I got this audiobook as I was expecting to listen to a humorous memoir. Not familiar with the author and I had a tough time getting comfortable with the narration. It’s quirky, there were some poignant thoughts, but had a problem with a repeating mantra though it skipped along pretty quickly. Sorry, just wasn’t for me.

I enjoyed Gary’s first book so I was excited when I had the opportunity to review this new title. This book was just as funny if not funnier than the last. I loved the chapter on tanning it was so relatable. If you follow Gary on Instagram you knew that this book would be hilarious and it did not disappoint. I cannot wait for the next book!

Book Review: Start Without Me (I’ll Be There in a Minute) by Gary Janetti

After following his social media for years and reading his 2019 book Do You Mind If I Cancel (Things That Still Annoy Me) I’ve been an unofficial Gary Janetti fan club member for a while now. This collection of essays is inspired by his childhood in New York, travels as an adult and musings about Broadway, weddings, tans and so much more.
Like his previous collection I found this book funny, touching and strangely relatable. Humor is what he’s built his career on but I actually teared up when he writes about never thinking he’d be able to legally marry and losing a beloved neighbor and friend of the family.
Check this one out if you enjoy hilarious (but often sweet) musings about life, love and pop culture.

4 stars

🎧 audiobook narration notes: Gary Janetti narrates this himself which adds a more a personal experience as he reads about his own history and thoughts on subjects personal to him

This was a quick read. (audiobook)
There were quite a few laugh out loud moments, and it was entertaining. I found myself nodding along with what the author/narrator was saying at times. The only critique that I have is that a lot of the time the Author/narrator had such a monotone voice while reading that it sounded like a robot.

Start Without Me (I'll Be There in a Minute) by Gary Janetti was a surprisingly delightful audiobook. I’ve never heard of Mr. Janetti but the blurb offered up appeal so sure why not, I'll give this audiobook a try.

Read by the author, Gary’s humor and bluntness shine through has he shares moments of his life growing up from a child to mostly in his 20s. And occasionally moments of now. There’s quite a bit of relatable antidotes that offered me retrospect of my own life growing up in the 70s. I also lived to watch The Carol Burnett Show and I totally agree about Jaclyn Smith! Plenty of laugh out loud moments that would catch me off guard. Before I knew it, it was all done, and I was left wishing it was longer.

I’m sure the book would be a fun read but hearing the author detailing his life, in my personal opinion, just ups the funny to a new level. So while you may be tempted to read his book, I suggest listening to it instead.


Stars: 4
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this memoir, I just knew I wanted something with humor. I am pleased to report that the audiobook I received from Netgalley hit ALL my expectation marks and then some.. I feel listening to the author's own voice made the experience of the book even better.

Every chapter had me laughing out loud numerous times. Honestly there was not a bad chapter. If I had to pick my favorite it was "The Wizard of Oz." I'll admit I listened to it five times. As a cautionary a note, if you are not a fan of what some people would consider inappropriate language, this book is definitely not for you.

If you like David Sedaris, you will love Gary Janetti. The audiobook is THE only way to go with this as the author narrates and it's hilarious.

If you think that watching adults open gifts is slow torture, this book is for you. If you'd rather do public speaking in your underwear than chat with your neighbor, read this immediately.

Fun, funny, dry, entertaining, insightful. A short four-hour listen is perfect for a road trip to the beach or an angsty drive around town to avoid your responsibilities.

This was a fast, fun listen. Great for using when walking or commuting, as the essays are short and self contained,. At several points I laughed out loud, and many times, the author's recollections made me smile.

This is the second book by Gary Janetti that I listened to. I am a huge fan!! There were so many lines that I wanted to remember. I finally made a list of them. One of my faves was "A married woman with sunglasses and a cigarette was my kind of company." Keep writing, Gart!!

So funny! Definitely best enjoyed as an audiobook. Quick listen. I laughed out loud a bunch. I also hate summer camp, gym class, destination weddings, and teenagers. I want to be the authors best friend!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Start Without Me by Gary Janetti.

