People love to say "curiosity killed the cat" without mentioning that "satisfaction brought it back" — hence my love for celebrity books and memoirs. Apart from their superstar status, celebs are still humans who have other interests and lives outside of what's made them famous. Celebs are oftentimes placed on a pedestal, so reading their memoirs, novels, and otherwise helps humanize them. If you want a better picture of your fave celebs, here are the 36 best celebrity memoirs and books you can add to your bookshelves today.
Celebrity Memoirs
Beyonce/Instagram
Beyonce's mom, Ms. Tina Knowles, is throwing her hat in the book ring with her upcoming memoir Matriarch and I don't know what to do with myself! She's made it more than clear that she's not only her daughters' biggest supporters, but Ms. Knowles has also proven she's just as business savvy as they are. This makes the term, "They get it from their mama" super appropriate. But, who is Ms. Celestine Knowles beyond that?
Matriarch is her way of introducing readers to the childhood experiences, grief, love, heartbreak and so much more that have shaped her into the woman she is today.
The Woman in Me peels back all of the mysterious layers of Britney Spears but this time, her recollections are in her voice. She introduces us to her rocky childhood, acquiring fame and so much more in this moving memoir. It's Britney like we've never read about her before.
Willby Will Smith
Instead of letting the media continue speculating about his life, Will Smith also penned a moving memoir. From his days growing up in a sometimes volatile household to securing the title of one of the biggest superstars, Smith points out the cracks in his foundation.
Worthyby Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith is on a mission to reclaim her narrative with Worthy. Her recollection of her upbringing and various experiences leading up to being in the spotlight are eloquently penned in a way only she's capable of.
When an event prompts her parents to unearth a secret they never intended to tell her, Kerry Washington begins recounting her life from childhood trauma to discovering the acting world. Throughout the book, Washington takes readers on a journey that helps her answer a question she's always asked herself — will she get the answers?
Gabrielle Union's prolific retelling of her life's stories are both hilarious, agonizing and heartfelt at the same time. Each page feels like you're sitting across from an old friend, drinking wine and catching up on life. Throughout We're Going to Need More Wine, Union introduces us to moments she's doubted herself, experienced sexual assault, and even talks about her first marriage. It's a must-read.
Pamela Anderson is finally getting her flowers — as she deserves — and it's beautiful to witness. Instead of letting everyone else tell her story in order to fit their narrative, she dives into who she really is in Love, Pamela. She also weaves in poetry she's written
I grew up watching Live With Regis and Kelly so I was excited to dive into Kelly Ripa's Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories. She takes her notable on-air personality and pours it into each page whether she's recounting motherhood or things she's experienced in her career.
If you grew up saying, "That's hot," every five minutes, then you were probably bit by the Paris bug. Made famous by her rich girl persona, she was able to market herself and carve a lane apart from the Hilton name. But her book Paris: The Memoir paints a different picture than the public came to know. In her own words, she describes who she truly is, the struggles she's faced and the beautiful life she is creating for her family now.
Reading Viola Davis' Finding Me tore my soul open and lovingly put it back together again. It's a memoir that details her traumatic childhood and the things she's had to face in Hollywood. At the same time, tales of love and resilience are weaved throughout Finding Me that readers will be able to see that she did in fact find herself.
Actress Selma Blair takes readers behind the scenes as she remembers her upbringing that was shaped by being labeled a mean baby. She pulls back the layers of herself in Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up and relates them to the woman she is today.
At first glance, Jennette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died immediately catches your eye and makes you exasperatedly ask "What?" But once you begin reading about McCurdy's fraught and toxic relationship with her mother, you realize the title is just one complicated peek at everything she's endured.
Anna Kendrick's impeccable timing in movies is all attributed to who she is off-screen. In Scrappy Little Nobody, she details going to school while still pursuing an acting career and various awkward moments she's had. It's a fun read when you're looking for a boost of dopamine and a little second-hand embarrassment.
Watching Sister, Sister was like a rite of passage for me, so it makes sense that reading a book by one of the Mowry twins brought a smile to my face.You Should Sit Down For This: A Memoir About Life, Wine, and Cookies is a mix of memories, her favorite snacks, and nuggets of wisdom written by Tamera Mowry-Housley.
Calling all The Office fans! Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey wrote a book that details the beautiful friendship they built as a result of this classic TV series. They detail key moments from the set of The Office and all the inner workings of mom life in The Office BFFS: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There.
Bruce Springsteen is a *legend* in the music industry with a more than a memorable career. In Born to Run, he gives a readers a peek into his life leading up to the musician he became and everything that's shaped his life thus far, leaning into his innate storytelling ability and painting a poetic picture of life on the road to fame.
Tina Fey's longstanding comedic career has taken her from SNL all the way to the big screen but it's all a part of the dream she had as a little girl. Bossypants takes a look at Fey's life as she recalls various moments from her past and present.
Before her own long stint on SNL, Amy Poehler appeared on Comedy Central and has ultimately created a career that's filled with her memorable comedic timing and goofy persona. She brings that same energy to Yes Please, and it'll remind readers why they fell in love with her in the first place.
The late and ever-lovely Naya Rivera may have captured hearts during her time on Glee, and her book Sorry Not Sorry: Dreams, Mistakes, and Growing Up is sure to keep them. It details all the things she's learn to apologize for, and what she chose to be unapologetic about.
