As it was for many millennial lesbians, The L Word was an earth shattering discovery for me as a teen. Despite its flaws, I still have such an attachment to and fondness for the show and its cast, including the revival - to an extent lol. I think the biggest compliment that I can give So Gay for You is that it gives you exactly what you think it will, even If I could've easily listened to several more hours of Kate and Leisha's memories and thoughts. I think the decision to frame the book around the show makes sense and I did still feel like we got a good understanding of both of them pre and post show. I'm not a big podcast person, but I do listen to PANTS here and there (naturally this makes them great audiobook narrators!). Even so, I still enjoyed the parts of the book that were rehashed from the podcast, so I think it's great for fans of both the show and those who have kept up with these two specifically after its end. Their genuine love and camaraderie shines throughout the book and I always appreciate their candour in regard to the show's short comings, both on screen and off. The network's disinterest in the revival as a whole and in facilitating a conversation between the generations is so unfortunate, but I do feel this book accomplishes that goal in its own way! Hollywood aside, it's really a story of coming into your own as a queer person, creating community, and honouring those that came before you, while leaving something for the ones coming after you! I loved it.

So Gay for You is a candid, captivating, and often hilarious exploration of friendship, fame, and the serendipity of life-changing roles. Authored—and narrated in the audiobook version—by Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey, the memoir will be a must-read for fans of The L Word and devoted listeners of the PANTS podcast, but its appeal reaches well beyond its built-in audience.

Told in a warm and engaging tone, the book traces the personal and professional journeys of both Moennig and Hailey, from their early lives through their iconic roles on The L Word, and into the present day. Along the way, readers are treated to behind-the-scenes anecdotes and insights that deepen the appreciation for their chemistry on-screen and off. These revelations are less about scandal and more about connection—authentic moments that reveal the people behind the personas.

What stands out most is the genuine affection and playful banter between the two co-authors. Their dynamic is infectious: witty, unfiltered, and deeply rooted in mutual respect. The memoir doesn’t just chart the trajectory of their careers—it offers a portrait of a rare and enduring friendship, one that might never have existed had they not each said yes to the roles that brought them together.

Whether you’re revisiting the nostalgia of The L Word or discovering the authors anew, So Gay for You is an entertaining, heartfelt celebration of identity, collaboration, and chosen family. The audiobook, enriched by Kate and Leisha’s own voices, adds an extra layer of intimacy and humor, making it a highly recommended format for experiencing this vibrant memoir.

Audiobook Review: So Gay for You by Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig
Narrated by Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and truly appreciate the opportunity to learn about new authors and leave reviews.

As a straight girl who absolutely loves The L Word, especially Shane and Alice, this audiobook was such a treat! Hearing the real voices of Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey narrating their own parts made the experience feel incredibly personal and authentic. Their chemistry, humor, and deep connection to the show and its fans really shine through.

So Gay for You is a fun, heartfelt, and insightful listen that offers a behind-the-scenes look at how The L Word came to be and how Generation Q was born. I found the stories about the show's creation, their personal journeys, and the cultural impact of The L Word both fascinating and inspiring. It felt like a love letter to the fans and the LGBTQ+ community, while also being welcoming and enjoyable for listeners of all backgrounds.

One of my favorite parts was the fan Q&A at the end—it was such a great way to connect with the audience and brought an added layer of warmth and humor to the whole experience.

The only thing I found a little confusing was when they referred to their co-stars and friends by their real names. Since I’m more familiar with the characters than the actors’ names, I sometimes had trouble keeping track of who they were talking about. They did mention who was who once, but I personally could’ve used a few more reminders. That said, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.

This was a great experience, and I would definitely recommend So Gay for You to any L Word fan—new or longtime. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or just a fan of great storytelling and strong female voices, this audiobook delivers.

Thank you again to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this fantastic audiobook!

🌈 So Gay For You by Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey 🌈

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In So Gay For You, Leisha Hailey and Kate Moennig reflect on their decades-long friendship, from landing roles on The L Word to becoming queer icons, podcasters, and activists. Part memoir, part love letter to chosen family, it’s a story of identity, impact, and an unbreakable bond.

Before coming out in the eighth grade, I remember binging The L Word on my laptop in my room, so excited about the queer representation. Shane and Alice were obviously my favourites, and I’ve loved Kate and Leisha’s podcast, so I was so excited to get an ARC of So Gay For You! In each chapter, the book alternated between Leisha and Kate’s perspectives while they talked about the same topic. I started with the ebook and read most of this through the audio book, which was narrated by Kate and Leisha. It felt very conversational and honest, and was enjoyable to hear about who they were before The L Word, and how the show impacted them and their communities. It felt very nostalgic I loved getting to hear about Kate and Leisha’s friendship and how they’ve become family. Definitely in the mood for a rewatch now!

Read this if you like:
- celebrity memoirs
- The L Word
- behind the scenes in Hollywood
- lesbians

Vibes: 👖👩🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏼🎙️🎥☔️

Song that matches the vibe: Boys Wanna Be Her by Peaches

Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph.

