Actress and producer Mindy Kaling has a lot to say about raising a daughter as a single mom. The prolific Hollywood star has previously kept the details of her home life private, but in a newly published collection of essays, Kaling opens up about the relatable challenges of parenthood as a wildly busy working woman.
Kaling is beloved for her performance as unpredictable customer service representative Kelly Kapoor on the American version of The Office. However, her credentials are exponentially more laudable than that one comedic role. Indeed, Kaling was a writer, executive producer, and director for the show, which earned her half a dozen Emmy nominations. She is equally appreciated for creating and producing The Mindy Project, in which she also starred. Most recently, she created Netflix cult hit Never Have I Ever, which has garnered widespread praise (including a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes).
So Kaling, who gave birth to her daughter in December 2017, has had plenty on her plate as she penned a book about single motherhood. And unsurprisingly, this talented phenom dazzles in Nothing Like I Imagined (Except or Sometimes). One review via Yahoo! Entertainment explains, “She relays stories of single motherhood, social anxiety, and getting Kanye'd at a birthday party, like a familiar pal just catching up on your couch. She makes no attempts to soften the glow of her successful career as a writer, actress, and producer (why should she?).”
The essays explore the challenges of raising little Katherine as a Hindu; they explain the choice to hire a baby nurse; they weigh the many, many pros and cons of motherhood as a single woman in an increasingly complex world.
The relatability of Kaling’s voice make her essays an appealing read for virtually everyone; they are nostalgic and charming, with the familiarity of just about anyone’s BFF. That can have its own pitfalls, though; Kaling writes, "For a socially anxious person, it is both flattering and disconcerting to be asked into the holy sacrament of best friendship by a total stranger.” But the 41-year-old knows she doesn’t owe anyone intimate access to her personal life; she shares exactly what and how she wants.
The Yahoo! review concludes, “Kaling really provides is necessary levity during an otherwise heavy time. She's not afraid to be funny or flawed, two things we could use more of right now.”
Mindy Kaling is the author of two additional books, Why Not Me? and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). Moms looking for an empathetic perspective and an incisive reflection on work/life balance should take a deep dive into Kaling’s latest essays. The publication is available now through the Amazon Kindle Store.
Sources: Yahoo! Entertainment, Amazon