Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Woman in Me: Meine Geschichte by Britney Spears

381 reviews

cscharfway's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

As someone born in the 90s who grew up loving Britney, I found this memoir very eye-opening and emotional. It was very inspirational that someone could stay so strong and positive after experiencing such trauma in their life. I wouldn’t say this book is good writing- a lot of her thoughts are all over the place and disorganized and she repeats a lot of the same statements. Her plot descriptions are lacking and don’t hit as hard as they should when talking about such awful things. But I really admire her bravery and understand the need to tell her story. I hope it’s not the last we hear of Britney Spears. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Body shaming, Mental illness, and Alcohol

Minor: Infidelity and Abortion

kmk95's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

4.0

with like a serious check on the content warnings of the book (particularly depression, manipulative/controlling/toxic family dynamics, forced institutionalization, emotional abuse) — well worth the read. especially for those who have lived with her in the public eye. just a reminder that there's so much we don't know that goes on for people we think we know. a thoughtful reflection on her own life and also just bringing to light the horrors of our conservatorship and institutionalizing system. what a relief for this book to end the way it does. may we all find a way to bring joy back into our lives in the face of our past.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment

socialpsysteph's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

4.0

I have had this waiting on my TBR since it was released. I have been excited to finally hear Britney's side of her life's story, especially regarding Justin Timberlake and the conservatorship with her father. I found the book really interesting, heartbreaking, and yet, still hopeful. As many have noted, it doesn't go as deep into many of the issues as it could have, things are discussed kind of quickly and surface level, but I also totally understand that; even talking about these things at that superficial level must have been very hard for Britney. Overall, I enjoyed it and it's what I expected.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Abortion

Moderate: Drug abuse and Emotional abuse

chinomi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Pandemic/Epidemic

beebeewin's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

4.25

While I don't think this memoir itself was world changing it was super interesting to get insight to the many tabloid making moments of Britney's life. It helped to humanize her and show how mental health struggles can truly incapacitate someone. The revelations about her grandfather's institutionalization of two of his wives, the trauma of her father's childhood, and Britney's own childhood experiences were shocking. In addition, as someone with similar difficulties with family I could relate to Britney. Her book was written in such a way that I could easily understand how fame and the public eye could make healing from this trauma so much more difficult. Plus money and power has a funny way of corrupting those around us, like her family was, especially when poverty has haunted you for so long. I enjoyed Michelle William's reading of this memoir as she did a good job of really bring to life Brittany's writing. I think that overall this memoir wasn't the most eloquently written or world changing book, but I enjoyed myself and appreciated getting to hear about Britney's life from her own pen. I think it is a reminder to give grace to those in our life who are struggling, support them, and know when it is not our place to judge. I think additionally, we should always be critical of the narratives that paint people certain ways, and wonder who may benefit from this storytelling. As always Free Britney and fuck the patriarchy lol!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting

lisettemarie's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

veryill's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Medical trauma

bessadams's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Abortion

Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Pandemic/Epidemic

jourdanicus's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

Typically, I'm pretty selective about which celebrity memoirs I'm interested in. I was definitely interested in Britney's.

Britney was a central figure of girlhood for me, like most kids growing up in the 90s and aughts. I'm fascinated (and saddened) by her story. I really appreciate that she could tell it for herself finally (though, I'm assuming, with a ghost writer).

There was a lot I found relatable in this book, as someone who also grew up affected by generational trauma. I can only begin to imagine the mental toll that being a global celebrity at a time when the media was so incredibly hard on celebrities (especially girls and women) has taken on Britney. She might not even understand the full gravity of it yet...

Not to say the book lacked depth; there was definitely vulnerability there. But I think it could have been longer, maybe a little more detailed. I'd love to read more by her someday, if she has more to tell!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, and Alcohol

Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Miscarriage, and Car accident

viselik's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

4.0

This book really made me think about everything related to being a celebrity to the level that Britney is. It brings up some of the lesser spoken about (to my knowledge) parts of it all, like how aggressive paparazzi can be.

I personally didn't know much about her before I read this book, but I vaguely do remember seeing some of the #freeBritney stuff and hearing some things about her. But having now read this book it makes me quite curious about some of her music.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy