This was a fun read. Something I’d take with me on an airplane. It kept me entertained and the story line wasn’t too serious. The author did a great job of poking fun and telling a great story.

Nice, bite-sized stories about growing up with famous parents surrounded by famous people. I almost feel like it would’ve been better as a podcast because a lot of stories are there and I think we could’ve explored them all a little bit more. She also could talk to members of her famous family, siblings, and family friends. Her life has had. lots of substance abuse, eating disorders, smoking, lots of dysfunction and we learn about all of it. That’ said. I feel like the book did stay a little surface level. I would’ve like more introspection.

fabulously chaotic 💖

I didn’t know much about Lola going into this, and was so unsure of what I was getting myself into, but I had a great time.

Yes, she’s a nepo baby, but weirdly she’s somewhat relatable while simultaneously not being relatable at all?? Her humanity shines through despite her absurd upbringing. I felt like a voyeur most of the time - like, should I really know all of this about someone else’s life? It felt like I was watching a slow-motion train wreck and I just couldn’t peel my eyes away. This not-memoir collection of memoir-ish essays was truly engrossing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

I think the Kirke sisters are fascinating, and I was even more excited to read this after seeing Lola Kirke in Sinners. This is a niche celebrity-adjacent memoir that I would definitely recommend to a friend.

a truly entertaining memoir by miss lola kirke -- filled with funny and compelling NYC stories. a super entertaining read and would recommend to all of my friends.

Absolutely loved this collection of essays & how it all culminated in the final chapter. 10/10, recommend for any NYC girl.

Very funny, a little dark, Lola Kirke tells all about her unconventional upbringing with her talented siblings and offbeat parents. Sprinkled with anecdotes of celebrities her family knows, this was a fun read.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

Wild West Village is a simultaneously hilarious yet raw memoir of Lola Kirke and her coming of age. I found myself laughing and crying, while also rooting her on. I loved the development of relationships and the candidness.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the enook in exchange for an honest review.

Such a quick, fun, easy read! Liked how Lola wasn't afraid of her prviledge and acknowledges it head on

I love Lola Kirke's voice in this- no matter what she says, I still feel like I am in fact standing next to her at a dinner party, getting sloshed with her

Lola Kirke’s Wild West Village offers a candid and chaotic glimpse into her unconventional childhood, growing up in a West Village brownstone surrounded by rock stars, artists, and eccentrics. With humor and rawness, Kirke reflects on her misadventures, from self-discovery to trying to fit in with larger-than-life personalities. The book provides a unique perspective on a celebrity childhood, filled with fascinating characters, and Kirke’s engaging writing keeps the narrative lively and vivid, almost like a documentary of her world. Her humor shines through as she navigates her struggles with identity and quirky encounters.

However, the book leans heavily into self-loathing, making it difficult to fully connect with Kirke’s character at times. The chaotic tone and overwhelming drama can feel disconnected and hard to digest, especially when some moments border on the tragic. Additionally, the privileged, eccentric world Kirke grew up in may alienate readers who struggle to relate to her experiences.

Overall, Wild West Village is a fascinating, raw journey that offers humor and insight into a world few will ever experience, but the heavy emphasis on self-doubt and tragedy may be off-putting for some readers.

While the book offers an intriguing and humorous narrative, its chaotic tone and self-deprecating focus make it a challenging read for some. Still, it’s worth experiencing for those curious about the eccentricities of Kirke’s life.

I get the intention of this memoir and all, but I just couldn't get into the book. I was not aware of the author and her family before reading, so maybe I am losing something in not knowing them, but I do not recommend this memoir.

I was mostly familiar with Lola Kirke’s actress sister before reading Wild West Village, which I suppose is rather apt. Kirke spends most of her “not-memoir” hoping to be seen and loved by her family, particularly her 2 older sisters. Her life is privileged and filled with name dropping (which I enjoy, don’t get me wrong.) She had the fortune of being able to truly find herself through a winding journey into her late 20s. Kirke has an appealing voice and knack for telling a good story. This is light and enjoyable if you like reading about celebrity families. I did find Lola to be sympathetic, and her stories line up with her sister’s Instagram persona. Nice debut, and I wish her luck in her career.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for kindly providing this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Lola Kirke is so empathetic and kind toward the people in this book but definitely doesn't hold back. I really enjoyed her voice and oh my gosh what a crazy life.

This one was not for me. It's not bad, just not my style and ultimately a DNF after about 20 pages. Often with these books of essays I find that it sounds like the author was rushed, which is not their fault! This time, however, I would like to think that with her background, Kirke might have had the advantage of time (given that money is likely not a huge problem). Ah well, thank you NetGalley for the ebook! Always appreciate trying something new.

This memoir (while described as “not a memoir” but is definitely just a memoir) seems like it was aiming to be a witty and unfiltered look at the author’s unconventional upbringing and artistic journey, but it often felt more self-indulgent than intriguing. It was all very surface-level stories that aimed for shock value, but came across disjointed and chaotic.

Wild West Village by Lola Kirke
Set against a rugged, cinematic backdrop, Wild West Village is a bold and immersive story that blends modern storytelling with classic Western charm. Lola Kirke crafts a tale filled with grit, adventure, and deeply human characters, making it a must-read for those who love the allure of the frontier. With its evocative prose and engaging plot, this novel is a compelling journey into a world where past and present collide.

Wild West Village is refreshing and entertaining, especially compared to the slog of whiney celebrity memoirs I've reviewed in the past.

I didn't know anything about Lola Kirke or her family before reading this but I enjoyed learning about her life. A lot of this book focuses on her tough childhood which I found heartfelt and, at times, darkly funny. Obviously, all "wealthy" memoirs are going to be a little out of touch but Kirke's is nearly self-aware---kudos!

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this ARC.

Have to admit, I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would! I really enjoyed the movie Mistress America, so was curious to see what her writing is like. This is a fairly candid, humorous memoir-in-essays about Kirke's unconventional upbringing in a West Village household. It had great elements of bohemian NY in the setting, while also getting into the dysfunction of the family system (her father's affairs and sister Jemima's tribulations). Kirke is, not surprisingly for an actor, very good at creating characters in her writing. The time period and setting alongside the personal story made this a win for me.

First, I’d like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC! This is my honest review of reading this book.

Well, this book certainly lives up to its title — wild. If you’ve ever wondered how the “other half” lives… this gives you a pretty great insight. It almost feels unreal, as though this is something you would see in a wild documentary. Apparently, that is really what happens.

While I salute Lola for writing the book and doing her own thing, and while the writing is better than other (not) memoirs, this book is a 2-star read for me. It’s slightly depressing (there are some really horrific things that happen, especially to Emi), often ridiculous, and generally was an exercise in self-loathing and pity.

I don’t feel like the author really likes herself, at all. I’m not sure if it was just reminiscing on teenage apathy and self-consciousness. However, it just seemed overly self-deprecating and depressing if she really felt that way.

She does acknowledge that she grew up in a privileged world, but honestly, she lived in a privileged world where her parents needed to be held accountable for A LOT, and everyone in her life seemed to need a LOT of therapy.

Perhaps it is because I did not grow up in that sort of lifestyle, but I couldn’t really relate to any of the characters. Generally, I appreciate memoirs and biographies, but this one just wasn’t my top read.