Jenny Slate is Jenny Slate. She is quirky, funny, weird, obsessive, and wickedly smart. Her musings on becoming a parent, romantic relationships and expectations of rejection, and the stalker-level letter writing to a therapist are unforgettable.

Quirky is an understatement when it comes to Jenny Slate's original creations, and I love her for it. I desperately wanted to love this book, and I listened for far longer than I normally would have because her vocal performance (just her normal voice, really) is so satisfying to me. But I kept getting sidetracked, wondering what in the actual fuck is going on right now? While I self identify as a bit off-kilter, this is for the true oddballs: the witchy women who cast hexes on their friends' exes and have living rooms overflowing with plants and eyeballs in jars.

I liked this one but I didn't love it as much as I loved her previous book. Could it just be me? Yes! I'm a huge fan of Jenny Slate and I don't know what put me off this one, exactly, so I'm going to say it's not her, it's me. Even though I didn't capital-L Love it, I'd still recommend it. It was a good listen for long walks in the woods and felt, like always, like a friend was telling me her best stories. Can't wait for the next one.

Jenny Slate's Lifeform is a strange and enchanting journey that defies traditional narrative structure, offering deeply poetic moments interspersed with rambling, stream-of-consciousness musings. At times, I struggled to follow her descriptions or grasp what she was trying to say, but these moments were far outweighed by the sheer beauty and emotional depth of the rest of the book.

One standout section delves into the aging and death of family members, capturing the complexities of loss in a way that left me profoundly moved. Slate’s reflections on anxiety, depression, pregnancy, and motherhood are raw, relatable, and painfully honest. She masterfully balances dark humor with heartfelt sincerity—one moment reveling in the happiest times of her life, the next confronting the stark reality of mortality.

The themes of motherhood and the body are woven throughout, celebrating women’s magical resilience with whimsy and absurdity. Slate’s writing feels unpredictable, shifting effortlessly between lighthearted and gut-wrenching.

If you have the chance, the audiobook is an absolute must. Jenny Slate’s narration adds an entirely new dimension to the text. Her cadence and voice bring every nuance to life, enhancing the already captivating experience.

Lifeform is a whimsical, heartfelt exploration of love, motherhood, and the strange beauty of existence. It’s imperfect but undeniably magical.

An interesting and entertaining series of essays from actress Jenny Slate! I think I appreciated this a lot more hearing her read it as an audiobook than I would’ve as text.

Jenny Slate has a brain like no one else. Her ability to take her journey of motherhood, relationships, and mental health and create something so interesting is a gift. While this didn't hit quite the same as little weirds, I loved being in Slate's world and watching her work through her life. She is reflective and embracing the journey in the best way. And I will read whatever she writes forever.

Jenny Slate’s signature hilarious style takes on motherhood. This was funny and quirky yet somehow real and spiritual. I’ve loved Jenny Slate’s other art, but this was my first read of hers and it won’t be my last!

Perfect for readers who
-loved Big Mouth's Missy, Parks and Rec's Mona Lisa, or Bob's Burger's Tammy
-or thought the bff Allyssa was the best part of the "It Ends With Us" screen adaptation
-or are maybe old enough to remember the YouTube series Marcel the Shell with Shoes on

Lifeform is collection of essays that span Slate's journey from being single to falling in love to becoming a mother, all told with Slate's humor. I particularly enjoyed the section where the raccoons were gossiping and the section about stork bites.

Touching and relatable anecdotes from a mother-t0-be. Delightfully quirky, much like Jenny Slate herself.

I love Jenny Slate's acting and voice work. However, overall, I don't think I get her humor. This was a nonsensical take on impending motherhood - I guess? You've really got to understand her kind of humor to enjoy this one.

I really wished I liked this more than I did. Some of Slate's essays in here are beautiful and resonant - about all the chaotic and conflicting and nourishing feelings that arise when you have a little lifeform growing in your body. Oh, and all of the self-healing that comes before this lifeform and complete lack of normalcy that comes after the lifeform.

I know this is signature Jenny Slate, but the essays were just... weird. They're a little manic, a little meandering, oddly written - definitely not your standard fare of what to expect in an essay collection about love, pregnancy, and motherhood. Having her narrate the audiobook is also certainly a choice... at some points, she is absolutely screeching to the point where I had to take my headphones off. Some people might adore this unconventional style of writing, but I found that it wasn't for me. (To see if it's for you, just read the Goodreads description - the whole book is basically written in that format!)

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC - I enjoyed these quick and thoughtful essays read by Jenny Slate. She is an artist for a reason! Out now.

Jenny Slate has such a unique voice - both literally and figuratively! Cleverly written, highly entertaining. Slate's words could transport readers on their own but when heard in her voice via audiobook? Magic. 4 Stars.

This was a short listen and it was great to hear Jenny's voice. However, the book jumped around too much and was a little too wild for me to follow closely.

The best thing about Slate's writing is its singularity. This collection is funny, sad, neurotic, imaginative, unpredictable. It's possible that reading it in print might actually enhance the stories and essays in some way, but listening to Jenny narrate it was too good to pass up.

I’m so glad I listened rather than read this one, Jenny Slates voice just makes all the difference!
This is a collection of essays about Jenny’s life during the pandemic. Over the last few years she’s become a mom, gets engaged and married, and like all of us is challenged by the new world!
Lifeform was hilarious, vulnerable, and a story of growth. Jenny Slate openly asks the questions women all over have, especially after becoming a mom. I felt myself in all her stories about her body as as a new mom, all the changes!!

I enjoyed this for a nice funny light read, especially for moms!

Thank you to NetGalley, Hacketts Book Group, and Jenny Slate for the ARC!

So beautiful. Jenny Slate is so full of whimsy it hurts. I loved her first book and Lifeform is just as touching and moving. If not, more so. Motherhood is a journey I will never be able to go on but I will always find beauty in. Beyond that, her way of describing grief, incredible.

The best thing about this audiobook is listening to Jenny Slate narrate - her performance is passionate, honest, and vulnerable. Several excerpts of her writing are really poetic and beautiful, and I think anyone with anxiety will find something to relate to here. That being said, this really doesn't come together as a whole, and the chaos is a bit grating after a while.

I wasn't familiar with her humor but this sounded interesting. I like this kind of humor where there's a description or a story that makes me think, "Yes, it's exactly like that!" And there was tenderness too. The narration was great, and it brought out some of the weird, funny parts. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

Solid book of essays about motherhood and marriage. I definitely am not the target audience for this year but I read it as I am a fan of Jenny Slate’s comedy,