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!)

Heartwarming insider look at Jim’s journey and the making of Pawnee! Parks fans will love every moment! Jim, Jerry, Larry - the sweetest guy.

As a huge fan of Parks and Rec, Jim’s account of his time there was phenomenal. I absolutely enjoyed this read!

The release of "Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation" couldn't have come at a better time, as I am currently in the middle of my annual Parks & Rec rewatch. For lovers of the show, Jim O'Heir's chronicles of the cast and episodes is like a warm hug from Jerry Gergich. I will be thrilled to purchase a physical copy to keep for my collection, to pull out and help me reminisce about one of my all-time favorite comfort shows.

**Thank you Net Galley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**

A fun read, especially for Park and Recreation lovers. O’Heir shares his behind the scenes stories and memories of being in the show, and includes snippets from other cast and crew members! He also includes stories from his life before and after the show. I learned a lot about him!

This book was everything I was hoping it would be and more. Parks and Rec is one of my ultimate comfort shows and I loved getting a behind the scenes look at the positive work environment that was fostered by the cast and crew and also some fantastic stories from some of my favorite episodes. Also, I really enjoyed Jim O’Heir’s writing style and related to him in so many ways. The way he wrote about his costars turned friends was so lovely and it makes me want to rewatch the show immediately with the new knowledge of I gained from this book. I laughed several times (no surprise there) and teared up a few as well. I think this is a must read for any Parks and Recreation fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome to Pawnee is a wonderful accompaniment to Parks and Rec. Jim O’Heir tells the story of the show from his perspective, but with the help of his fellow cast and crew members. His reminiscing brings back the wonder of the show (and reinforces how amazing everyone involved could be), but doesn’t shy away from the lowlights. The stories are told in a cohesive order and in a way that connects Jim’s life outside the show with the years on Parks and Rec. I highly recommend this book if you love P&R

as a huge fan of parks and recreation this was such a good read. it was a humorous but heartfelt look behind the scenes.