From dealing with your mean teenage daughter to rebelling against the latest diet trend, America’s newest standup sensation packs a hilarious punch with her real talk about what it’s like to be a regular woman today. For a long time, no one pulling the strings in the comedy world thought that an over-fifty woman from rural Tennessee could make it in the industry. But Leanne Morgan has defied the odds, reaching millions with her musings on menopause, Weight Watchers, and her opposites-attract relationship with her husband, Chuck. In her charming, Southern-accented voice, Morgan brings readers inside her quest to find her calling after so many years trying to figure out what that meant. Along the way, she discusses everything from growing up as a butcher’s daughter, to her strategy for landing a husband with health insurance, to the glories of aging and the comfort of wearing big old grannie panties. Equal parts warm and hilarious, this book is a must-read by one of comedy’s rising stars—reminding you that every time life leaves you asking, “What in the world?”, something good is going to come out of it someday.
Leanne Morgan is a comedian, actress, writer, producer, wife, mother, and grandmama. Her first Netflix special, I’m Every Woman, was one of the most-watched specials on Netflix in 2023. Leanne has been named to the Forbes 50 Over 50 list and Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch list. When she’s not on the road, Leanne loves to be at home in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her husband, three children, two grandbabies, and beagle.
I received a free copy of, What in the World?!, by Leanne Morgan, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have never heard of Leanne Morgan, before I read her book. Leanne keeps it real, and tells it to you straight. I enjoyed reading about Mrs. Morgan.
Let me start off by saying - I know I'm not the target audience of Leanne Morgan's book. However, since I first saw her standup while scrolling through Facebook, I have thought she is one of the funniest comedians out there. This book is no disappointment; it is equal parts hilarious and inspiring. Hearing her musings on everything from divorce at 22 to her adventures through Covid felt so down-to-Earth and real. I found myself reading along with her signature Southern drawl in my head.
I am an avid reader, but I very rarely ever have a physical emotional reaction to something I'm reading. This is one of the first times I found myself literally laughing at loud. Set my iPad down, hand over my mouth, and laugh until tears were popping out of my eyes. That's when I knew I was reading something special.
I would absolutely recommend this to someone. Like I said, I'm not the target audience, and if I had a hoot reading this book, I imagine a lot of others will as well!
This book, What in the World Proves that it’s ok to dream big and take charge of the direction you are going in your life even when you are disappointed and discouraged and feel the need to “take to the bed” as Leanne says.. She’s funny, smart and candid about her feelings. Her greatest joy is being a mom. She never gave up on her childhood dream of becoming a star. She finds humor in her everyday life and her family. This would be a great selection for your next book club or just a group of women who are friends who enjoy each other’s company. You are going to have lots to talk about.
It is an autobiography from a small-town southern woman and the highs and lows of a life as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmama, and comedian/actress. It is a deep look at how women struggle to attain their dreams and make sacrifices out of love for their families. She does mention several traumatic experiences that change you. As Southern women, we have societal expectations to do it all with a smile on our faces. I have followed Leanne Morgan for a couple of years. She is hilarious and is fun! I was so excited to read her book. And in her perfect style, she never disappoints. I enjoyed learning more about her life before the kids and her husband. It reveals the birth of her charismatic personality, search for love, heartache, professional struggles, and work ethic sprinkled with laughs. I can't tell you how much it means to know that I am not alone in my struggles to be a working mom and a good partner, I am so glad I got to read this book. It was a glimpse of hope that I needed, it is going to be okay and that all of that work was worth it. If you do anything this year, let it be to read this book.
In exchange for my honest review, I received an ARC copy of the ebook from Netgalley and Convergent Books. Thank you for the opportunity.
I'm a huge Leanne Morgan fan. She always makes me laugh out loud. I could watch her videos endlessly. So, I rushed to get tickets to her show when she was performing near me. When a dear friends mother's funeral was scheduled for the same time as the show, I had to do the right thing and go to the funeral. So, in the world of Leanne, it was a "God moment" when I got approved for an early readers copy of her book. The book does not disappoint. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, but there's also so much wisdom in the book. Although I'm a Northerner from the suburbs, there's so much to relate to in the book. I loved reading about the ups and downs of her journey. Now, she's got to do a show again near me.
I was recently introduced to Leanne's comedy via the Jeff Lewis Live sirius XM show and thought she and her daughter were so funny! The book provides us insight into her coming of age story and how she got to where she is now. I was laughing out loud when she would talk about her parents and their butchering company on their property and how she smelled like meat at school. There were so many laugh out loud moments. Happy to really see her out there more after all the struggles and covid pausing things, great read! Next time I would recommend reading via audiobook as I am sure it would hilarious hearing it straight from her voice.
