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ballousclues's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
"If you're asking why I went along with it, there's one very good reason. I did it for my kids. Because I played by the rules, I was reunited with my boys."
Gosh, I don't even know where to start with this review. It was such a roller coaster of emotions. The story was interesting, but the writing was weak and there were certain parts I felt could have been flushed out more. Overall, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars.
In The Woman in Me, Britney Spears shares snippets of what her life was like growing up in the south, getting on The Mickey Mouse Club, rising to fame in her teens, crashing out in her 20s, and being controlled for almost 14 years. You can definitely notice when it shifts from a ghost writer to Spears' voice. It almost felt like I was reading her diary. Makes me wonder what didn't make the cut in the editing process and how much control people had over what she could publish.
The book definitely sent me down a rabbit hole of her social media over the years and how she has slowly been able to become a version of herself she controls. It's so sad to hear that her family treated her like a cash cow and never let her be her own person. It seems like she had so much talent to share with the world and her POS parents wanted to capitalize on it. This story gives me less faith in our legal system taking appropriate action to support those who are unable to speak for themselves.
#FreeBritney
PS - it made me a little happy, in a weird way, to know that Jamie Lynn has always been obnoxious. Sucks she didn't do more to support her sister.
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Gosh, I don't even know where to start with this review. It was such a roller coaster of emotions. The story was interesting, but the writing was weak and there were certain parts I felt could have been flushed out more. Overall, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars.
In The Woman in Me, Britney Spears shares snippets of what her life was like growing up in the south, getting on The Mickey Mouse Club, rising to fame in her teens, crashing out in her 20s, and being controlled for almost 14 years. You can definitely notice when it shifts from a ghost writer to Spears' voice. It almost felt like I was reading her diary. Makes me wonder what didn't make the cut in the editing process and how much control people had over what she could publish.
The book definitely sent me down a rabbit hole of her social media over the years and how she has slowly been able to become a version of herself she controls. It's so sad to hear that her family treated her like a cash cow and never let her be her own person. It seems like she had so much talent to share with the world and her POS parents wanted to capitalize on it. This story gives me less faith in our legal system taking appropriate action to support those who are unable to speak for themselves.
#FreeBritney
PS - it made me a little happy, in a weird way, to know that Jamie Lynn has always been obnoxious. Sucks she didn't do more to support her sister.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = This book was phenomenal and very difficult to put down. The characters were lovable, the plot was great, and the writing was strong. Definitely have a book hangover. I know this will be a story I think about for a long time. Highly recommend to everyone!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ = This book was very good but I was able to put it down for the night. The characters were good, the plot was fine, and the writing was good. I’ll recommend this book to others. There were definitely moments from the book I really liked, maybe even loved, and there were some parts that may have some room for improvement. I definitely recommend giving this book a try!
⭐️⭐️⭐️ = This book was fine. The characters, plot, and writing were all okay, but nothing extraordinary. I may have had an issue with some pieces in the plot or the writing. I may recommend this book to some people but not everyone I run into. It was a good book - it just wasn’t a favorite of mine.
⭐️⭐️ = This book was okay but far from a favorite. There may have been some moments that I liked, but overall, I may have had a bigger issue with the characters, plot, or the writing. I don’t plan on recommending this book to most people, or anyone at all. Just wasn’t for me.
⭐️ = This book I actually disliked. Definitely wasn’t my cup of tea and there wasn’t anything I enjoyed about it. I actually had a tough time getting through this book and may have not even finished it. I may have had major issues with the character, plot, or the writing. I do not recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
booksbri's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Body shaming, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Abortion
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexism, Torture, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
jewelzbooks44's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
This was hard to rate. But I give it 4.75 stars. Since she wrote this, I think in my opinion she should've read it and face it. She was strong enough to bring the book out. It would've been more raw and genuine. But all in all the narrator did a fabulous job! Plus I respect that Britney, did it this way though. I felt some similar things during a time in my life. I came out stronger too!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
lizzy_elaineee's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Death, Drug use, Infidelity, and Suicide
randirush's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Abortion
Moderate: Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
smacey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
5.00/5.00
Britney Spears is a living legend. We are so lucky she is still here and was willing to be so vulnerable with the public, who has historically treated her so wrong, and tell her story. I highly recommend to anyone and everyone with any interest in Britney, pop culture/music, mental health, feminism, or conservatorships taking the time to read this book. So many quotes have stuck with me since reading this memoir, and regardless of how well you think it was written or not, it does what it was meant to: tell the unabashed truth about what happened to Britney Spears and the poor treatment she received from the vast majority of people close to her as well as the public eye throughout her life, particularly at the height of her stardom and career, and give a glimpse into one of many unnecessary conservatorships used to strip people of their personal, professional, and financial freedoms, all from the point of view of Britney herself.
What an absolute icon.
Britney Spears is a living legend. We are so lucky she is still here and was willing to be so vulnerable with the public, who has historically treated her so wrong, and tell her story. I highly recommend to anyone and everyone with any interest in Britney, pop culture/music, mental health, feminism, or conservatorships taking the time to read this book. So many quotes have stuck with me since reading this memoir, and regardless of how well you think it was written or not, it does what it was meant to: tell the unabashed truth about what happened to Britney Spears and the poor treatment she received from the vast majority of people close to her as well as the public eye throughout her life, particularly at the height of her stardom and career, and give a glimpse into one of many unnecessary conservatorships used to strip people of their personal, professional, and financial freedoms, all from the point of view of Britney herself.
What an absolute icon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
lara_ayrolla's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
It was really fun to read and listen to Britney's entire discography. I highly recommend it in case you haven't heard all of her music yet.
I didn't know exactly what to expect from this book but I knew I was going to learn details about some gossip and I hoped I was going to understand who Britney really is and what she felt through different periods of her life. I expected to cry and feel bad for Britney, but I definitely did not expect to feel inspired and eager to turn around my own life.
I didn't expect to read about an incredibly kind and strong woman, and I didn't expect it to be exactly what I needed to read about at this moment of my life, but it was and I loved it.
Sadly, the experience wasn't perfect. The reading was a little bumpy because of the writing style. That is the only reason the book lost some points in my evaluation, not at all the content itself.
Pros:
I didn't know exactly what to expect from this book but I knew I was going to learn details about some gossip and I hoped I was going to understand who Britney really is and what she felt through different periods of her life. I expected to cry and feel bad for Britney, but I definitely did not expect to feel inspired and eager to turn around my own life.
I didn't expect to read about an incredibly kind and strong woman, and I didn't expect it to be exactly what I needed to read about at this moment of my life, but it was and I loved it.
Sadly, the experience wasn't perfect. The reading was a little bumpy because of the writing style. That is the only reason the book lost some points in my evaluation, not at all the content itself.
Pros:
- I loved how Britney used her experiences and how she reacted to them to exemplify how her brain worked at certain times in her life.
- Britney's kindness and strength are inspiring and awesome to read about. She seems like a great person.
- The way the book starts and ends referencing the same moment of her laying down on the rocks as a child was clever and satisfying, tying it all together.
Cons:
- The tone of the writing is a little distant and too straightforward. There aren't many details and it feels like an enumeration of everything she's lived.
- The connection between paragraphs and sometimes even sentences is not very cohesive. The subjects change way too quickly and out of the blue.
- A few iconic moments and pictures are mentioned but the images aren't included in the book. That would've made the reading experience much nicer, as I had to look up a lot of pictures.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use
zesha's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
5.0
C – I can’t really speak for the credibility of this book. It feels trustworthy to me, and that’s about all I can go off of. But because of that, this book leaves me deeply sad and angry for Britney. She was wronged in so many ways, most of all by her own family.
A – I feel this book is authentic. It brings what Britney felt, and probably contradicts her mom’s and sister’s books that they put out. I may try to find and read those sometime, just to see what they say. But only if I can find them through the library or somewhere free—I refuse to give money to either of them.
W – The writing felt really good to me, easy to read and it flowed well. It kind of reminded me of how I write, so perhaps that’s why I like it so much.
P – There was… a lot in this book. It hit me hard. I had only known bits and pieces from the media, and we all know how the media loves to contort things. But this does show that sometimes, you have to fight for yourself. It might mean waiting until the right moment, but your own freedom is important to your mental health.
I – I wanted to keep reading this book whenever I looked away from it, and often had to keep myself from going back to it because I knew I needed to sleep/do other things.
L – I mean, the conservatorship didn’t make a bit of sense, but it happened anyway, didn’t it? Ridiculous. I’m just glad she managed to get out of it. Thirteen years though…
E – Is “enjoy” the right word for this book? I learned a lot about Britney through it, but I’m not sure if I’d say I enjoyed learning those things. But I do feel like I understand her better now, so for that I’ll give her high marks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Sexual assault
mamasuereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
I listened to the audio for a fable read along. I really did not know much about Britney Spears life, other than what was in the news at the time. Her story is like a nightmare and I can only hope she finds a very good psychologist/therapist and a mentor to help Britney love and respect herself, first and foremost. It seems she has lived her life without being given any credit for her personal talent, strength, and kind heart. She's spent a lifetime giving to a toxic family and other toxic relationships, now it's time for her to love self first and respect the beautiful woman she is, inside and out. I'd also change my last name. Just the name alone holds negativity. I look forward to Britney creating an awesome new life with many milestones to come.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
weelasswithabook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
5.0
CW: alcoholism, DV, suicide, mentiom of child loss, mention of car accident, CSA, mention of PPH, cheating, abortion, PPD, depression, anxiety, child removal by other parent, familial abuse, financial abuse, body shaming, diet control, mental health crisis, forced institutionalisation, gaslighting, manipulation, miscarriage
🌟 Memoir
God this was a difficult read. Right from the get-go it's just a heartbreaking perspective on Britney's life. Right from the beginning of her life she was exposed to suicide, death, and abuse. Just the content warning list above should give you an idea of just how sad this poor woman's life has been.
Britney Spears was a staple of the majority of us elder Millennials childhoods and there's a sense of guilt there (at least how I feel) that we all just took her persona at face value and assumed her life was glitter and dreams. Obviously we weren't to know what was going on behind the curtain, but I don't think I'll ever hear certain songs of hers the same after reading this, now I see where some of the lyrics may have stemmed from.
From a technical aspect, I've seen reviews complaining about the actual writing of the book, and I do agree it felt very juvenile, HOWEVER, this woman was basically trapped as a late teen for the majority of her life and had her voice stifled. It's only very recently that she's had her own life back and I don't think we should be too hard on her for the technicality of her writing. I think it's pretty unfair.
🌟 Memoir
God this was a difficult read. Right from the get-go it's just a heartbreaking perspective on Britney's life. Right from the beginning of her life she was exposed to suicide, death, and abuse. Just the content warning list above should give you an idea of just how sad this poor woman's life has been.
Britney Spears was a staple of the majority of us elder Millennials childhoods and there's a sense of guilt there (at least how I feel) that we all just took her persona at face value and assumed her life was glitter and dreams. Obviously we weren't to know what was going on behind the curtain, but I don't think I'll ever hear certain songs of hers the same after reading this, now I see where some of the lyrics may have stemmed from.
From a technical aspect, I've seen reviews complaining about the actual writing of the book, and I do agree it felt very juvenile, HOWEVER, this woman was basically trapped as a late teen for the majority of her life and had her voice stifled. It's only very recently that she's had her own life back and I don't think we should be too hard on her for the technicality of her writing. I think it's pretty unfair.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Abortion, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic