Jessica Simpson

“Open Book,” February 2020

What it covers: Jessica Simpson’s memoir was released right before quarantine to rave reviews. Critics praised her openness (I mean, it’s called “Open Book”) and her willingness to discuss the highs and lows of her life and career, including her and former husband Nick Lachey’s MTV breakout reality hit, “Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica,” which aired from 2003 to 2005 and launched her and Lachey into another stratosphere of fame. She also discusses the strain that the show put on the marriage, childhood trauma, various other celebrity relationships (John Mayer , Tony Romo and Johnny Knoxville , to name a few), her sometimes troubled relationship with her father, her battles with addiction and body image, and her health struggles. It’s hard to believe that Simpson has been in the public eye long enough to warrant a splashy memoir, but her career really took off in the early aughts, which means she’s managed to remain in the spotlight for nearly 20 years.

Best reasons to read: If you remember the tabloid blowup that ensued after Simpson famously wore a pair of ill-fitting “mom jeans” at a chili cook-off in Florida in 2009 and the global body-shaming she endured, this book is for you. It’s filled with tidbits from moments like this from life in the public eye (the details about her toxic relationship with Mayer are worth the price alone). The book also details her marriage and family life today, which comes full circle after her recovery from alcohol addiction.