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Keep Smiling
Charlotte Church burst onto the music scene when she was only 12 years old. She went straight to the top of the charts with VOICE OF AN ANGEL and sang for the Pope, the US President and royalty across the world. She has released five classical albums, one pop album, hosted her own TV Chat show and received numerous accolades, yet we are still continually fascinated by this Welsh star. Candid to the last, in her autobiography Charlotte reveals herself as never before. She talks of her life, career, family and loves and impending motherhood with surprising intimacy and, being true to her outspoken reputation, complete honesty. Keeping her feet firmly on the ground, Charlotte Church is a genuine superstar of our times. She combines being a style icon and international diva with being a true family person who always makes sure she has supper with her nan every Tuesday night. Including beautiful photographic spreads and candid snapshots from behind the scenes, the book will be unique in the market and offer an insight into the managing of true talent and the demands of modern celebrity.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2007
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 27, 2011
As autobiographies go, I wasn't too keen on this one. Charlotte focuses so much on her career that she is lost as a person and comes across as nothing but a singer. Yes it has been a big part of her life from a relatively young age but there must be more to her than she puts across in this book other than just the occasion moment of normality that seems to be the story she puts across. From this I get the feeling that Charlotte values her privacy but if that is the case don't write an autobiography unless you really are willing to bare absolutely everything to the reader. I was hoping for more of a sense of who she is as a person and all I got was a sense of her as a singer, performer and presenter. Not to mention the numerous names that are dropped throughout...
March 19, 2009
I just love Charlotte Church. I'd read/watch/listen to anything she made, so this was really a no-brainer. It's not the most sophisticated writing in the world, but it's definitely her voice, complete with swears and British slang and turns-of-phrase I don't understand and hilarious, cheeky asides. This was one of the most enjoyable things I read all year; I'm so glad I finally broke down and bought it.
December 14, 2014
I've always loved Charlotte Church for her spunky personality and she just really doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks. Unfortunately, I didn't get much of that in this book. I believe that she was very open and honest with everything as far as her career. I just didn't really feel as though I got to know her any better as a person.
August 12, 2011
Good book and you can definitely hear her voice in the writing, though it's written by a ghost writer. Does make you think about the press and how they spin things. She's had an interesting life!
February 9, 2012
This book is Amazing because you can definately tel Charlotte's input and she is justt awesome and keep going girl!
September 28, 2010
Although I'm not a fan of Charlotte's classical stuff I am a fan of her pop career and television show. I am in the middle of reading her book and I love how she's honest and open about everything that has happened in her life. I love a good autobiography/biography that's honest and open about everything.
May 25, 2016
I listened to the abridged audiobook of this title. Interesting to hear about Charlotte's life/career from Charlotte own point of view. A very candid book that is a good read. However, the frequent use of profanity throughout the book ;did grate on me somewhat - I have to be honest
November 2, 2007
I enjoyed this book, very easy to read and an interesting insight into her life.
January 27, 2018
The first line reads thus,
“One chilly November night in 2005, I was out on the lash with the girls in Cardiff when I spotted the Welsh rugby team across the bar.”
…to which I promptly mounted the bar with my bare rear end facing them and shouted, ‘Scrum down on this, lads!’
Ok, that last bit didn’t happen. I made it up, but then who can say?
Page 5- ‘So much has happened in my life without being planned…” Erm, okay.
“I’ve been praised, criticised and vilified. I’ve been portrayed as an angel and a child from hell; as a down to earth, talented young singer and a drunken, hell raising chav.”
…and?
At this point, I clasp a hand over my face to cover my eyes and guess what she is going to say next. Let’s see, something on the lines of ‘that couldn’t be further from the truth’ or ‘I am just an ordinary girl’ and hmmm… perhaps a small dosage of ‘my family means more than anything to me.’
I uncover my eyes and read the next two pages. Yup. Let’s try that again. Eyes closed. Hmmm… how about a little ‘I will always stick up for my family, no matter what…’ and let’s punctuate that with a couple of expletives. Just for good measure, mind. Go...
Yup. Man, I’m on fire.
I just can’t help thinking right from the get go from the garish pink cover and the airbrushed photo to the big long list of the 21 year old’s achievements on the inside flap (that would make any bragging, tot latin class attending, West London mother jealous) and that this is just going to be another PR-led load of nonsense.
Keep Smiling. It’s the only way to deal with it. That being what her grandfather always used to say to her. I guess it’s the Welsh version of ‘the stiff upper lip’ (Oh, did we mention that she was Welsh?) You see Charlotte likes people to know that she is Welsh. In fact, it’s a pride that feels like borderline xenophobia in parts.
