Primarily known for her hilarious roles in The Office, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Bridesmaids, Ellie Kemper has come a long way since her days as a starry-eyed adolescent staging plays in her living room and attempting to communicate with the squirrels that hung out in her tree house. Her journey is an entertaining one, the ups and downs chronicled for readers in her relatable and chuckle-worthy memoir, My Squirrel Days (Scribner, $26). Focusing primarily on life transitions, Kemper shares the hardships and glories of Midwestern life, breaking into showbiz, and being a redhead. What does it take to make it in improvisational comedy? How does one persuade rodents to chat? What are Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, and Melissa McCarthy really like? Expertly written, these stories of joke-telling, growing up, and figuring things out are perfect for fans of Kemper’s work or those just looking for a female role model and a laugh.