I just absolutely adore how Jenny Slate describes the world and all her experiences. Lifeform covers her experiences with being single, getting married, having her kiddo, and the death of her grandma - in one of the most unique memoirs I've had the pleasure to enjoy. I will say I don't know that I fully understood all of her musings, but I was happy to be along for the ride nonetheless.

One of the repeated devices in the memoir was her missives to her doctor where she describes what is going on with her at all her different stages of life. Among other items she discussed, I could not have related more when she talked about how she was worried about annoying her doctor and not necessarily wanting to deal with certain things that were just not going right.

When Jenny railed against her guest who left small, wet, hot bags everywhere and managed to both relate how frustrating it is to feel like you're responsible for everything, and then how our moms are to blame (for better or for worse) for our behavior and how that made her feel as a mom was just amazing.

I listened to this as an audiobook, which is mostly narrated by Jenny herself as well as some guest stars, and I would highly recommend. I always love listening to memoirs when they're read by the author and Jenny does such a fantastic job of reading it I can't imagine consuming it any other way.

I definitely recommend this book - thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advanced copy.

I really struggled to try and enjoy this book. I understand that it's stories but it felt like everything kept coming out of left field. If I even zoned out for a minute I didn't know what was going on. I really did try, I got a good chunk of the way through it. Every step though was a struggle.

“It is courageous to carry the truth, which is that we will all grow old and die and that people will see it happen to us.”

I have been such a deep fan and supporter of Jenny Slate for what feels like forever now and I am just tickled every time she decides to share a little more of her mind with us. It is delightful to get lost her in whimsy and oddity and suddenly be slammed into a wall of such a deep, once unspeakable (or even knowable?) truth you didn’t think was lingering under the surface of your body’s skin and find comfort for a feeling you didn’t even know you needed to be held through.

This book was particularly poignant to me as Jenny had her first child just weeks after I had my own so seeing her put a voice to the beautiful and tender and violent and horrifying moments of becoming and being a mother was such a welcome gift. This book is filled with all the humor and heart I’ve come to expect from her and I enjoyed every weird little moment.

I loved the audio of this. Memoirs read by the authors are a must and Jenny has one of my favorite voices ever so it was perfect. The cameos were so fun as well. Will definitely recommend the audio for anyone who wants to read this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an early copy of the audiobook in exchange for review!

Wowzer, I am not sure how to classify this audio book other than delightful!!! Of course, it is weird and quirky, but it is also funny, powerful, poetic, relatable and meaningful. This is a selection of essays that follow Jenny Slate’s life (but with lots of imagination and rambling).

This is the perfect book to have the audio version, as Jenny Slate has a distinctive sound and cadence to her voice that makes this so much richer than reading it. Add in a few guest appearances, and you have a total win.

Give this one a chance, it will change how you think about personal essays.


Thanks to Netgalley, Hachette Audio and Little, Brown & Company.

Lifeform TL;DR:
👶 Authentic Take on Motherhood
✨ Whimsical and Vivid Writing
💫 Exploration of Universal Themes

Jenny Slate's Lifeform is a collection of essays that offer a unique and intimate glimpse into the world of motherhood. With her signature blend of humor, vulnerability, and offbeat observations, Slate explores the transformative power of love, the strangeness of pregnancy and childbirth, and the profound impact of becoming a mother.

The essays in Lifeform are both whimsical and profound. Slate's writing is full of vivid imagery and unexpected turns of phrase, making even the most mundane moments feel extraordinary. She delves into the challenges and joys of motherhood with honesty and humor, never shying away from the darker aspects of the experience.

From her initial fears about pregnancy to the overwhelming love she feels for her child, Slate's essays offer a raw and relatable portrayal of motherhood. She explores themes of identity, loss, and the enduring power of human connection with tenderness and insight.

One of the most striking aspects of Lifeform is Slate's ability to find beauty and meaning in the everyday. She transforms mundane experiences into extraordinary moments, revealing the hidden magic and wonder of the world. Her essays are a celebration of life, love, and the resilience of the human spirit.

While some readers may find Slate's writing style to be unconventional or even off-putting, those who appreciate her unique voice and perspective will find Lifeform to be a rewarding and thought-provoking read. The book is a testament to the transformative power of motherhood and a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the human experience.

In very whimsical fashion Jenny Slate takes us on a journal of what it’s like to wake up every day heartbroken over the loss of one love, thinking you’ll never love again. Only to find out that one day you will find another human to love you! And they will love all your little quirks that make you the human you are! And you’ll love all their little quirks that make them the human they are! But you do still harbor the fear of loss, because after all you are only human. But maybe one day when you’re both the epitome of wind chimes in the wind and song birds on the sea, you may even find the courage to wed each other! But shortly after that magically lyrical period of life the two of you may decide “hmm I like their quirks and they like mine, I wonder what would happen if we tried to make another human” and that’s when the true transformation begins. When you have the ability to create another form of life, a lifeform! And you’re ever changing! And the life form inside of you is ever changing obviously because you’re still growing it, and you’re filled with so much curiosity and wonder. But this whole motherhood thing should be easy right? We’ve been doing it for centuries so how hard could it be right? RIGHT?!

Slate tells us exactly how hard it can be! Through veracious essays in all shapes and sizes. Dreams of storks delivering babies, having a way too comfortable one sided relationship with your doctor, what a postpartum body is really like, daydream scenarios of all the best gossip!

Jenny Slate has this insatiable ability to burrow deeply inside your soul and stay there with her art. She’s a master of stringing words together in such a concise way that feels fresh! She is able to put emotions you couldn’t even comprehend feeling, into words you’d never say, but that feels so right. She’s simultaneously original and relatable. She’s romantic and sparky and continues to make you fall deeper in love with her each time you consume her art. I know Lifeform will be reread many time over by me, just like Little Weirds was. And I know each time I read it, I’ll glean something new.

I recommend this book to longtime Jenny Slate lovers, new moms, people in tune with their body and the earth below their feet!!! Thank you netgalley and Hachette Audio for this audio arc!

Step inside the mind of the most affable, Jenny Slate as she delves deep into what it means to live and to give life to another person. Slate asks questions, of all shapes and sizes and embarks on genealogy, mythology and philosophy to grasp meaning on the not-so-straight-forward answers. Slate's quirks, foibles and humour are of course on display and will make this a very relatable work as she discusses anxieties, self consciousness and intrusive thoughts. A beautiful poet work that is a simple reminder to love what's around us, even when life feels a bit shit.

Jenny Slate is a true gem of a comedian, author, and talent. I highly recommend picking up Lifeform in the audiobook format if possible, as Slate's narration will leave you in absolute tears of laughter. She possesses what many comedians overlook, the biting satire and humor that we come to expect from a comedy but adds her punch-to-the-gut realness that leaves the reader reeling. She is one of the funniest authors and has such a natural knack for deep, poignant storytelling that feels brutally honest and hilarious at the same time. A must-read!

If you like Jenny Slate, you’ll enjoy this, but boy is it exhausting to be in her mind. Which I think was partially the point? It’s very funny and tender, the parts about transitioning into motherhood in particular got me good. I wish things were more linear and just a tad less whimsical? Definitely do this on audio if possible since she narrates it and for the cameo of George Saunders as her therapist.

I really enjoyed Jenny’s book ‘Little Weirds’ during the height of the COVID pandemic, so I really looked forward to reading more of her whimsical brand of personal vulnerability in ‘Lifeform’. The primary focus here is Jenny’s marriage and the birth of her first baby (during a global plague). In my opinion, the best way to enjoy Slate’s written work is through audiobook, because her voice truly makes her work sing, if that makes sense. So much of her tone is wrapped in her vocal performance — frenetic, sometimes anxious, a touch of silly, always hopeful. It makes the comedy vignettes (especially the Lettie Shoemaker bits) much more effective and funny to me, like an actual life performance. No real surprise as Slate found so much success as a voice actor.

My many many thanks to Hachette Audio for this early listen ARC! It was truly a delight!

There are few things better than learning an author you adore has a new release. I love Jenny Slate’s brain so much.

I did not read the description since “Little Weirds” spoke to me so instantly that my reading another of her works was a foregone conclusion. If you, unlike me, do need something more substantial, then you may like to know that much of the focus is around Jenny Slate’s pregnancy (hence the title!). Before and during this, there is self-exploration and doubt, and highly amusing notes to her doctor, all conveyed with the author’s trademark brand of anxious witticisms.

When it comes to comedians I will always prefer audiobooks over the physical editions and this was no different. Jenny Slate’s tone and inflections are so perfect. Even just the way she says “doctor” is charming. The chapters where she bounced off another narrator were especially hilarious and I do not think I would’ve found it quite so hysterical reading it through my own eyes.

While I grew to enjoy my reading experience this did not immediately charm me the same way “Little Weirds” did. It may be because I was less interested in the content the beginning of the book featured. Descriptions of romance can be so hit or miss for me. So at the start, all this had going for it was that it was read by Jenny Slate, and even words that are not connecting meaningfully to me are far better in her voice.

Then we got to the mid-point and I was back! Fully engaged with the material, giggling as I baked oatmeal cranberry cookies, so delighted to hear the author’s thoughts on raccoons and dishwashers and storks.

There were moments near the end where I was close to tears and the final acknowledgments directed towards her mother nearly sent me right over.

I am so grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me the chance to listen to this audiobook. I screamed “JENNY SLATE!!!” When I saw that I’d been approved and honestly I really needed that high.

There is something about her writing that makes me feel more settled in my own humanity. The best way to explain this is that when listening to this I was happy to be a person because Jenny Slate is also a person and when she’s writing that is actually a very cool thing to be.

This book is my introduction to the hilarious and weird written reflections of the talented Jenny Slate. Most of me loved this book, but other parts of me thought, "I could do this. My mind musings are a lot like this lady's. I could be rich." But I know there is a lot more going on here than a funny lady writing about random life stuff and getting paid for it. She is very vulnerable about what she says. I'm not ready to expose myself in quite the same way. And she's a famous actress, I guess, but I haven't researched if I even know her from screen. Another small part of me wanted to recommend this book to all kinds of people I know who appreciate what it's like to have raging anxiety, but the amount of swearing in the book would be offensive for my group. If you think you are crazy, read this. You'll either validate your exaggerated worries of your own craziness or realize there are crazier people out there and they still live mostly functional lives.

