Leave a Comment / Reviews / By admin
I’ve got a problem with books written by actors from The Office. First was Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Then was Rainn Wilson’s SoulBoom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution. Then on to Wilson’s memoir, The Bassoon King. I’m not even really a fan of The Office! Or at least I wasn’t a fan before I started consuming these hilarious and enlighten books. But I’m in too deep now. My primary goal is to read all the humorous books out there in the world. (Seems doable, right?) I guess my secondary goal is to read all of the books tangentially related to The Office. The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There was next on my list. Here is my The Office BFFs book review.
The Office BFFs Summary
The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey is a heartfelt, funny, and charming memoir of friendship. The pair became inseparable friends on and off the screen while filming The Office. They deliver behind-the-scenes revelations and detail their journeys from being cast on the now-iconic TV show to becoming lifelong “best friends forever.” Fischer played Pam Beesly, the sweet, soft-spoken receptionist, while Kinsey played Angela Martin, the no-nonsense, cat-loving accountant with a strict (and often hilariously hypocritical) moral code. Their characters had very different personalities on the show, which made their real-life friendship even more entertaining for fans to discover. With plenty of anecdotes and memories, the book reads like a love letter to fans of the show and to the friendship that grew between Jenna and Angela over its nine-season run.
The book covers:
- Behind-the-Scenes Stories: From awkwardly funny audition tales to the quirks of working with their castmates (like Rainn Wilson, Steve Carell, and John Krasinski), they give a peek into the real-life dynamics that shaped the on-screen magic.
- The Challenges and Joys of Filming: They reflect on filming the show’s iconic scenes, handling early-career insecurities, and balancing their personal lives with the demands of a hit sitcom.
- Friendship Beyond the Screen: Readers get to see the depth of Jenna and Angela’s bond, with stories of personal struggles, family challenges, road trips, and how they supported each other in life beyond The Office set.
- Fan Interactions and Legacy: The book also addresses The Office’s enduring popularity, including hilarious encounters with fans and the deep connection the show has fostered with its audience over the years.
With their signature humor and authenticity, Jenna and Angela offer a sweet, nostalgic dive into their journey as “Office BFFs.” The book’s style is casual and inviting, making you feel as though you’re at lunch with two close friends, reminiscing and laughing over memories.
Now onto the rating! The Office BFFs book review:
My innovative system for rating humor books is explained here
Wholesomeness Score: 3.5/5
Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey throw in a bit of swearing into The Office BFFs, but it’s relatively light and used more for emphasis or humor rather than anything too explicit. For the most part, they keep the language and content fairly clean, hitting a tone that’s relatable and approachable. Their BFF relationship that was formed during filming and continues today is entirely adorable and wholesome. Fischer and Kinsey seem like down-to-earth, regular, plain ‘ol good, wholesome folk.
Hilarity Score: 3.5/5
I consumed The Office BFFs via audiobook, which was read by Fischer and Kinsey. The duo’s natural comedic timing shined (shone?) through in their storytelling. Their sense of humor isn’t just about the funny stories themselves; it’s about how they tell them — with self-deprecation, dramatic reenactments, and little jabs at each other that feel like you’re eavesdropping on two best friends cracking each other up. I’m not necessarily a hardcore Office fan. But I found The Office BFFs to be funny in a warm, accessible way — like an inside joke that somehow everyone gets. There wasn’t a barrage of hilarious punchlines, but I felt like I was hanging out with a group of buddies that were just having a darn good time.
Overall Book Awesomeness Score: 4/5
Something about the reality of 2 coworkers becoming inseparable friends. forever. BEST Friends Forever. It was simply delightful. I’ve watched The Office, but I certainly don’t have every episode or character quirk memorized. I think this book would have resonated much stronger with me had I been an Office Super-Fan. Fischer and Kinsey’s tales of likeable castmates and all-around workplace comradery actually make me want to go back and (re)watch the show, to join the legions of Office Super-Fans.
Things I liked:
- I love that 2 adult strangers and co-workers became actual, real-life, best friends forever.
- Getting to know the real-life personalities behind the characters. Sometimes this can backfire (if those people are unlikable jerks!) But Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey seem to be simply lovely people.
- Lots of lighthearted fun. Very little drama.
Things I didn’t like:
- Some of the reflections were too specific for me, a quasi-fan. No, I didn’t remember that one episode where that one thing happened. This book certainly targeted more Office-savvy fans.
Conclusion: Final Thoughts on The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There
This is a story of friendship through an epic adventure (9 years filming The Office.) Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey deliver it in a fun, lighthearted way that made me feel like an associate BFF.
Just so you know – I could get an affiliate commission if you link from my site and buy a product. Hopefully, I’ll accumulate enough affiliate commission to buy myself a coffee someday! Not Starbucks or anything like that. But maybe a plain small coffee from a gas station on the edge of town.