Everyone knows Kelly Bishop as the ice cold Emily Gilmore in the beloved show, Gilmore Girls, but did you know that before Gilmore Girls she was an acclaimed Tony Award winning dancer? Because I definitely didn’t.

The Third Gilmore Girl reads like a tribute to the authors love of theatre. She talks about the rough start to her career and her eventual breakthrough with her part in the original cast of A Chorus Line. From there she made her way to television and the big screen but found herself always coming back to the stage.

Not only would I recommend this book to fans of Gilmore Girls, but to anyone interested in theatre. This gave a really interesting look at the behind the scenes of New York theatre in the 60’s - 70’s.

I’m sure a lot of people are going to complain that there wasn’t enough about Gilmore Girls in this book, but after reading about her life it’s understandable. Gilmore Girls was a surprisingly small part of her incredible career!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw Kelly Bishop was putting out a memoir, I immediately rushed to NetGalley to see if it was available. Thankfully, my request was accepted and I got a chance to read her story without having to wait.

Bishop’s life is remarkable and fascinating to read about. The memoir is on the short side and I finished it almost in one sitting. Learning about how she started out as a ballet dancer and her lifelong dedication to dance was so interesting. I’d only ever known her as an actor.

She writes about her opportunities as if she wished them into being and they all came around right when she needed them. That optimism is extraordinary, especially in a career entertaining. Not everything in her life and career came up roses though. Bishop also writes about her early relationships; her first marriage in particular was very difficult and left an impact on her life as a whole.

We get an inside look into how A
Chorus Line came to be and Bishop’s Tony award winning performance in that musical. She discusses Gilmore Girls and her friendship with Amy Sherman-Palladino, who also wrote the foreword. Her relationships with people and family feature heavily in the book and it gives the impression of someone grateful and grounded. Bishop talks about her second husband with so much love and affection that when she talks about his eventual death it’s heartbreaking.

I love reading memoirs and autobiographies and this was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed walking through Kelly Bishop’s memories with her and I hope this will be released as an audiobook with her narrating. I’ll probably listen to it again.

This had such a fun narration and was very enjoyable to read. I loved how her wit and voice came through so well in her writing, and this was such a fun memoir to read. Obviously I'm not rating Kelly's life, so my rating is based alone on quality of book and enjoyment. I really enjoyed this! It was so fun to get a glimpse into Kelly's life, especially before Gilmore Girls (which is where I know her from). Reading about her life lessons and amazing stories was such a fun experience. I would absolutely recommend this book. (4.25/5)

The Third Gilmore Girl is an interesting memoir that is perfect for Gilmore Girl fans who want to learn more about the actress who played Emily Gilmore.


I grew up watching Gilmore Girls. I was the same age as Rory, and it felt like we were growing up together. My relationship with my mother when I was a child and teenager was similar to Rory’s relationship with Lorelai. And Emily Gilmore reminded me of one of my grandmas. As a teenager, I was overly fond of Emily’s character; she was a bit scary and controlling. But now, when I re-watch this show as an adult, I absolutely love Emily’s character. She is a force to be reckoned with, and God help anyone who makes her mad. I was incredibly excited to learn that Kelly, the actress who plays Emily, was writing a memoir because I knew little of the person who played a character who I knew so well.

This book was great and was so interesting. Amy Sherman-Palladino writes the introductory chapter in this book, and she wrote that the moment she laid her eyes on Kelly, she knew she was the perfect person to play Emily Gilmore, and I can definitely see why from reading this memoir. As Kelly takes readers on this journey of her life, she does so with an elegant, no-nonsense attitude. She is never afraid to stand up for her beliefs and calls people on their bs. Kelly did a wonderful job writing this memoir. Her voice and personality just leapt from the pages. It felt like I could hear her voice speaking to me as I was reading this book. I’m going to have to get the audiobook when it comes out. I loved getting to see the beginning of Kelly’s journey into dancing and, eventually, acting. She talks honestly about her triumphs and the low moments in her life. I was amazed at how much she had accomplished and loved spending a few hours learning more about this woman.

The Third Gilmore Girl is an amazing memoir, and anyone who is a fan of the Gilmore Girls series should definitely read it.

What a lovely memoir to read. As a long-time fan of Gilmore Girls, it was so exciting to dive into this book by Kelly Bishop, who brilliantly portrayed Emily Gilmore. It was fascinating to learn about her early career and life beyond the screen. She truly comes across as an incredible, strong, and badass woman. This memoir was a joy from start to finish, and I loved every moment of getting to know the real person behind such an iconic character.

