by Knopf
First published 2022
Selma Blair opens with the first story she ever heard about herself: she was a mean baby with a perpetual snarl and fuzzy head. This memoir traces her journey from that difficult child who bit her sisters and lied compulsively to becoming a celebrated actress in films like Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde. Blair describes the electric shock sensations that plagued her arms, the darkness that periodically consumed her, and her secret drinking that helped her escape these mysterious symptoms. She examines her complex relationship with her brilliant mother, moments when she nearly died, and experiences of passionate love and true friendship. The narrative moves through her Hollywood career as the face of Chanel and muse to Karl Lagerfeld, her journey into motherhood, and episodes of brutal violence alongside deep connections. The book culminates with her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, which brings both devastation and unexpected salvation. Blair writes with fierce intelligence about addiction, family dynamics, and the search for truth about her own identity.
Genres: autobiography, mental-illness, biography-memoir, disability
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-journey
Setting: Hollywood
416 pages · Paperback · Random House Large Print
Content warnings: addiction, mental-illness