I loved this book of essays. So many passages made me laugh out loud, tear up, or nod my head in agreement. Ann Leary has the ability to make you think you'd be best friends if only you had the chance to meet. I look forward to whatever she writes next.

Very entertaining collection of essays, examining why women feel the need to be nice. As a woman of a certain age, this hit home while also being funny.

Ann Leary …
….Oh…. I have a major girl crush!!!!
I read a lot….and these essays belongs with the best of the best!!!
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!

Ann Leary is a smart - wise - warm - flawed in the best ways - vulnerable in the best of ways - real - incredibly inspiring (has many universal & unique passions)….
….a WONDERFUL woman - author - and inspiring human being!!

All her books are great — and these deeply intimate (personal) engaging essays in:
“I’ve Tried Being Nice” …. have affected me to the core! They are completely relatable.
I’m soooo glad she wrote it and I’ll definitely purchase the Audible format when it’s released too.

I’ve fallen deeper in love with Ann Leary — (I had ‘already’ loved her… in much the same way I love Ann Patchett). Soooo honored and grateful for the gift these ‘Ann’s are!!)

….I laughed & smiled ….
….I got teary (even during my reading breaks when I couldn’t stop thinking about something Ann wrote).
….I felt the nostalgia
….It’s insightful
….It’s helpful, honest, and gave me great inspiration about being the 71 year old woman I am today (married 45 years with two adult daughters)…
— who is grateful yet sometimes very sad about our world today…. a reader who mostly stays home - and blames Covid - (similar to Ann), for becoming a hermit- (yet knowing it probably started before Covid) … but loving/cherishing my internet book friends.

Themes and of topics include stories about being an authentic woman,
about pleasing others, wanting to be loved, trying to be nice, finding courage to honor one’s voice, marriage, growing up, having a famous husband actor, Red Carpet premiere experience, parenting, books, writing, music, art, alcohol, dogs, rescue dogs, EMT, tennis, hearing loss, tinnitus, friends, lifestyle choices, traveling, hobbies, movies, theater, cozy snacking, knitting, Bats, horses, ice skating and ice hockey, banjo lessons, etc. etc.

Smart - funny - (heartwarming stories), personal, truthful, down-to-earth, marvelous!!
A marvelous woman!!!

Deliciously meaningful essays….HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!

A couple of excerpts:
“I was slightly annoyed at myself for not being more direct, but that year everything I’d understood about human civility and manners had been challenged”.

“I’m the type of person who goes from having a silly little notion to a delusional obsession in a split second”.

I REALLY enjoyed this book of essays titled I’ve Tried Being Nice by Ann Leary. I was lucky to get a copy from NetGalley and have to say this exceeded my expectations, The author writes of everyday life with grace and humor, It is laugh out loud funny and I look forward to reading her fiction now too

What a pleasure after enjoying her fiction, to meet the woman behind her words. Generous and honest, Ann Leary provides insight with humor and self deprecation, and gives of herself, warts and all. Particularly nice is her chapter on dogs and her lifelong friends among them.

How exciting to see a new publication from Leary! I found these to be sharp, funny, and candid. Leary doesn't always (okay, often doesn't) come off as likable in this collection. That's not necessarily good or bad, but is an important thing for readers to take note of before jumping in.

Ann Leary’s latest book, I’ve Tried Being Nice, is a memoir deep diving into her self professed people-pleasing personality. Many of us claim to be people-pleasers, so if that’s your enneagram type, you will find this book relatable, funny and candid. You may even find yourself rolling your eyes in agreement with Ms. Leary’s personal quips and idiosyncrasies. It’s an endearing look at a somewhat annoying, somewhat wonderful way of living.

I’m not usually a fan of short stories but I found the topics in Ann’s book to be relatable and enjoyable. I was entertained and chuckled more than a few times.

I've really enjoyed Leary's novels - Essays are a harder thing for me to get into, and these didn't capture me completely.

I simply adored this essay collection from Ann Leary. (And now I need to go find her fiction) Maybe it's because I'm a similar age, love my dogs, and have also finally grown out of my need to please people, but her essays made me laugh again and again. They also made me think. Can't ask for more from a book. I hope Ann has more essays in her because her blend of kindness, snark, and authenticity is just perfect. thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book - what a treat!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book will make you laugh. Ann Leary has a great sense of humor. Each chapter is very different from the last, which makes it fun to read about different points in her life.
I now want to go read her other books.

Since I don’t know Ann Leary, the next best thing is getting to feel like I know her through her books. I loved her first memoir and I adore this book of essays. Her stories read similarly to how a good friend would talk to you. Open, real, nothing held back, relatable. With wit and keen observation, Leary conveys big and small issues from difficulties in her marriage to letting go of the house where she raised her kids (full of memories) to tales about her kids to her love of animals in a warm and engaging way that you never want the book to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Element for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book I didn’t want to end! I picked it up at 2:30 am thinking I’ll read a story or two and go back to sleep. Sleep? Are you kidding? I read straight through until the sun rose. And when it did I thought, I will have to have the audiobook too. Ann Leary will make you laugh out loud, tear up and have goosebumps (spoiler alert it involves bats). Her stories reveal how she really feels about the people, animals and places she loves. And upon closing the book, I thought each one of them is very very lucky.

Ann Leary is very funny. She and I have much in common: people pleasing, anxiety, racing intrusive thoughts and more. Good times! Leary is very upfront with her struggles, and her honesty is both refreshing and relatable.

I enjoyed reading about the author’s life. I’ve heard of Denis Leary, her famous husband, but I have not watched anything he’s been in. It was intriguing to read little insights about red carpet events, schmoozing in Jack Nicholson’s bar with other famous people, and how she reacts to fans who approach her husband (hint—it’s all funny).

I recommend this! It has a little bit of everything, and I guarantee you will laugh.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Element and Marysue Rucci Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

I did enjoy this book. It kept me wanting more and more and was an easy, quick read. However, I found it confusing. I don’t know if I’m just not use to reading essay type novels rather than chronological novels. Just as I would read one chapter and figure out what part of her life she was discussing and then in the next essay she would bring you to a time in her life that preceded the previous chapter. Also,I guess the title and description of this book is misleading to me. Some of the chapters really had nothing to do with her self awareness as being a people pleaser. Leary wants to stop being a people pleaser and put her self first for a change. But there was more to this book than Leary realizing these blemishes in her human makeup. . Her quirky storytelling and the content of her chapters were really laugh worthy especially the bat stories. I feel I can relate to her life and empathize with her personal struggles. I would definitely like to read some of her other books.

Ann has such a talent for telling a story. I felt like I was right there with her as she wrote some of these essays. I enjoyed how we got to see her find her voice and become a recovering people pleaser. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Hilarious book. You can't miss this one.
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.