I have always adored Kelly Bishop from one of my all-time favourite shows, Gilmore Girls. She had wit, charisma, grace, and humour all packed into a sometimes haughty and snooty, but ever-loving woman in Emily Gilmore. I didn't realize how different Kelly is from Emily, but also how similar, until I read her wonderful memoir.

Firstly, reading about her life was incredible. Seeing her hustle, her drive, the sacrifices she made to make her dreams come true was just awe-inspiring. I knew Kelly was a dancer before acting and Broadway, but to see her talk about her love for the art of dancing was just beautiful. Her love for all her works, really, shines through, as she really embodies every character she plays, really puts everything into the role.

I especially loved hearing Kelly's sheer sass and bluntness throughout her memoir. It was a voice I didn't expect to hear, but I adored it, and my love for her grew even more. From her love for animals, her passion for women's reproductive rights, to her continuously advocating and loving herself and her work, Kelly's voice was so vivid in my mind in the best way. I was mesmerized from the start, shed many tears during the poignant moments, and laughed at her wit and sass too. This is a must-read for any Gilmore Girls fan, Broadway fan, or anyone in general who wants to read about this woman's extraordinary life.

Endless thank you to NetGalley and Gallery books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Gilmore Girls is one of my favourite shows, so I knew I had to read this upcoming memoir. It’s short, but don’t be fooled, Ms. Bishop covers a lot of ground and it is as fast paced as the show.

One thing about actors is that you are never et sure if they are authentic or not. Not the case here. Bishop is unapologetically honest about her life and those in it and her experiences. I appreciate that. She recounts events and life lessons with humour and effervescence. Who knew she studied ballet? Who knew her relationship with her mother mirrored that of Lorelei and Rory?

Overall, this is an excellent memoir and I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the ARC.

Gilmore Girls has been my favorite show since it aired in 2000. I too, was a 16 year old girl just like Rory. I was (am) bookish and dreamed of Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale. I loved vicariously through her for 7 years and along the way, met the many characters I came to love and who became a part of me, even to this day. Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop) was one of these. 

When I saw that Kelly had a memoir coming out, I just about jumped out of my seat. I was thrilled. I was even more elated when I got approved for the eARC. I think this is my favorite memoir this year!

Kelly's had such a wonderful life but not without trials and tribulations. I loved learning where she came from, what history helped form who she is and how she came to be a Gilmore Girl. I was happy to read that Gilmore Girls became more than a show for her. It was a family of sorts and, to this day, still is. 

Thank you for sharing your story with us Kelly. You're a favorite and an inspiration.

I've often overlooked Kelly Bishop as the third Gilmore girl. This memoir only made me appreciate her performance even more. I especially loved the sections on Gilmore Girls. More than that it was a joy to hear about her early career, the mistakes she made and the opportunities she was given.
Her humble and unpretentious approach to life was refreshing.
The book was an easy, quick and fun read all the way through. I could really feel her voice coming through in each chapter.
I highly recommend this book to any Gilmore Girls fan, aspiring performer or anyone needing an uplifting and interesting read.

I really enjoyed learning about Kelly Bishop! She’s led an interesting life and been through quite a bit to get where she is! No one could’ve played Emily better! But I’ll forever hear “She gets that from me”. In my head when I think of her! It was nice little trip back to my favourite show, Gilmore Girls! Read it!

I was so excited when I got approved for an arc to read this book. Gilmore girls is part of my everyday life, it is the show I watch when I’m sad, happy, depressed or any of the other emotions. So getting to read about the first Gilmore girls real life, I was ecstatic.
Kelly’s character Emily is not a character you are to love. But after reading Kelly’s memoir, she is nothing like Emily. She is down to earth and loves what she does. I enjoyed so much, getting to know her and how she became Emily. It was a fantastic read and I loved every minute of it.

Kelly really bared her heart and soul in this one, the memoir was more focused on her career with life sprinkled throughout and I loved every bit of it.

Kelly Bishop’s memoir was heartwarming, witty and entertaining. As a huge Gilmore Girls fan I was over the moon to receive an ARC of one of the most anticipated memoirs of the year. I was fascinated to learn about Bishops trials and tribulations of her early dancing career. This memoir mainly focuses on her career but briefly touches on different aspects of her personal life as well. Her humour and wit are scattered throughout the pages of this memoir which I found thoroughly entertaining. I was unaware of Bishops career leading up to her role as Emily Gilmore in Gilmore Girls. I enjoyed reading Bishop’s story immensely. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this book.

