When it’s cold outside, there’s pretty much nothing I want to do more than stay home, take a hot bath, and read a good book. (I mean, I kinda want to do that even when it’s not freezing, but you get my point). There are tons of different book genres to fit every mood, from romance novels to to page-turning true crime. And then, of course, there are memoirs and books written by your favourite celebrities. Seriously, there are some notable A-list actors, comedians, musicians, and reality TV personalities who have published books. I’m talking Billie Eilish, Viola Davis, Will Smith, Hannah Brown… the list goes on.
Most celebrity books are at least part memoirs, so you get an authentic behind-the-scenes look at their life, from their upbringing to the challenges they’ve faced to get where they are today. And some of them, like those written by former Bachelor/Bachelorette contestants or Real Housewives, lift the curtain on what *really* goes down on the sets of your favourite reality TV shows. Some will make you laugh, others will make you cry, and they’ll all show you something you didn’t know about your favourite celebrity.
Since there are so many out there to choose from, we’ve gone ahead and rounded up 14 of the best celebrity books worth adding to your reading list now.
1- Viola Davis, Finding Me: A Memoir
Viola Davis’ memoir won’t be released until April 2022, but it’s currently available for pre-order—and worth adding to your cart ASAP. The Oscar-winning actress shares stories from different chapters of her life, from her early years, growing up in Rhode Island to her incredible career in Hollywood and everything in between.
2- Emily Ratajkowski, My Body
In this book, model, actress, and activist Emily Ratajkowski weave together her own experiences navigating complicated and occasionally abusive environments with broader messages about feminism, power, and gender.
3- Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Unfinished: A Memoir
This inspiring memoir finds Priyanka Chopra Jonas sharing stories about her upbringing in India, her family’s move to the United States, her career in beauty pageants and acting, and yes, her romance with Nick Jonas.
4- Will Smith and Mark Manson, Will
After making it as a rapper and A-list actor, Will Smith felt like he had it all. But this surprisingly vulnerable memoir is about what happened when he realized he had some tough realities to confront. He reconnects with his family and starts to dive into his own difficult emotions and healing. It’s written in a way that readers can apply the lessons to their own life, but there are plenty of details about his upbringing, his career, and his family life.
5- Cecily Strong, This Will All Be Over Soon: A Memoir
This profound memoir was written by SNL star Cecily Strong. She lost her cousin in early 2020, and as she was struggling to process her grief about his death, the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down. Cecily went to isolate herself in upstate New York and began working on this book about grief, love, and hope. Though it’s mostly heavy, there are still some lighthearted and even funny moments in this memoir.
6- Billie Eilish, Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish fans who haven’t gotten this book yet, wyd?? It’s a never-before-seen photo album of Billie Eilish’s life. It includes everything from adorable pics of her as a kid to glamorous and gritty shots on tour. Plus, it features captions written by Billie — as one Amazon reviewer writes, “It makes you feel a little like you’re just hanging with your friend, looking at her photo album while she provides the occasional commentary.”
7- Seth Rogen, Yearbook
Everyone’s favourite funny man/pottery artist wrote this entertaining collection of personal essays. He shares hilarious tales of doing stand-up comedy as a teenager, attending Jewish summer camp, and moving to Los Angeles.
8- Danny Trejo, Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood
You’ve seen Danny Trejo playing a tough guy in…everything (like, his IMDB page goes on forever). But his real life is pretty damn cinematic too. He was raised in an abusive home, went to prison multiple times, became spiritual during solitary confinements, and eventually became a Hollywood star and community activist. You won’t want to put this one down, trust me.
9- Tyler Cameron, You Deserve Better: What Life Has Taught Me About Love, Relationships, and Becoming Your Best Self
As they say, there are two sides to every story. Tyler Cameron shares his POV on what went down in that kinda messy Jed-Hannah-Tyler-Gigi situation. But he’s also got lots to say about modern-day dating, why everyone deserves a partner who loves them, and how you can make sure you’re bringing your best self to your relationship.
10- Bryan Cranston, A Life in Parts
Bryan Cranston landed his first acting gig at the age of seven. Since then, he’s held roles that gained him critical acclaim (Walter White, miss u) and roles that challenged him beyond belief (the dude played President Johnson!). Cranston’s work ethic, as portrayed on pretty much every single page of this memoir, will no doubt inspire you.
11- Jessica Simpson, Open Book
A few years ago, Jessica Simpson was asked to write a motivational guide to life, but she turned down the deal. Why? Because she felt like it’d be one big lie. So instead she wrote Open Book, where she shares the good, the bad, and the very ugly. She talks about dealing with a constant need to please others, surviving abuse, and being on a reality show while her marriage was crumbling. It’s a fascinating read.
12- Carrie Fisher, Wishful Drinking
The late, great Star Wars actress’s juiciest memoir is The Princess Diarist, in which she revealed her relationship with Harrison Ford. But Wishful Drinking, based on her one-woman show, is arguably the more intriguing book. Her first memoir after four novels, it’s full of her signature wit.
13- Tina Fey, Bossypants
Many of the books on this list owe something to the Saturday Night Live alum’s blockbuster book of essays, which has sold more than 3.75 million copies. Those numbers proved that readers wanted this kind of bold, feminist humour—especially when it’s written in such spectacular fashion.
14- Chelsea Handler, Life Will Be the Death of Me
It sure seems like Chelsea Handler knows exactly what she’s about, but the reality is she spent a year really getting to know herself, with the help of a psychiatrist… and a few edibles, of course. Her hilarious book is all about becoming more self-sufficient, self-aware, and politically active.
Via Cosmopolitan US.