Full Circle: From Hollywood to Real Life and Back Again

by Andrea Barber

She grew up in front of the world on the beloved sitcom Full House, but then actress Andrea Barber abruptly left Hollywood. Why did she leave and what did she do for twenty years out of the spotlight before returning to television? This is her funny and inspiring memoir of fame, heartache, resilience—and the reboot of a lifetime . . .
 
When Kimmy Gibbler burst into the Tanners’ home on Full House in 1987, audiences immediately connected with the confident and quirky pre-teen character, played by ten-year-old actress Andrea Barber. During an eight-season run on one of the most popular series of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Andrea came of age in front of millions. But she was as far removed from her character as a girl can get. The introverted young star was plagued with self-doubt, insecurities, and debilitating anxieties that left her questioning her identity after the show’s cancelation. Andrea wouldn’t return to the public eye until 2016, for Fuller House. So what happened in those intervening decades that Andrea jokingly calls “the lost years”?

For starters, Andrea never stopped working. But it was on a series of life-changing transitions: earning a college degree, then a Master’s, building a career in international education, getting married, and starting a family. She also faced some unforeseeable transitions: navigating a sudden divorce after nearly twelve years of marriage, and second-guessing her capabilities as a single mother. But it was her devastating bout with post-partum anxiety and depression that derailed Andrea’s life—and became a crucial turning point.
 
Full Circle is a raw, refreshingly honest look into the life of a celebrity who has never been fully comfortable in the spotlight. Here Andrea shares her deeply personal struggles with mental health in a way she has never done before. She opens up about fighting her way back and finding solace—while finding herself—all before her life came full circle with her costars and lifelong friends on Fuller House. Sharing her journey from child star, to champion of mental health, and back to stardom, Andrea writes in a way that feels like catching up with an old friend.
 
You’ll laugh, reminisce, and finally get to know the woman behind the zany next door neighbor.

• ISBN10: 0806539887
• ISBN13: 9780806539881
• Publish Date: 12 November 2019
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Kensington Publishing
• Imprint: Citadel Press
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 272
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/isbn/9780806539881

Reviews

[lindsey]

I grew up as a fan of Full House, as I'm sure a lot of '90s kids did. Friday nights were my favorite nights - not only because it meant no school for two days, but because of T.G.I.F. I would tune in faithfully every Friday night to watch two hours of pure '90s sitcoms, and I loved every second of it. Boy Meets World, Dinosaurs, Sister, Sister, Step by Step, Family Matters... it went through a variety of change-ups over the years, but Full House was always one of my favorites.

Fast forward 25 years, give or take a few, and here I am, reviewing a book written by Kimmy Gibbler.

As I'm sure I've mentioned several times on my blog, I'm a huge sucker for celeb bios, even if I'm not all that familiar with the person's work. And, to be honest, I didn't have high expectations for this one. I figured it might be a nice, nostalgic read, and that maybe I would read a few behind-the-scenes bits about the filming of Full House, and that would be the end of it. So color me surprised when I found myself giving this four stars.

Andrea Barber is a surprisingly good writer, and I found myself not wanting to put this down.

It's not your typical celeb tell-all, so don't expect to find many salacious stories about Hollywood. Instead, she focuses on her struggle with anxiety, and how she handled working on Full House and then living her life after leaving the show.

Her honest and upfront discussion of her battle with anxiety was very relatable, and she gives good advice and tips for how to handle it.

Even though I enjoyed Full House as a kid, I still haven't watched the Netflix reboot, Fuller House, but after reading this, I'm a little more tempted to watch it.

I would highly recommend this book, especially if you were a fan of hers on Full House, or if you deal with anxiety and would like to feel a little less alone in your struggle.

[Jeff Sexton]

Amazing Story. Barber is obviously known to millions as Kimmie Gibbler, but here for the first time those same millions meet Andrea. And Andrea is full of the dichotomies that plague many of us. An introvert who happens to be a "celebrity". Someone plagued with anxiety who is known for portraying the zany neighbor that always has a plan. The mother that slipped so far into anxiety and depression that she couldn't take care of herself and nearly lost everything. Barber does an excellent job of easing the reader into the darkest moments of her life and explaining how she was able to come out of them and come... Full Circle. Very much recomended.