Something only a few people know about me is that I really like stand-up comedy, so I had to read Leanne Morgan's memoir WHAT IN THE WORLD?! as soon as possible (publishes September 24, 2024).
This is a light memoir, as you might surmise from the title, perfect for the porch or reading where you might be interrupted. Leanne has either had a relatively trauma-free life or she has chosen to focus on the humorous parts. Aside from a quickie marriage when she was young to a not-so-nice guy, she had an enviable family life growing up. After she gets to adulthood, the memoir mainly focuses on the indignities of getting older and her horny husband who doesn't talk that she turns into a part-time stand-up career. There are some chuckles, but the themes do get a little repetitive.
What I really like is that her voice comes through loud and clear in this memoir. I did read it with my eyes instead of listen to it, and even so I could still hear her voice talking to me.
One caution. Leanne Morgan is a traditional Southern Methodist woman. She believes strongly in traditional male/female gender dynamics. So there were some things that made my skin crawl as I read due to having very different values than she does. For example, she talked about prostituting herself to her husband (her words) to get new curtains, new shoes for her kids, etc. Thankfully the memoir doesn't touch on politics since I can surmise that Leanne and I do not share any political views.
If you're in the mood for a light memoir from a comedian and are in your 40s or older, I think you might like this one.
Oh my goodness! This is the BEST BOOK EVER! I preordered this book and was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy…and let me tell you…it is wonderful! Very down to earth and very relatable! As I was reading, my husband was talking on the phone with his sister and I started howling in laughter! His sweet sister was asking what I was laughing at, and my dear husband (who is a LOT like her husband Chuck) said “she’s reading some book!” After he got off, I read the page I was laughing about and we both were laughing out loud! Let me tell you, it takes a LOT to make HIM laugh! I do believe he will read it next! I discovered Leanne during the Covid shutdown and sent her speil about mean daughters to all THREE of my daughters! Even they think she’s hilarious. When my daughter turned 25 we took her to Vegas and saw her perform there for her birthday! So, basically this book and her comedy is a multi generational hit! I can’t say enough good things about it, except keep up the great work Leanne, and I want to be your new best friend!
If you enjoyed her special, this book is a no-brainer definite read. All of her charm, wit and experiences shine on the page. If you haven’t seen her special yet, start there and use that as a barometer for whether you purchase. There’s a lot of funny Southern material. Plenty of God stuff. And overall, it’s super wholesome. Worth checking out if you need some sunshine!
Have you ever read a book and instantly thought to yourself "I'd like to meet this author?"
That's kind of the experience with Leanne Morgan's "What in the World? A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing at Life's Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings."
"What in the World?" exists squarely within the realm of memoir meets humor, a sort of autobiography sub-genre that seems to invite participation by those in the comedy world. Indeed, that's the case here with Morgan, a late 50's comic who has found her success later in life with her familiar and relatable tales on everything from rebelling against the latest diet trends to dealing with being perimenopausal mean girls to attending rock concerts in her middle age and her lovely yet polar opposite second husband named Chuck.
Morgan isn't quite what we'd consider an "overnight" success, though her early attraction to the lure of Hollywood gave way to the realities of being a sheltered country girl. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Morgan did the family thing - getting married, moving to Bean Station, TN (really in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains not far from where my father's own family lived), and started raising a family.
It was when she started selling jewelry out of her own home that Morgan began to really develop her comedy voice. These sales gatherings became popular events, Morgan often using the parties to wax humorously about breastfeeding, hemorrhoids, and other maternal tales. When someone laughed to the point of peeing on the couch, Morgan finally figured out she may be on to something.
Indeed, she was.
We discover that relatable and funny "something" in "What in the World?" It's a collection that will tell some familiar stories for Morgan fans while serving as a solid introduction for those less familiar with her internet and stand-up presence. With a 100+ city tour in 2022, The Big Panty Tour, and a 2023 Netflix special, Morgan is defying the odds by becoming a comedy sensation in her 50s with the kids grown and Tennessee still a presence in her life.
"What in the World?" will resonate most completely with those who connect with her "Southern woman" humor and her relatable tales, however, Morgan writes in such a relaxed and comfortable way that she's the kind of author you'll end up wishing you could meet in real life. She's funny, kind, warm, caring, lives in a world in which many of us can identify. While it may sound like she'll primarily appeal to women, and many of her stories will be more relatable for women, Morgan's world is a universal world that should have everyone laughing and everyone completely charmed by one of comedy's rising stars.
What In The World Leanne Morgan Can I give it 10 ⭐️’s??? I know, I know but you get it. This one’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leannes’s tagline of the book A Southern Women’s Guide to Laughing at Life’s Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings. Ahhh this was a fresh breath of air! LIFE is complicated and hard! Leanne’s comedic relief way of looking at life had me laughing many, many times. She writes in her “southern twang” and I loved it! The titles of her chapters and the way she weaves her words will have you turning the pages! I mean one chapters called How to rock a swim dress, so you can only imagine! She’s a comedian at heart and she has perfectly intertwined that into her “story”. If you have never heard of or watched Leanne Morgan, do yourself a favor and DO it! I had never heard of her until February this year when my Aunts invited me to her comedy show in Cleveland, Ohio. If you know me, I’m not a big comedy show kinda girl but Leanne has me hooked. Reading her book I could hear her voice as I read the pages. So when I saw her book on #netgalley I couldn’t apply fast enough! I was over the moon when I was chose to read her book before it was out to the public!!! Find her the next time she comes to your town, watch her Netflix special AND buy the book when it comes out! Thank you NetGalley, Convergent Books and Leanne Morgan for this Advanced Reader Copy! #read
What in the World was a fun read away from my typical fiction and I loved it. This is the story of comedian Leanne Morgan's life as a Southern girl, wife, mother and comedian. We saw Leanne Morgan perform last month and when she announced she had a book coming out, I hurried to get a copy from NetGalley. The central theme to her life is family is everything. She is a comedian whose fame didn't start until her mid-50's and in this memoir she shares growing up in a small southern town to a shop owner turned butcher family. She is open about mistakes made after leaving her loving family and then turning her life back around and finding a man who loves her well, but with few words! I appreciated most about Leanne's story was that she had a chance at stardom earlier in life and it fell through, but she now sees that as a blessing so she could be home to raise her family. She is quick to give God credit for all her many blessings and protection. The book is very funny, but much of the material is the same as her show. Overall, it's a great read of perseverance and faith. I received a complimentary copy thorough Net Galley, but all opinions are my own.
If you are familiar with Leanne Morgan’s comedy, you’ll recognize some of the material in this book. What I really enjoyed was how this book put it all in the larger context of what was going on in her life – good & bad, how she felt about it & how she dealt with it. She doesn’t deny the low parts of her life, or any poor decisions on her part that may have contributed to them. But she has a positive attitude, a strong sense of herself, and trust in her worth as a child of God that got her through. I love her relatable, self-deprecating humor, and the grace she affords others in all her dealings. While she talks about things that her husband does that frustrate her, she presents it all in a spirit of mutual love and respect that is so generous and refreshing. Also, she makes it clear that the accomplishment she values most is the three wonderful human beings she has raised. It’s such an uplifting message in a world that often tells women motherhood is the worst thing that can happen to your career. Leanne always put her children first, and found fulfillment in her role as a mother, but that didn’t prevent her from rising to the top of her field in her chosen craft. She imparts all this without a hint of proselytizing, lecturing, or value judgements. She simply offers her story with humor and encouragement. Bravo!
Leanne Morgan's book is an absolute riot, delivering the same level of side-splitting humor you'd expect from her on stage. I laughed until tears streamed down my face numerous times throughout the read. It's like having Leanne herself narrate the book in your head!
What makes this book truly special is the peek into Leanne's life and how she got her start into the world of comedy. Her journey through motherhood is incredibly relatable, hitting close to home for anyone who's navigated the joys and chaos of parenting.
With its perfect blend of humor and heart, this book is more than just entertainment—it's a heartfelt gift waiting to be shared. Whether it's your mom, mother-in-law, or bestie who loves a good laugh, they're sure to adore this hilarious journey through the ups and downs of motherhood. So grab a copy, settle in, and get ready to laugh your socks off!
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I love Leanne and have seen her perform twice in the past 3 years, once in San Jose CA and recently in Sacramento CA. My sister and I were thrilled to be seated in the first row smack dab in the center at the Sac show which held 2,500 people and sold out!
I filled out a form on her Instagram to receive a free copy from Convergent and forgot about it. I don't win anything any way so I preordered her book coming out on September 24th and subsequently cancelled. My free copy arrived 5 days ago!
