Wildflower

By: Drew Barrymore

Narrated by: Drew Barrymore

Award-winning actress Drew Barrymore shares funny, insightful, and profound stories from her past and present told from the place of happiness she's achieved today.

Wildflower is a portrait of Drew's life in stories as she looks back on the adventures, challenges, and incredible experiences of her earlier years. It includes tales of living on her own at 14 (and how laundry may have saved her life), getting stuck in a gas station overhang on a cross country road trip, saying goodbye to her father in a way only he could have understood, and many more adventures and lessons that have led her to the successful, happy, and healthy place she is today. It is the first book Drew has written about her life since the age of 14.

Critic reviews

Praise for Wildflower

“…Pure delight… If until now you merely liked Barrymore…you’ll adore her once you read this series of personal essays.”-New York Times Book Review

“The book is a deeply thoughtful and fun page-turner—like a rich dessert that also happens to be good for you.”
-InStyle

“[Barrymore] brings honesty, sweetness, and humor to the tale of how she fought to earn the hard-won wisdom that steered her from being a 12-year-old former child star to becoming a beloved actor…a warm and inviting narrative.”
–Publishers Weekly

"Barrymore’s book is a cheerful and happy examination of some of the ups and downs in her life."
-Booklist

"...Heartwarming. Fans of the actress, her production company, makeup line, or girl-next-door demeanor, or anyone looking for a companion in book form, will enjoy."-Library Journal

“An endearing, earnest, lightly cultivated garden of stories from the actress.”
-Kirkus Reviews

Hold the shrieking !

This probably would have been enjoyable without the many unexpected screams, which I found unsettling. My listening is usually at bedtime. Not a relaxing addition, although the story is well told.

Amazing

I loved the story!!! The overwhelming majority of my life has been lived with wondering why things happen and with this book I finally get why... Because without those horrible trials I would not be where I am teaching my child my hard lessons. Drew Barrymore's extraordinary book gave me a totally new perspective on my own life by sharing herself. It isn't a woe is me but a truly inspiring story of love and life. I couldn't stop listening and reading.
I am in awe over this book and the extraordinary person she is.

Loved it!

This was a great book. I finished it in three days via my morning and evening work commute. She says at the beginning she wants this to feel personal to us and it does. She makes you feel like she is talking to you while you are sitting coffee house with her friends telling you some of her best stories over the years. So much so that you would expect one of her friends to interrupt her and tell their side of the story. She had me laughing and saying things like "oh no" out loud in my car. She is great at telling and unfolding a story and building anticipation for things that normally you wouldn't really wonder much about. But I found myself tearing up about her dog and sympathizing with her wild behavior. Her life couldn't be more different than mine, but I found her strangely relate-able, especially when she spoke about being a mom. It's funny and personable, and it is wonderful that she is the one narrating it. I think this will be a top seller, up there with other bios like Tina Fey's and Amy Poehler's books.

PAINFULLY NARRATED.

Would you try another book from Drew Barrymore and/or Drew Barrymore?

No.

Would you ever listen to anything by Drew Barrymore again?

Not a book, that's for sure.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Drew Barrymore?

Absolutely. I think the way she is reading the book is the worst part of this book...and that is saying something. Painfully slowly , putting emphasis in too many words. With her admitted "valley girl" accent dragging the words out so slowly. Painful. I was shocked because I like her work and I usually prefer books being read by the author but for some reason, Drew has decided to read her book like is seventies poetry at a peace rally, Its painful to hear. Shocking.

Could you see Wildflower being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No, the story is not cohesive. It does not follow a natural time line in her life. You go from when she is seven years old straight to the time after the filming Charlie's Angles. The book keeps going back and forward in her life for no reason. The time line is not cohesive, nor is there depth to the description of the characters that have crossed her path. She spends a lot of time describing the scenery around her and very little time talking about her inner feelings (unless she is trying to use some clever symbolism and the feelings are encrypted in the description of her surroundings...but I doubt it) .

Any additional comments?

I am really sad about this review. I love Drew. I was really looking forwards to this book but as soon as I stated listening, I was shocked and I remained disappointed until the end. There is quite a few attempts at making "poetry" or "quotes" (of some sort) along the book. She narrates them even slower and with more emphasis. is not enjoyable . Writing is not her strong suit. She should have not been the narrator of her own boo. I wish Audible had been able to realise this before it was published. I normally prefer books read by the author, specially biographies but I can't get over just how bad this is. Sorry Drew. Still a fan.

Refreshing, Fun Read

Drew Barrymore is a delightful narrator and shares her story in a forthright, insightful, sometimes humorous style.