Part of my World
by Jodi Benson
Pub Date: September 13, 2022
Tyndale Momentum
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
I really enjoy reading memoirs and when I saw this one I knew I wanted to read it. As a believer and a Disney fan I was drawn to this book. I was not disappointed.
Jodi's memoir, 'Part of My World,' was an honest and vulnerable memoir that covered many stages of her life, from her beginning in show business up to the present. Her writing is relatable and more like you're talking to a friend. I found it easy to follow.

I recommend this book.
4 stars

My favorite Disney movie has always been The Little Mermaid. I have adored Ariel's story for almost thirty years and have loved Jodi Benson's voice for that entire time. Needless to say, I had to pick up this book as soon as I saw that Jodi had written it. I wanted to read about her life and the story about the making of The Little Mermaid. This book was such an entertaining read.

There was obviously so much about Jodi that I had never heard before. I loved reading about her time making The Little Mermaid so much, but my favorite part of this book was learning about the other aspects of her life. She put so much of herself into this memoir, and I loved every minute of reading it.

Ariel has been an important part of most of my life. She was somebody that I looked up to, especially her love for her family. My favorite two scenes from the movie are at the very end. The first is when King Triton realizes that he has to let Ariel go, and the second is when Ariel says, "I love you, Daddy." It was great reading about Jodi's recording of that line and what went into creating many of my favorite scenes. Especially recording "Part of Your World." Her relationship with Howard Ashman played a lot into the plot of this book, and I enjoyed hearing about that.

I love books that give insights into movies and the actresses/actors behind the roles. Jodi's book had me smiling, laughing, and tearing up. It was enjoyable to read about her life story and journey to stardom. I love how down-to-earth she seems, and I would love to be able to meet her one day. I already preordered a copy of the book for my collection.

Also, I love how she had Paige O'Hara (the voice of Belle) do the forward. It was wonderful hearing about their friendship over the years.

*Thank you, NetGalley for my ARC of this beautiful memoir. All opinions are my own.*

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. Ariel from the Little Mermaid has always been special to me. I got to watch this at my grandparents house when they bought it on VHS and we watched it as a family all together. This book is written by Jodie Benson the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. I absolutely love how this story starts at the beginning of her life and tells her life story to present about how she got started on Broadway and then working with Disney. I loved getting a peek behind the curtain into the making of the movie. She has done a lot of voice work for Disney and that was so cool to hear about all the different voices she has done. What I think I love the most is how much her faith plays into what she does and the person she is. Her life hasn’t been perfect but her faith has healed her together and been her strength. I recommend this book and give it 5 stars! I immediately wanted watched the movie again when I finished the book today.

*** I have received and read an e – ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions are my own.***

I remember watching The Little Mermaid as a child, and being utterly amazed at the beautiful music. So when I saw this book was available, I had to read it.

Usually when I read a memoir like this, it feels as if everything has been overly edited. Very rarely does it feel like I’m hearing the voice of the author. But Jodi really made me feel like I was carrying on a conversation with her. I laughed, and I cried, and it truly made me think.

Heartbreak and laughter, life and death, and faith and love, all can be found within this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was very pleasantly surprised by this honest looking back Jodi Benson has done. It seems to me that so often subtitles contain empty promises or shallow fulfillment but Part of My World really does contain what Jodi has learned about love, faith, and finding her voice in tangibly real and truthful ways. This book is grounded and shaped by her faith and giving all glory to God.
Besides that, I also really enjoyed getting this look into the making of The Little Mermaid and the shaping of animation as a whole. This is only a small part of the book as a whole, but the stories she tells behind the scenes are touching and fascinating and I appreciate knowing them.
I love how this type of book feels like you are sitting down listening to someone talk to you. It's so engaging and conversational. What could have easily become random bunny trails strung loosely together felt balanced and reigned in to a purpose and the ultimate message: God works the bad into something good, even when we do not see it this side of heaven.
I enjoyed this book immensely and only have pet-peeve qualms: the overuse of ellipses that I assume are meant to add those conversational paces (which momentarily pull me out), and using the Message "translation" as a legitimate Scripture reference. Also, there was no rhyme or reason I could tell to the shuffling between Message, NIV, and NLT. I'm all for multiple translations but it feels fishy in literature and too close to cherry picking what sounds right for your point and therefore twisting meaning. I don't believe that is what is happening here but it is a knee jerk unease I have in response to it.

