Book Review on Miranda Hart's I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You

I started to read I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You, but quickly moved to listening to it. Hearing Miranda herself—someone I knew well from her TV show—was far more gripping than reading the book. Plus, Betsy pinched the copy she had bought for me and took it back to London!

I guess I was expecting a typical celebrity memoir—something light, amusing, and entertaining, with plenty of references to galloping. The galloping was there, but that’s about as far as my expectations lived up to reality. I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You turned out to be a fascinating exploration of Miranda Hart’s recovery journey, as she navigated life after being debilitated by Lyme disease. This illness, possibly contracted from a tick bite in Virginia when she was just 14, was exacerbated years later by a mould problem in her house. The title now makes perfect sense—her disappearance from screens and stages wasn’t by choice; she had been unwell for over a decade.

I’ll add a caveat here: we’re big Miranda fans in my household. We sat in the front row when she starred in Annie, we’ve watched all her shows, and my daughters affectionately call each other “Chummy” from Call the Midwife. So I was ready to love I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You—and I did. References like “my lovely reader chum” didn’t annoy me; they felt warm and endearing.

The book itself is humorous and full of charm, but it’s also a tender and vulnerable account of Miranda’s journey to recovery. It would be especially helpful for anyone dealing with chronic fatigue-inducing illnesses. It’s not just a memoir, but also a love story—not only in the literal sense, as the project manager who helped tackle her mould problem eventually became her husband—but also a romance with herself. Through learning about her illness, understanding herself, and figuring out how to navigate life, Miranda brings self-compassion to her character, which is full of fun, silliness, warmth, and empathy.

A key strength of I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You is how Miranda draws on wisdom from well-known “-ists” like Brené Brown for vulnerability and courage, Kristin Neff for self-compassion, and lesser-known figures such as somatic therapists, neuroscientists, and wellness experts. She delves into their insights and research, blending them with her personal experiences to offer practical advice. These references make the book not only relatable but also backed by credible perspectives, which add depth to her observations. She calls them the ‘ists!’

Miranda also reflects deeply on her younger self, linking her experiences and challenges back to her formative years. Her story of reluctantly returning to the UK at 19, after time spent backpacking, struck a chord with me. As a fellow backpacker who now often wonders where that sense of adventure and freeness has gone! That period shaped her love for freedom, nature, and the joy of living in the moment—core themes that resonate throughout the book and guide her recovery journey. This focus on reflection is one of the most powerful aspects of the book, encouraging readers to think about their own lives with a sense of tenderness and curiosity.

In I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You, Miranda explores themes of joy, creativity, resilience, boundaries, and more. In some ways the book washes over you, but in others it leaves you thinking deeply. For me, the idea of finding a “why” for life that fits with my values resonated the most. My daughter Betsy has told me that the chapter on boundaries impacted her life.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You. If you’re looking to reflect on your own choices, feel good, and share in someone’s vulnerability, this book is for you. Miranda’s humour, wisdom, and openness create a sense of comfort and encouragement. It is like spending time with a profound, thoughtful, and sensitive friend.