10 Celebrity Memoirs That Make Perfect Gifts For The 2025 Holidays

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Books make great Christmas gifts. A well-chosen book that reflects the recipient's taste and interests shows that you see someone and understand them, which is what a good gift should do. Plus, few things feel better on a winter afternoon than curling up with a good story, especially during that weird time between Christmas and New Year's when no one quite knows what day it is or what to do with themselves. And, finally, books are easy to wrap — a serious benefit that should not be overlooked.

When it comes to choosing a book, celebrity memoirs can be a great place to start. They're usually engaging reads, and even those who don't consider themselves bookworms are likely to appreciate a story about a figure they admire. Plus, while these commercial books can have a reputation for being literary lightweights, there are plenty of celebrity memoirs that are actually great, well-written books. That means you don't have to skimp on the literary cred when picking one out. Whoever you're shopping for, there's a great memoir you can wrap up and stick under the tree.

Since Carrie Fisher is a face of the "Star Wars" franchise and the daughter of Old Hollywood icons Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, the hilarious 2008 memoir "Wishful Drinking" serves as a bridge between two generations of pop culture. That's one great reason to gift this book to your grandmother, who will appreciate the peek behind the curtains of both contemporary and Golden Age Hollywood. Another great reason is Fisher's hysterically snarky writing, endowed with both great sarcasm as well as vulnerability.

Fisher worked as a script doctor for many years, working on successful films like "Hook" and "The Wedding Singer," and her well-proven writing chops are on display here. This might be a celebrity memoir, but it's way more than gossip and name-dropping. "I'm not a fan of celebrity memoirs as it is often used as a vehicle to humble brag, but not this one," noted one Goodreads reviewer. "Carrie tells it like it is and covers some difficult subjects with brutal honesty, but [...] in a way that finds you laughing out loud (literally) with her." Tell your grandma to call you and share all the dishy details when she's done reading.

If you're looking for the perfect gift to give your hilarious work wife, look no further than a copy of "Bossypants," Tina Fey's 2011 memoir. This book is laugh-out-loud funny as it follows Fey's childhood and career as a comedian and writer. Fey draws back the curtain on the institution of "Saturday Night Live," as well as her creations like "30 Rock" and "Mean Girls."

This book makes a perfect gift for almost anyone on your list, in part because Fey herself is so widely beloved. If you're shopping for someone with a well-developed funny bone, all the better. "I honestly cannot remember the last time I laughed this hard reading anything," wrote one Goodreads reviewer.

Still not convinced that "Bossypants" is a perfect holiday gift? This book is endorsed by the Queen of Christmas herself. "All I Want For Christmas Is You" singer Mariah Carey awarded "Bossypants" a Goodreads rating of five stars, writing, "Tina is brilliant and hilarious! I could really relate to her as a woman in an industry dominated by men. She's risen to the top with style and grace."

If you have a cousin who enjoyed the 2021 "Britney vs Spears" documentary and who inhaled the pop star's 2023 memoir "The Woman In Me," then it's a safe bet they'll love the messy new memoir from Britney Spears' ex-husband, Kevin Federline. In "You Thought You Knew, Federline spills some serious behind-the-scenes tea about the pop star, including never-released details about their three-year marriage.

Is this book literary? Not really. Still, it's a pulpy, gossipy must-read for anyone obsessed with early 2000s pop culture. "If you're interested in pop culture and Britney Spears' rise and fall, it gives context to much of what has been written about over the years," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Fans will delight in comparing Federline's perspective against Spears' own book, and the opportunity to glimpse a clearer portrait of one of pop music's biggest icons. No matter how you feel about Federline, this is the kind of compulsively readable book that anyone will want to crack open the moment they unwrap it.

Actor Matthew McConaughey reveals unexpected depth in his 2020 memoir "Greenlights," which makes this book a great gift for your brother who isn't exactly a bookworm. McConaughey's roving, vulnerable work is part-personal history and part-guide to life, written with humor and frankness that will absorb even the most skeptical reader.

When shopping for celebrity memoirs, you can't go wrong with an author as quirky and beloved as McConaughey. His singular personality and outlook are all over this book. "So I think there are two types of memoirs," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "One where the author paints the picture they want you to see, their public persona. Then there is the type where they actually let you get a glimpse of their life. Their outlook, thoughts, and, of course, the path they have taken to get where they are at. This right here is the second type." It's assembled from McConaughey's diaries and includes the actor's jotted-down mantras and poems. Even for someone who doesn't typically get absorbed in celebrity memoirs, this unusual book is sure to grab their attention. Better yet, since McConaughey performs the audiobook himself, this is a celebrity memoir they'll want to listen to on audiobook.

Cool aunts with impeccable taste can be tricky to shop for, since they already have beautifully adorned homes and perfect, complete closets. So if you're shopping for the woman who basically already has it all, then consider Christie Brinkley's 2025 book, "Uptown Girl: A Memoir." The model-turned-muse is no stranger to glamour, and her life has been cinematic, from her passionate marriage to musician Billy Joel to her roles in hit films.

Despite Brinkley's challenging childhood, gifting someone this book is like handing them a ticket to live vicariously through Brinkley's rich, full life. "What a life packed with glamour, adventure, and drama! I enjoyed this soooo much!" wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Readers will be swept up into a world of travel and tempestuous love affairs, perfect for anyone who wants to get lost in a story on a cozy winter afternoon.

Some ex-partners continue to influence our lives long after the relationship is over. Such is the case for Patti Smith, who pays tribute to her one-time partner Robert Mapplethorpe in her 2010 memoir "Just Kids." If you have an ex who has stuck around in your life even after the relationship ended, then it's a safe bet they'll intuitively understand the magical bond between Smith and Mapplethorpe.

Like most celebrity memoirs, "Just Kids" contains lots of name-dropping, but it's also a compelling portrait of an artist's becoming. "This is literally the most fun you can have while reading a book that is, generously, 40% names," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "This is open and edgy and poetic and one of a kind. If it felt like reading the caption of a photo in a magazine, it was at least a cool magazine. And a good photo." Beautifully written and shaped, this book is not just an elegant tell-all. It's the kind of celebrity memoir that also makes a great book club pick — a perfect gift for anyone who has ever inspired you.

"Spare," the raw, vulnerable memoir from Prince Harry, is the perfect gift for dads who love a little soapy celebrity gossip, even if they deny it. Prince Harry's story offers a rare glimpse into the reality of royal life, alongside elegant depictions of his experiences in the military and working in Africa. This book is about a lot of things — the grief of losing a mother, difficult family dynamics, coming of age in the military, and even finding true love — but at its heart, this is a story about the complicated relationships we can have with our fathers.

You don't need to be royal or famous for this narrative to resonate. "While many of Harry's experiences are obviously unique, what strikes me about Harry and his writing is how relatable he is," observed one Reddit reviewer. Harry's coming-of-age story is sure to resonate with dads, who will also get a kick out of the little dishy details slipped in alongside.

In this darkly funny memoir, former child star Jennette McCurdy turns a sage eye on the trauma and addictions of her childhood. "I'm Glad My Mom Died" is a book that resonates with anyone who has had to find a way to make peace with their past. If your friend is interested in trauma or moving on from her own complicated childhood, she'll feel seen by this riveting book, which prioritizes honesty over neatly packaged answers or feel-good platitudes.

Reviewers praise the book's self-awareness and insight. "It is hard, harder perhaps than I can even imagine, to revisit your past and understand that a person you have loved, admired and tried so long to impress has been a toxic presence in your life," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "Though I did not know her before starting this memoir, this book invited me deep inside her experiences." This is a celebrity memoir with unexpected depth, perfect for someone exploring their own past.

Reading Gabrielle Union's memoir in essays, "We're Going to Need More Wine," feels a lot like catching up with someone you've known forever, making the perfect gift for your favorite person to share a drink and a gossip with. Union's warm, engaging writing style, paired with her contemplation of everything from feminism to fame, is equal parts friendly and empowering.

Being a collection of essays, Union's book goes beyond the bounds of the standard celebrity memoir. "What Union does is use her personal experience, in many cases, to make larger comments about society or about Hollywood," explained one Goodreads reviewer. "Her story about parties with Prince is really about how important networking is, why Hollywood is so inclusive, and why Prince's networking was so important. She mourns Prince but also makes larger points. Her essay about raising her stepchildren deals with raising young, tall black men in a majority-rich, white neighborhood." If you have a sister with whom you can talk about anything, then this book will read like a late-night conversation.

If you've got a mother you can always count on, who raised you to be strong, then consider gifting her a copy of "Matriarch: A Memoir" by Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles. As Tina recounts her life from childhood to the present moment, her story celebrates the powerful bonds that exist between women. This book gives a little insight into the origins of Beyoncé and Solange, but the focus here is squarely on Tina.

"Reading Tina Knowles' story was like being invited into the living room of a woman whose strength and grace have quietly shaped one of the most influential families in culture today," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "This book is not just a memoir — it's a love letter to resilience, motherhood, womanhood, and the power of family." It's a great book to give your mom if you're looking for a way to say thank you for all the love and support she gives you.

The memoirs we included on this list were selected based on a variety of factors, including popularity and recency. Priority was given to more recently released books; however, a few older memoirs were included based on their enduring cultural impact. When determining who each book would be a good fit for, we considered the book's content, themes, and form, as well as its place within the broader cultural zeitgeist. Books were selected for the way they expanded on timely pop culture discourse. Additionally, books were selected if they seemed to directly reflect the existing relationship between gifter and recipient.