This was equally as entertaining as it was touching. HIGHLY recommend the audiobook - humorous and poignant. Definitely reaffirmed my love for Jenny Slate.

I think this book is for those who are already long-time fans of Jenny Slate. I enjoy her as an actress in the couple things I've seen of her and I generally enjoy snippets of jokes I see from her online so I was excited for her self-narrated audiobook. It turns out though, her overall humor is not quite my style and I don't think I know enough about her to understand all of her stories and style. I think the audiobook is very well produced and I appreciated her style of delivering the content rather than just reading it. The book is done in the style of many shorts which include a back-and-forth with a doctor who she hopes can fix all the things that really don't need fixed because it's part of being human.

I hate to rate the book lower because it just wasn't for me and I believe many others will find it more humorous but I also didn't find anything especially inspiring or any take-away for my life as I usually do in life essays or biographies. I would have rated it another star if I had a take-away from it.

I may post a review of this on other sites in the form of suggesting who might be a good fit for it. If I do, it will be included on Goodreads, Instagram, Facebook, and StoryGraph under @SunnysideReadsLFL. I would also share on Amazon.

Jenny Slate's new memoir is humorous, obviously, but surprisingly poetic as she enters a new stage in her life - motherhood. I was fortunate enough to receive a digital ARC as well as an ALC and, while I enjoyed them both, I found myself enjoying the audiobook more. I've always felt that memoirs/autobiographies should be narrated by that individual. When you listen to Jenny Slate walk us through her journey and musings on pregnancy, birth, and motherhood, you can hear the love and care in her voice. It gives an almost tangible tether to you and the author, to hear them speak on their struggles and joys. I highly encourage everyone to enjoy the book in a listening format.

While the musings aren't always linear, the story is still beautiful. While my favorite parts were the bits she did (a quick reenactment of a therapy session, a raccoon gossip sesh), I appreciated the more in-depth, almost spiritual in a sense, remarks on life. Not everything that was said resonated with me directly, but Slate's way of viewing life and its impact provided a new perspective. Having finished the book, I couldn't help but feel more optimistic towards life. I hope I can continue that optimism for a while.

I really enjoy Jenny Slate and was excited to see she had a new book coming out. As a newer mom myself, I was looking forward to her insights as a mother. Not only could I relate on that level but there were so many times I felt that she was pulling things from my own mind. It is truly a gift to be able to articulate those inner thoughts so well and it was a pleasure to listen to. It is a compilation of stories and anecdotes and there are specific pieces that I know I will go back to and listen to many times. She encourages the reader to look for the little joys in life, we are ever changing and perspective is important.

I am so particular about audiobooks, if the narration is monotone and slow I can’t focus. I tend to enjoy memoirs the most and Jenny Slate is an amazing narrator! She was engaging and overall the audiobook is well produced.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Little, Brown & Company for the ALC.

Thank you to author (whom I absolutely adore), the publisher, and NetGalley.

Listen, I may be biased because I love literally everything Jenny Slate does. This book and the accompanying narration, including help from her friends, is no exception. It made me feel all the feelings and only love Jenny more. It was a new way of looking (and laughing) at what life throws at you. Things nearly every person can relate to. If you enjoy biographies, especially those about female comics, I highly suggest you pick this up.

Jenny, if you see this, keep on being unapologetically you! 🫶

I already loved Jenny Slate, but this really established that I am a huge Jenny Slate fan. She is so funny and wonderfully, bizarrely relatable!

I am forever a believer that the best way to experience memoirs is to listen to the audiobook whenever the author is the narrator. Since Jenny Slate narrated the audiobook, it was in such a compelling and laugh out loud funny way that it truly elevated the experience.

The writing was beautifully done, the cadence of the story was so engaging, the evolution and love as the story progressed was stunning. I cannot recommend this enough!

The production of the audiobook was perfect, the music, the voice actors, all of it made the story so complete.

Thank you to the Hachette Audio, Little, Brown & Company, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. 💕

Unfortunately this book was not for me. It seemed more like poetry and a lot of the essays were confusing and odd. Just not for me! The narrator was fine, I love Jenny Slate so was happy to hear her. But some of the quick volume changes was a bit much.

Fans of Jenny Slate’s comedy looking for a lighthearted and amusing take on pregnancy and postpartum will enjoy "Lifeform." In the book, Jenny shares her journey of overcoming self-doubt through love and motherhood. Her dry humor is reminiscent of Lauren Graham’s memoir, "Talking as Fast as I Can." The chapters are short, the storytelling is whimsical and imaginative, and Jenny's humor and poetic tone turn the human experience into an engaging story that blends escapism with social commentary.
If Jenny decides to channel her whimsical storytelling into a fiction novel, it will go at the top of my list. Each metaphorical tale fascinated me and conveyed a profound message in a short time.
Thank you to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Little, Brown & Company for providing the ARC of Jenny Slate’s memoir, “Lifeform.”