Busy Philipps's New Book Is *Not* Just Another Celebrity Memoir

Did you know that James Franco can be a bully (who carries around a copy of Dante’s Inferno)? Or that Joshua Jackson is a mansplainer?

Probably not, but Busy Philipps does, and is more than happy to share in her debut memoir, This Will Only Hurt a Little. 

Known for her roles on Freaks and Geeks, Dawson’s Creek and Cougar Town, Philipps writes candidly about her childhood in Scottsdale, Arizona, her early days in Hollywood and, yes, her famous (and utterly delightful) Instagram account. 

There’s celebrity gossip and airings of grievances, but Philipps also wades into more serious waters, detailing a teenage sexual assault, having an abortion and struggling with postpartum depression. She’s also frank about sexism and body-shaming in the entertainment industry, but includes more promising anecdotes, like how director Paul Feig didn’t want her to feel pressured to lose weight after being cast in Freaks and Geeks.

Much like on Instagram, Phillips’s writing style is candid and conversational. Reading her book is like chatting with one of your funniest friends over a glass of rosé—or three. (Permission granted to pretend you’re the Michelle Williams in this situation.) 

Reminiscent of Tina Fey’s Bossypants and Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, This Will Only Hurt a Little strikes the perfect balance between juicy celebrity memoir and actually-great book that’s brimming with funny stories—that have nothing to do with celebrity. (Hey, we all have some kind of seventh-grade dance horror story, right? Busy's involves a Nirvana song on repeat.)