Long story short, I enjoyed Leanne's book immensely. I thought maybe because I am such a fan and know a lot about her story already that I wouldn't learn much more but was i ever wrong.
This book is beautifully written, heartfelt, comical and sweet. I enjoyed learning more about her childhood and her "as different as night and day" early days with Chuck and marriage throughout the years. Her mother Lucille's positive influence on her life was a gem.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own. Dear Leanne, Thank you for writing this book- it was brave and funny and oh so relatable for women of a “certain age”- eg women who have been married FOREVER, and have experienced some stuff, and finally the kids are grown and are thinking NOW WHAT? Reading your story was like having a sweet tea with a dear friend, sharing your heartache and cheering on your triumphs. You go girl! Wishing you every success. This book is full all the midlife themes, hot flashes, weight gains, broken hearts, but also the good stuff that comes from focusing on what really matters, and believing in yourself. Recommend!
❤️ Just a thought, but if ever you get tired of the road- I know that 100 nights in hotels ain’t as fun as one would think. I would love to read a fictional story written by you. With all your warmth and humor, Im sure it would be a best seller. ❤️
I love Leanne Morgan! I saw her perform at Zanies in Chicago July 2019 and I’ve followed and lived her ever since. If you’ve ever enjoyed her comedy specials, then this book will not disappoint.
This book is exactly her humor and heart on the page and this is what I was hoping for when reading.
She shares so much about her life. I appreciate her openness & directness in her stories from her childhood, early adulthood heartaches & challenges to Chuck and her kids, to her success after 50(although you can read about her successes as a wife and mother throughout)! She’s just so real in this book.
I laughed out loud a couple times while reading What In The World? Everything she wrote I could hear her say in her sweet accent. I loved this book so much!
Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent books for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review!
I truly enjoyed this so much. Like others have said, it very much reads in Leanne's voice which I loved. If you're familiar with her at all, you will picture her sweet, southern accent reading to you as you go along, which only adds to the experience. Reading a memoir is always that much better when you can tell it's truly written in a way that's authentic to the subject and this felt like sitting down with her over lunch and her telling you funny stories from her life. I had many genuine laughing moments and I loved learning more about her journey into comedy and how events spread throughout her life led her to where she is now. Leanne truly comes across as warm and sincere as she does in her standup act and I felt like this book struck a good balance of her sharing hardships and bad times in her life, while being uplifting and hopeful (but not in a trite way). I plan to buy a copy of this as a gift for a family member who loves her comedy and who I know would love this book.
Thank you, again to #NetGalley and the publisher for a free advanced copy.
I just finished reading an advance copy of “What in the World?!” by comedian Leanne Morgan. I primarily read it at work on my lunch break and almost choked a couple times on my meal from laughter. Leanne’s comedy comes from her life experiences that are honest and relatable, many of which she shares in this book. The book is not entirely humorous as it includes her personal struggles with marriage, friendships, and reaching her dreams of becoming a comedian. It is a sweet, easy read that I think many people, especially women, can relate to. Even if you can’t relate to everything, it will bring a smile to your face. The book will be released to the public on September 24th and can be pre-ordered now. In the meantime, I recommend watching her comedy special on Netflix. It was the most watched special on the platform in 2023 and brings me joy.
Back in that horrid year of 2020 I found Leanne Morgan. I watched her clips on social media and laughed my head off! I began following her and tuned in to hear her say”everything is going to be all right” because I needed to hear that and believe it although I didn’t know this woman from Adam (play on where she’s from). This book did have a few surprises in it. She divulges a few things but in her classic Leanne way. I admire Chuck Morgan for many of his traits but personally I would have put him in the garbage tote because of many of his other traits. I fell over laughing at Morgan;s description of the drive to the hospital for the birth of her first child. Leanne is good people. She’s folksy, funny, and full of frolic! If you want to read a memorable memoir in 2024 read this one!!! Thanks to Edelweiss, NetGalley and Convergent Books for the advance copies.
I was thrilled to receive an advance copy of this book (and so you know where I'm coming from, I qualified as one of her "top fans" on Facebook...so this is like reviewing your best friend's book ;)). I've been a fan of Leanne's for years and am happy to see her getting the bigger stage she deserves.
If you know Leanne, you'll love hearing her back story and you will hear that Tennessee drawl in your head as you read! She also throws in some of her best bits from onstage and you'll laugh even if you've heard them before.
