Wildflower

Quick and fun.

It was good. But I don't recommend bingeing it all in one go. I would suggest reading chapter by chapter in small doses when the mood arises. Otherwise, you'll notice pretty quick how often she says things like, “the most,” “for the first time,” “never in my life.” It felt like everything was a superlative. Everything was one extreme or another. Every person she mentioned was her “best friend in the world” or “the most amazing person she's every come across.” There was also a lot of screaming which was hard to listen to in audiobook form. I kept having to turn the volume down during several of her war cries. As a memoir-style book I felt some of it came across as disingenuous. (Granted she does mention it's not really meant to be a memoir.) She only talked about all the good times in her life; or if she did talk about the bad times it was only to say how it related to how one of the best things in her life came out of it. I know it sounds counter-intuitive but the level of positivity and optimism was just too much. Almost sickly sweet. And her love letters to her kids just didn't interest me. It felt too personal and something she should have written out and given her kids when they're older. Not put it in a book for the public.
There were some great parts. I really enjoyed when she talked about getting emancipated and how hard she worked to self-educate herself. How she taught herself to do laundry. Her love of books. And her never-ending drive to be the best version of herself even when it's hard. All of that was incredibly fascinating and inspiring. But it was bogged down by all the rest I mentioned. By the time I reached the end it was a slogged to get through the rest and I had to push myself to finish it.
I love her as a person, I love her movies, and I'll continue to do both. But I probably won't read anything else she produces (if she ever does).

I cannot find the words to describe how rich and full of heart and love and beauty this book was. Drew is upfront from the start, this is a collection of stories, anecdotes and memories that you can pick up or put down any time you want to. This is just dipping in and out of different phases and moments in her life and I love that. She is such a wonderful storyteller, using her own insights and charming way to describe her adventures. Like how her beloved dog Flossy taught her how to love and look after someone, a gift that now lives on through her daughters. Or her friendships and special moments with longtime friends, how she taught herself to do things we take for granted, wild things that she did decades ago that still embarrass her every single day, her total love for and sisterhood with other women, her tremendous drive to be a better and worthy human. I wish I could thank her for giving us so much, this was a rad little book that I wish was 5 times as big because I devoured it in 1 day and didn't want it to end.

I love Drew Barrymore, and after listening to this book, think she could be a kindred spirit in many ways. However, the audiobook gave me anxiety because at random times in the story, she would YELL or SCREAM when the story she was telling called for it. Not fun! Not cute!
Other than that.... I actually think Drew is a pretty decent writer. I'd love to see her try out some fiction.