Review by Booklist Review
Widely admired celebrity couple Mullally (Will and Grace) and Offerman (Parks and Recreation) chat their way comfortably through a book about their lives and marriage. It's framed as a series of dialogues on subjects such as their first meeting, their families, their early lives, and, of course, sex. In between the long chapters are brief ones by each of the partners, including one by Offerman on Domestic Competence, in which he notes that both are, despite their fame, still capable of sewing on buttons or mending/patching ripped clothing, and one by Mullally in which she suggests that the key requirement for a good life is an amazing mattress. Both partners come across as likable, grounded, unpretentious, and flawed enough to be believable. An extra treat is a series of photos of the two posing, often with one or more of their dogs, with the jigsaw puzzles they complete on a regular basis. Those hoping that Hollywood couples are just like the rest of us, only maybe a little bit nicer and richer, should be pleased.--Margaret Quamme Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
After 18 years together, actors Mullally and Offerman divulge the lurid details of their life together in this uproarious oral history. The pair chronicle their entire relationship, beginning with their initial meeting during a 2000 production of The Berlin Circle in a small L.A. theater, when Mullally was an up-and-coming sitcom star and Offerman lived in a basement without electricity or plumbing. Despite seeming a little mismatched to some, the two fell in love and haven't spent more than two weeks apart since (thanks to their two-week rule). Amid humorous recollections of "rubbing each other's genitals with our hands" in the Sistine Chapel and scenes of Mullally jumping onto Offerman's back to make it to the theater in time for her Emmy Award announcement, the pair plunge into deeper discussions of their Midwestern families ("They work hard, but they don't talk about their feelings," says Offerman), their age difference (Mullally is 12 years older), and their decision, after years of trying, not to have children (Mullally was 43, and "Nick didn't have the trillions of sperm one might have hoped for"). Mullally and Offerman's unmistakable chemistry shines throughout this wildly fun collection of sincere conversations and hilarious personal essays. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
With honesty and humor, actress/singer Mullally and actor/author Offerman (Good Clean Fun) offer an oral history of their relationship and how they each handled the transition from actor to celebrity. Starting with her childhood in Oklahoma City, Mullally expands upon her initial cultural education, immersing herself in dance, theater, and the music of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand as an escape from an unstable family life. Offerman, meanwhile, reflects on his Midwestern upbringing in a big family that attended church every Sunday. Their informal conversations reflect on everything from religion to musical influences and motherhood, or lack thereof. After meeting during a theater performance of The Berlin Circle, the two bonded over humor and, later, creating art in different ways, such as Offerman's passion for woodworking and their mutual love of jigsaw puzzles. They also share insight on being known for an iconic role: Mullally as Karen on Will & Grace and Offerman as Ron on Parks and Recreation. Photographs of the couple with their trademark jigsaw puzzles are a bonus. VERDICT Fans of the authors will enjoy this book that blends pop culture, romance, and autobiography as much as Mullally and Offerman love joking with each other.-Stephanie Sendaula, Library Journal © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In an oral history that reads like playful conversation, two popular TV stars discuss how they came together and stayed together.If the Captain Tennille talked a little naughtier in public, their "Love Will Keep Us Together" could serve as a theme song for this extended ode to marital harmony. The book is nonchronological, proceeding in chapters focusing on topics including religion, sex (and previous relationships), art, awards ceremonies, and fame in general. When they met in 2000 while rehearsing for a play, Mullally was already successful with Will Grace, while Offerman (Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop, 2016, etc.) was as much a carpenter as an actor. It wasn't love at first sight, at least on her end, but, he says, "we recognized a kindred spirit in our performance styles, if you will. And senses of humor." She had been married and had rushed into other relationships that didn't work out, while he had come from a large, loving Midwestern family and had those values instilled in him. "You're not the kind of guy who had a million women and was a dog," she tells him. "I always hated those kind of guys." The authors' banter occasionally edges toward pillow talk, and they come across like perennial honeymooners. The age difference (she's nearly 12 years older) was never an issue, and it doesn't appear that he was bothered by her success, though his breakthrough role in Parks and Recreation has leveled the playing field. If there is a secret to their love, it is perhaps best distilled in Mullally's solo chapter of beauty tips, where she advises, "just try to be the best version of what you are naturally." They amuse themselves, Offerman explains, by "doing jigsaw puzzles while simultaneously listening to audiobooks."Readers are likely to enjoy the authors' company almost as much as they seem to enjoy each other's. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
