Jane Lynch is one of my favorite actresses in Hollywood right now. I fell in love with her during the movie Best in Show and have watched her star rocket upward ever since then. She is a bit like a female version of Ron Howard’s brother, in that she has been in almost everything, but she is always excellent at whatever role she is portraying. However, behind the sarcasm and silliness is someone who has struggled with feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness her entire life. On the surface, Jane has it all. She was born into a upper middle-class family in the Chicago suburbs, had a stable and loving relationship with her parents, a close relationship with her siblings, determination, talent, and success. In Happy Accidents, however, Jane reveals how much of what seems idyllic on the surface has come after much soul-searching, doubt, anxiety, and surprising of all, alcohol. Jane is refreshingly honest in her concerns about her sexuality and how it impacted her relationship with her family as well as relationships with other women. She does not hide the impact alcohol had on her life, and while some readers may feel that she did not really have an abuse problem, Jane provides plenty of reasons why alcohol had become a problem for her. At times, Happy Accidents does read like a who’s who of Hollywood, but it is a testament to her talent that she has been able to work with a huge list of very successful actors. While it can always be a bit dangerous to have an author read his or her own novel, Jane Lynch proves that her story is best told by her. Her obvious emotions at parts of her journey, along with her own wry observations, add an element of entertainment to this touching and heartfelt story. Fans of Glee will be surprised at the depth and length of Jane’s resume, and fans of Jane will rejoice in their ability to learn even more about a truly talented and gracious actor.Acknowledgements: Thank you to Beth Harper of HarperAudio for my review copy!
