queerbooktakes 's review for:

My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen
4.0

This book is brilliant! A lot of autobiographies feel like stealth PR, but this really is no-holds-barred in the best possible way: Lily writes about everything from booze and cocaine to stardom and family drama with so much self-awareness, and always a sense of humour.

There are some parts of this book that are properly devastating to read, too. I cried my eyes out at the mentions of her miscarriage, and the detail she includes about her stalker is genuinely shocking stuff. It's political as well, which I like - Lily doesn't shy away from talking about how the police mishandled her case, and she segues her own experiences into a wider commentary on privilege, police treatment and power, which felt really important to read.

I've always quite liked Lily's music, but I'd definitely say I'm more of a fan after reading this. It felt like an honest, no-bullshit glimpse into the life of a very interesting person that just happens to be famous, no airbrushing needed.