You with the Sad Eyes

A Memoir

"Funny, furious, and profane." —The New York Times

“Not your typical celebrity memoir.” —Jimmy Kimmel

Unflinchingly honest and darkly funny, You with the Sad Eyes unveils a side of Christina Applegate we’ve never seen, forever cementing her formidable and iconoclastic legacy.

Christina Applegate came of age on sets and stages, expected to be on time, with lines learned, ready for lights-camera-action. What started as a financial necessity soon became an emotional escape from a tumultuous home life in the infamous Laurel Canyon scene of the 70s and 80s. She rocketed to stardom on the sitcom Married...with Children and went on to captivate audiences in classics like Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead…, Anchorman, and Dead to Me in her five-decade long career.

Then it all stopped. A Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2021 confined her to a king-sized bed and the company of memories she’d rather forget: memories of the self-doubt and body dysmorphia that stalked her meteoric rise, of her mother’s fight against addiction and abuse after her father left, and of the tax life had taken on her body and mind that was suddenly coming due.

Now, at her most intimate and vulnerable, she unveils a story not even those closest to her fully know. She returns to the diaries she kept her whole life, finding the pain matched by joy, the losses mitigated by the extraordinary, and the weight of life lifted by her unrelenting belief that something greater lay ahead. No longer willing to lock herself away and with the perspective only our own mortality can bring, she knew it was imperative to tell it all.

You with the Sad Eyes presents a remarkable woman and her legacy. In her own words, “I truly believe that books can make people feel less alone. That’s why I’m doing this. You with the Sad Eyes won’t be some big violin scratching for my life. But it will be real. It will be filled with the ups and downs, the humor and grief of life.

So here I am.

Real me.

Lots to say.”

Exquisite Memoir

Christina did an amazing job with her memoir and to hear her read her hauntingly beautiful words, made me feel all the emotions. She pulled me completely in with her honesty and rawness! The attention to detail, as she recounted the pieces of her life, made me fully immersed in her story. I laughed with her; I cried with her. My heart could feel the pure and unconditional love she has for her precious Sadie, each and every time she mentioned her. Exceptional job on this incredible memoir!

So honest

This is the first "Celebrity with MS" I've read since my diagnosis in 2018. Ms. Applegate's journey is very close to mine...her age, the constant pain, the rapid progression, etc. (my cancer dx came after instead of before but still...).

No false hope, platitudes, feel good b.s. MS SUCKS. I wish her the best and pray that treatment break through comes within our life time.

Honest but extreme self depricating

This author is so extremely self depricating, as she calls herself, that it was hard to listen to the Audible book about her life. I've listened to many biographies and couldn't wait to get through this one. She presents herself with snarky comments and biting sarcasm which was annoying. I appreciate her opening up about her life and showing her strength to write this book. Although it was hard to listen to.

strong story, sad story

The narration is done such that sounds as if she is just sitting across from you, responding to "So tell me about..." There are parts that are hard to talk about are hard to hear. She catches her breath at times when she's about to cry and some crying happens (with the narrator and me as the listener). It's a remarkable life.

Loved the honesty

I loved this. Appreciated the storytelling, honesty and humor. Especially loved that Christina narrated. Such a great listen.