by Cristina |
Last Updated: April 20, 2021 If you had asked me about Jessica Simpson just a month ago, my response would likely have been pretty neutral. Back in the day when the MTV Video Awards were Bible, Britney Spears was the queen of my heart. I really didn’t pay much mind to any of the others. I could remember Jessica on her show Newlyweds where she made that now infamous comment about tuna, and I really liked that song of hers “Irresistible”. But that was about it.
You remember that song right, well, here it is if you want to take a little walk down memory lane. On a side note I really really don’t miss low rise jeans. I am convinced we should hold down the entire Gen Z down and make them watch this.
I really had nothing else to say about her. Then a trusted friend of mine, who always has the best book recs for adults and the kiddos (check Munchkin Reads) told me to listen to Jessica’s book on Audible. Audible is an app that allows you to listen to books. It has an enormous library, and the new trend is for the authors to read the books themselves. It’s my favorite way to do a biography, because it is like the author is telling you the story one on one.
Jessica Simpson Open Book Review
I finished Jessica’s biography, Open Book, in a week. If I’m being honest it was more like 4 days. The themes found throughout the book, just go to show you how we are all more alike than we believe. The honesty and self awareness that Jessica displays throughout this book is moving. It is rare. The bravery it took for her to share it with the world, is a gift.
At the outset of the book, Jess (I can call her that now) acknowledges her part in allowing the media to create this image of her that she’s just a blonde virgin, who is extremely ditzy and wants to be famous. I know. I bought into that narrative hook, line and sinker. Within the first few chapters, I saw how deceiving that image was. It’s cliche to say, but it really does go to show you that you don’t have any idea what someone else is going through. Ever. Even if on the surface it seems beautiful and successful, it does not mean that it is that way on the inside.
Jessica opens the book on her darkest day, the day that she was too drunk to take her kids trick or treating. She shares with you how she has been drinking Vodka with LaCroix since her daughter, Max’s recital at school that day, which was around 8 AM. You think to yourself, what could have gone so wrong in this woman’s life that would lead her to such a destructive habit. On the outside, she seemingly has everything any of us would want. A loving husband, at the time two beautiful kids, a billion dollar business, family, and she’s gorgeous. What’s her problem?!
She proceeds to tell you her whole story, in what I believe, is such an honest way. This book was vulnerable and raw. She gives you a glimpse into her life and an industry that you think you understand, but really have only seen the tip of the iceberg.
Here are some of the highlights:
She had a crush on Ryan Gossling before you did, I mean arguably the woman discovered him:
I will let you hear what she has to say about Justin Timberlake, and you can come to your own conclusions.
We find out that Britney and Christina have caused major roadblocks for her in her career, and it’s admirable to watch her take the failure in stride and not give up. For those who didn’t know, Britney and Christina both landed the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse jobs, and Jessica didn’t make the cut.
She takes you through meeting Tommy Motolla and the eating disorder he gave her within the first 10 minutes of knowing each other. Then you meet Nick Lachey, and find out that whole virginity thing was real. We go through her wedding, and the reality show.
I loved how she opened up about how hard it became when her career began to take off, as his was stalling. Mainly because she did Dukes of Hazzard and looked like this:
An angel also came into her life during the filming of the movie, in the shape of America’s Sweetheart, Willie Nelson. Can you imagine having a shoulder like Willie’s to cry on as your marriage is falling apart. She told stories how he would take out the guitar and they would just sing on breaks. My FOMO was off the charts.
After they divorced, she was single and not a virgin. These stories were highly entertaining. They culminate in her meeting and seriously dating John Mayer. Wow, I cringe at how much I used to love John Mayer before this book. He is the quintessential bad guy in her story. I just googled synonyms for douchebag and we can go with some of those too: scoundrel, miscreant, a good for nothing, rapscallion, pariah! Idiot! Jagoff! Jerk for good measure. Here is a terrible picture of him because, he doesn’t deserve better:
John did a lot of damage. But don’t worry. Jessica had something better than a knight on a white horse. She had Dolly:
In Dolly we Trust
Dolly and Jessica’s paths cross at the Kennedy Center, where Jessica is set to perform “9 to 5” to honor Dolly. I will say that after hearing what happens this night, I learned there is always room for grace. Dolly Parton is the living embodiment of this.
Jessica Simpson Open Book Review or Pop Culture expose? You can tell why I love this book…
Jessica goes through a few more bumps in her road. For example when she sang at the 2009 Chili Cookoff, and newspapers all over the world posted pictures of her calling her “Jumbo Jessica”.
The woman was wearing size 4 jeans. Look at her! She was having a blast. Jess was really feeling herself in this outfit. The media, is going to media, and they dragged her through the mud, and shamed her. Not because her belt could arguably be considered “too much” but because she is “jumbo”.
In what Khloe Kardashian bizarre dimension of reality are we living in, that we don’t CELEBRATE a talented woman, wearing high waisted jeans (NEVER FORGET), dancing and having fun?! I wish that I could say things were different now, 12 years later, but we all know the truth. It’s Kris Jenner’s world, and we are all just living in it.
At the end she circles back to that dark moment, and you can really see through her reflections how far she has come. I would never have ever believed that I would take so much from the biography of a semi famous pop star. But Jessica tapped into something deep and universal. It is worth listening to, and seeing what you can take from it. I have zero hesitation in saying, you need to listen to this.
You can say this is a Jessica Simpson Open Book review, or a you should sign up for audible notice. Now! Go get Audible, go!