Like everyone during the initial stages of the pandemic, I was looking for something to take my mind off things. That's when I found Leslie Jordan's Instagram feed. What a joy! He is funny and positive and a joy to follow.

When I saw that he had a new book, I was hesitant that the magic of his Instagram feed couldn't be replicated on the page. Was I wrong! Jordan's voice in the book remains clear. On the Internet, he has a series of posts. In the book, the stories form a loose memoir of his life.

The pacing of the book was good, but it did slow down a bit in the middle. This did not take away from the wonderful stories and experiences of Jordan. It was an enjoyable read!

Funniest book I have read this year. I laughed out loud. Love Leslie Jordan to pieces I try to see him in anything he is acting in. Please write another book.

First line: “Well, shit. How y’all doing?”

Summary: Leslie Jordan has spent years acting in shows like Will and Grace, The Help and now is on Call Me Kat. Even with his long list of acting credits he never dreamed of the fame he would get from joining Instagram. During the start of the pandemic he was “hunkered down” with his family in the South. In order to keep himself entertained he made little videos that he shared with all his new friends on Instagram. He became an overnight success! In this collection of stories from his life we get a look into his life before and during the pandemic.

My Thoughts: I love Leslie Jordan. He first caught my attention as Beverly Leslie on Will and Grace. Every episode he appeared in, he stole the show. His lines and persona were perfect for such a fun and quirky show. When I saw he was on Instagram at the start of the pandemic I immediately started following him. He made me laugh a lot, which was much needed during the spring of 2020. I have rewatched many of his shenanigans and stories several times because they are so lighthearted.

Reading this book was just like when I read a David Sedaris book. I can hear the author telling their story in their voice while I read. I laughed and learned a lot about this man who has done a lot in the years of his career. I would highly recommend this for its uplifting and charming stories about a small gay man who lives his life with a smile on his face.

FYI: Short little book with lots of heart.

I’ve always loved Leslie Jordan in his acting roles. He brought a freshness to all his characters. Then I started following him on Instagram during Covid, and he’d make my day. This book is perfect Leslie Jordan! Fun and sassy!

I absolutely LOVE this book. Leslie Jordan’s Instagram during the pandemic has introduced him to a whole new group of fans. He is hilarious, honest, raw, and so very Southern and charming. I read this book in one sitting and laughed all the way through. What a joyous book to read during this crazy time. We got glimpses of his life and story, but I hope that a second volume or a true memoir is coming. Would I read another Leslie Jordan book? Well shit, y’all. Of course!

I had recognized Leslie Jordan from his bit parts in various TV shows I had watched, but didn't really think much of him until he seemed to go viral over the last year or so keeping everyone entertained during lockdown.  Based on what I've read in his book, How Y'all Doing, this seems to be when most people found out about him and his Instagram followers absolutely skyrocketed.  Leslie's book was a quick read, entertaining and interesting in finding out how he was raised and his journey through Hollywood.  Certainly entertaining and I ended up down a rabbit hole when I was done looking through all his Instagram posts! 

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review, I was not otherwise compensated.

Leslie Jordan is so funny and this book did not disappoint. I could hear him saying so much of this book. It was a really fun read. I hope he does the audio that will make it even better!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

I love Leslie Jordan and I was hooked from the very first word! And truth be told, I had his sweet little southern voice reading to me in my head the whole time lol. Wonderful book! Thankful to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Like many others, I discovered Leslie Jordan on Instagram during the pandemic. I should say “rediscovered,” because I had seen and liked him on Will and Grace. His Instagram posts felt like fun chats with a good friend, and this book is a continuation of that, but on a deeper level. He has a lighthearted way of talking about serious topics, mixed in with the funny stories. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an unbelievably delightful book! It was just the pick-me-up that this pandemic-life needs. Deceptively breezy in tone, the funny stories Leslie Jordan shares of his life and talents have hidden gems about humanity, faith, and the sense of humor that gets us through tough times.

I started reading this, hooked from the very first page. I adore Leslie Jordan. This story of his life and adventures was just so much fun to get lost in for a few days. I could hear his voice in his words. I found myself laughing out loud more times than I could count, even found myself relating to many of his stories growing up. Wonderful, wonderful book. Thank you, NetGalley.

Some of us have known about Leslie Jordan for awhile now, while others finally discovered him during the Pandemic. Either way, we are lucky to have such a treasure in our lives. He’s always made me laugh and I adore his being himself, no matter what others say.

Sit back, grab a drink and spend some quality time learning more about one of my favorite actors as he shared stories of his life. You’ll soon see why he is so loved and adored by so many. I truly hope we see more from this talented man. He may be tiny, but he has a big presence that always brings a smile to my face.

No mention of his role in SKI PATROL? Bummer. I was almost certain it would come up, as one of his co-stars would go on to be a prominent director (Paul Feig), but maybe that's just for the next book.

Thoroughly enjoyable on many fronts, but my favorite might be that it's not a straight-forward autobiography--just selected stories from his past that do their own work toward informing the reader of what kind of person he is. Some stories are nigh-unbelievable, others heartbreaking.

There are indeed numerous laugh-out-loud moments, you can clearly hear his voice when reading, and, for the most part, there's this "aw-shucks" and informal feel to this work that amplifies the ease through which you can move on to the next page. He states that he's as surprised as anyone regarding his social media fame; this book is further proof of why he's caught on in the manner that it has, as his sassy and fun demeanor are a welcome respite from the world.

Fans will be pleased, and I hope this is just one in a series.

Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Random House for the advance read.

It would be nearly impossible to not get caught up in the force of life that is Leslie Jordan, an Emmy Award-winning actor and viral sensation whose misadventures and mischief are captured in abundance in his latest book "How Y'all Doing?: Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived."

A series of essays connected pretty much only by Jordan's Southern charm and former Southern Baptist sass, "How Y'all Doing?" is pretty close to exactly the book you hope it will be if you're even remotely familiar with the often supporting cinematic player who picked up the 2006 Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on "Will & Grace."

Filled with an abundance of humor and heart, "How Y'all Doing?" is as vibrant and wondrous as Jordan himself whether he's talking about his Southern Baptist upbringing in Chattanooga, Tennessee or sharing poignant stories about his military father who died when Jordan was just 11-years-old. Jordan can be wildly flamboyant and achingly vulnerable in the same moment, a guy who seems befuddled by the fact that he has millions of Instagram followers who are, no doubt, drawn to his engaging personality and transparency. Jordan is boldly open about his ongoing recovery from drug and alcohol abuse and equally open about that time Debbie Reynolds gave him a call.

Unashamedly queer, Jordan is a magnificent storyteller and "How Y'all Doing?" mostly reads like he's right there with us in the room. If you've ever seen his performances, and you have, you will no doubt hear Jordan's voice as you're reading this breezy, fun, and often hilarious book.

While I've long been familiar with Jordan's work, it's been his collaborations with Del Shores, whom I've interviewed twice as a film critic, that have largely made me such a huge Leslie Jordan fan. Jordan's work as Brother Boy in "Sordid Lives" is simply remarkable, one of several times he's collaborated with Shores and maximized his ability to be both hilarious and emotionally honest.

You can't help but get the feeling that "How Y'all Doing?" only begins to tell the stories dwelling deep inside this man who seems to present "as is" and we absolutely love him for it. If I have one complaint about "How Y'all Doing?" it's simply that the book comes to an end. Turning the last page, you can't help but think to yourself that "This is someone I want to spend time with again and again and again."