As charming as she is onscreen ... [Kemper] is always poking fun at herself, but bravely open enough to let us all in on the joke ... at times her corn-fed innocence is a tad unrealistic ... winning, delightfully described commentary with adorable gaffes any of us could imagine making ... The non-linear chapters make for a handy read to glide you through train commutes and waiting rooms—as long as you’re comfortable shedding tears of laughter in public.
Her essays, light and apolitical, do differentiate Kemper from the often hopelessly simple and optimistic characters she plays, but at her core, Kemper herself is darn sunny and sweet. Despite a couple meltdowns over lentils hidden in restaurant food, and Manhattan germs threatening to attack her newborn, Kemper solidifies her upbeat and humble persona with her first book.
Hilariously self-deprecating while maintaining a refreshingly entertaining and positive outlook ... a breezy read that has actual laugh-out-loud moments thanks in part to her nonchalantly sarcastic commentary.
Kemper’s essays aren’t so much earnest recollections as caricaturesque sendups ... a bit like the characters she plays — maybe not the most cerebral, substantive or compelling, but charming when you least expect it.
Lighthearted, self-deprecating... [the essays] reveal her personality, history and character without becoming bogged down in specifics ... It is a memoir, but an unusual kind.
My Squirrel Days is exactly what you would expect from the comedian. It’s rich in personality, teeming with energy and full of laugh-out-loud moments. Kemper is a natural storyteller. Her hilarious essays depict a plucky pale girl from the Midwest ... Not only does Kemper relive her glory days as a benchwarmer for her field hockey team, she also shares intimate details from behind the scenes of her hit shows.
Everything here is played for laughs, and some setups work better than others. When Kemper sticks the landing, the results are uproarious ... A little Lucille Ball, a little bit Tracy Flick, Kemper proves that good comedy starts with good writing. It's no Bossypants, but it’s an entertaining celebrity memoir.
Engaging and refreshing ... a snappy, coordinated series of essays ... will give readers an enticing glimpse of her happy-go-lucky attitude. This is a fun, breezy, and enjoyable volume.