Disclosure: I received a free advance reading copy of this book to review from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

When I heard that Jodi Benson was sharing her adventure to voicing Ariel in a new “Part of My World” memoir, I couldn’t wait to read it. Like many little Millennial girls, I dreamed of being part of Ariel’s world as I watched Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” on repeat. More than 30 years later, Ariel is now inspiring my daughter to dream about adventures under the sea.

In “Part of My World: What I’ve Learned from The Little Mermaid about Love, Faith, and Finding My Voice,” Jodi Benson recalls her unexpected journey to Disney Legend status sharing lessons she learned and hardships she faced along the way. Written from a Christian perspective, “Part of My World” inspires readers with stories of faith, perseverance and commitment to God’s calling.

With remarkable humility, heartwarming gratitude and beautiful vulnerability, Jodi recalls her fairy tale adventure. From falling in love with musical theatre as a small-town Midwestern girl to struggling to find success on Broadway and letting go of perfectionism to find Ariel’s voice, Jodi’s journey is full of ups and downs.

Through early marriage troubles including a separation from her husband Ray, Jodi explains how she learned to stop chasing perfection. A season of personal and spiritual growth strengthens her marriage and shows her the beauty of imperfection.

Professionally, Jodi learns that “sometimes the real magic is in the flaws” as she brings Ariel’s enthusiasm about the human world to life by singing “Part of Your World” imperfectly. Ariel is not perfect and that’s exactly why we love her. We don’t love her because she’s a beautiful mermaid with a perfect voice. We love her for her zest for life, her open heart and her adventurous spirit.

As a huge Ariel fan, I love that “Part of My World” takes the reader inside “The Little Mermaid” recording studio as Jodi discovers Ariel’s perfectly imperfect voice. It’s inspiring to read how letting go of the quest for perfection and trusting God helped Jodi find success professionally as well as personally in her marriage.

“God may have given me the gift of music, but He never asked that my voice always be perfect. All He has ever asked is that I listen, do my best, and go wherever His voice leads. That’s all He asks of any of us.”

Do you want to be inspired to embrace imperfection, dream big and trust God’s plan for your life? Is Ariel your favorite Disney character?

An uplifting read, “Part of My World” by Jodi Benson is ideal for both Disney fans and those who enjoy Christian inspirational books.

Thank you to the publisher for the ability to read this memoir!

When I saw Jodi's memoir as a believer and a Disney fan, I knew I wanted to read it. I was not disappointed!

Jodi's memoir, 'Part of My World,' was an honest and vulnerable memoir that covered many stages of her life, from her beginning in show business up to the present. Her writing is relatable and more like you're talking to a friend. I found it easy to follow.

I enjoyed how vulnerable she was about her life and how unafraid she was to share her struggles. This book gives you a good sense of who she is and her heart.

If you're looking for a good memoir to read, I would recommend this one!

Calling all Disney fans, this one's for you! Jodi Benson is the original voice artist for Ariel from The Little Mermaid. She takes us to Broadway, LA, Disney Studios, Disneyland and Georgia in a beautifully candid memoir. She doesn't skim over the lows; she emphasizes how the difficult times grew her faith. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes peek in how a Disney animated film is made. Next time I am in Disney, I will be looking for Jodi to tell her how much I admired her story.
A sincere thank you to Tyndale House Publishing for the digital copy in exchange for a review.

Jodi seems like a real sweetheart and kind soul. I appreciated learning more about her experience with The Little Mermaid, but really struggled with the abundant "Christian-ese" and cliches/wrapping everything up in a pretty bow all the time. Even the chapter that focuses on heavier, more difficult topics felt forced. While it really does seem like she's a wonderful person, and while I bet we'd have the best time chatting in person, it didn't translate to a manuscript for me. No pun intended with Ariel, but as a reader, I wanted more. This would have benefitted by digging deeper/sticking with fewer "Look how it all worked out so well! I'm blessed!" stories.