Singer-turned-entrepreneur Jessica Simpson is known for hits like "With You" and "I Belong To Me" but she's also an author. Written in 2020, Open Book cracks open the parts of Simpson's life she's kept hidden from view.
Confession — I immediately fell in love with Matthew McConaughey's southern drawl when I watched The Wedding Planner in 2001. Ever since the first moment he appeared onscreen, my young mind added him to my list of favorite actors. Reading Greenlights was a ride I wasn't ready to get off because it dared to expose every crevice of McConaughey's life in a way he's learned to make peace with. It reads like a masterclass in accepting every moment of life and I can't recommend it enough!
Despite a stellar performance in Juno, Elliot Page couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't living in his full truth — and then it happened. After a memorable moment of PDA, Elliot knew it was time for him to start making changes. Pageboy: A Memoir peels back all of the layers that covered Elliot — some doused with harm — to unveil who he really is.
Stanley Tucci's incredible career as an actor allowed us to learn more about his equally impressive chef skills. After releasing The Tucci Cookbook and The Tucci Table: Cooking With Family and Friends, Stanley Tucci shared his memoir Taste: My Life Through Food with fans in 2021. It details his Italian-American background — the origin of his love for food — and the beautiful ways his life has revolved around cooking ever since.
Simply put, Barbara Streisand is a living legend. Her career is as expansive as it impressive, and we love that. For the first time, she's telling her own story in My Name Is Barbara. From the streets of Brooklyn, NY to the big stage, Barbara's life is riddled with highs and lows that have shaped who she is today.
Dolly Parton's unforgettable style is well-known and has transcended generations. In Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, she dives into when she fell in love with fashion and how she's made sure it's evident throughout her career.
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop (Available September 17, 2024)
From her role in Dirty Dancing to playing the memorable grandmother in Gilmore Girls, Kelly Bishop's career has been full of highlights and she's ready to talk about it in her upcoming memoir The Third Gilmore Girl. Readers will learn more about the experiences that have shaped her — from marriage to career choices — and the way she chooses to move through life with optimism in sight.
Celebrity Cookbooks
Reese Witherspoon is the kind of actress (and person) I wanna sit down and reminisce on growing up in the south with. Since we can't have a face-to-face conversation, reading Whiskey in a Teacup is the next best thing. She talks about everything from having a book club to making the best southern biscuits ever.
Known as the internet's vegan auntie, Tabitha Brown is the epitome of joy and making vegan food look absolutely delicious. For all the people who wish they could taste the recipes she shares with us on Instagram, Cooking from the Spirit: Easy, Delicious, and Joyful Plant-Based Inspirations is a great alternative.
Hollywood's darling Drew Barrymore brings readers into her home and kitchen where she shares tasty recipes, photos and more in Rebel Homemaker: Food, Family, Life.
Chrissy Teigen has proven she's more than R&B singer John Legend's wife with her modeling career and larger-than-life internet presence, but she's also a *skilled* cook. With Cravings: All Together, Teigen shares her favorite comfort food recipes that she turns to time and time again.
I personally love this cookbook written by Tia Mowry because she shares how learning about the root of her painful period cramps — caused by her struggle with endometriosis — led her to start making healthier food choices. It's filled with recipes that helped me transform my own cycles and create yummy meals that I still rely on today.
Amazon
After releasing her heartfelt memoir, Pamela Anderson's ready to share her yummy recipes with the world! I Love You: Recipes from the Heart will be a real treat because she's diving into what can be best described as comfort meals. People shared a portion of her press release that talks about why this cookbook means everything to her. She said, "This book has been a labor of love — from my heart, spilling out to the universe...with all my favorite things from my life of food and whimsy...inspired by my travels but mostly from the island I grew up on, a rainforest that deserves all the glory."
Our mouths are already watering!
Celebrity Children's Books
Jamie Lee Curtis has graced the big screen for decades, but she's since added celebrated children's author to her resume. Big Words for Little People helps young kids embrace bigger words even when they look intimidating.
Instead of writing another memoir or cookbook, Reese Witherspoon penned a tale about a little girl who has big energy with a personality to match. Perhaps the sweetest thing about Busy Betty is that our titular character is being celebrated for these things, even while learning to relate to the world around her.
This children's book is all about Maya and Natalia Rose's adventures being surrounded by love and music. It's a beautiful depiction of the song by rock band Guns N' Roses that your little ones will request nightly.
Julie Andrews and her talented daughter Emma Walton Hamilton share a love of helping young children appreciate the beauty of music. In The First Notes: The Story of DO, RE, MI, they introduce readers to Italian monk Guido. He's the reason why the musical scale exists together although he was initially ridiculed for his discovery.
Sulweby Lupita Nyong'o
Lupita Nyong'o's Sulwe is an amazing children's book about accepting the beauty of who we are instead of longing to look or be like others. It's a great addition to your little one's library as you work on affirming them.
Channing Tatum penned this hilarious and sweet tale of The One and Only Sparkella to celebrate the relationship a dad has with his young daughter. When Ella is discouraged because of her classmates' response to her colorful personality and style, her dad helps her embrace who she is so she's able to walk into school as the sparkly gem she is!
Which celebrity books and memoirs are you going to read this weekend? Let us know in the comments!
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Lead images via Amazon.
This post has been updated.
