Synopsis -
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.
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.
Review -
I love open, honest, down and dirty memoirs. No white-washing, no Hollywood hype - just a real person sharing honestly from their heart about their real lives - good and bad, highs and lows, successes and failures - without apology. Applegate does just that.
Hers is a not an easy story to read. There is childhood trauma that disturbs. While she loves and admires her mother and has always felt her support, there was a lack of good role models when she was young that led to some bad choices. There are harsh struggles with body image, accepting success, and feeling worthy. But through it all, Applegate loved acting. It was her home and she always approached it in beast mode, working as hard or harder than anyone else on set.
It is clear that her health struggles have stripped away the veneer and allowed her to move into a new space where brutal honesty lives and breathes. She doesn't mince words about what her life is like now and what she has lost. It truly sucks, and the pain is unbearable. She offers no dishonest glitter to sprinkle on other MS sufferers. Instead they are offered reality, understanding and companionship.
I will probably read this book again in a few months. It is a sad, happy, struggle, success, roller coaster ride of a story. And let's be honest, that's what real life is like for most of us. And it inspires me to bring a little more raw honesty into my daily life.
Meet the Author -
In 2024, Applegate launched her own podcast with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, ‘MeSsy’, where the co-hosts get vulnerable about life’s curveballs and living with MS. With hilarious but grounded conversations, joined by special guests including Will Ferrell, Jean Smart, Robin Roberts, and Jimmy Kimmel, they reflect on persevering through the messiness of life. Beyond her success on the screen, Applegate is recognized for her advocacy work, raising awareness about various causes close to her heart. Applegate’s talent, grace, and humanitarian work continue to inspire fans worldwide.
Connect: Instagram ~ Messy the Podcast
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