The Woman in Me

I am way, way behind on my book reviews. Who was a top-40, pop-culturally influenced gay in the early 2000s? raises hand This guy. So, even though I don't read many memoirs, of course I read The Woman in Me (back in April).

I've always been a fan of Britney Spears' music, but this book gave me a completely new perspective on her life. Reading this memoir, I was shocked to learn just how much control others had over her during her conservatorship. I honestly thought it was just about managing her finances, but it went so much deeper than that. Everyone around her dictated her work schedule, what she ate, who she could spend time with—basically every aspect of her life. It's no wonder she showed signs of mental and emotional abuse. The level of control was infuriating and heartbreaking to read about.

I had forgotten how young Britney was when she entered the music industry. She shot to fame at just 16 years old. I can't imagine being in the public spotlight at that age—I was still figuring out how to be a person then. I even went back and watched her 2000 Saturday Night Live episode, which she hosted at just 18. Her talent and work ethic were obvious in her performances, but it was uncomfortable to see how many of the show's jokes focused on her sexuality. She writes about this too—that everyone wants women to be sexy but not sexual. You can't have it both ways, and that pressure clearly took a toll.

My only critique is that I sometimes wished Britney had gone even deeper into her feelings and reflections. But she's already sharing so much of herself and her life in this book. It's hard to ask for more when she's been so vulnerable.

Reading this memoir left me with a newfound respect for Britney, not just as an artist but as a person. If she never wanted to perform or be in the public eye again, I wouldn't blame her. This book was a reminder that she's not just a pop star or a tabloid fixture but a human being. She's earned the right to live her life on her own terms, and after everything she's been through, I can only wish her peace and happiness.

Devoured it in 4 hours (not that it's a very challenging read). The book reads more like a long-form interview than anything else, which means that Britney's charming voice comes through loud and clear, but it also means that the prose is rather basic.

The book definitely illuminates a lot of Britney's thought process throughout her conservatorship and drops a lot of interesting tidbits about her life and career. For a fan, though, much of what she's said has already been stated in various Instagram posts (among other things), and there is very little on anything not concerning the conservatorship. This book is almost solely about her personal life; various mysteries concerning her career (Original Doll, the Make Me video shoot, lipsyncing, etc) are largely left untouched, as is the vast majority of her music career.

The book also becomes more rambling as it progresses; the deeper into the conservatorship she goes, Britney starts repeating herself more and more. On the one hand, I think it's important that this book be put out now for the purpose of reclaiming the narrative of her life, but as a piece of literature, it definitely would've benefited from Britney being a few more years removed from the conservatorship situation.