9780063056268
Play Sample

Hello, Molly! audiobook

(18946 ratings)
33% Cheaper than Audible
Get for $0.00
  • $9.99 per book vs $14.95 at Audible
    Good for any title to download and keep
  • Listen at up to 4.5x speed
    Good for any title to download and keep
  • Fall asleep to your favorite books
    Set a sleep timer while you listen
  • Unlimited listening to our Classics.
    Listen to thousands of classics for no extra cost. Ever
Loading ...
Regular Price: 21.99 USD

Hello, Molly! Audiobook Summary

A New York Times bestseller

A candid, compulsively readable, hilarious, and heartbreaking memoir of resilience and redemption by comedic genius Molly Shannon

At age four, Molly Shannon’s world was shattered when she lost her mother, baby sister, and cousin in a car accident with her father at the wheel. Held together by her tender and complicated relationship with her grieving father, Molly was raised in a permissive household where her gift for improvising and role-playing blossomed alongside the fearlessness that would lead her to become a celebrated actress.

From there, Molly ventured into the wider world of New York and Los Angeles show business, where she created her own opportunities and developed her daring and empathetic comedy. Filled with behind-the-scenes stories involving everyone from Whitney Houston to Adam Sandler to Monica Lewinsky, many told for the first time here, Hello, Molly! spans Molly’s time on Saturday Night Live–where she starred alongside Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler, Cheri Oteri, Tracy Morgan, and Jimmy Fallon, among many others. At the same time, it explores with humor and candor her struggle to come to terms with the legacy of her father, a man who both fostered her gifts and drive and was left with the impossible task of raising his kids alone after the loss of her mother.

Witty, winning, and told with tremendous energy and heart, Hello, Molly!, written with Sean Wilsey, sheds new and revelatory light on the life and work of one of our most talented and free-spirited performers.

Other Top Audiobooks

Hello, Molly! Audiobook Narrator

Molly Shannon is the narrator of Hello, Molly! audiobook that was written by Molly Shannon

MOLLY SHANNON is an actress and comedian. She spent six seasons as a member of the repertory company on Saturday Night Live, primarily known for the eclectic characters she created, such as Mary Katherine Gallagher and Sally O’Malley. In 2000, she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. In 2013, Molly received her second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in Enlightened and again in 2018 for her portrayal of Val in NBC’s award-winning comedy Will & Grace. In 2017, she was awarded the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the highly acclaimed drama Other People, written and directed by SNL head writer Chris Kelly. She was most recently seen in the Academy Award-nominated crime drama Promising Young Woman and will soon reprise her lauded performance on the critically acclaimed comedy The Other Two. Molly was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She earned a BFA in drama from New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. She currently lives in California with her husband and two children.

About the Author(s) of Hello, Molly!

Molly Shannon is the author of Hello, Molly!

More From the Same

Hello, Molly! Full Details

Narrator Molly Shannon
Length 7 hours 5 minutes
Author Molly Shannon
Category
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date April 12, 2022
ISBN 9780063056268

Subjects

The publisher of the Hello, Molly! is HarperAudio. includes the following subjects: The BISAC Subject Code is Biography & Autobiography, Personal Memoirs

Additional info

The publisher of the Hello, Molly! is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780063056268.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

JanB

June 11, 2022

I’m not one for celebrity memoirs as many seem to be a vehicle to humble brag. But not this one.Molly has a tragic past with the death of her mother and younger sister when she was only 4. This was back in the day when no one was overly concerned about the psychological effects on children so Molly had no way to process her feelings. Her dad provided her love, but also a bit of an unconventional upbringing that likely played a part in her determination and success.Molly is heartfelt and honest, as well as funny and self-deprecating. I love a good underdog story and Molly had to overcome many hurdles to get to where she is. There is no woe-is-me tone, but instead it is hopeful and joyful. She seems well-grounded and down to earth. I do wish she had spoken more about her most recent life including her marriage and children, but I respect her right to protect their privacy.Funny, wise, and tender, this is well worth the read, but not as a “celebrity" tell-all memoir (which I appreciated), although there are a few enlightening behind the scene stories. The audiobook is narrated by Molly herself, and I highly recommend this format. There’s nothing quite like hearing it in Molly's own voice.

