What a sweet sweet man. Leslie Jordan is such an amazing person. He was taken from us too soon. I love this short little look into his life. After finishing this book I wanted to read everything he has written. I will be reading his other books as well. His personality shines through every page as he narrates his time in Hollywood, and his time growing up gay in the south. I thought he did this with aplomb since it must not have been easy, yet he showed that he is stronger than the haters. I absolutely loved this book.

I love, love, love Leslie Jordan! He is whip smart, thoughtful, sassy, hilariously funny, all wrapped in a huge heart. These stories are a glimpse into this giant of a human. Positively delightful.

I don't know why I put off reading this for so long! Leslie Jordan is a talented storyteller. I could read or listen to his stories all day. This book was short, but it packed a punch! This was very tender, heartfelt, and immensely funny!

I love Leslie Jordan. Unfortunately his Instagram fame doesn’t translate well for this short book. This book felt like a creative writing assignment gone wrong.

Well, how y’all doin’?
If you ever wanted to know what you mix with a Southern upbringing and rather progressive humor, than may I introduce you to Leslie Jordan? I first learned about Jordan as Beverly Leslie on Will & Grace, but the best way to learn about someone is to follow their social media. Leslie Jordan was a light in the darkness of 2020 and he never fails to draw a smile, even from someone (like me) who may not find it that easily. I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I have, if that’s even possible.

I first heard and saw Leslie Jordan when he played Beverly Leslie on one of my favorite shows , Will and Grace. His barbs and zingers with Karen Walker always made for great comedy. And they played off each other very well.. I was very happy to receive an advance copy of his new book. And just like the man himself , it was funny, truthful and so darn entertaining. When he mentioned his slight resemblance to Skip E. Lowe, I actually had to google who Mr. Lowe was for I have never heard of him. And lo and behold , he did look like Leslie Jordan. He is a very entertaining story teller and someone I could listen to all day. I highly recommend this book for anybody who want to be entertained. It was a quick read and so well worth it.

Leslie Jordan is a delight. I loved hearing his story in his own words. His warmth and humor shine through in his memoir.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

Leslie Jordan cracks me up. I have seen him on a number of shows and thought I might enjoy this book. I had no idea how much I would. Jordan has a distinct voice so as I read the story I could actually hear him.

What I think I enjoyed most was the way it was told. It was like sitting in a room with Jordan and hearing stories that just popped into his head. You could enjoy his laughter as he told the stories in his own way.

I really hope there is more to come. Based on these stories I am sure there is more in that crazy mind of Leslie Jordan’s and I can’t wait to read more!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do yourself a favor and just get the audio book, you'll be glad you did.
I enjoyed listening to this book and the life lived by a funny human from the same birth state as me. There were things I didn't know about his life like owning a pony, being on so many shows, and how he packs so much fun in a wee little body. If you know him from any one of his shows, this book will make you search out more of his work to see why he's referred to as "If you'd like to go in another direction" option. I love watching him right now on the Kat show with Mayim Bialik. This book will make you enjoy him even more and makes for a great listen on a road trip.
Thanks for the free ARC from NetGalley.

I had tickets to see Leslie in STL, but COVID. I’ve adored him for years and he really became a beacon of light at the peak of the pandemic. In this book he tells the backstory of his rise to fame and roles on screen and on stage all with that wonderful wit of his. I highly recommend this for any if his fans.

You might know Leslie Jordan from the Mayim Bialik show Call Me Kat or The Cool Kids with David Alan Grier, Martin Mull, and Vicki Lawrence. You may know him from Will & Grace or American Horror Story or Boston Legal. Or The Help. Or countless other television shows or movies he’s been in. You might know him from his one-man show. Or you as a fairly recent Instagram sensation. It doesn’t matter how you know him; it only matters that you do. Because he’s fantastic.

His new book, How Y’all Doing?, is a testament to his Southern heritage, to his time in Hollywood, to his recovery from alcohol and drugs, and to his gay pride. He doesn’t hold anything back as he tells stories of his childhood, of his time working at a horse farm, of his volunteering with AIDS patients, of his successes and challenges as an actor, and of trying to find his way through the maze of social media. He bounces around between his favorite places and different times of his life, but he always keeps the stories coming.

Where else will you find a man who got a pony when he was a little kid, sang a duet with Dolly Parton, got to talk to his friend Octavia Spencer on the phone right after she won her Oscar for The Help (he didn’t expect her to answer the phone, just wanted to leave a message of congratulations), filmed a scene for American Horror Story on the forest floor with Lady Gaga on top of him, and had Debbie Reynolds call his mother to explain the challenges of being in Hollywood—particularly, being in the tabloids—after an unfortunate photo of himself was published? I don’t think you’ll find anyone whose life has reached so many different areas, or whose stories could make all those different experiences come together in one book.

Leslie Jordan is a born storyteller, and whether it’s through Instagram, through his one-man show on stage, through his many and diverse roles, or through a book like How Y’all Doing?, he brings the full force of his personality and lets it all hang out for his audience. And no matter where you meet him, he will be there with humor, grace, strength of character, and true Southern hospitality to welcome you in.

I grew up in the Midwest, but I went to college in Tennessee and stayed for many more years. As a Midwesterner, I didn’t really understand the culture of the South. I didn’t really think we were all that different. But after spending time there, I came to understand just how different the experience of growing up Southern is, and how special it is. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be in Tennessee for any length of time, spending time with Chattanooga-born Leslie Jordan will give you the full experience. Because that’s exactly what this book is—it’s Southern culture on a page. He may have spent many years in Hollywood, but he never lost ahold of his Southern roots. And for this girl, back again in the Midwest, reading this book felt like a trip back to Tennessee, in the best possible way.

I loved this book, and I think it’s the perfect read for Southerners and those who want to understand what it means to be Southern. It’s for actors and fans, horse people and humor lovers, readers of tabloids and literary fiction, those in recovery, and anyone else who wants to remember the best parts of being human, of getting older and wiser, and finding your voice to sing hymns and tell stories. How Y’all Doing? is a true gem, just like Leslie Jordan himself. And if you still don’t know who he is, find the television show Hearts Afire streaming somewhere, make some popcorn, and settle in for a heck of a ride.

Egalleys for How Y’all Doing? were provided by William Morrow through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I'm familiar with Leslie Jordan's work after seeing him on a variety of shows and movies so I was excited to pick up this book. It's a quick read of short essays about Jordan's adventures throughout his life and career. His story about his outreach during the start of the AIDS epidemic was my favorite, and really struck a chord with me. Because it is essay based many of the stories have lots of tangents until you get back to the main point. It's not necessarily a downside, but something that might turn some away. Overall a quick and enjoyable read!

This was a short, cheerful little book that enjoyed very much! It is in no way a comprehensive memoir and in fact consists of several essay chapters that meander through different parts of Jordan's life such as his Hollywood career, his childhood in Chattanooga, his life as a gay man, and his comedy tours. My favorite section was the one called My Last First Pitch, which was largely about his relationship with his father.

There are frequent name drops throughout the book, but he generally elaborates on who someone might be. For a celebrity illiterate person like me, I had to Google most of the "absolutely dreamy" costars he talked about.

While the book is well-written and funny, I can definitely see how it might be even more enjoyable with an audio book read by Leslie Jordan himself! I think the humor and phrasing would really come through then. He had a tendency to wander between subjects and stories within the chapters, usually bringing it abruptly back to the main point in the last few sentences.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful memoir! Leslie Jordan does a wonderful job of introducing us to his life and the many wonderful people he has met along the way. Reading How Y'all Doing? felt like a conversation written down in essay form. His relatability, positivity, and humor shines through. I was engaged from the first page to the last.

Summary:
During the COVID quarantine, many in the world discovered Mr. Leslie Jordan. he became a familiar, funny face on Instagram. Well, recognizing how 2020 brought him a new audience, Mr. Jordan takes this opportunity to introduce himself and tell you a little about himself.

While I wasn't of the many who became familiar with Leslie Jordan through Instagram, I was of the many who wanted to get to know his story. I had watched a few of his videos and you couldn't help but chuckle at his musings. He has this sweet southern charm that oozes from him. That sweet southern charm that had to navigate being gay in the South amidst a religious family. So, I jumped at the opportunity to read his story. This is his second book, so he may not go into as much detail as his previous one, but I enjoyed myself just the same.

Leslie's humor is what gravitated me to him. He has a funny way of telling the stories he tells. I loved reading how Debbie Reynolds came to his rescue with his mom. he reminisces about his days on American Horror Story. He gets vulnerable with a career challenge that had him walking away from a project he wanted to do, but couldn't. He tells you about his first baby shower experience.

When you pick up this book, be prepared for a quick fun read. You will chuckle and smile. By the time you finish, you've fallen in love Jordan's humor and wit.

OMG - Love Leslie Jordan and this book. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for giving me the opportunity to read this book,

If you are a Leslie Jordan fan, this book is for you. Even if you aren't a fan, but love fun books, then read this one.

I read this book in around 24 hrs. It's full of stories from his childhood and early days in Hollywood. Loved it. I do wish there was more.

Omg I love Leslie Jordan and this book only serves as further proof as to why. He is witty, charming, and so genuine. He is everything I aspire to be, even though I’m a 27 year old female.

I have been dying to read this book! I have always found Leslie Jordan funny, but still all this Covid-19 mess, I have been obsessed with him on social media. He is just hilarious.

His book didn't disappoint. It was filled with funny stories that kept me very entertained! I even pre-ordered the audiobook so I could hear him tell me the same stories. Love this one!

I have been loving Lesley on Instagram- exactly what we have needed this past year. Happy, upbeat, sharing little tidbits of his life, trying to unite people and inspire optimism.
I wanted to love this book for these reasons alone.
These essays are poignant, moments of hilarity and normalcy in Leslie's charmed life.
Fast read but I was hoping for more.

I received an advanced reading copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, light, easy read that I was able to read entirely with Leslie Jordan's drawl narrating it to me in my imagination. Nothing groundbreaking or life-changing for me, just a fun life story to enjoy.