Review: ‘Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!’ by Liza Minnelli
Published July 2, 2026
Never has there ever been a more charming audiobook memoir than Liza Minnelli’s Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! I mean come on, this is Liza we are talking about! Her iconic voice, distinct personality, natural warmth and kindness make her irresistible, and listening to her audiobook felt like having a conversation with a friend.
Minnelli’s book is brave in more ways than one, getting candid about the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between. She talks about her family including her mother Judy Garland and Father Liza Minnelli, making Cabaret and other films, life on broadway, her romances, friendships with famous figures of the 20th and 21st century, and the terrible betrayal she experienced at the 2022 Oscars.
Alongside her memories, Minnelli shares the sobering truth of life with a substance use disorder. Listening to these vulnerable and honest moments is something I think everyone needs to make a point of doing, regardless of their relationship with substances.
Kids, don’t wait to hear this audiobook — start listening to it now!
The Review
Time flies by when you are having fun, and such is true when you are listening to Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! Unabridged at 17 hours and 55 minutes, I still felt like I could use more time with her…that is the mark of a truly great book!
Kids, Wait Till You Hear This was made in collaboration with Minnelli’s very close friend Michael Feinstein, who interviewed her and kept a steady archive of audio recordings and more for about20 years. Audiobook audiences are given a treat at the end of the book as some of the raw recordings, including voicemails, are shared.
Feinstein was one of the key people who kept encouraging Minnelli to tell her story for herself, rather than let the world tell it for her, or having her close friends tell her story when she is gone. May Minnelli’s courage to step out of her comfort zone and share her story inspire us to keep doing the same.
Minnelli really is full of courage, gumption, talent, and above all else, love, which was made evident throughout the stories she shared. Again, what makes the audiobook version invaluable is hearing the tone of Minnelli’s voice when she revisits moments from her past. Her emotion is incredibly moving and gives life to her words in a way that cannot fully be captured on paper alone.
I loved listening to Minnelli’s stories, she is just such a great storyteller and what she shares is just so fascinating! Seriously, she spills the tea in the most respectful way — you’ve got to experience it for yourself!
It took me until I was three quarters of the way through the book to realize I had developed a distinct listening pattern — for whatever reason, I only listened to this book while cooking in my kitchen. Whenever I cook, I love to take my time and truly savor the experience. The natural pacing of Minnelli’s audio recording made for the perfect metronome, keeping me in the exact rhythm and timing I desired. There is also just something so comforting about Minnelli, so having her in the kitchen with me just felt natural and it really added to the ambiance of my home.
When we listen to each other’s stories, we do come home, back to our humanity and away from all the trends, apps, doomscrolling, and headlines that fight for our attention every day. I believe that books like these not only teach us about others, but about ourselves. They create a path to further conversation with those around us and give our hearts the exercise they need in empathy. Quite literally, audiobooks help us become better listeners in our everyday lives!
Minnelli has sung the lyrics to “Cabaret” countless times in her life, and they will remain relevant always. I leave you with these:
What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play
Life is a Cabaret, old chum
Come to the Cabaret
Can’t get enough of Liza? Me either! Click here to visit her website.