Catherine

December 15, 2022

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Ecco, and to Molly Shannon and Sean Wilsey for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 4.12!**SUPERSTAH.There's only one way you can read that...and one pose and person that probably comes to mind...the indomitable Molly Shannon.But far from the buoyant, bubbly, and wacky characters Molly played during her SNL run and in various films (remember her part as Josie's bestie Anita in Never Been Kissed?) Molly began growing up at an incredibly early age. On their way home one evening, with her father at the wheel, tragedy struck as he lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a light pole, killing Molly's cousin, her three year old sister...and her mother. As so many in this sort of situation do, Molly jumped into the role of protector...but rather than protecting her older sister, she instead must take on the task of 'managing' her father, whose drinking can be out of hand and wild schemes can get her into trouble...but also make for some wild stories!Though a good portion of this memoir deals with Molly's relationship with Dad, she has quite a few fun Hollywood anecdotes to share (and one disturbing one involving Gary Coleman...you've been warned!) I always appreciate getting to know comedians on a deeper level, and I have to admit I don't think I've so much as watched an interview with Molly on a talk show prior to reading this book, and in some ways, that was wonderful because I felt like I got to know her on a deeper level from the start. Since this is an uncorrected proof, there were a few sections where excerpted interviews with other individuals etc. weren't in their finished form and that did complicate reading, but only a bit. I have every confidence everything will be smoothed out and flow correctly in the book's finished form. For the SNL junkies, there is a fair amount dedicated to Molly's time on the show, as well as the development of the aforementioned Mary Katherine Gallagher (I won't spoil the origins, but I know I'll look at those sketches with new eyes after reading!)Hello, Molly! strikes a fantastic balance between fun and emotional, silly and somber, all while maintaining authenticity. Jim Shannon would be--and undoubtedly is--oh so proud. Though she might not have a one woman show about her life out just yet...it DOES sound like she's found the perfect title!4 stars Nominated for Best Humor in the Goodreads Choice Awards!

Darla

March 13, 2022

Who can forget the "Superstar," Mary Katherine Gallagher? Without a doubt, one of my favorite characters brought to life by Molly Shannon. Her memoir is quite easy and breezy despite the great tragedy in her early life. Perhaps it is her middle of the country, Catholic roots that grounded her. I was so impressed by her hustle and her positive outlook. She has such a healthy outlook on life and I enjoyed hearing her share events from her childhood, early showbiz years, SNL, and especially her love for her family. One fascinating bit of trivia: as a teenager, Molly performed in local Cleveland drama productions and Jim Brickman was the pianist. Molly is definitely someone I would love to meet in person.Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maxwell

June 12, 2022

The audiobook is the way to go! She’s an amazing narrator; it’s so much more than just her reading it. It feels like she’s talking to you as a friend and she throws in her own style and silliness which is lovely. But you also hear her get choked up talking about particularly difficult parts of her life and she doesn’t avoid being vulnerable. I have always loved her comedic style but I respect and appreciate how she developed her acting skills even more after reading this memoir.

Jayne

April 26, 2022

Hello, 5-star review!"Hello, Molly!" is a heartwarming, candid, engaging, and upbeat memoir by celeb Molly Shannon.   Molly Shannon begins her memoir by recanting a horrific incident that changed her life and the life of her family.When Molly Shannon was four years old, her mother, younger sister, and cousin died in a car accident while her father was driving under the influence of alcohol.  Molly and her older sister Mary were in the car and both were hospitalized for two months.  A major portion of this book focuses on Molly's early life and the challenges of growing up without a mother in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland.  Although Molly always had the support of her large Irish family and friends, at a very early age, Molly had to be a street smart adult and think out of the box.I was personally impressed with Molly's attitude, resilience, and strong work ethic. Without any parental prodding, Molly completely "took charge" and aced the audition required to gain admission to NYU, her first-choice college. I especially enjoyed the clever "David Mamet trickster" anecdote that she shared about scoring casting calls.My one criticism of the book concerns the fact that major portions of her life were omitted.   There was no mention of her wedding or the fact that she gave birth to two children.  Her children's names appeared in her endearing acknowledgment at the end of the book and that is how I knew that she had children.I understand Molly's wish to protect her family's privacy but I did feel that minimal information about her family belonged in her "tell-all" book.I listened to the audiobook, read by Molly Shannon.   I always love it when authors read their own memoirs and Molly Shannon did an outstanding job with the narration.Even with my one criticism, Molly Shannon's memoir was a 5-star read that I highly recommend.

