13 Best celebrity memoirs ranked - and Prince Harry's Spare doesn't make the list
Elton John bared all in his 2019 memoir.
It is hard to keep track of how many celebrities have written a memoir. After years or even decades in the spotlight, many of the world's most famous faces decide it's time to put pen to paper, offering fans a deeper insight into their extraordinary lives. But not all memoirs can be as successful as others.
A new study, conducted by book specialists Awesome Books, analysed each title's Goodreads and Amazon ratings to determine which celebs' top-selling memoirs resonated the most with fans. The ratings were made into an average with 5 being the highest rating - but the book that claimed the top spot might shock you.
Released in 2024, actress Kelly Bishop reflected on her six decades in showbusiness with her memoir The Third Gilmore Girl. The book covers everything from her Tony Award-winning performance in Broadway's A Chorus Line, playing Jennifer Grey's mother in Dirty Dancing, to her iconic role as Emily Gilmore in the beloved series Gilmore Girls. Fans can expect witty insights and personal photographs in this "unapologetic" and "lively" memoir.
A New York Times bestseller, Down the Drain by Julia Fox dives into the American actress's tumultuous life and relentless drive to achieve her dreams. Described as a "masterpiece" by BBC Radio 1's Greg James, the book, released in 2023 reveals intimate details of her parents' volatile relationship, her time behind bars, struggles with drug abuse and her work as a dominatrix.
It was never going to be boring when an Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion decided to write a book. 2020's One Life showcases Megan Rapinoe's take on social justice, politics and life both on and off the pitch.
From kicking her first ball at the age of four to becoming a star on the US Women's National Team, the former professional footballer offers fans an intimate glimpse into her life. An advocate for LGBTQ rights, the former professional footballer opens up about navigating relationships as how she became a vocal advocate for social justice.
Despite being one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Andre Agassi didn't always love the game. Hitting shelves in 2010, Open documents Andre's life from childhood, including his experiences with a violent father and being banished to a Florida tennis camp.
The memoir explores his life beyond turning professional at 16, including his brief romance with Barbra Streisand and his short-lived marriage to Brooke Shields.
Elton John has never shied away from speaking openly about his struggles, candidly discussing his battles with mental health and addiction. His 2019 autobiography leaves nothing unsaid, covering everything from his upbringing, battle with prostate cancer to his years in rehab.
Before he directed Wicked or Crazy Rich Asians, Jon M. Chu was a movie-obsessed American working in his parents restaurant. Published in 2024, the book delves into the renowned movie director's upbringing in a Taiwanese immigrant family to his struggles with discovering what it means to belong.
Readers get a first-hand look at the highs and lows of Hollywood, providing a rare insight into Jon's extraordinary career.
A Sunday Times bestseller in 2024, Kathleen Hanna's explosive memoir takes readers on her journey through her tumultuous childhood to her college years in Washington. The book leads into the singer's years on tour an endless fight for her band.
Kathleen, lead singer of the feminist punk band Bikini Kill, opens up about life in a girl band, her battle with Lyme disease, and some of the most challenging and darkest moments of her life.
Liz Phair's memoir explores the pivotal moments in her life that haunt her through 17 personal essays. The two-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter also courageously exposes inappropriate behavior in the music industry and the harrowing sexual assaults she survived.
She calls the book "a look at how we really become who we are," through "small indignities".
Born in South Africa during the era of legally enforced racial segregation, Trevor Noah's very existence as a mixed-race child was considered a crime under the Immorality Act.
A large part of Trevor's memoir focuses on his mother Patricia, a woman determined to save her son from a life of violence and abuse. Despite the heartbreaking nature of the book, Noah's comedic voice can be heard, making this a must-read.
The widely acclaimed memoir by Michelle Obama was released in 2018. It traces her journey from a childhood on Chicago's South Side to her years in the White House, where she made history as the nation's first African American First Lady
Readers gain a deeper insight into her meeting and eventual marriage to Barack Obama, and how she navigated her husband's political career with raising their two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
Exploring his life as one of the world's biggest rock stars, Dave Grohl takes readers on a journey from his childhood in suburban Virginia, marked by the physical and emotional absence of his father, James.
He recounts his rise to fame with Nirvana and the devastating suicide of his bandmate Kurt Cobain, offering readers a deeply emotional and candid memoir.
Jennette McCurdy's 2022 autobiography explores the harrowing abuse she endured at the hands of her mother and the adversities of her early acting career.
The book also offers readers a glimpse into her struggles as a former child actor, including battles with eating disorders and addiction. It quickly soared up bestseller lists and earned praise not just for its honesty, but also for the strength of its writing.
In at number is Finding Me by American actress Viola Davis. The deeply personal memoir documents Viola's start in life in a crumbling apartment in Rhode Island to "finding my purpose but also my voice in a world that didn't always see me".
The book follows Viola's journey to the stage in New York, to her successful career, but also the challenges she's faced in Hollywood. "It's clear from the first page that Davis is going to serve a more intimate, unpolished account than is typical of the average (often ghost-written) celebrity memoir," says USA Today.