2023 was a blockbuster year for celebrity memoirs, starting with Prince Harry's bestselling book Spare and ending with Barbra Streisand's 1,000-page book My Name is Barbra.
The first rule of celebrity memoirs is to ignore the headlines, as a lot of context will be lost if you're only served an excerpt.
The second rule: consider downloading the audiobook, especially if the author reads it himself. I always think it adds poignancy and emotion and helps connect with the author, especially considering the current trend of memoirs asking us to rethink how we viewed celebrities in the 2000s.
Generic Paris by Paris Hilton
Generic Paris by Paris Hilton
Now 25% off
Paris: the memoirs of Paris Hilton
2023 was the year we reassessed the way Paris Hilton was portrayed in the noughties. Through her own rise to reality TV and the tabloids, she chronicles how media changed in this decade, as the Internet and social media threatened traditional business models and how the degradation of attractive, young blonde women for public consumption became instead the way out became money. Introspective, humorous and often heartbreaking.
I'm Glad My Mother Died by Jennette McCurdy
I'm Glad My Mother Died by Jennette McCurdy
Now 12% discount
I'm Glad My Mother Died by Jennette McCurdy
You don't have to be familiar with Jennette McCurdy's work as a child actress (she's best known for her role on Nickleodeon TV's iCarly) to enjoy her often funny, always moving memoir. From the moment she made her mother's dream come true when she auditioned at age six to her eating disorder and addiction, McCurdy details it all in vignettes written with sensitivity and honesty. Her easy-to-read writing style and the way she can convince even the simplest sentences gave me hope that she will write more in the future.
Pageboy by Elliot Page
Pageboy by Elliot Page
Now 23% off
Page Boy by Elliot Page
Oscar-nominated actor Elliot Page opens up about his youth in Canada and his successful Hollywood career, which was marked by feelings of not fitting in and body dysphoria. Rather than following a narrative arc like most celebrity memoirs, Page chooses a more poetic route, sharing his memories and gossip in winding prose. Some of his lyrics are heartbreaking and perfectly reflect his emotional struggle leading up to his transition in 2021. Page Boy stayed with me long after I finished it.
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Now 50% off
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry's memoir was already a moving read when it came out in 2022, and it's become even more so since his death. He writes about his complex relationship with his friends' character, Chandler Bing, the fame and fortune the series brought him, and his struggles with addiction. The book ranges from intense to gossipy, from disturbing to self-deprecating, but is never self-pitying. “Money and fame doesn’t buy happiness” is something of a Hollywood memoir cliché, but nowhere does it ring truer than under Perry’s pen. This will make you watch “Friends” reruns differently.
Elvis and Me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley
Elvis and Me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley
Elvis and Me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley
Priscilla Beaulieu Presley's memoir of her time with Elvis – from their meeting at 14 to their marriage and divorce – was first published in 1985 and is a classic of the genre. Beaulieu Presley recorded it as an audiobook in 2022 and her book is now enjoying a resurgence thanks to Sofia Coppola's film Priscilla. It paints a complex picture of a superstar who is generous and manipulative towards those around him. She's very honest about their relationship in a way that can be hard to read as we look ahead to 2023, but reminds the reader that the best memoirs aren't necessarily about tasty storytelling .
Replacement: Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex
Replacement: Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex
Now 50% off
Prince Harry's replacement
If there's a reason not to limit yourself to the headlines, it's “Spare,” a book that found traction in many news articles in 2023. Sometimes it's worth hearing the story directly from the person who experienced it and forming your own opinion. From dysfunctional family dynamics to the benefits of therapy, many of the topics Harry writes about are relatable, even in the likely event that you weren't born with a crown. The writing style feels open and honest, even more so when listening to it while Harry recorded the audiobook.
“The Right Type of Girl” by Anita Rani
“The Right Type of Girl” by Anita Rani
“The Right Type of Girl” by Anita Rani
A love letter to growing up in Yorkshire as a second-generation British Punjabi girl, TV presenter Anita Rani speaks about the whole human experience from her personal perspective. Even if you grew up under different circumstances, you will recognize many of the emotions she remembers from her teenage years. Rani reads the audio book as if she was talking to a friend. This intimacy makes the funny anecdotes funnier and the hard ones even more moving, including a chapter on the fate of women during Partition.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Now 52% off
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
A whirlwind journey through Britney Spears' life through important public and private moments, many of which we experienced thanks to judgmental media coverage. From her childhood in the poor American South to her time in Las Vegas, Spears writes about her love of singing and dancing and the difficulty of finding the right relationships when growing up in a family where you were often taken advantage of. Actress Michelle Williams reads the audiobook so brilliantly that her impersonation of Justin Timberlake is now a viral meme.
My name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand
My name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand
Now 49% off
My name is Barbra by Barbra Streisand
A celebrity memoir as unique as its author. From acting to advocacy, musicals to mayhem, Barbra Streisand has led a life so full that 1,000 pages are barely enough to cover it all. She is generous with the details, making this film a must-read for film lovers. “My Name is Barbra” will leave you feeling like you know and understand the author—as well as the business and creative aspects of singing and filmmaking—much better. She reads her own audio book and even starts singing!
Thicker than Water by Kerry Washington
Thicker than Water by Kerry Washington
Now 24% off
Thicker than Water: A Memoir by Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington's memoir will make you think about the importance of family and secrets as she reflects on the impact learning she was conceived thanks to a sperm donor had on her. If you're a fan of her roles in Save the Last Dance and Scandal, you'll enjoy watching her pull back the curtain on her acting career, from her learning process to her relationships with her co-stars.
Comments are closed.