Relatable, witty, and hilarious. Everything we've come to expect from Lindy West! West has an analytical lens unlike any other of this generation. I can't wait to read whatever she publishes next.

Loved this book, but I definitely feel like I was in a little bit of a younger age bracket than Lindy and some of the movies didn't have a nostalgic factor to me like it did to her (and probably other, older readers). Lindy West's voice is hilarious though and her opinions are always well-researched, hysterical and gleaming with social commentary that hits.

I read this book in spurts while waiting in lines, in waiting rooms, waiting for Covid test results, and in general limbo. Lindy West is good company for such times, as her writing not only entertains but truly brings wry humor to difficult times and hard topics. I was very grateful to have this book with me when I did.

I never read Shrill, but I watched the TV show. That made me want to pick up Lindy West’s latest book, and I’m so glad that I did! It was smart, well-written, and enjoyable.

This one took me a bit to get into. The first couple chapters, I was about ready to give up and move on. Some of the movies, I haven't seen (American Pie, for one) and after this, I definitely won't be watching. Some entries are funnier than others, perhaps based a bit on which movies I was more familiar with? In the end, I did get a few laughs out of this book so worth the read.

Thank you Hachette Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lindy West is one of our most incisive cultural commentators. Her previous books, “Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman” and “The Witches Are Coming” (I own a signed copy) are seminal feminist texts. However, if you’re looking for film commentary à la Leonard Maltin, “Shit, Actually” isn’t for you. “Shit, Actually” is sly, irreverent, bombastic, and an absolute freaking delight to behold. Highlights for me included West’s reviews (maybe takedowns is a more accurate word here?) of “The Notebook”, “Forrest Gump”, and most especially “Titanic”. Her Fabrizio bits are riotously funny and a master class in comedic snark. My rating: 27/10 DVDs of “The Fugitive”.

Is this book sort of like reading several Buzzfeed articles that basically live-tweet a classic movie? Yeah, sure. But was it enjoyable each and every time? Absolutely. West is funny and witty, and her reactions to these "classic" movies are so perfect that I didn't want them to end. From <i>The Fugitive</i> and <i>Jurassic Park</i> to <i>Love, Actually</i> and <i>Twilight</i>, this book laughs its way through movie after movie. I think it works perfectly as an audiobook, and I just think it's such a great idea and that it was so fun. While I had only seen maybe 50% of the movies in here, I had at least heard of all of them, so even the essays on the ones I hadn't seen got a few laughs. I recommend this for something light and funny.

Lindy West is witty and on point. This book's criticism of the entertainment industry and popular culture and on point. The changing standards of American's pop culture. West engages her audience in a incisive and irreverent conversation about some of America's classic films like the Top Gun and Love Actually.

Thank you, Lindy West for making me cry laugh reading your delightful book.

New York Times opinion writer and bestselling author Lindy West was once the in-house movie critic for Seattle's alternative newsweekly The Stranger, where she covered film with brutal honesty and giddy irreverence. In Shit, Actually, Lindy West returns to those roots, re-examining beloved and iconic movies from the past 40 years with an eye toward the big questions of our time: Is Twilight the horniest movie in history? Why do the zebras in The Lion King trust Mufasa--who is a lion--to look out for their best interests? Why did anyone bother making any more movies after The Fugitive achieved perfection? And, my god, why don't any of the women in Love, Actually ever fucking talk?! 

What a fun ride! Having watched most of the movies that Lindy West reviews, I loved her perspective. Her review of The Fugitive is just spot on and the idea of reviewing movies in terms of number of The Fugitive dvds is brilliant.

I thought this was a funny take on a lot of modern movies out there. I know not every movie is for everyone, but it was funny to read someone different opinions on them. Some movies she roasted I love and don't 100% agree with, but I respect her opinion and comedic take on them.

Here's the thing, I would, could, and will read any and everything Lindy West writes. In fact, my bookshelf has all of her books perched upon it, ready to be shown off to all of my favorite friends. Why? Because West gets it. Whether it's on being a woman, as it was in Shrill - or gobbling down nostalgic trash and giving us wise and wily insight into some cultural touchstones.... it's deeply difficult not to love Lindy West, and want to be her best friend. Her writing exudes hilarity, joy, and wit - everything you could want in a book highlighting the pop culture woes and wins of the past - particularly in a day and age when watching your old favorite classics can be hella cringeworthy.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Books for advanced access to this title!

This was the perfect book to read during this crazy messed-up times. In Shit Actually Lindy West snarkily revisits movies from the 90s/00s. As she writes, her goal was to “Make you feel like you were at a movie night with your best friend”, and the book does just that! I laughed a lot while reading this - it is delightful and funny - great read!

Lindy West tells her scathing and hilarious analysis and jokes on classic films--sometimes to further praise them, but more often to illustrate how easily entertained we once were, as well as problems with the film industry and its on-screen representation.

Her voice truly sings through the prose, and I recommend this collection for anyone who wants complex thought expressed in an easily-accessed yet entertaining tone.

A very funny look at blockbuster movies of the past 30 years. Lindy West's observations are hilarious, though if you lack familiarity with these cultural touchstones, there may not be a lot for you to grasp on to.

This was a enjoyable read. It wasn't something I would read over and over again but several of the essays made me laugh while I read them. Some fell a little flat but overall a positive experience.

This was an ok group of essays about some modern day cinema classics like Titanic, Top Gun, and Harry Potter. I have read the Shit, Actually (Love, Actually) essay before and some other ones felt familiar as well.

I guess I was just expecting West to add more to the conversation around these movies, but honestly, I've read better Tumblr and Twitter threads than some of these essays. (Don't @ me!)

I chuckled in some parts, and skimmed some where I didn't watch the movie, or haven't in a bajillion years and didn't really care enough to read more about.

West does "warn" us in the intro that reading these essays would be like watching these movies with a friend, and that is literally what it is. Some ramblings and side comments, with some deeper thoughts thrown in here and there.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Shit, Actually by Lindy West.

First off, I'm glad that I waited for the audiobook version of this because I love listening to Lindy West. She is so smart and funny and full of sharp wit, I felt like I was reuniting with an old friend.

Second, this was the book that I didn't know I needed. It's basically West reviewing a bunch of movies from the 90's and 2000's. Being a child from that era, it was an LOL delight, and I loved the scale on which she reviewed them, 0-10 DVD's of the fugitive.

And while she slandered what was my favorite angsty YA movie of all time (Garden State), I begrudgingly see her points. And that's what made this so fun. I also LOVED Love, Actually (hence the title), but so much changes as you, and the world, grow older and mature.

Moral of the story, you may not agree with all of her reviews, but this was still a fantastic, tea spilling, girl's night of a book.

I adore Lindy West's writing and this book is no exception. She uses searing and creative prose to eviscerate all kinds of media and I live for it.

Shit Actually, was written last spring when many of us were just entering lockdown. Lindy West revisits movie favorites from the 80’s to late-aughts like Love, Actually, Face/Off, Rush Hour, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. All compared to one of the greatest films of that time, The Fugitive. It's sometimes painful to rewatch the movies you thought were great as a young’un only to see how Messed Up some are as a seasoned adult. West understands and her ranking each movie by number of Fugitive DVDs worthiness holds up. Any fan of popular films from the last 40 odd years will enjoy this hilarious journey with Lindy. Five stars, or 6/5 Fugitive DVDs.

This work contains Lindy West's trademark wit coupled with her love of popular culture. Using The Fugitive as the bar that other films are compared to, she humorously analyzes several films produced in recent decades, from the critically-acclaimed to the less so, but equally loved. Popular culture fans will enjoy her take on some of their favorite movies.