BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS
(Print: 2/4/2020; 978-0062899965; Dey Street Books; 416 pages )
(Digital: Yes.)
Audio: 2/4/2020; 9780062905000; HarperAudio; Duration 11:28:13 (10 parts); Unabridged.
(Film: No).

SERIES:
No

CHARACTERS: (Not comprehensive)
Jessica Simpson – Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Business Owner
Tina (Drew) Simpson – Jessica’s mother
Joe Simpson – Jessica’s father
Ashlee Simpson – Jessica’s sister
Sarah (Drew?) – Jessica’s cousin
Nick Lachey – Jessica’s (1st) husband
Johnny Knoxville – An actor and love interest
John Mayor – A musician and love interest
Eric Johnson - True love, friend, fellow-parent, husband
Willie Nelson -- Friend
Dolly Parton – Friend
Casey (sp?) -- Friend
Theresa (sp?) -- Friend

SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
Oh my gosh. I’m so glad this was one of the 2020 top read nominations in Goodreads, or I’d likely have missed it, as I am embarrassed to admit I had never heard of Jessica Simpson, and while I enjoy biographies, current celebrities are not my first pick.
Jessica shares her life’s ups and downs with so much heart and graciousness that it inspired me to be more compassionate.
If you get this book, you really have to get the audio version. The love, pain, and praise she expresses is in her words, yes, but is very much in her voice (plus, there’s music!). The print is probably great too, I flipped opened to the beginning of a copy and noticed the text appeared to be handwriting, reminiscent of a journal. I don’t know if the entire book is in that format.
I honestly might have to start calling this my favorite book.
Well done, Jessica!

AUTHOR:
Jessica Simpson (7/10/1980). According to Wikipedia, Jessica “is an American singer, actress, fashion designer, and author. After performing in church choirs as a child, Simpson signed with Columbia Records in 1997, at age 17. Her debut studio album, Sweet Kisses (1999), sold two million copies in the United States and saw the commercial success of the single "I Wanna Love You Forever". Simpson adopted a more mature image for her second studio album Irresistible (2001), and its title track became her second top 20 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In This Skin (2003), Simpson's third studio album, sold three million copies in the United States.”

NARRATOR(S):
Jessica Simpson (7/10/1980). According to IMDB’s Biography page on Jessica, “Having made her mark in the music industry, it wasn't long before Hollywood was knocking on her door. In addition to a recurring role on That 70's Show, Jessica's MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica launched in 2003, making her a household name. In 2005, Jessica made her film debut as Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard and released a cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'" for the movie's soundtrack. The song topped the Billboard Hot Digital Tracks charts and was certified platinum. Jessica has also starred in Employee of the Month for Lions Gate Films and Sony Pictures' Blonde Ambition for which she co-starred with Luke Wilson. She also starred in Major Movie Star for Nu Image/ Millennium Films.”

GENRE:
Autobiography, Memoir

LOCATIONS:
Texas, Oregon, Los Angeles, Hawaii, travels

TIME FRAME:
1960 - 2020

SUBJECTS:
Stuttering, Singing, Southern Baptist Church, Disney, Music Industry, Competition, Family, Weight, Alcoholism, Sexual Abuse, Psychology, Friends, Success, Break-ups, Divorce, Pregnancy, Motherhood, True Love, Prayer, Death of a loved one, Spirituality

NARRATIVE STYLE:
First person

SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From the Introduction:
“I first saw this book at the book signings. At the very first one, there was a woman who told me she knew she had a problem with alcohol. She’d never said it out loud before.
We hugged, and I started crying, of course. ‘You have the power within yourself to make this change and to make this change for yourself,’ I said, looking her right in the eye. ‘I don’t know where your struggle lies under the alcohol, but if it’s something that you feel compelled to give up, you should embrace that.’
‘I can’t believe I’m saying this,’ she said.
I smiled and leaned in. “Kind of makes you wonder what else you’re going to do to surprise yourself, right?’

RATING: 5 stars. Well lived, well told.

STARTED-FINISHED
5/3/21-5/10/21
( )

Enjoyable

If you know me then you know that my short list of favorite hobbies includes reading, writing, movies and music. I have this habit of picking up memoirs from celebrates just to break up my thrillers and gore. I have to say listening to Jessica read the book herself made this much more enjoyable for me as the reader.
She could have taken the easy road, but she chose honesty. The crappy thing about honesty is it’s not easy to do & it’s almost never pretty. She could have just made Hollywood sound glamorous and call it a day. When someone is ready to tear back those layers and say here, this is me, this is what I’ve been through, you know they have come to terms with themselves.... that’s priceless. It doesn’t mean that they have the perfect life or that they figured out life just means they are ready to put out the best versions of themself and to let you know that celebrates are humans too.

I am not sure what compelled me to buy this book. To be fair I am not the biggest Jessica Simpson fan. I listened to her music I did watch Newly Weds with her and Nick but I can’t say I had to have it. This book however impressed me. It was real and raw and it showed that she is not the same girl she was when she first started. After reading it I have much more respect for her she seems to be owning her mistakes and living her best life. I wish her family would have been more supportive of what she wanted when she first started because I don’t think her early years were pleasant. I also feel that maybe she got the raw end of the deal with her divorce. Over all this was a solid three star read. If you are looking for a memoir and like a celebrity one I would recommend this one.
( )

I liked this book. I remember Jessica in the 90’s and she definately was an object of ridicule. She was a people pleaser until she decided to stop and be herself. Her style of writing is informal and you felt like you were talking to a friend. ( )

Beutifully written memoir of Jessica SImpson's life. Jessica kept through accounts of her life from faithful journalling since chlidhood. Jessica has an almost unmatched ability for self-reflection and self-awareness that is rare among celebrities. ( )

I’m a big fan of Jessica Simpson’s music and watched “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica” when it first aired. However, aside from the usual information peddled by teen pop record labels, that’s all I really knew of her prior to reading this book. I thought reading it would give me more insight into the person she was and is. How wrong I was!

I guess I’m in them minority because I was actually hoping for in-depth discussion and reflection on her personal growth and journey, rather than juicy details about her past relationships with celebrities. I don’t want to take away from her accomplishments over the years or her desire to help people, which are both admirable. And I’m so glad that Ms. Simpson was able to come to terms with her demons and eventually find peace and happiness after the bullying and abuse she experienced in her childhood and adult years. However, I’ve never read a book where someone talked so much while saying so little. Four hundred pages of “opening up” and sharing experiences and stories that never go beyond the surface. No real depth or genuine reflection to be found anywhere. It’s almost as though no growth has occurred at all from her days on “Newlyweds.” Her still acting like a spoiled, privileged, out of touch celebrity who thinks she’s relatable because she burps, farts and wore size four jeans at one point in her life.

As one of those “average” women she’s supposedly trying to reach, I’d honestly find her much more relatable and real if she’d just come right out and say she’s a spoiled, privileged, wealthy celebrity who genuinely cares about the average girl or woman, but no longer has any idea what it’s actually like to be that girl or woman, and would rather bask in the glow of her gated community mansion, high end designer clothes, and billion dollar bank account.

I have to admit that around page 300 I started speed reading. I then felt bad (who knows why) and went back to try to focus read but just couldn’t do it. DIdn’t need to do it. All she did was skim the surface. Why shouldn’t I? ( )