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While we love a novel, there's nothing quite like getting stuck into a candid celebrity memoir that reveals the real person behind the persona. From tragic childhood stories to turbulent relationships and their journeys to success, they're sometimes funny, often relatable, and almost always inspire us in some way.
Whether you're interested in the lives of royals like Prince Harry, US celebrities like Britney Spears and Matthew Perry, or British TV stars like Holly Willoughby, we've found something for everyone.
Scroll on for 14 of the best celebrity memoirs that deserve a place on your bookshelf.
Britney‘s highly-anticipated memoir was released on 24 October, and she’s finally speaking in her own words about her heartbreaking personal struggles, from her relationships – most notably with Justin Timberlake – her exploitation by the media, and the conservatorship that ruled her life for 13 years.
Friends star Matthew Perry released his memoir last year, less than 12 months before he tragically died in October 2023. It was an instant New York Times bestseller thanks to his very candid account of his addictions, and revelations about what it was really like behind the scenes on one of the biggest TV shows of all time.
Released in January, Prince Harry’s debut book was already a bestseller on pre-orders alone. The candid memoir details his life including the death of his mother Princess Diana and meeting his now wife Meghan Markle. All proceeds from the book go to British charities.
Following 2022’s explosive Pam & Tommy mini-series, Pamela Anderson set the record straight in her own words with her first memoir. Alternating between storytelling and her own poetry, she reveals all from her childhood to her relationships and life in the Playboy Mansion.
We all know Paris Hilton as a 00s icon – LA’s most famous heiress and star of the reality show The Simple Life, but as we’ve since discovered, there’s so much more to Hollywood’s original It-girl. In her first memoir, Paris details what it was really like for her growing up, from being kidnapped to attend an ‘emotional growth’ boarding school and the abuse she suffered there, to how she grew her global empire.
If you’re looking for a truly inspirational read, try Michelle Obama‘s award-winning memoir, Becoming. Published in 2018 to critical acclaim, it’s a deeply personal account of her life growing up in Chicago, her university days and her time spent serving as First Lady of the United States.
Actress, singer-songwriter and host of the viral Red Table Talk, Jada Pinkett Smith‘s autobiography is as honest and vulnerable as you’d expect. She writes candidly about her childhood in Baltimore, turbulent teen years and unconventional relationship with Will Smith, never shying away from revealing her insecurities or past mistakes.
Reese Witherspoon pays homage to her southern heritage in this part memoir part lifestyle guide. It’s a collection of personal stories, beauty hacks and party hosting tips, with some of her grandmother Dorothea’s best recipes thrown in for good measure.
Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey released Greenlights as an honest account of the lessons he’s learnt in life. From his tough childhood in Texas to his pursuit of acting, through his old diaries he writes about his failures and successes and what he’s taken from them.
Trevor Noah’s bestselling memoir tells the story of his path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show. Born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother, which was at the time punishable by five years in prison, he was mostly kept hidden for the earliest years of his life. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s white rule, Trevor went on to fully embrace the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle to become the star he is today.
From rap star to A-list Hollywood actor, Will Smith has seen decades of success. Now, with the help of bestselling author Mark Manson, he’s written his memoir, which also offers wisdom on how to overcome life’s difficulties.
From growing up in India to winning the global beauty pageants that launched her acting career and becoming one of the most famous women in the world, Priyanka‘s memoir has a lot to pack in. It’s honest, funny and a real eye-opener.
Holly Willoughby’s autobiography book explores how to navigate emotionally challenging situations, from body image to burnout, and how to treat yourself with kindness. The TV Star said she’s “sharing her truths” and reveals what works for her when life gets tricky.
If you’re interested in celebrity culture and what goes on behind the scenes at a glossy magazine, you’ll love this memoir by former Vanity Fair editor-in-chief, Tina Brown. Based on her personal diaries, she shares everything that went down in New York and Hollywood in the 80s and it’s seriously juicy.
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