Jodi Benson is someone I've long admired, and I was really looking forward to hearing her tell her story, especially in regards to her faith. As a child, The Little Mermaid was my all time favorite movie, so this one was especially exciting for me, and I loved how it's full of plenty of behind the scenes looks into Jodi's early days with Disney, and how she was lead to the role of Ariel in the first place.

Many things I was expecting from this one, but certain components still ended up surprising me. I remember loving the Dance Workout with Barbie VHS from my childhood, and I was completely blown away that Jodi had been the voice of Barbie for that lesser known title.

My favorite part of the story was Jodi's faith journey, and I enjoyed reading about the many struggles she's overcome along the way, and how she's been determined to keep Jesus at the front and center of every part of her life.

While I loved this one overall, my only complaint was that certain parts of the faith element seemed to be implying almost a progressive or prosperity gospel message, and while it didn't all come across that way, certain components did.

Overall, a wonderful memoir, and one I'd recommend to anyone who has grown up a fan of this extraordinary lady.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much to Tyndale for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Tyndale) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

A faith-filled memoir about not only Jodi Benson's professional life, but also her personal life. The beginning of the book is also a little bit of a biography of Howard Ashman as well. I really enjoyed her story and learning some of the ins and outs of Broadway and voice-acting. I highly recommend this book for lovers of Disney as well as people who struggle with finding their place.

"Dreams aren't supposed to be practical or logical. They might not even make sense. Dreams are our hearts' desire. They have to be bigger than what we believe is attainable. That's what makes them dreams. All we can do is give each one over to God, pray about it, and trust that if it's part of His plan, it'll happen. And if it doesn't, it probably means He's got something even better in store for us."

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Getting a chance to read this book has been very emotional for me. I grew up with Ariel and have continued to love the character and the movie, "The Little Mermaid." While reading this I cried, laughed, gasped, and a bunch of other emotions I can't even begin to understand. If you love the "Little Mermaid" or Ariel in any way you will want to read the book. I plan to buy my own copy even though I just read it. Why? Because it needs to have a place on my shelf.

Thank you for the chance to read this biography, I grew up with Ms. Benson's Ariel and was excited to read about her life and her experience in life. It was a beautifully done biography and I was never bored when reading this. There were some great stories when reading this and I learned so much about Ms. Benson and appreciated going on this journey with her. Thanks again for letting me be part of your world and reading this book.

"Everybody has a favorite Disney movie. Growing up, mine was Cinderella. Wicked stepsisters, a fairy godmother, a charming prince, mice that can sew— what’s not to love? I think what I liked most about it, though, was Cinderella’s undying belief that no matter how grim her situation appeared, everything would somehow work out in the end. She never let her circumstances get her down."

I enjoyed this biography! It's one that challenges you, and you can learn from; not only a way to learn about someone's life. Jodi tells the good and the bad things that have happened in her life, and it's worth reading, especially for fans of the Little Mermaid!! ;)
Thank you to Tyndale House and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I am so glad that I was able to spend some time in Jodi Benson’s world. This book made me laugh, cry, and generally think that we can do better as people, like Jodi tries to do throughout her story.

You probably know Benson best as the voice of Ariel, from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. What you probably don’t know is her history of performing on stage prior to landing that role, along with the other details about her life which she freely shares in this heartfelt autobiography.

One might think that the life of a Disney princess is all sunshine and rainbows, but it’s clear that Benson worked hard to get where she was. Yes, there may have been some luck involved, like working on a Broadway show with Howard Ashman just before The Little Mermaid, but it’s clear throughout the stories Benson tells that she was never looking for that sort of role.

Benson’s story is clear and easy to relate to, even if she’s the voice of one of the most memorable animated characters from Disney’s vast catalog. Throughout, it never feels like she’s bragging about her life. Quite the contrary, Benson repeatedly gives credit to God for every gift and piece of good fortune she has received in her life while simultaneously deferring to God for the hardships she has endured, including the loss of her friend Ashman just a few years following Mermaid.

It may seem cliché to say Benson seems like one of the good ones, but if I’m taking her at her word in this book, she truly does enjoy what she does for a living and appreciates the ability to make people happy as Ariel. She doesn’t come across as too proud and understands that she may not always be Ariel’s voice, and seems just fine with that when the time comes.

