Book Review: Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen Degeneres

I have never met someone who doesn’t like Ellen Degeneres. I mean, right? She’s real, she’s a good role model, and she’s hilarious- what’s not to like? When I worked part time, I used to be able to make it home from school almost every day to watch her talk show at 3pm. It was glorious.

Ellen Degeneres’ book Seriously… I’m Kidding ended up in my hands during our family’s annual Christmas Book Exchange. This is the third book Ellen has written, and, like her talk show, it is filled with silly quips, jokes, and well-meaning advice covered in ridiculous exaggeration.

Why you might like this book: Seriously… I’m Kidding is a very quick read and the chapters do not need to be read in any particular order. If you like Ellen’s personality and style of jokes, you will really enjoy this book. In fact, here is a glowing review from NPR.

Why you might not like this book: If you are looking for an inspirational, heartfelt memoir, this is definitely not it. I would have liked to see a little more seriousness in Ellen’s writing and was expecting to find out more about her as a person. As such, I would probably recommend the titles below if you’d like a little more meat to your female comedian reading; I found that Mindy Kaling and Tina Fey bared the souls a little bit more than Degeneres, while still maintaining a hilarious voice.

Similar Titles I’ve Read: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling and Bossy Pants by Tina Fey

I would recommend this book to: people looking for a quick beach read or in need of a laugh

Seriously… I’m Kidding is lighthearted, upbeat, and a fun, quick read. While this wasn't my favorite book of all time, I still love Ellen can't wait to see her host the Oscars on March 2!