‘Could never have survived the shit I have been through.” You mean being written about in the papers or that big list of great things that have happened to you (sold 10 million albums before she was 16) on the cover of your book?
Oh, boo-hoo. Behave, will you? People are dying all over the world from a lot worse things. Grow up. Oh, that’s right. You are still and you have a long way to go as well.
So, as I get to the 30 page mark of this eponymous debut, that will no doubt be the first of many and will eventually turn into ghost-written fiction about glamour-puss, leek eating sheep trying to find love, what are the most interesting factoids about our Charl? What groundbreaking pieces of wisdom has this early over-achiever able to offer us? Here we go:
1. She hates pork but can’t resist bacon.
2. Morning coffee biscuits are outstanding when they are dipped in coffee
3. She had wagon wheels in her packed lunch.
Tidy…
“One chilly November night in 2005, I was out on the lash with the girls in Cardiff when I spotted the Welsh rugby team across the bar.”
…to which I promptly mounted the bar with my bare rear end facing them and shouted, ‘Scrum down on this, lads!’
Ok, that last bit didn’t happen. I made it up, but then who can say?
Page 5- ‘So much has happened in my life without being planned…” Erm, okay.
“I’ve been praised, criticised and vilified. I’ve been portrayed as an angel and a child from hell; as a down to earth, talented young singer and a drunken, hell raising chav.”
…and?
At this point, I clasp a hand over my face to cover my eyes and guess what she is going to say next. Let’s see, something on the lines of ‘that couldn’t be further from the truth’ or ‘I am just an ordinary girl’ and hmmm… perhaps a small dosage of ‘my family means more than anything to me.’
I uncover my eyes and read the next two pages. Yup. Let’s try that again. Eyes closed. Hmmm… how about a little ‘I will always stick up for my family, no matter what…’ and let’s punctuate that with a couple of expletives. Just for good measure, mind. Go...
Yup. Man, I’m on fire.
I just can’t help thinking right from the get go from the garish pink cover and the airbrushed photo to the big long list of the 21 year old’s achievements on the inside flap (that would make any bragging, tot latin class attending, West London mother jealous) and that this is just going to be another PR-led load of nonsense.
Keep Smiling. It’s the only way to deal with it. That being what her grandfather always used to say to her. I guess it’s the Welsh version of ‘the stiff upper lip’ (Oh, did we mention that she was Welsh?) You see Charlotte likes people to know that she is Welsh. In fact, it’s a pride that feels like borderline xenophobia in parts.
‘Could never have survived the shit I have been through.” You mean being written about in the papers or that big list of great things that have happened to you (sold 10 million albums before she was 16) on the cover of your book?
Oh, boo-hoo. Behave, will you? People are dying all over the world from a lot worse things. Grow up. Oh, that’s right. You are still and you have a long way to go as well.
So, as I get to the 30 page mark of this eponymous debut, that will no doubt be the first of many and will eventually turn into ghost-written fiction about glamour-puss, leek eating sheep trying to find love, what are the most interesting factoids about our Charl? What groundbreaking pieces of wisdom has this early over-achiever able to offer us? Here we go:
1. She hates pork but can’t resist bacon.
2. Morning coffee biscuits are outstanding when they are dipped in coffee
3. She had wagon wheels in her packed lunch.
Tidy…
August 13, 2017
Was never keen on her as a singer or person but her story is really interesting.
From her humble roots in Cardiff and her close knit family to the giddy heights of stardom, musical and management issues to her burgeoning romance with Gavin Henson this book is a no hold barred and honest account told in her forthright manner as to the highs and lows of being a young girl then a struggling teenager In what is considered a cut throat and rather adult business world.
Refreshing, candid and blatant Charlotte tells it how it is and makes for a great read.
From her humble roots in Cardiff and her close knit family to the giddy heights of stardom, musical and management issues to her burgeoning romance with Gavin Henson this book is a no hold barred and honest account told in her forthright manner as to the highs and lows of being a young girl then a struggling teenager In what is considered a cut throat and rather adult business world.
Refreshing, candid and blatant Charlotte tells it how it is and makes for a great read.
August 28, 2025
An honest and interesting memoir that shows both the highs and lows of life in the spotlight. I like Charlotte Church, and this book made me appreciate her even more. A quick and enjoyable read.
July 25, 2024
Keep Smiling by Charlotte Church is a good autobiography but not perfect. I love that it highlights the struggle to become famous, the moment she become famous and the struggle that comes with being famous and a famous child at that. It also shows the impact it has on families and how she tried hard to make sure her family didn’t divide because of her fame - especially because she was on the road so often with mum.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2022
A very interesting read about the singer charlotte church and her family where she grew up in wales. If you are a fan I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews