Thank you to the authors, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited when I heard that Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig were writing a book about their before, during, and after their time on "The L Word"! I was pleasantly surprised by how honest they both were. They mentioned a lot of the magic that came with filming such a groundbreaking show. They also shared their frustrations at parts of the show that missed the mark in terms of plot points, costumes, and diversity. This is also true for the recent reboot, "Generation Q". This book is a must on audio as Kate and Leisha's emotions were palpable. I highly recommend watching the original show to get the most out of the book.

The L Word was a formative show for me and my queerness, so reading about how the show was created by two of my favorite actors from the series was such a delight. I really feel like I have even more of an appreciation for the series now, and I can't wait to do a rewatch soon.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the review copy!

As part of LGBTQIA+ community and the fan of the L word I loved this book. I have come to realize that one of my favorite genre of books are memoirs read by the authors. It gives it a very personal vibe to it.

I recently joined a book club with Kate and Leisha on Allstora and can’t wait to receive the book. I also plan on checking out there Pants show as well.

Although I'm 6/12 years younger than Moennig and Hailey, time moved slower back in the 90s/early 2000s? Which sounds incongruent but: queer representation in that era was few and far between and still remains the non-majority (especially women-focused stories and ESPECIALLY queer women-focused stories), so the non-incongruent part here is that I identified a lot with Moennig and Hailey's stories of heteronormativity and sort of learning who we are without much media to guide us absent real life influences.

I watched I think a season of The L Word sometime after it aired so I don't have that nostalgia but my roommate was really into it, and I know how important it was at the time, messy as it was (humans are messy!) and I really appreciate Moennig and Hailey getting into things like yeah, so and so storyline missed the mark (especially through today's lens) and we probably would have done it differently if we could. I learned a lot, both about working in a surprise hit show in the 2000s and how hard it is to be an actor, especially if you don't fit the mold of "young, femme, and conventionally pretty."

This dual memoir sort of flew by and I really enjoyed my listen. Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for review!

I loved the L word! These two ladies and fun to listen to, I will have to try their podcast although I'm not a podcast person. This book was just ok though, not sure why I didn't love it more.

• stars of the iconic queer tv show from the aughts, leisha hailey & kate moennig, with their trademark combination of wit, humour, & unflinching honesty, share stories about how they were cast on ‘the l word,’ filming, living in vancouver, coming out, and what they’ve been able to do because of the show. from their first day on set, kate & leisha were inseparable, and that sentiment remains true today.
• as a fan of the show (in the way that so many queer millennials are), it was so much fun to get insight from two of my favourite characters on what the casting process was like, and details into filming a show for 6 years.
• kate’s discussion of her discovery of her queer identity, and how that was a huge topic of discussion in the public space (basically forcing her out at a young age), was my favourite part of the book!

These two actors met on the L word show and became friends and then found family. They take turns telling behind the scenes about their friendships, their struggles, and how the show impacted their lives. I really enjoyed the behind the scenes nature as well as hearing more about the real friendships that happened off camera.

Kate and Leisha narrate their book and do an excellent job of it. This was an alc from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this memoir from two best friends who I have enjoyed watching on The L Word. It’s neat to hear about the behind the scenes of how the show was made and how they became friends through the experience.
Kate and Leisha narrating their story was perfect.

Picture it - it's the early 2000s, I'm watching the L Word with my boyfriend. I am very closeted, but very open about my love and absolute admiration of women. But still living the straight life. And here comes Jenny. GAH she wrecked my life - all the women on the L Word wrecked my life. I spent YEARS wondering how I could live that life.
Now it's 2025 - I'm out loud, still very open about my love and adoration of women. Walking the line between femme and butch on the daily.
And now I have these women - this audiobook is gonna be on repeat for a long time to come.
Hearing these women were just as close in RL made the show that much better. Hearing their truth, their lives - AND that Yoplait commercial - So Gay for YOU! Gah!

Really great insight into the show as well as these two actresses lives. I'm sure I'm not the only person who tried to sneak episodes of The L Word as a young queer person. It was neat hearing about how the show really gained traction and how they all worked hard for the success of the show. I enjoyed the whole journey - from Kate and Leisha walking into the audition room to their thoughts on the reboot. They each narrate their sections and I always enjoy when that gets to happen. I think this could be interesting for anyone wanting insider info on Hollywood, early Showtime hits, LGBTQ+ history, or queer TV. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of Kate and Leisha, from The L Word, to their podcast Pants, I almost had no choice but to enjoy their audiobook. As someone familiar with them and their stories and storytelling, this audiobook delivered nearly exactly what I hoped it would be. I enjoyed listening to them perform their impressions of one another, casemates, crew, and friends and family members across each of their lives. I also really enjoyed the back and forth delivery of their sections, with each of them reflecting on typically the same time period from their overlapping perspectives. Despite there being a wealth of blogging, recaps, articles, and podcasts episodes about the creation, development and production of The L Word, I was really glad to see that these stories felt fresh and like it felt like Kate and Leisha went out of their way to include never before heard stories. I also really appreciate hearing their perspectives looking back on the show all these years on, with all the experiences they've had since with plenty of time passed to allowed their memories of it to land. It still feels so important and significant, the role this show played in the lives of so many LGBTQ people. And there's definitely still a hole left that has yet to be filled by its loss. It was nice to spend hours with these equally significant people hearing about not only what it meant to them, but their personal backgrounds and intimate lives. I'm very very glad they did the book!

Book 113 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This and Queer as Folk were such eye openers. How these two actresses write is how I expected them to be irl if it makes sense?

Finding out how they first met, found each other, and more importantly, what this pair of pants go through... they generously let us into their world.

I read the ebook, and then after I got their voices in my head after the first two chapters, I synced my reading with the audiobook.

It fits like a glove.

Will make you laugh, will make you sigh, on a whole will make you feel.

Love this.

I received a complimentary copy of this ebook and audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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This book was an absolute delight to listen to. Kate and Liesha both captivate the audience immediately. With their calm and steady narration. It is fascinating to get a behind the scenes look into the original queer women’s show and the walls they broke down. Readers will relate to their coming out stories and struggles along the way. Both old fans and new fans will not be able to put this book down. 5 stars!

I watched the original series but not the reboot or Kate & Leisha’s podcast. That said, I loved this joint memoir. Thank you both for sharing your stories! It makes me want to watch The L Word again!

So Gay For You by Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig (Published June 3, 2025)

For fans of the L Word, the Pants Pod, and Generation Q a piece of queer community and knowledge lives in So Gay For You. Leisha and Kate delivered a witty, whimsical, and thoughtful glimpse into life behind the scenes of the L Word. From heartbreak to queer joy, readers share in the experiences that set the stage not only for the L word but life in Holly wood and beyond for Leisha and Kate. I appreciate learning a piece of queer history, the advocacy that went into making the L Word possible. I appreciated the vulnerability shared by Kate and Leisha as we are gifted with insight into their breakups, friendships, romance, and self-discovery. Listening to their stories felt like an intimate look at navigating life as an artist, stumbling into community, and finding acceptance. As an incredible bonus, both Leisha and Kate narrate their passages in the audiobook; their voices had me immediately immersed making it feel like I was having a conversation with a friend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an advanced copy of the audiobook, it was a such a privilege to read So Gay For You! I encourage anyone who is looking for a queer slice of life, memoir, and glimpse into the L Word history to listen to the audiobook or pick up a copy of the book.

This was such a cute book and gave so much more detail than I thought it would. I am fascinated by their coming out stories and their childhoods. I love the idea of "earthlings" and how confused they were by the original name of the show. I thoroughly enjoyed the transparency of Leisha and Kate regarding the show, their found family, the media/fans and especially how off the rails the show went in season 6.
My favorite tidbit was hearing Kate talk about the fans after she left Carmen at the alter, and how they were yelling "F*** you, Shane!" It made me laugh out loud. Highly encourage this book for fans of the L Word!

Absolutely loved this book. It’s funny, heartfelt, and full of behind-the-scenes stories from The L Word. Kate and Leisha’s friendship is the real star of the story. It’s so genuine and sweet, you can’t help but root for them. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just love a good story about chosen family and queer joy, this one’s a must-read.

So Gay For You follows Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey as they look back on the early days of The L Word—a show they thought would be a small, unknown project that ended up becoming a groundbreaking piece of queer TV history. From their first meeting at auditions to becoming real-life best friends, the book dives into their journey through fame, identity, and chosen family, all while highlighting just how much the show meant to the LGBTQ+ community. It’s full of behind-the-scenes stories, laughs, and heartfelt moments that show just how deep their bond runs. As a huge fan of The L Word, I knew I had to read this, and it did not disappoint! It’s funny, emotional, and full of love—you can really feel their friendship. I loved reminiscing with them and soaking in all the nostalgia!

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and the authors for a gifted copy of the book, an ARC and ALC!

Funny and witty. So Gay for You is entertaining. I listened to the audio, which is narrated by the authors. I recommend this book to everyone who wants a good chuckle.

This book was an absolute delight. Leisha and Kate were so genuine and charming, and I loved every second spent listening to them recount stories from both their professional and personal lives.

Like millions of other gay women, my memories of watching the The L Word take up a very treasured corner of my heart. I was in college, had just realized I was lesbian, and spent many a night staying up way too late watching episode after episode with the first fellow queer friends I'd ever had. This was ten years ago. And THAT was ten years after the show had originally aired. So now, to revisit this show through the snapshots in this book at a time in my life where I get to go home to my wife and children every day, was such a warm and assuring experience. I loved hearing that the cast got along so well and that everyone really had a fair say in the creative process for the majority of the run. I was also, honestly, relieved to hear a concurring sentiment that not all aspects of the show have “aged well,” so to speak. But I also agree that this does not and should not diminish the impact of this show. There really was nothing like it at the time.

Watching the original run of the show is basically a rite of passage for lesbians. And I think this book should be required reading as a follow-up. I absolutely recommend this book--print, audio, whatever floats your boat!--for anyone who appreciates the value of friendship and community, two things which I think society is desperately in short supply of as of late. So, go text a friend. Call them at midnight. Make brownies together at their apartment. You'll cherish the fact that you did.