Gilmore Girls created a community of fast talkers and punny and sarcastic women who are bonded over coffee, books and good food. This book was a comfort read and took me back to the days where I first watched Gilmore Girls. Thank you for the early release! Highly recommend!!!

I am such a Gilmore Girls lover that pretty much anything interests me that has to do with the show! This book was no different. Such a unique take on the show hearing the perspectives from the writers and how the show impacted them and their direct connections to the storyline. There were a couple darker stories but overall it was a fun read and a great gift for any GG lover! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love Gilmore Girls and loved this. While I enjoyed some essays more than others (something to be expected in any essay collection), I overall was very satisfied by this trip back to Stars Hollow.

When I downloaded this book, I thought it would be a light look at the writers' favorite episodes. Instead, it's a deeper examination of family, friends, relationships, and how the Gilmore Girls provided comfort and enlightenment during trying times. Make sure you have time to watch the series again after reading this, because you'll want to.

I’ll find any way to get a Gilmore fix and Life's Short, Talk Fast was just that. It was beyond cool to hear from 15 different writers and all the different ways they were individually impacted by a show that is a huge part of my life. This book was fast paced, informative and eye opening in a lot of ways I both expected, and didn’t expect. I think even a non-Gilmore fan can enjoy this book but the die hard fans will fall in love as they’re transported back into a world of comfort, gaining the opportunity to see it from many different points of view.

Thank you very much @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of Life’s Short, Talk Fast, edited by Ann Hood. This is a group of essays by 15 writers, on “Why We Can’t Stop Watching the Gilmore Girls.” I am only now watching the Gilmore Girls, and I’m only on Season 2. So I don’t have the love and history with it that many people do! These essays are from a variety of people, and show the many various ways that the Gilmore Girls impacted lives. If you’re a fan, I think you have to read this one! #lifesshorttalkfast #gilmoregirls #annhood #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #essaycollection #bookstagram #lovetoread #booksabouttv

**Life’s Short, Talk Fast: A Gilmore Girls Anthology** is a total treat for fans of the show, whether you’ve been watching since day one or, like me, got hooked a little later (shoutout to my critique partner for pulling me into the *Gilmore* world!). Edited by Ann Hood, this collection brings together fifteen writers who share their personal takes on *Gilmore Girls*—and, much like the show itself, it’s full of humor, heart, and surprising depth.

These essays go beyond simple love letters to a favorite show. Nina de Gramont, for example, dives into classism through Lorelai’s private school struggles and her endless collection of fabulous coats (you’ll start noticing them in every episode). Erin Almond reflects on her own Connecticut upbringing and how it compares to Rory’s picture-perfect Stars Hollow. What I loved most, though, was seeing how the show has brought people together—parents and kids, friends, and families—especially during life’s harder moments.

As with any essay collection, some pieces hit harder than others, but there’s something here for everyone. Reading this reminded me of all the ways *Gilmore Girls* has deepened relationships, sparked unexpected “wow” moments, and given us new ways to see the everyday messiness of life. It’s warm, thoughtful, and the perfect mix of cozy and insightful—just like the show.

I’ve already gifted this book to a *Gilmore* superfan and will be handing out copies all holiday season. Whether you’re rewatching for the hundredth time or just starting out, *Life’s Short, Talk Fast* is a fun, heartfelt read that’ll make you want to grab a cup of coffee and settle into Stars Hollow all over again.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

👉🏻For my friends who want a mixed bag of essays loosely tied to the show.

LIFE’S SHORT, TALK FAST Fifteen Writers on Why We Can't Stop Watching Gilmore Girls
edited Ann Hood

Thanks, W. W. Norton & Company, for the advanced review copy via #NetGalley. (Available now)

This collection was a mixed bag for me. The first few were charming and nostalgic, making me want to go back and re-watch the series from the beginning. But then, a couple of the essays were VERY dark and ruined the rest of the book for me. After that, the collection felt jaded and bitter. The life stories the authors relayed were important to hear but did not meet my expectations for the book. I loved the series' light drama, kinship, and quirky cuteness. It was my happy place. To have Stars Hollow woven in with sad stories was different from what I signed up to read.

The other essays were perfectly lovely, but I honestly can’t even remember them now. It’s like the saying about eating an apple and finding a worm. When thinking back, you no longer remember the taste of the apple.

I'm a long-time Gilmore Girls fan, but I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book. It was SO good, though. Totally heart-warming. A series of accounts, different people explaining why they love GG, or how it affected their life. It was the heart-warming book I needed with a solid dose of reminding me of some of my favorite parts of the series and the characters. It would make an amazing gift to the Gilmore Girls fan in your life!

