I am a huge fan of Parks and Rec and I loved this book and perspective. I have already recommended it to friends of mine who I know are fans of the show. I loved Jim O'Heir's thoughts and point of view. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

I didn't finish this before it expired. I listened to the Parks and Rec podcast so a lot of the information was repeated. I still enjoyed what I read but didn't feel compelled to keep reading.

I love a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a movie or tv show that I enjoy watching, and it makes me so happy to see that there are so many podcasts and books devoted to exactly this! Anything Michael Schur and Greg Daniels work on (especially together) is bound to be hilarious and relatable in some way, and Parks and Recreation was no exception to this.

Through the book, Jim O’Heir (who played Jerry) walks us through the time span of the show from beginning to end, sharing tidbits about the cast and crew and making of its episodes. He also sprinkles in personal anecdotes about his own life, as well as interviews with other cast members and behind-the-scenes photos. There are many insights into the insecurities actors might feel, especially when they don’t perfectly fit into the stereotypical Hollywood aesthetic.

While I’ve read multiple books on other tv shows (ahem, about The Office), this was the first one I’ve read about Parks and Rec, so most of the stories were ones I hadn’t heard before. (I can’t promise you’ll feel the same if you listen to Jim’s podcast or have read other books about the show, though!) Overall I thought this gave some interesting insight into the show and I’d recommend it if you’re a fan!

I am a huge Parks and Rec fan, and I love these behind the scenes books so I was excited to see this book. The book was written by Jim O'Heir, but includes lots of guest spots of other characters telling their sides of stories. It was not the most well written book I've read. It seemed to jump all over the timeline which was rather annoying.

I received a digital ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. Because i got it as a digital ARC, it was a bit difficult to read due to the formatting and lack of pictures. I believe it would be much better to read with the actual book, which would make browsing it a lot easier.

WELCOME TO PAWNEE is a fun and sweet read that allows the reader to get a look behind the camera of the hit show “Parks and Rec.” it’s filled with great stories, funny bits and memories for a found family forever. There are several sweet moments that would make me tear up thinking of how supportive and encouraging the cast and crew and producers are all to each other. What gift that show was/is!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Parks and Rec is one of the shows that gets funnier every time I watch it. This was a fun trip down memory lane, and Jim O'Heir's love of the show and of his costars is evident on every page. Amy Poehler apparently treated the crew really well and did what she could so they had the best time possible making the show. The audiobook is fun too, because of the many narrators.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book.

The audiobook is much more immersive of a read than the physical book because the guest inserts are read by different narrators. You will be missing out on the photos included though unless you look up the PDF that sometimes comes with audiobooks. Throughout this book I felt like it was probably ghost written and Jim confirmed this in the acknowledgments. There’s nothing wrong with ghostwriting (the vast majority of celebrity memoirs are) but I really appreciate it when the author takes the time to thank the person who actually sat down and did the work to write the book.

I’m not going to lie, I don’t believe all the guys are as amazing and wonderful as Jim says they are. It practically worships Chris Pratt which gave me the ick. It was especially baffling that Jim thought Pratt’s full frontal nudity “prank” was so funny that he would try to recreate it in a surprise mooning knowing that a crew member felt uncomfortable about the first incident. Many people call this prudish but it’s not sexy. It’s sexual harassment. The crew on that set are not in a position to speak up when actors decide it would be cute and funny to flash their fellow actors with complete disregard for everyone else in the room.

I did love how much he highlighted Amy Poehler’s advocacy for the inclusion of all the actors especially him and Retta.

This was a fun read! If you love Parks and Rec or are just a pop culture fan, this book is for you! It was funny, sweet, and gives you a peak at how some of your favorite celebs are in real life.

I gave it 4 stars because the book tends to jump around a lot and it's hard to follow who's talking at times. To be fair, I did have a preview copy so that might be fixed in the finished product!

Overall, highly recommend!

Oh my. First off, I'm definitely a Parks and Rec super fan, so when I saw that this was being published, I was ALL about it. But this...this was just not it. I walked away from this feeling all sorts of cringe about Jim O'Heir, his interactions with his co-stars and how ridiculously he was fawning over everything and everyone. And, I wanted actual dirt! There is none of that in this book. If you want to hear about how much Jim loved everyone he worked with, and how there were never any issues, pick this one up. But, I find it unlikely that there really were no conflicts, no differences of opinion, no angst.

