First published 2011
La Toya Jackson opens her story at the hospital where she became the first family member to see Michael after his collapse. She had always shared the closest bond with her famous brother, witnessing his struggles behind the scenes of global stardom. Now she faces suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and fights for a second autopsy. Her investigation uncovers disturbing business dealings she believes contributed to Michael's demise. The memoir traces decades of Jackson family dynamics, from their rise to fame in the 1960s and 1970s through years of secrecy that surrounded the children. La Toya describes her own estrangement from the tight family unit and her slow path back to reconciliation. She survived her own nightmare with abusive manager and husband Jack Gordon, experiencing exploitation that echoed Michael's vulnerability. Through painful honesty, she shows how anyone can become trapped in cycles of abuse regardless of wealth or status, and how she rebuilt her career, family relationships, and sense of self.
Genres: autobiography, non-fiction, biography-memoir, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, reconciliation
340 pages · ebook · Gallery Books
Content warnings: abuse, domestic-violence, emotional-abuse