If you are new to Leanne, get ready to cheer for a 50+ woman making it big after her kids are grown, she's been through menopause and survived being sweaty and pissed. You'll think of her as one of your good friends soon too.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Convergent Books along with the author Leanne Morgan for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
The first thing that comes to mind is that this book is laugh out loud hilarious. As you read, it feels as if Leanne Morgan is at your dinner table telling you stories about her life. The stories in her book enlighten the reader about all the moments that led her to be the stand-up comedian that Morgan is today. Run, get a copy of her book, and treat yourself to belly rolling laughs. You will not be able to put it down.
This book is as warm and friendly as you would want Leanne Morgan to be. The comedian details her life story and if you, like me, love her stand up, you'll recognize some of them. (My favorite is the one about going to a rock concert.) The book is enjoyable with some life lessons thrown in, and you're sure to choke up when you read the story of the Christmas star. The book is a must-read for the millions of Morgan's fans. I read a digital copy of the book, but I'll bet the audiobook will be even better with Morgan's delivery and her distinctive accent. That just means that I'll get to experience the book all over again when I get the audio.
Leanne Morgan started popping up in my social media feeds and she had me laughing out loud. I am in the same period in my life and I can really relate to what she is saying. And who can't love that accent? When I saw she had written a book, I couldn't wait to read it. My husband and I read it aloud to each other and we loved every minute of it. We chuckled all the way through and it made road trips go by so much faster. A lot of the jokes are the same as her stand up comedy but it was great getting to hear the back story of all of them. I recommend this book. It will uplift you for sure!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Wow! Really enjoyed this book. The tone of the book is exactly how Leanne Morgan speaks: so unique, entertaining, and funny! 😆 In this stressful political climate, this is exactly what the world needs right now: some humor! The way the book is written in little sections matches my attention span perfectly, and I would venture to guess that it would match most other busy ladies as well. You can read a little section here and there if you need to, but as for me: I could not put it down! It is a very quick read, which I truly appreciated. It did not lag at all for me and I found it very openhearted and raw. Good job Miss Morgan! 🫶🏻
Just finished the advanced copy of Leanne Morgan’s book, WHAT IN THE WORLD?! She is just so genuine and funny. She’s also “clean” funny, which kept her out of certain comedy clubs during her career, but I’m glad that she stayed true to herself and God has blessed her because of it. In this book she talks about her faith and how things didn’t work out early in her career but social media helped her blow up at just the right time - right after her kids left home. If you have an opportunity to see her live, you have to go!
Y’all. I was privileged to get an advance copy of this book and it is just like Leanne Morgan. It’s funny and relatable and poignant and full of faith. It’s vignettes of her life, which was pretty hard early on and then sweet and introspective and grateful at the end. I HIGHLY encourage you to go out and get you one. I’ve got an autographed copy coming when it’s released in September. I totally read it in her voice, which makes it better. I may have to get it in audiobook as well and listen to her Tennessee twang read it to me. 💜
Leanne Morgan grew up the daughter of a butcher in Adams, Tennessee, where at the early age of five entertained customers who came in the store with her wit. What in the World tells Leanne’s story of growing up, marrying, selling jewelry at house parties, and how she came to be a stand-up comedian defying the odds. I found Leanne Morgan on Facebook first then watched her Netflix special. She is every woman’s woman. Her humor hits home with any woman who has ever gone through menopause, married, had kids, or worn “big girl panties”. Leanne is so down to earth that all women (my husband likes her, too) can relate to her and her humor. All she has to do is tell stories of her life in her cute Tennessee accent and she makes us laugh. I was so glad to learn more about the woman that made me love her even more. If you laughed out loud at her TV special – her book will do that, too! I absolutely LOVED it! #NetGalley #LeanneMorgan #ConvergentBooks #WhatInTheWorld
WHAT IN THE WORLD?! I don’t like to give ratings for memoirs. But, I will say I really enjoyed this quick read by Leanne Morgan. I listened to her on a podcast before, and found her comedy really relatable, charming and just fucking funny. As a mom, wife, and someone always trying to fill a void of what’s next, I found this book really refreshing. Her story will make you laugh with her wit. A quick read that will put family and the simple things into perspective. I really enjoyed it!
This book feels like a warm hug from Leanne, for anyone who is familiar with her stand-up comedy. With her southern charm, she tells every story from the heart. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be on stage and she was able to get there through a lot of hard work and grit. From motherhood to life on the road as a comic, Leanne tells it like it is and we are better for it. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to rate this book. Leanne is a doll.