Looking for a good book that’s interesting and about a famous singer and actress? Jessica Simpson’s memoir, Open Book offers readers a rare look into her life starting as a child, going through her career, relationships, and beyond. It’s a revealing and inspiring read.
I grew up listening to Jessica Simpson’s music and have always loved it. I love that she was purer than the other singers that were becoming popular around the same time she was.
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Open Book
Jessica Simpson’s Open Book is a tell-all account of what she’s been through from her childhood, early career, first marriage, up through her second (and forever) marriage, and the birth of her three children. She is open about the fact that she abused alcohol and no longer uses it to numb the pain.
She speaks of difficult relationships that were on again off again, why she and Nick ended their marriage, and the struggles she’s gone through being compared to other music stars when she first made it big. She not only speaks of these things but also gives hope and things to think about to the rest of us who go through similar body shame, feeling like we’re not enough, feeling like things won’t get better, etc. She is a true testament that life is worth living and worth improving upon.
As a bonus, if you listen to her audiobook, you get to hear 25 minutes of songs that relate to this book at the end of the book. They are amazing to listen to and a different style than she had 20 years ago. Her style has grown as she has grown, which is really cool.
With its publication, she declared that there were no more secrets.
My Review as posted on Goodreads
In the past 15 years, I hadn’t followed her story as much as I was growing up as well and busy. I listened to this as an audiobook and it was great to hear her tell her story, in her own words, and in her own voice. I could feel her pain through the way in which she delivered her story. Her story helps me feel better about the bad choices I made when I was a young adult as well, whether it be the relationships I was in or how I chose to numb the pain, knowing that even someone as amazing as her went through all that stuff too makes me feel more normal, in a sense. It helps me further my work of putting the past in the past. I’m sorry to hear that she’s been through so much but so incredibly glad that she found her wonderful husband, and has three wonderful children. I too have found a wonderful husband, have three children and have been sober for almost 10 years. It’s great to hear of other people, especially celebrities, being open about their struggles with alcohol and coming out on the other side.
Bonus: Take the Lead: An Essay
After listening to Open Book I also listened to Jessica Simpson’s Take the Lead: An Essay that she wrote and recorded in April, 2021. This was written after the aforementioned Open Book memoir and she mentions her book in the essay. In this essay, she reflects on writing Open Book, as well as how to take the lead in our own lives as she has taken the lead in her life. She talks about writing right when she wakes up and gives herself time to explore pain and truth in her writing. She confronts one of her biggest fears early in the essay and is able to overcome the fear, which is neat to hear about as she processes through it.
This is an inspirational read, or listen, to about how we can take the lead in our own lives and leave trauma behind.
I was able to view the Kindle edition and listen to her read for free through my Amazon Prime Membership.
As a mom of identical twins and a son two years older, I have gained invaluable experience in the realm, and chaos, of parenting. With a Master's Degree and Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology, I spent years as a school psychologist, helping children navigate through their educational and emotional challenges. Now as a stay at home mom and professional blogger, I combine my areas of expertise to help you in your parenting journey.