Combine a favorite author shepherding fifteen different perspectives on my favorite television program GILMORE GIRLS and you have a wonderful treasure of a book. With LIFE'S SHORT, TALK FAST, Ann Hood has created a true source of Gilmore Girl joy for a late-to-the-party fan converted by a daughter obsessed with the show. The incredible experience of reading this well-crafted anthology is seeing how my own personal outcomes of living in the Gilmore universe has deepened relationships and sparked a huge "WOW!" or "HUNH!" over seasons of episodes, some of which I can recite by heart. I loved learning how the characters offered fresh views into loved ones and different takes on the ordinary, humdrum, and messy business of being a human in the world. Loved, loved, loved it -- have already given it as a gift to a super fan and will be doing so throughout the holiday season. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

Many thanks to NetGalley and WW Norton & Company for gifting me a digital ARC of this collection of essays revolving around Gilmore Girls, edited by Ann Hood. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

This is a collection of essays by a diverse group of authors all revolving around this iconic TV show. I have to admit that when the show first aired in 2000, I had two boys - one just off to college and the other in high school, and my family's TV viewing revolved around Star Trek in all its many forms. Yet, I still jumped at the opportunity to read this book because first, Ann Hood! But I found myself so involved in these essays which range from humorous to heartbreaking and everything in between. Plus the viewpoints were from die-hard fans to those who had never seen it. The stories show just how uniting and relatable TV can be. Highly recommended if you are a fan, but the stories are wonderful even if you aren't!

When I stumbled across Ann Hood’s newest anthology Life’s Short, Talk Fast—a collection of essays from 15 writers on Gilmore Girls and why we can’t stop watching—I knew I had to dive in. Having loved her previous works like Knitting Yarns: Writers on Knitting (which felt like a warm hug) and The Knitting Circle (which broke my heart and knit me back together), this book was a no-brainer.

For any Gilmore Girls fan, this anthology will feel like you're sitting with a friend, chatting over coffee at Luke’s Diner, debating Team Dean, Team Jess, or Team Logan, and belting out the theme song. Each writer reflects on how the show touched them, how they related to a character, or how they finally got Emily Gilmore (who else appreciates her more with age? 🙋‍♀️).

It’s made me think back on my own Gilmore Girls journey—from recording episodes on VHS (yep, really aging myself here) to binging the DVDs, and finally streaming it while my babies napped or I worked on mini charms. This show has been such a constant in my life, and every time I rewatch it, I find myself seeing things differently.

Whether you want to savor an essay or two here and there, or devour it in one sitting, Life’s Short, Talk Fast is a must-read for fans. Trust me, you’ll love it! 💙

3.75

First and foremost, if, unlike some of the authors in this book, you haven’t watched all seven seasons of Gilmore girls plus the 2016 limited reboot, you probably shouldn’t read this yet. The book, not the review.

I was excited to read this as a Gilmore Girls fan from the beginning. Apparently, though, I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t notice how many coats Lorelei owned and how that was her near ruining. I didn’t understand the parallels of Lane’s duplicity with traditional Asian and Arab teens from America to Australia, nor that everyone saw themselves in Lorelei and their mother in Emily, but saw Rori as a spoiled homewrecker.

Some of these were amusing, some disturbing, and some a little too big for their britches. It’s a pretty short read and I have to admit: I should have known I’m not a book of essays or or short stories kind of gal. There’s a reason I turn towards series with several books in them already, so, like many a Gilmore girls fan fan, I can binge/immerse myself in a different world.

It was funny how some were funny and a little ridiculous, but others were citing serious Gilmore Girls research studies that were even more serious. Surprising most of all was that some of them hadn’t even finished watching all that the series offered. I have to wonder how these authors and their stories were collected since several mentioned very recent events, some took place across the world, and, as I said, some weren’t even fans and hadn’t seen all of the episodes. On some level, those makes sense, but still.

If you’re a fan starved for more Gilmore Girls, you’ll probably want to read this, especially if you want a lot of different viewpoints. Just be warned that some of your long-held Gilmore beliefs may be turned on their head. At the very least, you may feel inadequate if you just enjoyed watching it, all the while not knowing that it was a life-changing experience for so many.

Thank you to Ann Hood, NetGalley, and W. W. Norton and Company for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

Calling all Gilmore Girls fans - this is a super comforting collection of stories. I hadn't heard of any of these authors before picking up this book but each story was unique and a vulnerable telling of how the show impacted the author's life.

Although this was just a 3-star read for me, the stories brought the characters back to life for me and I felt seen in many of the stories. No story particularly moved me and I don't think this is a book I would come back to but I would recommend it to any Girlmore Girl lover as it is fun to read other people's experiences with the show.

Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, you’ll enjoy this. Each of these essays touches on a personal relationship with Gilmore Girls. How Gilmore Girls affected each of these people in different ways. Good and bad. But so interesting how each of these essayists felt about the show.

This is one of those books you can pick up and put down without losing track. Made me want to crawl back into Star’s Hollow and reminisce.

As a longtime fan of The Gilmore Girls I was very excited to hear about this new essay collection, especially as the fall season approached. I was a little surprised, but not disappointed. Not every essay is fangirling over the show, but they are all poignant, reflective, and bring a different perspective to the viewing of the show. I love that there were so many varying writers, in age, gender, ethnicity. I would highly recommend this to any Gilmore fan.

3.75⭐️

First and foremost, thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this title. My review, as always, reflects my true thoughts.

Being a fan of Gilmore Girls, I was excited to have the opportunity to receive a digital ARC filled with essays with the show as the main subject. Fifteen separate writers contribute to this compilation of thoughts and ideas on Lorelei, Rory, Stars Hollow, and more.

Being a late bloomer to the Gilmore Girls phenomena, I often feel like an imposter and I found comfort in knowing that I was not the only one who showed up late to the game. Most of the writers who contributed to this work weren’t “there from the beginning”. I personally loved receiving the thoughts and ideas from others on how they relate to the show and what it meant for them. It had me hankering to write an essay of my own on the topic matter.

However, a couple of the essays I felt barely formed a connection with the show and felt more like a venting of sorts. Not necessarily bad essays or poor writing; just simply out of place.

Overall though, I enjoyed my time with this title. I found myself adding a few of these writers other works to my TBR as I found their writing delightful. It also gave me the itch to rewatch the show, again, from the top. For fans of Gilmore Girls seeking a connection with other fans, I would highly recommend this quick read. Likewise, it would make a great holiday gift for Gilmore Girls diehards.

When I heard Annie B. Jones talking about this one on From the Front Porch, I went immediately to Netgalley to see if I could get a copy, and lo and behold, my wish was granted. I am not someone who turns on Gilmore Girls the second the leaves start to change to re-watch my favorite autumnal episodes, but in this year's particularly stressful season, I gave in to the social pressures and have been happily making my way through the first season. There's something so incredibly comforting about the snappy yet kind dialogue and reliably weird townsfolk. It's a balm to the weary soul.

Which is also the general consensus of these 15 writers in this essay collection. There's nothing monumental happening in this book, but it was perfect bedtime reading for me, soothing me in the same way the show can. Most of these authors are people I haven't heard of, but each offers a slightly different angle of looking at or interacting with the show, from the importance of Lane Kim's character, to being a husband/stepfather to a very bonded mother/daughter duo, to the Team Dean/Team Jess/Team Logan of it all. Any avid fan would likely smile their way through this short book, which is basically all we can ask for in these fraught days. So when next week's pub day rolls around (11/12) and we heaven forbid still don't know the election results, do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this one to ease the stress. I doubt you'll regret it.

Gilmore Girls is my favorite show. I’ve watched every episode multiple times. I can quote it. So when I heard about this book of course I had to read it! I could see the scenes the author was describing. I loved seeing the show through so many different perspectives and thinking about the different ways it touched different people. Makes me want to watch it all again!

Fifteen writers explore what Gilmore Girls means to them in this celebratory collections of essays. The classic contemporary television show bonded real-life mothers and daughters since 2000, when the premiere introduced us to Lorelai, Rory and the town of Stars Hollow. Almost 25 years later and Gilmore Girls is one of the most streamed TV shows ever.

Each of the writers share their personal relationship to Gilmore Girls through a short essay. The writers are diverse (married, single, divorced, old, young, middle-aged, black, Asian, white, male and female) making their experiences quite different. Almost all compare their own lives to Lorelai and Rory's life choices, love matches and family dynamics. The short essays lovingly center around a theme of what makes a home in that fast-talking, warm-hearted, quick-witted way.

What a lovely collection of essays to read. I nodded my head in agreement. Smiled at the many episode references. Teared up at the shared details of lovely mother-daughter bonds. The show revealed so much about ourselves, our mothers and our daughters. Ann Hood's anthology revealed why it matters. Life's Short, Talk Fast has sparked an interest to rewatch all 153 episodes of Gilmore Girls with my Mom.

Bookhearts, I recommend Life's Short, Talk Fast for the fellow bookish girlies like Rory and the Lorelai fans. At just under 200 pages, this new book would be a great companion while you watch Gilmore Girls. While I didn't recognize any of the writers, I appreciated their stories enough to keep an eye out for their work.

Happy Early Pub Day, Ann Hood! Life's Short, Talk Fast will be available Tuesday, November 12.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins. ~LiteraryMarie