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emathomas17's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Essential reading for any Britney Spears fan. If not, a look into the dark side of celebrity in the 90's and 2000's. We've heard so much about Britney through headlines. It is an honor to hear it from her point life view.
A few scandalous stories were released right when the book did. For example, she terminated a pregnancy at Justin Timberlake's request. But what I didn't realize was that they did this without any medical supervision, for privacy. That is terrifying.
It was also horrific to hear just how limiting Britney's conservatorship was. And how her family and handlers doubled down whenever she regained some confidence and sense if self.
Through it all, Britney admits that she was messed up in many ways, but is healing and moving on.
A few scandalous stories were released right when the book did. For example, she terminated a pregnancy at Justin Timberlake's request. But what I didn't realize was that they did this without any medical supervision, for privacy. That is terrifying.
It was also horrific to hear just how limiting Britney's conservatorship was. And how her family and handlers doubled down whenever she regained some confidence and sense if self.
Through it all, Britney admits that she was messed up in many ways, but is healing and moving on.
lynnski723's review against another edition
3.0
Although I like some of her songs, I wouldn’t call myself a fan but was very curious to hear what Britney had to say. Obviously, the book is just one sided, but I believe the majority of what she is saying and believe she is entitled to every feeling she has. I honestly think if she had been properly diagnosed and treated for post-partum once her 2nd son was born, her life would have been completely different. Instead, her family took advantage of her, didn’t get her to medical/mental assistance she needed, and mis-treated her in various ways. Unfortunately, in too many cases the abused go back to the abusers and she’ll get wrapped up in her family’s unhealthy ways again. I hope not though. No one deserves to be controlled in the ways she was.
Side note – I’m very glad Michelle Williams narrated it. Britney read the intro and I could not have listened to 6 hours of her non-singing voice.
ohyouread's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a gut wrenching truth of what she went through. Knowing the amount of lawsuits she was sent by different celebrities (not the exact number, but it was a lot) and how many pages the book was supposed to be (342), I want those missing chapters. I want all of the truth, but the NDA’s haven’t expired yet… so I wait with baited breath.
This felt super cathartic to read, so I can’t even imagine how incredible it must feel to have been able to write it and get it off of her chest.
She is an icon and what she’s had to endure because of mainstream media and television hosts is a complete travesty. What her family put her through is even worse. She was a young girl thrust into the limelight far too early and forced to perform like a monkey doing parlor tricks.
But the one nice thing to know is how incredible people like Madonna, Donatello Versace, and Paris Hilton were to her along the way.
This felt super cathartic to read, so I can’t even imagine how incredible it must feel to have been able to write it and get it off of her chest.
She is an icon and what she’s had to endure because of mainstream media and television hosts is a complete travesty. What her family put her through is even worse. She was a young girl thrust into the limelight far too early and forced to perform like a monkey doing parlor tricks.
But the one nice thing to know is how incredible people like Madonna, Donatello Versace, and Paris Hilton were to her along the way.
_literaryluna_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
somelittleinfamyreads's review against another edition
3.0
I'm so glad I got the chance to read this one.
As someone who saw her on tour during her conservatorship, I wish I knew then what I know now. I spent years talking about how lackluster it felt but knowing what she was going through I'm impressed at the show she managed to go out and put on despite - or sometimes in spite of - everything.
This reads a little flat, which is why I gave it the rating I did. But I also understand why. This wasn’t to deliver hard punches of emotion - this was to simply get the details her story out as quickly as she could once she had that autonomy back. There are emotional moments, sure, but overall this memoir serves to fill in the blanks we didn’t see in the public eye, and give insight into the why behind so many moving pieces that brought Britney to where she is today.
I came for information, and I got what I came for. I understand her plight a little bit better, as well as the system it was allowed to happen under. A flawed system for sure, but one that the average person has little to no knowledge or experience with, and now I have a lot more than when I started.
It was horrible to hear of what was taken from her, and how she felt, during those long years under the thumb of her father, but I’m glad she can finally tell people about it without her words and motivations being censored.
I hope she’s enjoying the life she has back now to her fullest extent.
As someone who saw her on tour during her conservatorship, I wish I knew then what I know now. I spent years talking about how lackluster it felt but knowing what she was going through I'm impressed at the show she managed to go out and put on despite - or sometimes in spite of - everything.
This reads a little flat, which is why I gave it the rating I did. But I also understand why. This wasn’t to deliver hard punches of emotion - this was to simply get the details her story out as quickly as she could once she had that autonomy back. There are emotional moments, sure, but overall this memoir serves to fill in the blanks we didn’t see in the public eye, and give insight into the why behind so many moving pieces that brought Britney to where she is today.
I came for information, and I got what I came for. I understand her plight a little bit better, as well as the system it was allowed to happen under. A flawed system for sure, but one that the average person has little to no knowledge or experience with, and now I have a lot more than when I started.
It was horrible to hear of what was taken from her, and how she felt, during those long years under the thumb of her father, but I’m glad she can finally tell people about it without her words and motivations being censored.
I hope she’s enjoying the life she has back now to her fullest extent.
_pauline's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Abortion
Minor: Body shaming, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief