Story time: Celebrity Memoirs Wish I could re-read for the first time
As an avid reader with more than 150 books under my belt this year, it’s rare for a story to seep into my bones and take up permanent space in my psyche. For a memoir to change how I see the author, myself, society, success, and trauma, it has to be a damn-good one. Over the last few years, I’ve been lucky enough to find several that did exactly that. Want to carry them with you, too? Here are the celebrity memoirs that shocked me, broke me open, and reshaped the person I am today.
I’m Glad My Mom Died- Jennette McCurdy
TW: Child abuse (emotional, physical), disordered eating (calorie restriction, bulimia), grooming and workplace misconduct, narcissistic/controlling parent dynamics, death of a parent, mental health struggles (anxiety, trauma)
What attracted me: I mean, have you ever in your life read a more ambitious memoir title? My fascination with celebrity culture aside, I couldn’t move past the insatiable need to know why this seemingly well-adjusted woman was celebrating the loss of her mother.
Why it stuck with me: Girlhood is both an individual and collective experience. Reading her story, I found myself horrified by the ways adults failed to protect her, even as she tried to survive the burning chaos of girlhood. I couldn’t relate to the pressures of child stardom, but I saw myself in the young girl who had no physical or emotional autonomy. It’s honest, brutal, and will live with me forever.
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“I yearn to know the people I love deeply and intimately—without context, without boxes—and I yearn for them to know me that way, too.”
― Jennette McCurdy, I'm Glad My Mom Died
Be Ready When The Luck Happens- Ina Garten
What attracted me: I wish I could say I came by it honestly, but this was a recommendation from a friend while I was in a creative slump, and the only person I trusted to help me out was Queen Ina.
Why it stuck with me: Sometimes we need someone to remind us that the real secret to success is commitment, confidence, and above all, luck. Nihilism can make us forget the role we play in shaping our own lives. Ina’s journey is proof that success comes from a blend of hard work, gut instinct, and divine timing. Reading this memoir felt like a mental cold plunge, snapping me out of autopilot and putting me on my own path to fulfillment.
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“I concentrate on what's in front of me, and work hard, because I love what I do, and I have fun doing it; and then I leave the door open, so I'll be ready when the luck happens.”
― Ina Garten, Be Ready When the Luck Happens
The Third Gilmore Girl- Kelly Bishop
What attracted me: As a Gilmore Girls fan, this was a no-brainer. I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to learn about the genesis of my favorite character in one of my comfort shows, and I had a sneaking suspicion that there was a lot more to Kelly Bishop than the general public knew.
Why it stuck with me: Reading about someone in the entertainment industry whose only goal was to live her passion felt incredibly refreshing. Each chapter reinforces Bishop’s unwavering commitment to her craft and her belief in her own success. In a world that constantly tells artists to prioritize income over art, stories of resilience like hers feel essential. And to make her even more awe-inspiring, one of Broadway’s most iconic characters, Sheila Bryant, was inspired by Bishop’s own experiences. She is the culture!
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“There's a lot more to being human than this finite, mundane, earthbound world we live in, that we're really part of a much greater cosmic whole that's all around us.”
― Kelly Bishop, The Third Gilmore Girl: A Memoir
Tell Me Everything- Minka Kelly
TW: Childhood neglect, domestic instability, substance abuse (parental), sexualized environments, emotional abuse, loss of a parent, poverty, and survival trauma
What attracted me: Candidly, I was in the middle of watching Friday Night Lights for the first time, and I couldn’t fathom the stunner behind Lyla Garrety having much to say. I was hoping that she would prove me wrong.
Why it stuck with me: I couldn’t have been more wrong about her. Kelly’s upbringing was shocking at best and deeply disturbing at worst. By the end, I was emotionally wrecked, but walking away with a lesson I still carry: just because a girl is classy and beautiful doesn’t mean life hasn’t tried to beat her down. Her story also helped me confront some of the harsher truths of my own upbringing, so I don’t continue that cycle of trauma with the people I love. It’s been years since I read her memoir, and her story still reminds me that everyone is carrying their own traumas and complicated beginnings. You can never truly know someone’s suffering just by looking at them.
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“Many of us put off dealing with our negative childhood programming until well into our forties and fifties. These issues come politely knocking at our door in our twenties, then rap louder in our thirties. If you delay looking at your programming until your forties, you are likely to have the message delivered with sledgehammer blows.”
― Minka Kelly, Tell Me Everything: A Memoir
Open Book- Jessica Simpson
TW: Childhood sexual abuse, addiction (alcohol/pills), disordered eating, toxic relationships, body shaming, mental health struggles (anxiety, depression), marriage conflict, and divorce
What attracted me: People tend to leave Jessica Simpson out of the it-girl conversation, and I’ve never understood why. I wanted to hear her side of the story, how she experienced her rise to fame, and how the constant comparisons to other pop girls shaped the way she saw herself and the world around her.
Why it stuck with me: Has anyone ever girl-bossed harder? Despite the appalling treatment she endured from family, the public, and past partners, Jessica Simpson built an empire with compassion and Southern sweetness. Open Book stuck with me because it completely reframed how I see her. Instead of hiding, she chose honesty, growth, and resilience. Since reading it, I find myself defending her all the time. If resilience has a name, it’s Jessica Simpson.
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“I held myself to an insane standard, and while I beat myself up about always falling short, I definitely held it against the people who I thought weren’t trying.”
― Jessica Simpson, Open Book
For a full list of my favorite and most life-altering memoirs, check out my GoodReads shelf: Memoirs That Changed Me