Lit Hit List: Celebrity Memoirs
I’m a sucker for a celebrity memoir, but haven’t read enough in recent months to warrant full reviews. Here, a quick roundup of some of my favorites I’ve read in the past year or so.
“Love, Loss, and What We Ate” by Padma Lakshmi
Rating: 4.5
I LOVED THIS BOOK. Sorry for the all caps, but this was a beautiful look at Lakshmi’s (admittedly) very, very interesting life. She is a beautiful writer and of course using food as a framing device for key moments in her life made perfect sense. When she wrote about discovering her endometriosis, it was so moving, and the way she writes about her daughter is also beautiful. When I finished the book and saw that Nora Ephron was a mentor to Lakshmi, I wasn’t surprised at all—two beautiful writers. Highly recommend this one.
“The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” by Issa Rae
Rating: 3.5
I’m a huge fan of Rae’s HBO series “Insecure” so I was excited to read her memoir. This was a solid read—definitely very funny at times, and very poignant when describing how she felt out of place among both black and white classmates. I enjoyed reading about her family’s moves across the country, and to Senegal and back, and how that impacted Rae and her siblings. Recommend if you’re already a fan of her work!
“We’re Going to Need More Wine” by Gabrielle Union
Rating: 4
First of all, who does Gabrielle Union think she is, stealing the title of MY future memoir??? In all seriousness, this book was excellent. Union has been in many of my favorite rom coms and teen movies (“can you ever just be…WHELMED?”) and this peek behind the curtain was so enjoyable to read. She writes candidly about being black in Hollywood, why she hasn’t (hadn’t) had kids, colorism, being a step-mother, and sexual abuse and rape. Union is honest, straightforward, and candid, and this book is worth a read (with a glass of wine).
“I Might Regret This” by Abbi Jacobson
Rating: 4.5
I should lead with the fact that I am a massive fan of Jacobson’s Comedy Central show, “Broad City.” Like, my bff and I watched the series finale together in New York even though she doesn’t live here and it wasn’t a coincidence that she was in town. That said, in case it isn’t obvious, I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to celeb memoirs, and this book of essays (and drawings!) by Jacobson is top-notch. The book is essentially Jacobson’s journal during a solo cross-country road trip, and she tackles tough topics like her sexuality, travel and independence, and success, while making some kooky observations that have nothing to do with her life, really (why are saucers necessary?). She’s vulnerable and funny and I loved this book.
“Everything’s Trash But It’s OK” by Phoebe Robinson
Rating: 3
This memoir is written exactly how Robinson speaks. If you aren’t familiar, that includes a ton of random “abbrevs” which, to be honest, got on my nerves after a while. That said, Robinson gets real in this one, discussing the intersectionality of race and feminism, being super broke (like for real broke) in New York, and how she met her boyfriend (affectionately known as #BritishBaekoff for those who don’t know). I laughed and enjoyed this book (especially the Julia Roberts story!), and it’s worth a read if you’re a fan. Not necessarily one of my top celeb books ever.
“This Will Only Hurt a Little” by Busy Philipps
Rating: 4.5
Ahhh, Busy. I love how her Instagram hustling led to a resurgence in her career. She’s always been honest and unapologetically herself, and this book of essays is no different. First off, major shoutout for sharing the abortion she had when she was 15. Philipps continues to be an advocate for reproductive rights, which I obviously love and appreciate. Second, even if, like me, you never watched “Dawson’s Creek” (don’t @ me), you’ll love the look behind the scenes of that show, as well as “Freaks and Geeks.” Beyond the typical celeb stuff, Philipps is vulnerable, blunt, funny, and shares stories about her anxiety, motherhood, acting, and her marriage—all in a totally Busy way.
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