Gail

May 11, 2022

Gotta say, I did not have “You will be bowled over by Molly Shannon’s memoir” on my 2022 bingo card. And yet, here I am, telling you how much I FIVE-STAR loved this read.If you have even an ounce of interest in picking this title up, but your familiarity with Molly centers mostly on your knowledge of her impressive run on Saturday Night Live**, then do NOT read any more reviews or press she’s done for this book. Seriously, don’t even Google her!I say this because I want you (like me) to have the experience of being fully stunned by the first 10 minutes of this book (.... or however many pages that turns out to be; I don’t know, because I listened to this on audio, which is absolutely how I recommend you experience this one.)Molly’s life is a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and she’s such a first-class storyteller that she had me hooked from the get go. Having read this, I can now say how much I admire her resiliency (as an actor, but, more importantly, as a person). I also very much loved her stories from her time at SNL as well as the tender way she talked about the dysfunctional yet dear relationship she had with her dad.For those of you who have read this, I wish I could talk with you in person about some of my favorite stories from the book. (For me, the highlights reel includes: her dad cleaning the house on speed! that time she snuck onto a flight to NYC as a child! her Gary Coleman encounter! the David Mamet scheme! and the origin story of Mary Katherine Gallagher!) If you’re in the mood for a book that will make you laugh, make you feel more grateful to be alive, and might even leave you with tears streaming down your face in its final few minutes, this memoir (with its bag of dramatic twists!) is the book for you. **Molly Shannon’s years on SNL—1995 to 2001—coincided with my years in junior high/high school. When I say I was obsessed with SNL at this age, I mean I.WAS.OBSESSED. (My best friend and I had the “Superstar” tees we bought from Spencer’s to prove it. Ha!) From Molly to Will Ferrell to Cheri Oteri to Ana Gasteyer, every cast member from that era was beloved. So, it was a nice gift of nostalgia to read this book, to remember how much Molly’s fearless comedy added to the show, and to reflect back on allll those happy Saturday nights I spent glued to the TV with my best friends by my side.

Lisa

April 12, 2022

Saturday Night Live’s Molly Shannon is famous for her funny characters, sketches and slapstick comedy. But this Cincinatti born actress and comedian has written an incredibly funny, inspiring memoir. It is quite the homage to her late parents, especially her dad.As we discover in the first chapter, Molly’s life was turned upside down when at the age of only four, her mother, younger sister and cousin were killed in a car accident in which her father fell asleep at the wheel. Waking up in the hospital no one wanted to tell her what happened and all she kept saying was she wanted her mom. Her life and her sister Mary’s changed forever after the tragedy.As Molly, her older sister and father tried to adjust to the new family dynamics, their father, who never really recovered psychologically or physically from the accident was at a loss as to how to move on. He turned to drinking and Molly became his best friend. He would get jealous if Molly wanted to go out with her friends and she would have to prepare herself when she knew she had to tell him she would be going out. He did not understand why she would want to go out when they could have fun together. There were times when anger would get the best of her father and he would lash out screaming. Molly and her sister became adept at knowing what mood he was in just by the way he would enter their apartment.But, for all her father’s faults, he was her biggest fan. She feels her creativity came from the crazy situations her father would get them into and then get them out of. From the moment she decided to become an actress, he pushed her to pursue a career, telling her never to take no for an answer and just keep pushing herself because he knew she could do it.So that is just what Molly did. After graduating from college in New York, Molly headed to Los Angeles where she began waiting tables and trying to find work and an agent. It was there that she began the creation of Mary Catherine Gallager, a young Catholic schoolgirl who was prone to anxiety and clumsiness. The tagline “Superstar” is actually a nod to a childhood friend. She even had her own one woman show which she would invite all the guests from the restaurant, (and even homeless people) as well.She and one of her male friends actually had a hustle where they would claim to be calling from playwright David Mamet’s office late on Friday afternoons recommending each other to the casting offices and setting up appointments for each other. They would each have to get five meetings before they could call it a day. Talk about persistence and genius!But then she was finally cast on Saturday Night Live where she worked with Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler and Cheri Oteri. And she became a “superstar”! That portion of the book is filled with wonderfully funny stories about how certain sketches came to fruition and all the back-stage drama that comes along with working with different personalities on a weekly basis. Throughout this time her biggest cheerleader was her dad who was still dealing with heartbreaking conflicts but was a favorite friend to all the cast at SNL.As you read and understand Molly’s tragedies and triumphs, you also get the feeling after all these years that perhaps Molly is also healing herself and putting all the heartbreak behind. One theme throughout the book is her hope that upon reading, women who want to break into the business can learn that they must be more persistent and stronger and wiser as well as think outside the box when it comes to getting their foot in a door.Hello, Molly is a fantastic memoir filled with heartwarming stories, some funny and some horribly sad, but certainly gives the reader a perspective into Shannon’s upbeat personality, her wisdom and her charm.Thank you #NetGalley #HarperCollins #MollyShannon #HelloMolly for the advanced copy.

