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.
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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? ( )

Not something I'd usually read, but someone highly recommended it. This book is a show of strength, faith, love, and kindness. ( )