*Welcome to Pawnee* is an absolute treat for Parks and Rec fans! Jim O’Heir, aka Jerry/Garry/Larry (you know the drill), opens the door to the quirky world of Pawnee with stories that’ll make you laugh, cry, and wish you were part of the cast. Packed with behind-the-scenes gems—think off-camera dance-offs, hilarious bloopers, and bonfires at Nick Offerman’s place—this book celebrates the show's heart and humor. If you adore Leslie Knope, Ron Swanson, and the whole gang, this heartfelt tribute is like a warm hug from Pawnee itself. Treat yo’ self!

A fun trip back to Pawnee for any fan of Parks and Rec! The text was a bit hard to follow at times, but mostly seemed due to eARC formatting.

Loved this show and found the book interesting. I had an electronic preview copy from NetGalley and admit it was not the easiest to read with the formatting and lack of many pictures, but I’m sure fans will enjoy the non-galley copy.

This was such a fun behind-the-scenes look at Parks & Rec - one of my favorite shows! Jim tells many stories during his time on the show and I enjoyed the personal stories that he mixed in as well. Lots of great pictures and a fun, quick read that makes me want to watch the series all over again!

The title of this book should be Welcome BACK to Pawnee because it is a most joyous stroll down memory lane for fans of this show.

Mr. O'Heir freely shares with his readers the best backstage stories and personal anecdotes from his life, which makes us feel like we're chatting with a close friend. It's not exactly a memoir, but the author gives readers an in-depth look at what it takes to be a successful actor, up to and including his ground-breaking name-creating role on Parks and Recreation.

Part funny, part sentimental, and all well-written, I would recommend this book for any fan of Parks and Recreation or Jim O'Heir!

I am an avid Parks and Recreation fan, so when I saw this was available to read I jumped at the chance. Jim O'Heir's character Garry/Jerry/Larry/Terry/etc. is one of my favorite TV characters, and so hearing what it was like to work on the show from his viewpoint was a delight. I enjoyed the inside scoop as to how the show was made, as well as Jim's tender feelings about being an actor both in the show and out of it. A fun biography to read for fans of the show!

O'Heir has crafted a memoir/oral history hybrid that's as sweet and soulful as the show that brought about his rise to fame.

REVIEW: Welcome to Pawnee by Jim O'Heir

I was excited to read Welcome to Pawnee as a big fan of the Parks and Rec TV show. It is a fun, comfort show with many great cast members. I also thought hearing it in Jim O'Heir's (aka Jerry) would be a unique view.

There were some fun behind-the-scenes stories throughout the book. I loved hearing about how close the entire cast was throughout their filming. It was enjoyable to hear how close Rhetta and Jim were since they both started as side characters before getting a regular role. Jim also talks about some of his struggles with casting and photo shoots due to being only known as a side character at the time. I loved hearing from some of the book's producers and other cast members, such as Chris Pratt, Retta, Adam Scott, and even Amy Poehler.

Welcome to Pawnee lacked in a few areas. The organization was a struggle. It kept circling and felt like there needed to be a more precise direction. He often would say, "Back to my original story." This book is also very surface-level. We don't hear much personally about Jim besides when his mom passed away. His book became quite repetitive and stretched longer than it was needed.

Overall, Welcome to Pawnee is a simple, fun read if you are a Parks and Rec fan, but it doesn't get too deep into anything. This book is very conversational, which can be a good thing; it just didn't work well for this book.

Thank you, Netgalley and William Morrow, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

This was such a fun book for all fans of parks and rec! I loved every second of it and definitely need to go rewatch the show now!

I loved this book! I was fortunate enough to see Mr. O'Heir at a comic con a few years ago and he brings the delight of seeing him in person to the written word. He tells personal stories from his time on the set and has interviews with other cast members and staff from the show. I had was given an advanced copy and it didn't have all the pictures that were shared in the book. So I will be picking up a physical copy to browse! I loved this. For Parks and Rec fans this is a must read!

I'm a big fan of Parks & Rec so I was looking forward to reading this one. Jim O'Heir has a very familiar, Midwestern vibe which is on full display in the writing style. I haven't listened to his podcast, but I would assume the book is a continuation of that. The book is separated by seasons, covering the personal and professional trajectory of the show and Jim's career. There are plenty of stories about his time coming up in the acting world and a bit about his family life. There are asides with quotes or interviews with different cast members or show creators to give a bit more context for the nitty gritty of how this show was created and came together.

The downside to the folksy, Midwestern style is that it can be a bit circular and/or boring. Jim is working so hard to be nice to everyone (understandably) that many stories end up with a "but that's life". I also didn't feel like there was a lot of particularly new information. The insider details were more around the details of show making rather than interpersonal experiences of the actors. Some of that was very cool to hear, but it wasn't really what I expected.

Overall, a good read if you love the show. And I thought it was fun to hear it all from Jim. It's not often that you get to hear from a character actor like this and I appreciated that most of all. (Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy!)