A must read for anyone who grew up on Disney animated films, especially those from the 80s and 90s.

Within the Disney fandom, Jodi Benson is a staple. Since 1989, she has been the official voice of Ariel after The Little Mermaid revitalized Disney animation and launched what is now known as the “Disney Renaissance”

Fitting then, that she would use her more than three-decade tenure at The Walt Disney Company as a foundation for a memoir. In Part of My World, Benson unravels her career, personal life, and faith in a way that will appeal to some Disney fans and likely deter others. Throughout her career, Benson has always been open about her Christian faith. However, this is the first time that fans of her work have gotten this deep of a look at her not just her beliefs, but how they have affected her everyday life including her marriage and career choices. That being said, God is on almost every page. This is hardly surprising, as the publisher is Tyndale, which specializes in both Christian fiction and non-fiction. For many readers who simply want to hear about her career, this open discussion about God and faith may be a bit of a turn-off. But for Benson, God has been integral to her career since the beginning. In fact, they are inseparable, which a point that she drives home throughout. When reading her book through that lens, you realize how important it is that she tells this story and that this is, in fact, the only way that it could be told. Without God, it wouldn’t be the story of Jodi Benson. I applaud her for being so open and honest with her memoir and I encourage those that may be apprehensive to read it anyway. Even for non-religious readers, there are a lot of life lessons here that are inspiring.

Little mermaid was my favorite movie growing up so this was such a delight

Join Disney Legend Jodi Benson on a magical journey from a Midwestern town to the bright lights of Broadway and the recording booth where she brought one of the most beloved Disney princesses of all time to life!

A treasure trove of colorful characters and unforgettable anecdotes, Part of My World reads like a real-life fairy tale as a girl with a big voice and even bigger dreams sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, Jodi shares lessons she's learned about faith, friendship, love, loss, taking chances, making mistakes, following God’s call, and chasing your dreams. In Part of My World you’ll come alongside Jodi as shestruggles to find her footing in the rehearsal halls of Manhattan;finds (then loses, then marries) her prince charming;makes a splash on Broadway;gives voice to a feisty redheaded mermaid, a blonde bombshell named Barbie, and a Tony-nominated powerhouse named Polly; andsearches for her own personal happily ever after.
Written with warmth, humor, and disarming vulnerability, Part of My World is a captivating glimpse behind the curtain at the making of one of the most celebrated animated movies of all time, and a must-read for Disney fans of all ages

To put it simply and right up front: If you're already a fan of hers, it's just going to enhance your appreciation.

Benson is candid from the get-go, even going so far as to wondering why anyone would want to read *her* story, and that relaxed attitude prevents this from being a starchy, seemingly practiced endeavor. It makes the pages go by quick as she recounts lessons learned and incredible stories from her legendary career.

That she still is able to enjoy benefits from The Little Mermaid is so very refreshing, and I'll have to revisit ENCHANTED in order to see her role, because I definitely missed that the first time around.

As the subtitle implies, she speaks at length about her faith, and it's nice that she's using this medium to draw from her own experiences in order to hopefully impart some comfort to someone reading out there in the world.

As advertised, for sure. Who's to say with regards to the state of Disney fandom, but I found it fascinating and certainly worthwhile.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the advance read.

I enjoyed reading about Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel. Before this book, I had no idea that she was even a Christian. There are some great lessons to be learned from her story. I did find the book a bit slow at first, but I’m glad I kept reading. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What drew me about this book was the cover; Jodi looks amazing!!! It literally made me smile. She's simply glowing and I figured she might be sharing the secret to her radiant glow in the book. Lol!

Jodi Benson gives us a pretty straightforward memoir. She gives us a glimpse into her Christian faith and how God has ordered the steps of her life: God, family, career. It's heavy on Christianity and faith with Bible verse references and even a little bit of shade thrown toward Catholicism. She talks about her wonderful family and the journey from Broadway to Disney voice actress. I enjoyed this book and learned quite a bit about Jodi's life. I loved how each chapter is a verse from a song she's known for with my favorite chapter being the one where she talks about recording The Little Mermaid. I would've love to see some family pictures especially since she's a self proclaimed picture junkie.