C.G.

October 08, 2021

There is a lot of truth to the idea that comedy springs from tragedy, and certainly SNL cast member Molly Shannon's life is proof of that. When Molly was a toddler, her mother, baby sister, and cousin were killed in the car that she was also in, along with her other sister. Her father, after a night of drinking, was at the wheel. I had to wonder what would have happened to Molly's father, Jim, nowadays - very possibly he would have been brought up on charges and spent time in prison. In fact, there does not appear to even have been any kind of legal repercussions at all - but there were plenty of emotional ones. Jim Shannon, who was severely injured in the crash as well, spends the rest of his life wracked with guilt, struggling with alcohol addiction, making Molly his "surrogate wife" (emotionally not physically!), and denying his sexuality (towards the end of his life, he comes out as gay or bisexual). He's an extremely complex character - alternatively infuriating, boundary-busting, charming, encouraging, and raging. In fact, I got the feeling Molly really wanted to write about him and not her own significant acting and comedic accomplishments.If you want to hear about Molly and not her dad, you've got to look a bit harder. Her SNL years are covered in a couple of chapters in the middle, and though personally I would have loved to hear much more about them, they are still interesting. What impressed me most was how incredibly grateful she was for her time on the show. I've read other SNL memoirs and no doubt it is one of the toughest, most frustrating gigs in show biz, but it can also launch you to the stratosphere. Molly never forgot that and remains gracious and humble to Lorne Greene. We hear a lot about her favorite and most famous character, rambunctious, angry, and Uber-enthusiastic Catholic school girl Mary Katherine Gallagher. I went back and watched a few of these skits and they appealed to me more now than when they first aired - perhaps I was too young to appreciate them at the time as they don't come with easy chuckles. My favorite impression of hers is still Courtney Love.There are also a few anecdotes from her youth that will have today's coddled kids gaping in shock - such as when she and her friend snuck onto a plane at 11 years old, and actually ended up wandering around NYC by themselves. Molly didn't even get into trouble, her dad thought it was hilarious (in fact, the whole thing was his idea). Then there's that incident with the sheik!All in all, a really entertaining and often tear-jerking memoir. Thank you to NetGalley, Molly Shannon, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine

March 28, 2022

You might pick up this book expecting it to be a laugh riot, which it is, but only some sections. Molly’s childhood was somewhat sad and this book delves deeply into that. It’s a fascinating book. After I finished it, I went back and watched several of her SNL skits. I definitely didn’t appreciate her enough, she is a powerhouse!! I highly recommend the audiobook version since Molly narrates it herself and it’s a joy to hear her expressive voice. Five stars for Molly! Superstar!

Meg

April 14, 2022

What a breath of fresh air Molly Shannon's view on life is! Didn't think I could love her any more than I already did from years of admiring her work, but learning so much more about her younger years and family life gave me a new appreciation for the works I've loved all these years.

Ben

July 09, 2022

4.25/5 I loved this memoir! So many great stories and observations as Molly reflected on her exceptional career, especially when you learn about her childhood. It’s begun in unimaginable sadness and horror, but she found a way through it and ultimately used that part of her life to inform her future. Molly is a consummate performer and an amazing person. I’d love to sit down and have a drink with her someday. At least, for the heartfelt and riotous stories she would tell!

Jim

July 09, 2022

For my money, the best SNL cast was the one from when I was 13 - the 1995-96 group, Shannon’s first full season on the show (and the first one I ever got to watch). So I was looking forward to the release date on this one.Shannon was on the show for five seasons as Mary Catherine Gallagher, joyologist Helen Madden, and Sally O’Malley. I would have loved more SNL than what we got, but the book really focuses on her upbringing and family. Her mom and sister died in a car crash when she was young, an event that affected every part of the rest of her life.Despite her childhood and long run in show business, this is a book completely without bitterness. Shannon turns out to be exactly the person you would expect from watching her on TV. Upbeat, funny, very gifted.I highly recommend the audio book - it is read by Shannon and as you would expect, it is a performance.

