The Best Memoirs From Former Child Stars You Need To Read ASAP

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Growing up in front of the camera may sound like a dream come true, but for many child stars, that's not their reality. Alongside the glitz and glamour of life in showbiz comes pressure, scrutiny, and very little freedom to actually be children. We, as audiences, saw rehearsed and polished performances and camera-ready youth, but there was so much more happening behind the scenes that was far more complicated. Perhaps so complicated that normal, everyday people could never really comprehend the gravity of those things. Overwhelming micromanaging parents, substance abuse, unrealistic industry expectations, and abusive adults shaped their early years and would impact them for the rest of their lives.

In recent years, former child stars have taken to writing memoirs to share the most unfiltered stories of life in Hollywood as a minor. They take us on a journey into the joyful highs and most devastating lows of fame as a child. These memoirs are more than Hollywood gossip; they reveal each star's most vulnerable moments, the emotional toll of growing up in front of the camera, and the treacherous journey many early fame alumni face to reclaim their own identity and heal. Prepared to be blown away by some of the stories these former child stars have to share.

Josh Peck became one of the many faces of Nickelodeon, starring alongside Drake Bell in the hit series "Drake & Josh." On-screen, his life may have seemed to be nothing but laughs and a good time, and he won over audiences with his character full of lovable energy. But, behind the scenes, his life was far more complicated than the carefree life his characters led. The former child star released a memoir in 2022 to give people a better idea of what his life was actually like behind the scenes. 

With more than 70% of readers giving "Happy People Are Annoying" 4-stars or higher, Peck's memoir is witty, candid, and is a heartfelt look at what life is like behind the scenes of a major production company's hit television series. The star shares what his journey was like, from dealing with rock bottom self-esteem to filling an insatiable emotional void with drugs and food; he gets real and vulnerable in this hit memoir.

Raised by a single mother and thrown into the spotlight as a teen, Peck reflects on the cost of early success. Under the pressure of always having to be the funny, easy-going guy, the former Nickelodeon star talks about his battles within himself, his confidence spiraling, and his addictions. Peck tells it like it is, never shying away from the messier moments. But he also celebrates his growth, healing, and most importantly, his long journey toward self-acceptance.

Another Nickelodeon star's memoir made this list — Jennette McCurdy's "I'm Glad My Mom Died" is perhaps one of the most emotionally raw and talked-about former-child-star memoirs of the 2020s. The story she tells is as real as it gets, as she details the experience of growing up under a controlling and fame-obsessed mother who made her weigh herself every single day and shower with her brother until she was 16, all while navigating stardom at a young age. Disordered eating, trauma, and no life to call her own, McCurdy delves into what it took for her to take control.

All young Jennette ever wanted to do was please her mother, so when her mother threw her into auditions at the ripe age of 6, Jennette happily obliged. Jennette's mother had a dream, not for her, but for her only daughter, and it was for her to become a child star like Dakota Fanning. What followed was years of emotional manipulation, overbearing control, and the intense pressure to succeed for the sake of her mother's dream. "I'm Glad My Mom Died" takes a raw and sometimes darkly humorous look at the dark side of childhood stardom, where your worst enemies are often the ones closest to you.

Although the "Oops!... I Did It Again" pop star rose to fame in her adolescent years, Britney Spears was very much a child star, first starting her career as a member of "The Mickey Mouse Club" alongside Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. To say Britney Spears was a sensation to millennials is an understatement. She was a global phenomenon, from her iconic braided pigtails to her denim-crop-top looks; everyone wanted to be like her. 

But while Britney's fame exploded, a lot of troubling things were happening behind the scenes. With growing rumors and the rise of the #FreeBritney movement, fans began paying attention to the darker side of her life. The former-Mickey Mouse Club member's tell-all memoir, "The Woman in Me," is one celebrity memoir that's a great, well-written book. The shocking revelations about her abusive conservatorship and the control her manipulative father exerted on her throughout the years made waves globally. The pop star shed light on the dangerous struggles she faced behind the spotlight.

Britney Spears tells her story on her own for the very first time in this unfiltered memoir. From her early days on "The Mickey Mouse Club" to her turbulent journey as a revolutionary global pop star, the singer gets real and vulnerable about her life in the limelight and the harsh reality of hitting stardom at a young age. Spears reveals never-before-told details about her toxic 13-year conservatorship, and the lengths she had to go for liberation.

If you didn't watch "Matilda" or "Mrs. Doubtfire," you might not have had a normal '90s childhood. With iconic lines like "Help is on the way, dear!" and "I'm big, you're small, I'm smart, you're dumb," these movies captured the hearts of a generation. And Mara Wilson, who starred in both films, wasn't just a child actor; she was an icon. In her memoir, "Where Am I Now?" she gives us an honest look into what it was really like for her growing up in the spotlight. As a former child star, she shares what it was like struggling with her mental health, finding her place in the real world, all while dealing with her newfound fame at a tender age.

For young Mara, it was hard to ever feel like she was in the right place. Growing up, she was often the only child on the set of films, and when she actually grew up, people just referred to her as Matilda or her other iconic roles from '90s films. She was never really Mara Wilson. In essay form, Wilson gives us insight into her life as a former child star, the effects of early fame, facing rejection, and experiencing all of that while learning that no one is exempt from universal experiences like love and loss. Wilson's memoir is relatable, funny, and touching, and she offers a one-of-a-kind perspective on growing up as a woman in the spotlight.

Jodie Sweetin grew up on television. After its first season, "Full House" became one of the most popular shows in America, and new episodes and reruns alike were playing all the time. Jodie, who played Danny Tanner's middle child Stephanie, was adored by many for her rambunctious spirit and charm. But behind the scenes of one of America's most cherished shows was a life that was anything but perfect. In "unSweetined," Sweetin, now transformed since her child star days like her on-screen sister Candace Cameron Bure, shares a raw and gritty story of addiction, the aftermath, the road to recovery, and the setbacks of coming of age in the spotlight.

Jodie Sweetin spent eight years as the iconic Stephanie Tanner on "Full House." But Sweetin tells the story of a different life behind the scenes. The former child star gets honest about her battle with addiction and the challenges she faced with her identity. She lays bare her journey of recovery, relapse, and the pressures of growing up in showbiz. Her memoir is a powerful testament to how becoming a mother gave her the strength to heal.

Memoirs are as personal as they are powerful, especially to the person writing them. It's a way for individuals to document and share with the world a glimpse of their life, and no two stories are ever the same. For this list, we centered our search on memoirs written by former child stars, offering a deep and vulnerable look inside what life was like behind the scenes of all the Hollywood shine. We sought out memoirs that go beyond surface-level anecdotes and offer real, very raw stories that resonate with readers long after finishing the book.

For this list, we started by compiling a list of former child stars who have memoirs, and from that list, we pulled titles that we felt told the most compelling, honest stories. It didn't matter if it was heart-wrenchingly serious or hilarious; if it told an honest and deeply personal story, we wanted to present it to our readers. Once a shortlist was compiled, we began our usual vetting process and read reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and subreddits. Ideally, we looked for titles that earned a 4-star rating or higher from at least 40% of readers..