🌈 So Gay For You is out June 3, 2025. Thank you NetGalley, Kate Moennig, Leisha Hailey, and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC and audio arc. This eARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. 🌈

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

To the authors and narrators Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey - thank you for your vulnerability in sharing your stories.

This audiobook grabbed me from the start. I love a memoir narrated by its writers! Not only are Leisha & Kate engaging, but the sound quality was crisp and clear.


I originally knew our authors from their podcast and their roles on The L Word; that was about it. But this book dives deeper, offering snapshots of their childhoods, early careers, paths of self-discovery, and, most heartwarmingly, their friendship and chosen family. The storytelling is so vivid, I felt like I was actually in ’90s New York, shivering on a Vancouver film set, and white-knuckling it down the highway towing a beat-up camper as Leisha embarked on a questionable-but-endearing renovation project.


They each brought their own perspective recalling the filming of the original L Word as well as the re-boot. I am now fully invested in streaming the full series and catching some more episodes of their Podcast “Pants”. I can’t wait to see where the road leads these 2 artists next!!

Highly recommend!!

So Gay for You is a candid, charming, and delightfully queer romp that feels like a love letter to sapphic connection and community. Moennig and Hailey bring a raw authenticity to the page, infusing the narrative with humor, heart, and a deep emotional resonance. Their chemistry—well-known from their on-screen history—translates beautifully to their co-authored storytelling, creating a read that’s both nostalgic and fresh. Whether you're an L Word fan or simply in search of something real and tender, this book delivers!!!!!

So Gay for You: Friendship, Found Family, and the Show That Started It All by Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey is a nostalgic and heartfelt listen that fans of The L Word will absolutely love. As someone who has always adored Shane, this audiobook felt incredibly special. Listening to Kate and Leisha narrate their own stories made it even more engaging and intimate.

The memoir offers a behind-the-scenes look at the beginnings of The L Word, how the cast came together, and how the show became such a powerful force in queer media. More than that, it is about the deep bond between two friends who have supported each other through personal and professional highs and lows. Their friendship, humor, and honesty shine throughout the audiobook.

This is a beautiful tribute to chosen family and the impact of authentic representation. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute and could easily listen to it again. If you loved the show or appreciate stories of connection and queer joy, this is a must-read.

‘So Gay for You’ by Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey brings hope to friendship and community, and of course is a must read for fans of The L Word!

We learn about the first meeting of these two, how they both ended up on The L Word, the ups and downs throughout the years.

The book is written by two people, and you get to hear stories from each of them, chapter by chapter, weaving throughout the years. This also helped showcase their friendship and flowed so nicely.

I appreciated their vulnerability and ability to reflect on the past with fresh eyes.

🎧 My brain consumed this book via my ears… so audiobook!

The narration was overall - great! Although with two different people reading (each author read their own words - which was amazing), however, people typically read at slightly different paces. With that, one author read slightly slower than the other, which was more noticeable at the start of the book. This made it a bit difficult to land on a playback speed. I ended up settling on 1.75 speed after the first little bit.

At the very end of the audiobook there was a bonus Q&A section from fans. This was fun, but at times felt like they were rushing each other to get it done.

Of course, with an audiobook, I missed all the photos - so I’ll be picking up a physical copy for our bookshelf. ;)



Note:
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC copy.

As an L Word fan, I was obviously going to be interested in this and it did not disappoint. The audiobook was such a fun time, it felt just like the Pants podcast with the back and forth chapters between Leisha and Kate. I loved that even though we are getting the story of two very different people it was written in such a way that flowed really nicely as a complete narrative. I didn't know much about these two, or any of the cast, outside of the show and I loved being able to learn about all of them. There's also a really fun Q&A at the end that's an audiobook exclusive, so I'm really glad I went that route.

This book is for everyone whose lives were changed by the L Word. I loved the glimpse into the behind-the-scenes and the real community that was built on the set of the show.

I related to Kate’s story of discovering herself even when those around her thought it was so obvious. Her journey of self-discovery took longer. I didn’t realize she wasn’t out when filming the show, and that perspective was so interesting to see.

I appreciated them sharing the parts of the L-word they found problematic and addressing those issues. Also, appreciated the criticism of the reboot and how it did not live up to its potential.

I was OBSESSED with the way Kate would replicate Leisha’s voice. Had me cackling. You can tell they are truly best friends.
Genre: Celebrity dual Memoir

Age: Adult
Themes: Found Family, Hollywood, Film Industry
Read For: Netgalley
Obtained From: Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced listening copy of this audiobook.
Hashtags: #hollywood #lword #actress #memoir

Okay, FINE - I'll watch The L Word, in it's entirety, for the 6th time! Twist my arm. Leisha and Kate are my two favorite actresses from my favorite show (and played my two favorite characters). I have followed their Pants podcast and when I heard they were writing a book, I was chomping at the bit, waiting to get my hands on it! It did not disappoint! This was so nostalgic listening to them talk about the show that was such a safe space for me, over the years. And what a pleasure to hear the behind the scene POV's and the beautiful forming of chosen family.

