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One other banner yr on the Superstar Memoir Manufacturing facility — a seemingly bottomless font of origin tales, trauma dumps and D-list confessions. Fortunately, a cottage business of podcast sages has sprung as much as parse the chaos for us. Chelsea Devantez of “Glamorous Trash,” Steven Phillips-Horst and Lily Marotta of “Superstar Ebook Membership” and Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton of “Good Noticings” have made it their job-slash-public service to sift by means of the yr’s fame diaries so we don’t must crack a single backbone except it’s really value it. After all, “greatest” is subjective, given how porous the borders of each “movie star” and “memoir” have change into.
Our picks for this yr’s greatest in arts and leisure.
Celebrities and public figures launched 290 new memoirs in 2025, down practically 160 from 2023’s Peak Celeb Memoir period, in accordance with Goodreads. Brooke Shields, Anthony Hopkins and Charlie Sheen delivered the yr’s marquee memoirs, however the true scene-stealers got here from the sidelines: Kevin Federline, Cameron Crowe, Hilaria Baldwin, Cheryl Hines (plus Olivia Nuzzi’s bridge-burner sliding in slightly below the wire).
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Subsequent yr guarantees memoirs from Liza Minnelli and Lena Dunham to Gavin Newsom and Draymond Inexperienced. Till then, these are the books our skilled podcasting mind belief insists you add to your ebook stack.
“I Remorse Nearly The whole lot: A Memoir”
By Keith McNally
Gallery Books: 320 pages, $30
“Keith McNally is a misanthrope within the vein of Anthony Bourdain, though maybe much less keen on meals (ironic as he’s a restaurateur). He spends his wonderful memoir having affairs with the well-known playwright Alan Bennett and an unnamed, big-in-the-’90s TV actress, hitchhiking to Afghanistan, and usually eager for the great previous days. And guess what? They had been good! A neo-traditionalist and pied piper for the New York downtown set, Keith and his 9 lives most not too long ago turned to Instagram after a stroke impaired his skill to talk. There may be an fascinating metaphor right here for our world immediately: social media because the outlet for individuals who have suffered mind injury. Fortunate for us, McNally stays sharp on the web page, and he’ll make you want extra Brits (Tina Brown and Anna Wintour amongst them) would come over and present us the way it’s performed.” — Steven Phillips-Horst
Episode: “Keith McNally,” Pt. 1
“I Remorse Nearly The whole lot: A Memoir” by Keith McNally.
(Gallery Books)
“Matriarch: A Memoir”
By Tina Knowles
One World: 432 pages, $35
“Have you ever ever questioned how on earth Beyoncé and Solange Knowles discovered their option to changing into essentially the most proficient individuals on planet Earth? It’s as a result of they had been raised and styled by Tina Knowles, whose unflinching memoir takes us from Texas to the highest of the world. Her story is not only a wealthy tapestry of each her private successes and failures however an attractive exploration of her household’s story of being Black in America. She’s each an entrepreneurial and artistic pressure, and that is an inside take a look at how her enduring pursuit of inventive achievement helped set up the careers of immediately’s most beloved artists.” — Claire Parker
Episode: “Tina Knowles Is the Matriarch”
“Matriarch” by Tina Knowles
“Say The whole lot: A Memoir”
By Ione Skye
Gallery Books: 304 pages, $30
“The perfect of the yr, full of jaw-dropping moments that discover Ione’s career-turning function in ‘Say Something,’ her relationship with Crimson Sizzling Chili Peppers’ Anthony Kiedis, her marriage to Beastie Boys’ Adam Horovitz and why her story seems like a Forrest Gump-style journey by means of a ’90s Hollywood fever-dream. It’s all the things you need in a celeb memoir: wild dishy reveals, stunning vulnerability and a riveting story of Hollywood and love that can make you’re feeling such as you’re re-living a chunk of the ‘90s.” — Chelsea Devantez
Episode: “Ione Skye’s Memoir Say The whole lot (With Chelsea Davison)”
“Say The whole lot” by Ione Skye.
(Gallery Books)
“All of the Strategy to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation”
By Elizabeth Gilbert
Riverhead Books: 400 pages, $35
“Some individuals have been ready for a brand new Rihanna album, and a few individuals have been ready for famous-white-woman-guru Liz Gilbert’s grief memoir about her dangerous AF lesbian lover Rayya Elias, who handed away in 2018. Should you’re into studying about love habit, velocity balls, shopping for costly bike boots, reenacting a lesbian demise ceremony and most cancers — this one’s for you.” — Lily Marotta
Episode: “Elizabeth ‘Banana Republic’ Gilbert”
“All of the Strategy to the River” by Elizabeth Gilbert.
(Riverhead)
“Discovering My Approach: A Memoir”
By Malala Yousafzai
Atria Books: 320 pages, $30
“One way or the other, one other girl within the political sphere whose identify begins with ‘M’ has written a ebook this yr with ‘Discovering’ and ‘Approach’ within the title. 2025 was apparently the yr compasses had been distributed en masse to well-known Democratic females. Malala’s brisk learn is most notable for revealing how the primary and solely time Malala ripped a bong, it gave her delayed PTSD (from getting shot within the head by the Taliban years earlier). The remainder of the ebook is stuffed with wild tales of her youthful indiscretions, like staying up till 1 a.m. chatting at an inexpensive quantity along with her roommates or lacking exams at Oxford to attend the G7 Summit.” —S.P.H.
Episode: “Malala ‘B-Checklist Nation’ Yousafzai”
“Discovering My Approach: A Memoir” by Malala Yousafzai
(Atria)
“Actress of a Sure Age: My Twenty-12 months Path to In a single day Success”
By Jeff Hiller
Simon & Schuster: 272 pages, $29
“Should you liked Jeff Hiller in his Emmy-winning function in ‘Any person Someplace,’ this memoir is precisely what you hoped it will be. Hilarious, insightful, grounded however at all times stuffed with coronary heart. These tales are the right companion for an attractive lengthy weekend spent reflecting and having fun with.” —C.P.
“A fellow celeb memoir devotee, Hiller knew precisely what makes a great memoir and delivered all of the hits in his personal ebook, together with the precise ages at which different celebrities discovered their success. His memoir is even higher figuring out he went on to win an Emmy post-publication.” — C.D.
Episode: “10 Should-Know Moments in Superstar Memoirs (With Jeff Hiller)”
“Actress of a Sure Age: My Twenty-12 months Path to In a single day Success” by Jeff Hiller.
(Simon & Schuster)
“I Am Maria: My Reflections and Poems on Heartbreak, Therapeutic, and Discovering Your Approach Dwelling”
By Maria Shriver
The Open Subject: 352 pages, $30
“Maria Shriver and poetry — two ideas stored aside far too lengthy, now lastly united for the low value of $29.95. Shriver processes the trauma of rising up as one of many extra random Kennedys, marrying Arnold Schwarzenegger, changing into the primary girl of California, then getting betrayed by the Governator after he not solely porks their housekeeper however fathered a toddler along with her — all by means of some terse, fairly facile poems. An all-American tall story. Take heed to the audiobook, then recite your favourite passages aloud to work in your mid-Atlantic accent.” —S.P.H.
Episode: “Maria ‘Which Kennedy Are You’ Shriver”
“I Am Maria: My Reflections and Poems on Heartbreak, Therapeutic, and Discovering Your Approach Dwelling” by Maria Shriver.
(The Open Subject)
“Uptown Lady: A Memoir”
By Christie Brinkley
Harper Affect: 416 pages, $34
“This has all the things you need in a memoir and much more stuff you don’t — which is what made it so stunning and surprisingly satisfying! Supermodel Christie Brinkley unpacks her supermodel profession, 4 marriages and plenty of, many wild romances that may put Elizabeth Taylor to disgrace. We soar on a ship with Billy Joel, run into Whitney Houston, Elle MacPherson and Muhammad Ali, plus expertise magical sand that saves her from a traumatic helicopter crash. Bonus: What it’s prefer to get negged by Sylvester Stallone’s brother.” — C.D.
Episode: “Christie Brinkley’s Memoir Uptown Lady (With Nicole Boyd)”
“Uptown Lady: A Memoir” by Christie Brinkley.
(Harper Affect)
“Semi-Nicely Adjusted: Regardless of Actually The whole lot”
By Alyson Stoner
St. Martin’s Press: 320 pages, $30
“Alyson Stoner takes a compassionate take a look at her upbringing and the ways in which Hollywood fails its younger stars on this brutally trustworthy memoir about baby stardom. From success as a dancer and a Disney child and the shortage of cash and assist that comes with that type of fame to the reality about what occurs to the household of a kid star, Alyson legit tells all on this heartbreakingly frank exploration of rising up within the highlight and the endless pursuit of the second the place it should have all been value it.” — C.P.
Episode: “Alyson Stoner Is Semi-Nicely-Adjusted”
“Semi-Nicely-Adjusted: Regardless of Actually The whole lot: A Memoir” by Alyson Stoner.
(St. Martin’s Press)
Honorable point out: “West Finish Lady” by Lily Allen
“I merely should say that Lily Allen’s newest album is definitely a breakup memoir set to music, and should you hear from begin to end, it’s the very best tell-all of the yr! ‘West Finish Lady’ is an energetic listening expertise the place one should sift by means of the numerous contradictions, confessions and piping scorching, unfiltered tea. Come for the haunting bangers about her open marriage to ‘Stranger Issues’ star David Harbour and their Architectural Digest video; keep for Dallas Main and Madeline.” — C.D.
Episode: “Lily Allen’s Memoir and West Finish Lady Breakdown”
Rudi, an L.A. native, is a contract artwork and tradition author. She’s at the moment at work on her debut novel a couple of stuttering scholar journalist.
