Many do not know this about me but I love television shows, especially sitcoms. Problems that are solved in thirty minutes and with everyone smiling puts a smile on my face as well. I prefer the classics like The Dick Van Dyke Show and I Love Lucy but there are several shows that aired recently that captured my heart as well, and one of those is Parks and Recreation. I have been an Amy Poehler fan since SNL and was hooked from the very first episode. By the time season two began to air one character quickly became my favorite: Donna Meagle. Donna, played by the incredibly talented Retta, had the best lines and some of my favorite parts, and the most memorable parts of the show, are because of her. She has such a great delivery and plays off of everyone around her so well that it's hard not to fall in love with her. When I saw Retta had written a book I couldn't help but pick it up, hoping that she would be just as funny of a writer as she was on Parks and Recreation.

Let me start off by saying this girl can cuss, as most comedians do, but I myself found that the charm of the stories and her particular style of writing helped me get past this fact (with the exception of taking the Lord's name in vain, which I cannot tolerate. I cringed every time she used this phrase but luckily she didn't use it too often). She is a comedian through and through and reading So Close to Being the Sh*t is like being front row at one of her shows.

There are several parts in the book where I literally laughed out loud (with a few questionable looks from my family) but I couldn't help it! Retta's story is relatable on so many different levels and she let's you into her world with humor. She goes from telling of her meager upbringing, and growing up in a house full of people, to studying medicine at Duke University then switching things up to becoming a comedian.

My favorite part, of course, is when she talks about her time on Parks and Recreation. I always enjoy hearing about what goes on behind the scenes! One thing I really loved as a fan of the show was that her and the actor that plays Jerry Gergich, Jim O'Heir, were actually incredibly close while working on the show. Everyone always picks on Jerry, and I always felt sorry for him, so knowing Retta took care of him, as his work wife, behind the scenes, makes me feel better.

The common theme throughout the book was her obsessions. Obsession with television, designer handbags, the Broadway musical Hamilton, Twitter, Snapchat, and even hockey! When you finish this book, even if you didn't know who Retta was before, you certainly will afterward! Her bright personality shines through this book and it was a pleasure for me to get to know her.

I looooved this book! I read the first half as a digital copy and the second half as an audiobook once it was released. I was entertained the whole time! This was a fairly light read with a few hints of depth, but not too much that it was too heavy to listen to. It was a great road-trip read. I was actually laughing out loud a lot of the time! I highly recommend listening to the audiobook if you can, because Retta is a great narrator. I loved learning about her time on Parks and how hard she worked to get to where she is. Also the Hamilton chapter was an EXCELLENT ending. I have so much love and respect for Retta after reading this memoir!

As soon as I heard Retta was writing a book, I knew it would be an amazing book. I loved her as Donna on Parks & Rec. Her personality shines through her book. She is hilarious! I hope she writes more.

Not as funny as Tina Fey Bossypants nor as interesting and moving as Gabrielle Union’s We're Going to Need More Wine - still some chapters are pretty good specifically “Food, Water, Oxygen, Television” , “Ginuwine isn’t Really My Cousin”,and “Membership has Its Privileges.”

Retta’s interactions with Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba are what I’d imagine my reactions to be in those situations- attractive, friendly guys who are stars and the people who meet them and aren’t sure what to do! Jetta is definitely a cool, down-to-earth lady.

Like most essay collections, these were hit or miss for me. I gravitated towards the ones about Retta finding her way in the entertainment industry and the stories of how she made her way in the world. Obviously anything involving Parks and Rec had me geeking out, and her behind-the-scenes award show stories were crazy! Also, as a hockey fan it was cool reading about her journey to becoming an official Kings fan. The final essay on Hamilton gave me chills and I haven’t even seen Hamilton! (Now I must see it, can they make a movie already?!) Now, the essays on handbags and pop culture were a little less relatable for me, just because I buy my purses for less than $40 at Target and have some differing preferences in TV shows. But as Retta points out while recounting her ridiculous exchanges with angry vegans, I’ll do me and she can do her and we’ll all be happy.

I will say, I read this as an ARC from Netgalley. I imagine it’s probably amazing hearing Retta read it in audiobook form (I read it with her voice in my head anyway), so I’d go that route if you haven’t read it yet! I think some of the essays would’ve had more of an impact this way.

I had low expectation for this book but was pleasantly surprised. Retta has an interesting story to tell and I had no idea. She is funnier that I gave her credit for.

This book was really entertaining and made me laugh a lot. But there was also an undercurrent of meanness running through it that I didn’t like. I love Retta and thought she was amazing as Donna on Parks & Rec. My favorite essay was the one about Hamilton. I am not a raving Hamilton fan but found that to be moving. I do dislike this new format of celebrity books that are just essays instead of chronological memoirs.

This book is so much fun. The Parks and Recreation talk, the Jon Hamm stories, the Hamilton talk where I cried just listening to her talk about crying while seeing the show (yup, I also did that...).

*I received this book from NetGally in exchange for an honest review.

Retta is a comedic genius and this book is no different! I fell in love with Donna Meagle from Parks and Rec and have often wondered if the actress, Retta, was as funny as Donna. Now, I have my answer! Retta is betta'! I soared through this book because it was so funny and real. It was very reminiscent of Tina Fey's "Bossy Pants" but from the viewpoint of a newer female comedian in HollyWood. Y'all (Sorry Retta) Treat Yo' Self and go pick up a copy of So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know!

If you like standup comedy, you’ll like this. If you like Retta, you’ll love this. If you’re not sure who Retta is, you will feel you do after reading this. Get ready to meet an extraordinary woman. She shares herself, hilariously of course, and you get a sense that she is being completely open about who she is, warts and all.
Each chapter is like one of her standup routines. She covers a wide variety of topics, many dealing with her semi-crazy obsessions with beloved things such as coffee, designer handbags, television, or the Broadway show “Hamilton”. She also shares her successes, about going from “Roaches to Riches”, and her partial failures, in a bit she calls “Stretch marks fo Life”.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted take on human foibles, and want something that can be read in small chunks, this is the book for you. I chuckled many times as I read this, and I’m still smiling as I think about this funny, engaging woman and her quirky take on life.

Note: I received an advance copy of the ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved Retta in a bunch of things, including Parks and Rec and Good Girls and when I saw this book was available I jumped at the chance to read it. This book was hilarious and a really enjoyed the humour as well as the realness that Retta shows in her writing. There were a few jokes that didn't really sit well with me, but I like how she talks through some of the mistakes she made and how she learned from them. This was a relatively quick read, but one I really enjoyed.

Retta is hilarious, and this memoir is a must read for fans of Parks and Rec, and those that are unfamiliar with the show.

Really entertaining -- and open and frank, too. If you enjoy Retta on social media, you'll probably enjoy this book.

Retta is very funny and has some hilarious stories throughout the book. I particularly loves the chapter on her obsession with Hamilton.

I was very much in the need for some humor and this memoir fits the bill. I was more than pleasantly surprised by this new book by Marietta Sirleaf aka ‘Retta as I’m not that familiar with her. I do get the whole PARKS AND REC connection but haven’t seen the series. But count me as a new fan of hers after reading her memoir. She’s smart, having a college degree from a major university. Her folks immigrated from Liberia and raised her to be very respectful and proper and she didn’t even try alcohol until she was in college.

This is an enjoyable read and I whipped through it in one day, following the various humor-filled essays of memories she shares of her life. She starts off first with growing up with family, then her college time and having a chance to make her own decisions and choices and then more as ‘Retta goes to LA and becomes more successful (and eventually gets a designer handbag addiction that was fun to learn from.)

Being almost totally green on the subject, I was glad to have read the book, and I’d recommend it for those adults looking for humor and/or that might have an interest in reading about ‘Retta.  An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my honest review.

St. Martin's Press

Publication: May 29, 2018

This breezy, often hilarious memoir should appeal to fans of the TV show Parks and Recreation, and fans of the musical Hamilton, which Retta is obsessed with. Along with handbags, and various other parts of modern life that she digresses about with exuberant enthusiasm. I have zero interest in handbags, and couldn't tell a "name" one worth thousands from a cheapo, but I enjoyed Retta's sheer zest.

The parts I liked best were her frank memories about growing up a plus-size person of color, with immigrant parents, in poverty. Watching her work toward success was heart-warming as well as interesting.

Retta does not hold back in delivery opinions in salty language. I could hear her voice through the narrative, which made it that much more fun.

If you know me, you know that I am a huge Parks and Recreation fan. I had no idea Retta was coming out with an autobiography. I had to request it right away from Netgalley. I am so happy that I ended up getting approved for this. It was such a fun read.

I don't know a lot about Retta besides that she was a character on Parks and Recreation but I ended up learning so much about her from this book. I loved how open she was about everything. I feel like sometimes in celebrity autobiographies people tend to hold back a lot. Retta did not do that at all. She talks about her childhood, college days, how she got started, loosing weight, her love for Hamilton and so much more. I really got to know Retta as a person. I felt she was very real about everything and that was something I really appreciated. Plus she's so funny. All of her stories had me cracking up. I think my favorite chapter was when she was talking about weddings. That probably had the best ending of all the chapters.

I really can't wait for this book to come out. I really would like to reread it with the audiobook. I feel that would really end up adding to the experience. When I was reading this I could hear Retta at some points. I just feel like it isn't the same though. I feel like celebrity autobiographies are best when you listen to the audiobook of it. They sometimes go off topic or add a little something extra to the book. I would love to hear Retta tell some of her jokes. I hope you guys end up enjoying it too,

*Thank you so much Netgalley for a free copy of this book for my honest opinion.*

One of the best books I have had the pleasure of reading this year! Funny, I mean can you say completely hilarious! To read a book with so much openness and honesty, to read that even someone so famous has moments of fangirling, struggles with body image (such an inspiration and so open and honest), to read that one should never give up on a dream...there is just too much I want to say about this book, but for now i say just go get a copy and read this wonderful book for yourself!

I expected to laugh out loud multiple times while reading this, and Retta didn't disappoint. However, I was dismayed by her use of the word transsexual, which threw me for a book published in 2018. I hope the editors take a closer look.

So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know by RettaFollowing the path of many famous people, Retta has released her biography. While it seems like this would be my catnip -- written in her own voice, telling the story of a normal person made good -- it just wasn't hitting the spot. I realize that this was a good book and I started getting into it when she started describing her unexpected love affair with hockey.

I think that, if you want to read this book, you should buy the audio. I missed hearing her voice in my ear.



Three stars

This book comes out May 29