The memoir of Kelly Bishop who plays Emily Gilmore in the Gilmore girls . This is more of a memoir of her career then her personal life — but when she does touch on aspect of her personal life she is very frank and candid about everything. She also has very good life advice that she has learned that she shares with her readers as well. Very interesting to see where and how she started to where she ended up as she enters her 80s .

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada | Gallery Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.

I was so excited and honoured to have my ARC request accepted for Kelly Bishop’s memoir, The Third Gilmore Girl. I dove right in, eager to learn more about the incredible actress that brought the complex character Emily Gilmore to life.

That being said, I find memoirs very hard to rate. I’m a big believer that celebrities don’t owe us anything besides what they are willing to give. In this age of social media, where every little action is posted and analyzed by thousands (or millions) of people, celebrities can be picked apart for the most minuscule reason, and sometimes I think we forget that they are humans with feelings that can be hurt and families that can be affected.

Kelly’s memoir walks the fine line between letting us into her life, and maintaining her privacy, and I think she pulls it off. While I’d say we learn much more about her career than we do her personal life, we are still left with a great overall picture of who Kelly is and what she values. This is an immensely readable book, that never once left me bored. Kelly’s long and varied career in show business was extremely interesting. The writing style came across almost like discussing memories with an old friend. Once published, I’ll be torn between purchasing the audiobook (assuming Kelly herself is narrator) or a print copy (I’m honestly hoping for lots of pictures of Kelly through the years).

At one point, Kelly mentions that she’s extremely proud of her career, in large part due to the fact that it was on her own terms, without comprising her dignity or privacy. I hope she feels the same way about this delightful memoir.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for providing the ARC of this book. This review is my honest and voluntary opinion.

Oh what a treat this memoir was!
Charming, loving and witty, Kelly Bishop is an absolute gem and I was so happy to learn more about her life and career.
As a long time Gilmore Girls fan I also loved this look behind the scenes from Kelly’s point of view.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Kelly Bishop is an inspiring, strong, dedicated, brilliant woman. I loved learning more about her and how passionate and admiring she is. I loved everything, whether the parts of her personal life but also professional.

Like many people, I think, I especially wanted to read this book for the Gilmore Girls part. And if you only want to read about Gilmore Girls, expect to wait until about 65% of the book, but don't let that intimidate you because the whole book is really good.

She went through so many difficult times in her life but always managed to get through it and I really liked that she wasn't afraid to speak up for herself.

✨ARC Review✨

I was so excited to get approved for this arc, as I'm a huge fan of Gilmore Girls and Emily Gilmore is a character I love to hate (don't come for me if you love her, she's triggering to me because of my birth giver issues).

Kelly Bishop has lead such an interesting life, and I learned so much about her with this book! I had no idea she'd started her career as a dancer before becoming an actress, and the first role I ever saw her in was as Baby's mother in Dirty Dancing. I love that movie with my entire heart, and it was great to read about her experience filming it.

What I enjoyed most were the chapters about Gilmore Girls, and I loved how honest she was about the show as a whole, and that dreadful seventh season (it sucks, let's be honest). She talks about being Team Luke (which, hello, SAME!!) and losing Ed Herrman, and that part made me tear up.

I loved the glimpses into show business and her personal life, and how unapologetic she is about never wanting/having children, and the way she mentions going to therapy as casually as if she's mentioning going to the movies.

While Emily is a (mostly) unlikeable character for me, the woman behind the character is resilient, kind and amazing. If you're in any way a fan of Kelly Bishop or Gilmore Girls and enjoy memoirs, I'd give this one a read!

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

As a huge Gilmore Girls fan, I was so excited to receive Kelly Bishop, THE Emily Gilmore’s, memoir as an ARC. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this memoir and leave a review. It’s easily 5 stars for me.

I did not even know Kelly Bishop’s name before this memoir but now I won’t forget it. What a humble, fun soul.

In her memoir, she recounts her career as a dancer, actor, and all of the roles and opportunities her talent brought her. I loved her outlook on her career, not wanting to be at the center of attention but rather finding a community of likeminded people, a second family. She shares details of her marriages and relationships and what she learned from each one. I truly appreciated her openness and honestly throughout her book. I feel like I was sitting in a room with her.

I couldn’t recommend this book more whether you are a Gilmore Girls fan or not, Kelly Bishops’ story is a must read.

Charming, entertaining memoir, with some heavy bits near the end. The stuff about Gilmore Girls was great! It could have been a lot longer.