Penny Lancaster counts herself as incredibly lucky. She had a loving upbringing, her life with husband Rod Stewart has spanned continents, she's made incredible friendships, become part of an amazing family and embraced motherhood. But it's not all been plain-sailing. From being relentlessly bullied at school and underestimated because of undiagnosed dyslexia, Penny also experienced a harrowing sexual assault as a young girl. This has made her a staunch campaigner for women's safety and, these days, she regularly puts in hours as a Special Constable for the City of London Police, where her primary concern is making the streets safe for women.
She's also navigated the challenges of having the weight of the world's scrutiny thrust upon her in her twenties, undergone IVF treatment, supported loved ones through cancer diagnoses, overcome her own depression and manoeuvred through menopause. Amongst a heady mix of royalty, rock legends and renegades, her story is one of resilience.
In Someone Like Me Penny tells her full story for the first time, with a natural empathy and humour that she hopes will help others on their own life journey. She shares her wisdom from hard-earned lessons, showing that the key to navigating both storms and sunshine is staying true to you.
All I knew about Penny Lancaster was that she is married to Rod Stewart. And as it turns out she is a lovely person, someone you'd want to hang out with. She is open and honest (as far as I could tell) as a writer. I enjoyed getting to know her!
I went into this book with assumptions, and that’s important to admit.
I wasn’t a Penny Lancaster follower and, if I’m honest, I had reduced her unfairly to being “Rod Stewart’s wife.” I didn’t really know her work, her advocacy, or her story, and I’m glad this book challenged that.
Someone Like Me is understated, thoughtful, and grounded. Penny Lancaster writes with warmth and emotional intelligence, without ego or spectacle. What stood out most was her quiet consistency — she doesn’t posture; she shows up.
The book covers her undiagnosed dyslexia, school bullying, two sexual assaults at ages 12 and 17, her career, life in the media, marriage, motherhood (including IVF), menopause, and women’s health in a way that feels lived rather than performative. Her work alongside Queen Camilla on tackling violence against women carries real weight when you understand her background. I was also struck by her commitment beyond the spotlight — her work with dyslexia charities, breast cancer awareness, and her decision to train as a Special Constable speak volumes about service and empathy in action.
This isn’t a dramatic or sensational memoir. It’s reflective, kind, and steady — and that’s its strength. It feels written to connect rather than impress.
I came away feeling educated, not entertained — and I mean that as a compliment.
If anyone else has overlooked this book because of assumptions, as I did, I’d genuinely recommend giving it a chance. There’s more here than you might expect, and plenty to take away.
Recommended for readers interested in women’s health, quiet leadership, and personal growth without hype.
Shared in our book club group fostering, memoirs and fiction book club.
Well done Penny, great to hear of your journey. I saw a lot of me and my damn imposter! (Imposter syndrome) I understand some of your vulnerabilities as they are so similar to my own. I’ve been through breast cancer, menopause symptoms for over 10 years and was a police officer for 20 years, oh and I’m a big fan of your husband!