Off the bat, I was confused, ‘This isn’t Kate’s voice’, and I kept staring at the listing and the narrators. Eventually I remembered who Leisha is and in turn, remembered her voice. Wow, I’m going senile. Clearly Kate’s the one I’m a fan of.

Anyway, it was a mildly interesting read. They talk a lot about their respective an shared experiences on ‘The L Word’, as well as a little bit prior to that, growing up, coming out, a little bit about family life, etc.

Overall:
A little dull, mildly interesting.
I super appreciated them admitting and regretting ‘The L Word’s’ handling of trans people.

3 stars


🎧 Audio:
Overall sound quality is flawless. Kate’s parts are perfect and easy on the ears—the others weren’t for me, very physically painful, grating. Not everyone’s voice is for everyone, no hate.


#netgalley

I had a blast with this book! As a fan of The L Word it was a delight to hear about the behind the scenes of the casting and filming process as well as learning about how the actors grew personally throughout the show. I loved learning about their experiences of pushing boundaries in the entertainment industry and it's particularly relevant now that our political environment is trying to censor queer stories. Definitely make sure you've seen the show before you dive into the memoir though because the actors references specific plot points that you'll be spoiled about if you dive in blind.

You must listen to this on audio! It was a delight to hear both actresses share their experiences in their own voices. Also - the audio version has a special Q&A bonus section that isn't in the epub so that's an extra reason to check out the audio.

I absolutely loved this audiobook. So Gay for You is honest, hilarious, raw, and full of the kind of queer joy and friendship that just makes your heart feel full. Listening to Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey talk about their lives, their friendship, and all the messy, beautiful parts of being queer felt like sitting in on the most real, unfiltered conversation between two best friends.

Their chemistry is unreal (no surprise there), and the stories they share are equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving. There were moments that had me cackling, and others that honestly hit me right in the feels. It’s vulnerable, it’s playful, and it’s just so them. If you're a fan of The L Word, or even if you’re just looking for something that feels authentic and beautifully queer, this one’s a must-listen.

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC—I’m so glad I got to experience this one early. It’s the kind of audiobook I’ll definitely be coming back to whenever I need a reminder of how powerful, funny, and necessary queer stories and friendships are.

when the l word first came out, i was a deeply closeted person. i had a bad dad that often expressed affection financially so whenever he was doing one of his apology tours i would request a box set of the newest season of the l word on dvd. i prayed and prayed that he wouldn't read the back of the box to figure out i was watching a show about lesbians. he never did, but that's not the point.

the l word was pretty instrumental back then. lesbian representation was pretty rare and the most it felt like we had was ellen, who was mostly a punchline, or rosie, who people loved to make fun of despite her absolutely inherent joy and sense of humor. the l word was the first visual representation that i had of lesbians that i wanted to become - hot, fun, happy with a bunch of friends, participating in sex that was steamy not just 35 minutes of longingly looking another girl in the eyes.

also, i can't really tell you that kate moennig or leisha hailey were MY queer awakening - i was already awakened but i paid a LOT of attention to them both.

this memoir goes through leisha and kate's upbringing, to when they first realized their queerness, through getting cast on the show, originally called earthlings. (didn't know this, now love that they were constantly having lunch at a restaurant/bar called the planet.)

i remember really prevalent rumors about personality clashes between the cast that led to a significant character exit at the end of season one. for the record, we don't hear much about that story. but we do, for the first time, get to hear what they Really thought about the ending to the original show that traumatized us all. we get to hear about all the ways the original series aged badly. we get to hear the story of what happened with that alice-in-jail spin-off, a show that never made it to air followed by the extreme popularity of orange is the new black later. we get to hear what they thought about generation q, the mistakes in its creation that took it from a beautiful homage to the original series to something that lacked a beating heart.

this book let's you grow with leisha and kate, tells you about their loves, both the ones that they lost and the ones that they gained. their heartbreaks, their losses. it really paints a beautiful story of a relationship between two soulmated friends that will make you long for it for yourself.

this was an excellent nostalgic read for me. 5 stars.

5 stars

This is exactly the book that we have ALL been waiting for.

Most fans likely know the co-authors from their featured roles on _The L Word_ and later _Generation Q_, and then their cohosting of the excellent podcast, _Pants_. What listeners of the latter know - and viewers of the former will have guessed at - is that these two are so much more than coworkers, and this book really highlights their deeper connections.

I can't recommend the audiobook enough (when and where accessible) since it is narrated by the co-authors, both of whom have very distinctive voices (literally and figuratively).

Regardless of modality, listeners will get so much out of this: insight into both women's personal lives and careers, details about the making of the shows and memories from those experiences, and info about who and where they are now. Most of all, the audience gets insight into their relationship, and this is a real win.

I absolutely loved this book. I had high hopes, and they were exceeded. I speak from the perspective of an incoming fan of both of their work, but I suspect I'd have felt this way even with no background on them at all. This is just a tightly constructed and highly enjoyable narrative and exploration.

RECOMMENDED!