Publishers Weekly
03/08/2021
The star of seminal 1980s coming-of-age movies St. Elmo’s Fire and Pretty in Pink looks back on a decade that was more angsty for him than for his characters in this heartfelt memoir. Actor McCarthy (The Longest Way Home) revisits many raucous showbiz indignities—“my first day on the set of a feature film was spent in bra and panties”—and delves into the gnawing anxieties behind his heart-throb exterior: a sullen aloofness that masked his fear at auditions; spiraling alcoholism; loneliness in an L.A., where he “felt exposed and vulnerable on the deserted streets”; alienation on the coked-up set of Less Than Zero, where “the mood on the shoot turned from dark to nefarious” with a script “full of hate and self-degradation.” McCarthy writes evocatively of his insecurities and dysfunctions—“I felt as if I existed behind a layer of opaque plexiglass... which would only clear when I took a drink”—but also of the high points when he felt “the simple joy at being there, at being alive and young” in front of the camera. McCarthy is clear-eyed and unsparing about Hollywood but takes the emotional intensity of the actor’s craft and life seriously. The result is a riveting portrait of the artist as a young man. Photos. (May)
From the Publisher
"Where lesser writers might reach for hyperbole and Roget to describe such exotic lands as Patagonia, Kilimanjaro and Baltimore, in The Longest Way Home, McCarthy leans on subtlety, a straightforward style and hard-won insights to allow his larger stories to unfold. It's not hard to imagine him as the solitary figure in the café, scribbling in a notebook by candlelight, making the lonely, tedious work of travel writing look romantic and easy."—Chuck Thompson, author of Better Off Without 'Em and Smile When You're Lying
Library Journal - Audio
07/01/2021
Iconic '80s actor and teen heartthrob McCarthy reflects on his early career and rise to success in this revealing memoir. Known for his film roles in Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, and Mannequin, McCarthy talks here about his love of New York City, his acting strategies, and his struggles with alcohol. He has no compunction about dropping tidbits regarding actors and directors he's worked with. Though he was a founding member of the "Brat Pack," he reflects on why he resents the designation and has never fully embraced the media's nickname for the group of actors and actresses he's most often associated with. McCarthy is brutally honest when he looks back at his youthful debauchery, acting ambitions, and naivety. He's more than willing to dissect old mistakes and failings with self-deprecating humor and fresh insight. The memoir is extremely well written and highlights McCarthy's talents on multiple fronts. VERDICT Narrated by McCarthy himself, this memoir is an easy listen, perfect for those who grew up loving his work.—Erin Cataldi, Johnson Cty. P.L., Franklin, IN
Library Journal
04/01/2021
Throughout the 1980s, McCarthy represented a generation of American white suburban teenagers trying to find their place in the world. Films marketed to teens were booming, and McCarthy made the leap from struggling New York University student with a few credits to his name, to bona fide movie star, thanks to roles in films such as Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo's Fire. In this memoir, he looks back at his relationship with his father, strained because of money; at the teachers who saw something in him, despite his seemingly careless attitude; and at the directors who took a chance on him, even though he didn't fit the standard leading-man model. McCarthy, an award-winning travel author (The Longest Way Home), is a talented and intelligent writer who tactfully refrains from making this a kiss-and-tell history of the Brat Pack. Instead, he focuses on his own experiences—including his bouts of alcoholism and armor of aloofness—and recounts his dawning recognition that he would prefer to work behind the camera instead of in front of it. VERDICT Students of acting will appreciate learning about McCarthy's versions of method acting and his struggles with performing for a camera. Fans of '80s cinema will love the chance to reminisce.—Lisa Henry, Kirkwood P.L., MO
MAY 2021 - AudioFile
Actor/writer/director Andrew McCarthy’s immensely enjoyable audiobook, which he narrates himself, is about his early years in Hollywood—especially his love of acting and his development as an artist. Sure, some juicy celebrity tidbits are included—listeners will find out who his ST. ELMO’s FIRE crush was and what really happened the night a reporter coined the “Brat Pack” moniker. But he also describes being more interested in working with challenging directors, developing his characters with a trusted acting coach, and learning how to operate a camera. As he explains his feelings of isolation and failure before he found acting, listeners feel the residue of these emotions in his performance. Now an accomplished travel writer and director, McCarthy delivers a delightful listen about his iconic years. J.T. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2021-03-03
In his second memoir, the former Brat Pack member offers a tell-almost-all filled with entertaining tidbits from on and off the set—and a few surprises.
Now a travel writer, TV director, and author of the bestselling YA novel Just Fly Away, McCarthy found his true life’s calling during a high school production of Oliver! “When I stepped on stage as the Artful Dodger all those years ago,” writes the author, “a light went on inside me that has never gone out.” In New York City, McCarthy found his comfort zone in Terry Hayden’s classes on Method acting and in Manhattan’s cinema revival houses. An audition advertised in Backstage led to his auspicious 1983 debut opposite Rob Lowe and Jacqueline Bisset in Class (off-set factoid: Bissett kissed him….“Just the once”). A whirlwind of work followed, including Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo’s Fire, Mannequin (the descriptions of which omit any mention of co-star Kim Cattrall), Fresh Horses, Less Than Zero, and Weekend at Bernie’s and its sequel. McCarthy highlights the Hollywood perks—dinners at Spago with Liza Minnelli, parties at the Playboy mansion—as well as the uneven chemistry among the Brat Pack. On the set of St. Elmo’s Fire, writes the author, Ally Sheedy was superfriendly; Emilio Estévez was not. Robert Redford, James Coburn, and Claude Chabrol make brief but key appearances, and McCarthy fondly describes channeling his buddy Eddie for movie-wardrobe choices. The author also addresses his personal struggles. From the start, public attention made him nervous, and his relationship with his father was fraught with challenges. Regarding booze, the author tracks his alcoholic trajectory fairly meticulously (he got sober in 1992 at age 29). It’s not Just Kids, but the book is a pleasant combination of name-dropping, fun insights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the actor’s relief at jumping off his particular 1980s hamster wheel.
An enjoyable celebrity memoir from an actor who also displays writing skills.
