the backstory of her creation. People will absolutely love the information about SNK, but my favorite part of this book were her stories about her dad. I also love the little tidbits about Serendipity because that is one of my all time favorite romcoms!!

Thank you so much for my gifted copy!

Hello, Molly! is the memoir that Molly Shannon has written detailing her rise in stardom as well as her family issues. I found it fascinating to listen to. The author did a fantastic job of narrating her audiobook. She had a great tone that keeps the listener well engaged. Molly's life has not been easy and she tells her stories with feeling. I think Molly's parents and sister are looking down on her with great pride for what she has accomplished in her life so far. Read and enjoy!

I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this title. Hearing Molly Shannon read her own story is truly wonderful. You get a feel for how she felt at the time of the events that happened to her throughout her life and how much some of the events really meant to her, like landing her role on SNL. For fans of Molly Shannon her book is a must read or listen. For people like me who may not have been a huge fan of her work, this book may change your mind as it did for me. I'm more interested now in going back and watching some of the films she appeared in and possibly go back to watch the SNL clips of her while on the show.

I really enjoy Molly Shannon and some of this was pretty interesting, but as a book this didn't quite come together super successfully for me.

You might pick up this book expecting it to be a laugh riot, which it is, but only some sections. Molly’s childhood was somewhat sad and this book delves deeply into that. It’s a fascinating book. After I finished it, I went back and watched several of her SNL skits. I definitely didn’t appreciate her enough, she is a powerhouse!!

I highly recommend the audiobook version since Molly narrates it herself and it’s a joy to hear her expressive voice. Five stars for Molly! Superstar!

Thank you so much to Net Galley and to HarperAudio for the advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is a must read for any Molly Shannon or Mary Katherine Gallagher fan. I so enjoyed listening to the audiobook version and hearing Molly tell her story in her own words. She is not only funny, but such a class act and I can’t help but admire her.

We are huge Mary Katherine Gallagher fans in our house! We watch the movie, Superstar, on a regular basis. Hearing the details of Molly’s life that shaped and molded this character was so interesting. She starts by sharing about the terrible tragedy that altered her life drastically as a young girl. She also talks a lot about growing up Catholic and her relationship with her father. She shares the good, bad, and ugly of her life, struggles, and triumphs.

And can we just talk for a second about what a hustler she is!? She used her wit and charm and even some hilarious scams to get where she is today. These stories are a must for anyone trying to break into the entertainment business or simply reaching for any dream.

This was a funny, heartbreaking, heartwarming and inspirational read, FULL of Shannon’s trademark humor and joy. I highly, highly recommend it to anyone looking for humor, inspiration, and an entertaining story.

I don’t have enough good things to say about this book. First thank you to Harper Audio for granting me early access to listen to this book!
I have grown up with Molly Shannon on movies and TV and never really knew anything about her until listening to this book. The book is heartbreaking and tear jerking yet completely hilarious. Hearing Molly narrate herself also makes it all the better. Everyday since listening I find myself watching her movies or old SNL skits so that I can see the full picture and when all of those experiences meet up with her stories in the book, it just makes it all the more enjoyable. Molly Shannon is such and admirable person. With everything she has gone through and achieved, it’s miraculous the impact her life has made on so many others in such a positive way. I have such respect and love for Molly Shannon.

This will easily be one of my favourite releases of 2022 and I cannot wait to pick up a physical copy for myself on April 12th!

I love Molly Shannon, and I loved this book. I don’t think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much if she wasn’t the narrator. Luckily, she is!

I learned so much about her, and I had no idea what a tragic past she had. I will recommend this to all SNL fans and anyone looking for a good autobiography.

Why do I love memoirs by comediennes so much?! Molly Shannon's book does not disappoint and I am so grateful for a book that I did not know that I needed in my life. I had no idea about her upbringing and childhood. **Spoiler Alert** Apparently she and I have mother's that both died tragically and early in a car accident. It was heavy in moments that I could relate in regard to her mother. I loved the relationship with her father; because who among us does not make discoveries about their parents as we all grow up together? Finally, as she writes about her relationship with her children, it reminded me to hug my children extra tight. #Superstar

This audiobook is rated 5 Stars because no one else could have narrated this story! Molly was pure perfection!

***Thank you NetGalley for proving me access to this preview. This review is based on an ARC. In other words, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ***

In a nutshell: the amazing, yet tragic, life of Molly Shannon. From an early memory of her mother and an accident that really changed EVERYTHING, it was fascinating to hear about the experiences that make Molly Shannon unequivocally HER. I adore audiobook memoirs narrated by the author as you get so much more depth and feeling as they tell their story, but this one was a bit more difficult and sometimes fell flat. I feel that is probably because I am so used to her voice being attached to comedy. Regardless, an excellent narrative of overcoming challenges, perceptions and the hardships of making it in showbusiness.

I love Molly Shannon! What an incredible person she is. I don't think I've read a memoir from someone who is so unapologetically herself. Gosh, I just love her stories and her personality. This book has everything from coping with grief and alcoholism in the family to SNL behind the scenes stories. I found her observations and storytelling style super cutesy, and I don't think everyone will love that. But for me, I literally could not help but smile the entire book. Sweet, sweet Molly! I feel like you're my bestie after listening to this one!

What a wonderful insight into the fabulous Molly Shannon. She holds nothing back and she tells her life story of heartache, sorrow, and her desire to be a successful actor, the confidence she shows in herself through out is a testimony to hard work and perseverance.

Molly is the perfect narrator for her book. She allowed herself to show her emotion as she folder her story.

Who isn't a fan of "Superstar," Mary Katharine Gallagher, and so many other characters that reduced me to bouts of laughter? I expected a memoir of laughs compounded by more laughs. Yet, this beautiful book focused more on Molly's life and those moments that shaped her into the caring and inspiring person that she has become.
She suffered the monumental pain of losing her mother and younger sister through an accident. She explained in detailed prose how that tragedly not only shaped all aspects of her life but how she was able to cope and become as whole a person as she is today. Her relationship with her adoring father shed such insight into her development.
There was humor interspersed throughout and her anecdotes regarding Saturday Night Live enhanced it. It was funny. Yet, what remains with me is how she was able to overcome her sadness and live life to its fullest.
Could there be a better narrator than Molly herself? The book was inspiring on its own merits but having her narrate the book made it even more genuine.
A wonderful, enlightening look at life!

Hello, Molly! is everything you would expect from Molly Shannon and more. She shares plenty of hilarious stories from both her career and her personal life, but also delves into her past and issues she had while growing up. I found it to contain substance and entertainment. And no surprise here, she's also a great narrator.

Who can forget the "Superstar," Mary Katherine Gallagher? Without a doubt, one of my favorite characters brought to life by Molly Shannon. Her memoir is quite easy and breezy despite the great tragedy in her early life. Perhaps it is her middle of the country, Catholic roots that grounded her. I was so impressed by her hustle and her positive outlook. She has such a healthy outlook on life and I enjoyed hearing her share events from her childhood, early showbiz years, SNL, and especially her love for her family. One fascinating bit of trivia: as a teenager, Molly performed in local Cleveland drama productions and Jim Brickman was the pianist. Molly is definitely someone I would love to meet in person.

Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I already loved Molly Shannon, but I love her more after reading her book. It’s a really beautiful, heartbreaking account of some of the worst and best times in her life; and in true Molly Shannon fashion there’s a lot of humor involved as well, she had me busting up laughing like crazy during some of her stories behind the scenes of SNL, and bawling like a baby as she talked about the death of some of her family members.

A very beautiful memoir. Wish it had been longer! 4.5 ⭐️