These are short stories written and read by the author, talking about his gripes, relationships, loves, and life. He's funny and bitchy and a delight to listen to. I didn't love his stuff as say, David Sedaris, but comparing the two probably isn't fair. I like these kinds of things to have a bit more heart, but otherwise a fun time.

I don’t think this was the audiobook for me. I think it had to do with the narration honestly. I just couldn’t get into it. Macmillan always does awesome with their audiobooks…I just don’t think that this subject and narration was for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review of their audiobook.

Gary Janetti's new memoir is very, very funny. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, as it is read by the author, and you will feel like he is standing next to you sharing stories about his life. At its heart, this is a book about searching for your people and yearning to find the place where you belong. If you have ever felt as if you didn't quite fit it you will be able to relate to his tales--you do not need to be a gay man or have grown up in Queens or work in Hollywood. However, if you are in your 50s you will likely connect completely to his stories of growing up in the 70s and 80s, when instant gratification was not always possible and people had longer attention spans. I loved the chapter on his post-college travels in Europe, and if you also owned a copy of "Let's Go Europe" in the 90s you will love it too. Thanks to NetGallery for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I follow Gary on social media and he’s hilarious. But i didn’t really get these stories. They weren’t the funny stories and recollections that i expected. Maybe i just had high hopes?

Start Without Me was such a fun memoir of short stories of Gary’s journey through life. Full of humor with a little sadness mixed in. My absolute favorite chapter was the graduation speech it was hilarious. I would recommend this for a quick trip or flight as I did the audio version and Gary Janetti narrates himself, which makes it even more delightful.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a ARC in exchange for my honest review,

If you need to lighten up a little bit, are looking for laugh out loud funny, look no further…. this is the book you want! Read it right now!! Or better yet, listen to it... Read by Gary Janetti himself, delivered in a way that only he can. A collection of hysterically funny true life stories from his youngest years to his fifties. Things that have shaped his life and clearly, have bothered him. From spending his single digit years hiding in the basement during summer break to coveting the sun in the quest of the best tan as he gets older. From having no friends (and mostly being OK with that) to having the closest thing to a best friend in a 30 year old nun at summer camp. From planning on how to get married, "do it" once to get her pregnant on the 1st try, and have her killed off the day after the baby is born in a tragic accident, which would effectively allow him to live life as a parent with a child and hide his gayness forever, to falling in love with and marrying Brad later in life, living openly as a gay married couple, and realizing that he doesn't really want children. His relationship with his sister, his parents, travel, college and career. The commencement address was one of my favorite parts of the book, I went back and listened to it a second time! Filled with nostalgia, his take on movies, foods, malls, and more, especially for those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s, was spot on and lol funny! Everything is funny but underneath all of that, there is there is wisdom born from a lifetime of vulnerability. This was my 1st Janetti book but it will not be my last, I can't wait to listen to more!

“Start Without Me (I’ll Be There in a Minute),” written and narrated by Gary Janetti (ISBN: 9781250819086) publication date 26 April 2022, earns three stars.

It’s a book of funny stories about real daily life, and the humor and the ironies those realities often bring, e.g., the things we wish were done and over, but stay with us, if not haunt us. He’s candid in the telling, often not putting himself in the best light, but it’s a bright light that is frankly refreshing. It’s not a book that will cause civilization or a life to turn on a dime, but it is a fun book that provokes laugh out loud moments...and a few sober thoughts.

Thanks to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for granting this reviewer the opportunity to listen to this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.

The audio was hard to get comfortable with, it sounded like a robot. This is a quirky memoir and a quick listen. I wouldn’t shoot it down but I’m pretty neutral on this one.

I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Gary Janetti has a way of wandering through his childhood applying humor all the way, You can picture yourself or friends in theses exact situations. It was such a breath of fresh air for me.to be able to laugh out loud after two years of being quiet. He highlighted so many fond memories along the way. Thank you #NetGalley, publisher, #GarJanetti for the opportunity to review the book early.. His book left me with such a happy feeling! I will be looking for his books in the future.

I really enjoy memoirs narrated by their authors, and this one was no exception. It is funny, fast-paced, and feels like I'm listening to a friend tell me a few stories about their life.