Jessica

June 13, 2022

Molly Shannon is an amazing person. One of the funniest people in the world, who isn't afraid to just go out there and crash through a wall with her granny panties on display. She doesn't hold back in this book, either, starting off with the tragic death of her mother and little sister in a car accident. She talks about her childhood with her surviving sister and her father, an alcoholic who I suspect might have been bipolar. He encouraged her, egged her on even, to sing, dance, be outrageous develop characters, and she loved him, but I think she was also slightly afraid of him, or at least, of upsetting him. I loved the first part, the details about her childhood, her family and friends, really showed where she came from and why she is the person she is today. And I cannot even begin to believe the HUSTLE when she was getting into acting. It sounds exhausting, but she never gave up. I feel like once she got onto Saturday Night Live she suddenly started skipping ahead: And then it was ten years later, I was married and leaving the show, had two kids, the end. I'm hoping that she does another book in a few years that will overlap this and pick up where it left off! (Obviously you should listen to the audiobook with her doing all the voices and just being a dramatic . . . SUPASTAR!)

Kerry

August 23, 2022

⁣“Sometimes I could hardly perform in a sketch with Will because I would just start laughing. And I think it’s a good sign when someone laughs during a sketch. It shows that you’re open, you’re really listening, and your instrument is relaxed. The audience likes it, too. It gives them a license to laugh. And they feel in on something happening live.”⁣⁣Is there anything better than when the actors break on SNL? It’s my favorite thing about the show. ⁣⁣This memoir was NOT WHAT I EXPECTED in the best way. It wasn’t even on my radar and besides her time on SNL and her films, I knew nothing personal about Molly Shannon. But my husband bought it for me for my birthday so I cracked it open right away. I expected your typical comedic memoir, but it opens with a gut wrenching tragedy and I was bawling by page five. ⁣⁣Then at the end I was bawling again! This memoir was so surprising and heartfelt and yes, FUNNY, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a profound testament to FAMILY, both blood and chosen, and holding those you love close because you never know how much time you have. Be grateful to be alive. Have fun. Be silly. Be yourself. Follow your dreams. ⁣⁣Molly’s life has been filled with tragedy and trials but also laughter and love. She has had some wild times and she will tell you all about it. And you should listen. This book is wonderful.

Frequently asked questions

Listening to audiobooks not only easy, it is also very convenient. You can listen to audiobooks on almost every device. From your laptop to your smart phone or even a smart speaker like Apple HomePod or even Alexa. Here’s how you can get started listening to audiobooks.

  • 1. Download your favorite audiobook app such as Speechify.
  • 2. Sign up for an account.
  • 3. Browse the library for the best audiobooks and select the first one for free
  • 4. Download the audiobook file to your device
  • 5. Open the Speechify audiobook app and select the audiobook you want to listen to.
  • 6. Adjust the playback speed and other settings to your preference.
  • 7. Press play and enjoy!

While you can listen to the bestsellers on almost any device, and preferences may vary, generally smart phones are offer the most convenience factor. You could be working out, grocery shopping, or even watching your dog in the dog park on a Saturday morning.
However, most audiobook apps work across multiple devices so you can pick up that riveting new Stephen King book you started at the dog park, back on your laptop when you get back home.

Speechify is one of the best apps for audiobooks. The pricing structure is the most competitive in the market and the app is easy to use. It features the best sellers and award winning authors. Listen to your favorite books or discover new ones and listen to real voice actors read to you. Getting started is easy, the first book is free.

Research showcasing the brain health benefits of reading on a regular basis is wide-ranging and undeniable. However, research comparing the benefits of reading vs listening is much more sparse. According to professor of psychology and author Dr. Kristen Willeumier, though, there is good reason to believe that the reading experience provided by audiobooks offers many of the same brain benefits as reading a physical book.

Audiobooks are recordings of books that are read aloud by a professional voice actor. The recordings are typically available for purchase and download in digital formats such as MP3, WMA, or AAC. They can also be streamed from online services like Speechify, Audible, AppleBooks, or Spotify.
You simply download the app onto your smart phone, create your account, and in Speechify, you can choose your first book, from our vast library of best-sellers and classics, to read for free.

Audiobooks, like real books can add up over time. Here’s where you can listen to audiobooks for free. Speechify let’s you read your first best seller for free. Apart from that, we have a vast selection of free audiobooks that you can enjoy. Get the same rich experience no matter if the book was free or not.

It depends. Yes, there are free audiobooks and paid audiobooks. Speechify offers a blend of both!

It varies. The easiest way depends on a few things. The app and service you use, which device, and platform. Speechify is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks. Downloading the app is quick. It is not a large app and does not eat up space on your iPhone or Android device.
Listening to audiobooks on your smart phone, with Speechify, is the easiest way to listen to audiobooks.

footer-waves