This post was in partnership with Barnes & Noble but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
In the summer of 2020, it seemed like everyone was talking about Jessica Simpson’s new memoir, Open Book. The cover was plastered all over social media and several of the #Bookstagram accounts I follow were raving about the juicy and unfiltered stories in the singer’s book. And, perhaps most interestingly, the overwhelming suggestion wasn’t to just read the autobiography but to listen to it as an audiobook. Why? Because it was narrated by Jessica herself and supposedly really captivating to listen to the star recount her childhood, early days of fame, highly publicized dating history (including her tumultuous marriage to Nick Lachey), her struggles in the spotlight, and so much more.
So I dove in and listened to all 11 hours and 22 minutes of Open Book in one weekend—and I couldn’t get enough. Not only was Jessica’s autobiography fascinating, but it also opened up a whole new-to-me genre of audiobooks: the celebrity memoir. Since devouring Jessica’s story, I’ve continued listening to autobiographies from my favorite stars. And let me tell you, they are truly a treat because they feel like one super-long podcast interview where you get to sit down one-on-one with your famous bestie and listen to them spill all the tea.Â
From inspiring ladies like Viola Davis, Megan Rapinoe, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Michelle Obama to Hollywood icons including Elton John, Rob Lowe, and Matthew McConaughey, there are so many celebrity memoirs out there to add to your TBR list.
Lately, I’ve been using Barnes & Noble’s newly-launched B&N Audiobooks platform to check a few new autobiographies off my list. Users can listen anywhere by downloading the B&N NOOK App or via BN.com and instantly have access to more than 300,000 new releases, bestsellers, and more. Subscribers get their first audiobook for free (yes, free!), and after that, users receive one monthly credit to redeem for your next listen (1 credit = 1 book). And if a subscription isn’t for you, users can buy books a la carte at any time and get access to daily savings on thousands of audiobooks.
Ready to get reading with B&N Audiobooks? Click here to view the platform and sign up for your free trial. Then, scroll down to check out a list of 12 of the best celebrity memoir audiobooks to listen to this summer.Â
Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis' much-anticipated memoir is hot off the presses and was just named Oprah's Book Club's latest pick. Narrated by Davis herself, this memoir follows the star from her childhood days in Rhode Island to the stage in New York City to her fame and home life today. An Associated Press review described the book as "wonderfully alive with Davis’ passion poured into every page."
A bestseller since its release in fall 2021, Dave Grohl's autobiography chronicles his rock-and-roll career from joining his first band at age 17 to drumming for Nirvana in the '90s to founding his band Foo Fighters. The audiobook—narrated by Grohl—also includes an original story and excerpts from five never-before-heard demos performed by the rocker.
Named one of the "Best Audiobooks to Listen to While You're Laying on the Beach" this summer, this hilarious memoir by beloved actress Molly Shannon follows her heartbreaking childhood, foray into showbiz, and major career moments, including Saturday Night Live. Plus, her stories feature other big stars like Adam Sandler, Whitney Houston, Will Ferrell, and more!
Alright, alright, alright! A top-selling audiobook since its debut in 2020, this autobiography includes "unflinching honesty, unconventional wisdom, and lessons learned" from Matthew McConaughey's personal diaries.
An unfiltered inside look at Jessica Simpson's childhood, rise to fame, music and reality TV career, headline-making marriages, secret struggles, and more, this memoir will teach you more about Simpson than you ever thought possible—and you'll enjoy every second of it. The audiobook is narrated by Simpson herself and includes six new songs by the artist.
This "thoughtful and revealing" memoir follows Chopra Jonas' upbringing in India, her teenage years in the United States, and her return to India as an adult, where she won national and international beauty pageants that launched her career as we know it today. The star also opens up about her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, losing her beloved father, and marrying Nick Jonas.
One of the most popular memoirs of all time, Michelle Obama's inspiring book is one you have to read—or, better yet, listen to her narrate her story herself as an audiobook. In her autobiography, the former First Lady takes readers through her childhood on the South Side of Chicago, her college years at Princeton, her career as an attorney, meeting and marrying Barack Obama and raising their two daughters, and her rise to the White House. You won't be able to stop listening to her amazing story—trust me!
In his memoir, Elton John allows fans a behind-the-scenes look at his prolific life in the spotlight and tells iconic celebrity-filled stories, like dancing with Princess Diana and being friends with John Lennon and Freddie Mercury. He also writes about his years-long drug addiction and getting clean, finding love with husband David Furnish and raising their family, and becoming the living legend we know him as today.
Though Rob Lowe's autobiography is a few years old—it came out in 2012—this book remains one of the most-read celebrity memories ever as it chronicles the actor's life in the spotlight starting at age 15 with stories that "are as entertaining as they are unforgettable."
We know and love soccer star Megan Rapinoe for being an Olympic gold medalist and two-time Women's World Cup champion, but there's so much more to her life—and this audiobook uncovers just that. In One Life, readers get to know more of Rapinoe and learn about all the moments that made her the athlete and activist she is today.
Written as letters to her two young daughters, comedian Ali Wong outlines everything she wants her girls to know as they grow up. From dating woes to being a working mom in comedy, Wong covers it all in an "absurdly funny, surprisingly moving, and enlightening" way.
Home Work is actually the second book in Oscar-winning actress Julie Andrews' two-part memoir and covers her Hollywood years, including fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of her filming Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and more. Plus, the book gives readers an inside look at her home life, from her marriages to raising her children.
This post was in partnership with Barnes & Noble but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.