Open Book

Summary:

Jessica tells of growing up in 1980s Texas where she was sexually abused by the daughter of a family friend, and of unsuccessfully auditioning for the Mickey Mouse Club at age 13 with Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling before going on to sign a record deal with Columbia and marrying 98 Degrees member Nick Lachey.

Along the way, she details the struggles in her life, such as the pressure to support her family as a teenager, divorcing Lachey, enduring what she describes as an emotionally abusive relationship with musician John Mayer, being body-shamed in an overly appearance-centered industry, and going through bouts of heavy drinking. But Simpson ends on a positive note, discussing her billion-dollar apparel line and marriage with professional football star Eric Johnson, with whom she has three children. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

This was a book suggested to me by my friend Kaylin and I’m so glad she did because the book was so much more than I expected.  I was never a big Simpson fan and, when pressed, could probably only name one song off the top of my head.  But I have noticed her inclusivity in clothes and that she has been successful as a businesswoman so I was intrigued. 

This biography was incredibly up front with major struggles in her life, which is both courageous and inspiring to those who need help making a major life change.  Is it going to change your life? No, certainly not.  Are you going to learn something?  Maybe, but probably not.  But you will feel like you’ve read a chat with an old friend that you forgot you had.  And one thing that’s for sure, is that I have a lot more respect for her after reading the book!  

Warning: Contains struggles with substance abuse and sexual abuse.

Rating: 4 stars!

Who should read it? Jessica Simpson fan or any child of the 90’s.