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Between the lines: my story uncut
From Neighbours to the chart-topping music career, from Joseph to the appearance on I'm A Celebrity that sealed our affection, Jason Donovan has captured the hearts of his adopted country and entertained us all along the way. This is his candid autobiography of his rollercoaster life. Jason Donovan burst onto our TVs in the 80s as Scott Robinson from Neighbours, one half of TV couple Scott and Charlene with Kylie Minogue. Kylie and Jason became the celebrity couple of the eighties and released the number one Stock, Aitken and Waterman hit Especially For You in 1988. But behind the squeaky-clean popstar image was a man increasingly addicted to recreational drugs and on a spiralling downwards path until the love of a good woman pulled him through. His pop career launched, Jason went on to sell over 30 million records worldwide and appeared in West End musicals such as Joseph and His Technicolour Dreamcoat and, more recently, The Rocky Horror Show. But just as Jason reached the pinnacle of his career, everything collapsed around him. When Jason sued style magazine The Face for calling him gay, the press tore him apart. Years of binge drug taking and partying to excess followed. In his frank and honest account of his life, Jason talks candidly about the drugs that nearly saw the end of his career, about his relationship with the princess of pop, Kylie Minogue, and how he finally got his own very happy ending with the woman who saved him, his partner Angela and their two children.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 5, 2019
4.5 stars
Huge HUGE fan of the Aussie tv soap Neighbours, so I knew I would thoroughly enjoy Jason Donovan’s memoir. His account of his time on Neighbours and dating Kylie Minogue was fascinating. Bit of a shocker to read how obsessed he was with taking drugs but applaud his brutal honesty in revealing that side of his life, and it wasn’t until his girlfriend gave birth to their child that he turned his life around. And kudos to his dad for being an amazing father.
*Book #7 of the 2019 Aussie male author challenge
*Book #17/72 of my coffee table to-read pile challenge
Huge HUGE fan of the Aussie tv soap Neighbours, so I knew I would thoroughly enjoy Jason Donovan’s memoir. His account of his time on Neighbours and dating Kylie Minogue was fascinating. Bit of a shocker to read how obsessed he was with taking drugs but applaud his brutal honesty in revealing that side of his life, and it wasn’t until his girlfriend gave birth to their child that he turned his life around. And kudos to his dad for being an amazing father.
*Book #7 of the 2019 Aussie male author challenge
*Book #17/72 of my coffee table to-read pile challenge
January 26, 2025
Really enjoyed this, an honest account of the music industry and his drug taking.
May 30, 2010
I think it would be safe to say that 95% of Americans have no idea who Jason Donovan is. If I hadn't traveled to England in the summer of 1991, I also would have no inkling who this Australian is. Jasonmania was at a high that summer, and much to the chagrin of my host family, I immediately discovered his music and responded to the pop music as well as his blonde, boy-next-door looks. Plus, he starred in one of my all-time favorite musicals on the West End in London - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
When I discovered that he had written an autobiography about three years ago, I was curious to read it as it was hard to follow his career here in the US where he never gained famed. There was much I learned in the book, so much that I had no idea about. It's funny - we think we know stars/celebrities, but there is so much smoke and mirrors and so much we do not see. This book, written with a great deal of honesty, reveals a performer who gained fame too soon and at too young of an age. It lulled him into a false sense of security, causing him to make some unfortunate steps that further lead into years of drugs. This part was suprising because I had no idea any of this had happened in his life.
I also got more detail into an event I was aware of. Jason was mistakenly "outed" as being gay and being a hypocrite and deceiving the British public. He fought back and sued the magazine, but this move had a devastating effect on his career and state of mind. Getting more information about this was very interesting.
What I really liked about this book was the style it was written in. Because this book was published mainly for British and Australian audiences, it is filled with slang and idioms from those peoples. It gives the book some real flavor. Jason should be credited for being completely honest about everything he has been through; nothing was sugarcoated and he makes no lame excuses for some of his atrocious behavior. I enjoyed this book a great deal, and it should be used as a cautionary tale for those wanting to rush into the world of celebrity and fame.
When I discovered that he had written an autobiography about three years ago, I was curious to read it as it was hard to follow his career here in the US where he never gained famed. There was much I learned in the book, so much that I had no idea about. It's funny - we think we know stars/celebrities, but there is so much smoke and mirrors and so much we do not see. This book, written with a great deal of honesty, reveals a performer who gained fame too soon and at too young of an age. It lulled him into a false sense of security, causing him to make some unfortunate steps that further lead into years of drugs. This part was suprising because I had no idea any of this had happened in his life.
I also got more detail into an event I was aware of. Jason was mistakenly "outed" as being gay and being a hypocrite and deceiving the British public. He fought back and sued the magazine, but this move had a devastating effect on his career and state of mind. Getting more information about this was very interesting.
What I really liked about this book was the style it was written in. Because this book was published mainly for British and Australian audiences, it is filled with slang and idioms from those peoples. It gives the book some real flavor. Jason should be credited for being completely honest about everything he has been through; nothing was sugarcoated and he makes no lame excuses for some of his atrocious behavior. I enjoyed this book a great deal, and it should be used as a cautionary tale for those wanting to rush into the world of celebrity and fame.
September 5, 2008
My book is personally signed as sad muppet that I am queued for 2hrs to get it done. But it was well worth it and the book is fantastic. It is a very honest and easy to read recount of his life, not just of the good bits but also the bad bits which in places are not just honest but brutally so. He tells all about his drugs problems, his relationship with Kylie and other members of his family, about I'm a celebrity and Joseph. He brings it all into the present then talking about his current relationship which has borne him 2 children. If you have ever been a fan of this man it is worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2022
Oh man. When I saw this book, I felt like the past, those teenage years just came pouring down the memory lane. I hadn't forgotten him, no, but with my music taste turned into a much different direction, I wasn't listening to Jason 3 times a day, more like once in 5 years or maybe more. But I loved this guy when Neighbours were quite big back home in my teenage years.
I think I heard somewhere down the line that he did Rocky Horror picture show but it was a vague memory. Other than that, there was nothing about him or maybe I wasn't interested in it for the last 20 years. But this book was an eye opener. I never dreamed of what I read. I sometimes felt like I'm reading a twin edition of Heroin diaries. Jason Donovan never struck me as such a figure. But I get there's a dark side for everyone.
I think this book was brutally honest. And I liked the way it was written. Worth the read for sure.
Book #13 of 2022.
Around The Year in 52 Books: 3 books set on three different continents - Book 3 (Australia)
I think I heard somewhere down the line that he did Rocky Horror picture show but it was a vague memory. Other than that, there was nothing about him or maybe I wasn't interested in it for the last 20 years. But this book was an eye opener. I never dreamed of what I read. I sometimes felt like I'm reading a twin edition of Heroin diaries. Jason Donovan never struck me as such a figure. But I get there's a dark side for everyone.
I think this book was brutally honest. And I liked the way it was written. Worth the read for sure.
Book #13 of 2022.
Around The Year in 52 Books: 3 books set on three different continents - Book 3 (Australia)
May 22, 2020
As a huge fan of Jason Donovan from a young age, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read this book or not, just in case it changed my opinion of him. Fortunately, it was a fantastic read that I couldn't put down and I respect him even more than I did before. An honest, brutal and open account of the highs and lows of his life from childhood to fatherhood.
June 18, 2023
Jason Donovan, shot to fame in the '80s as Scott Robinson in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, and, at the age of 20, signed a record deal that would see him have enormous chart success, touring the UK and further afield to huge crowds of adoring fans. He later left the soap and moved to London to concentrate on his pop career, and eventually performed in the lead role of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium. But as well as working hard, Jason also partied hard to the detriment of his career. This candid autobiography, whilst looking at his early years, charts in detail his meteoric rise and fall, and the steps he took to turn his career around again. It's an easy read, but also a good one. I might not have Ten Good Reasons why you should read it, but I'm glad I did!
October 6, 2024
Ever since the day of watching neighbours, and first seeing Jason Donovan on screen I became I must've met a fan of watching him at and then sing.
Reading this autobiography, has been a very in someway painful Read as you witness what he put himself through, but it's also a very honest autography which I admire him for.
It's a book that I won't read again, but I'm glad I read it as it answers so many questions about what was headlines in newspapers and answers the untruth that were told by them journalists.
Reading this autobiography, has been a very in someway painful Read as you witness what he put himself through, but it's also a very honest autography which I admire him for.
It's a book that I won't read again, but I'm glad I read it as it answers so many questions about what was headlines in newspapers and answers the untruth that were told by them journalists.
April 17, 2024
I really enjoyed reading Donovan's book. As someone who grew up watching Neighbours, and was a keen fan of Jason & Kylie's romance, I really enjoyed reading the story behind their relationship.
I loved that Donovan was very open about his drug issues - he was brutally honest, and honesty is always appreciated. I also found the details behind The Face lawsuit interesting.
Couldn't put it down. Loved it.
I loved that Donovan was very open about his drug issues - he was brutally honest, and honesty is always appreciated. I also found the details behind The Face lawsuit interesting.
Couldn't put it down. Loved it.
July 1, 2018
Between The Lines charts Jason's life and career from his early days to Neighbours, Joseph and beyond.
I really enjoyed reading about the man behind the name. I've always been a big fan of Jason's and the book has not changed this. It's a great read, Jason has told his trials and tribulations open, honestly and candidly.
I really enjoyed reading about the man behind the name. I've always been a big fan of Jason's and the book has not changed this. It's a great read, Jason has told his trials and tribulations open, honestly and candidly.
June 8, 2025
This had been in my bookshelf for years and I’m not sure how I acquired it as would never consider myself a fan…that said, I genuinely enjoyed it. An honest story of how fame and fortune affects you when it happens too young and how having a family brings contentment, a nice biography!
February 12, 2018
Thanks for sharing, Jason.
October 14, 2023
This book was really good and taught me about a man I had a huge celebrity crush on when I was younger.
January 18, 2026
A self respective look at his time as an 80's icon. Brutally honest.
March 5, 2012
When I was about 7 or 8, Jason Donovan (along with Kylie Minogue) was all the rage in Australia. Despite being an avid Home and Away watcher, I tuned in to Neighbours to watch their characters, Scott and Charlene marry. I had the Jason: The Official Magazine. I even had his debut album, Ten Good Reasons on LP (that’s a big black CD that you can’t skip or shuffle, kids) and knew all the words to hits such as Too Many Broken Hearts, Nothing Can Divide Us and the duet with Kylie, Especially for You. I played Kylie and Jason games with my friends (I knew they were together!). So what happened?
I grew up. And so did Jason.
Reading this book as an adult was a bit of a trip down Memory Lane (see also my review of Dannii Minogue’s My Story) into all those things that had innocently passed me by in my youth. If 7 year old kids were madly keen on Jason even though they didn’t watch his show, he must have been pretty popular. And he was. Perhaps Jason was the Justin Beiber of my generation?
In this autobiography, Jason talks candidly about his rise to fame from average Aussie household to household name on what became a world-popular soap. How manufactured pop became a sort of symbol for the late 80s/early 90s (Kylie, Jason, Dannii, Craig McLachlan and Check 1-2, Jo Beth Taylor, the Blakeney twins, even Stefan Dennis had a turn so I’m told) and Stock Aitken Waterman became The Hit Factory. Jason knew though that 7 and 8 year olds grow up and discard the idols of their youth (me, I moved on to New Kids on the Block) and it appears that he wasn’t the squeaky clean surfer boy his image suggested. Jason was getting in deeper and deeper with drugs – first marijuana, then cocaine and other drugs.
A significant part of the book is Jason’s case with The Face – suing them for saying he was gay. (He’s not). It appeared that he attributed some of what went on – the fall from grace, the increasing drug use to the toll it took on him personally.
Fortunately, this story has a saving grace in the form of Jason’s partner, Ange and their two children. He describes their relationship as being the pivotal point for his becoming clean and return to acting (for example, in the Australian drama MDA).
There are some interesting titbits in this book – Kylie comes across as the sweetest girl out there and Jason turned down a role in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It would be interesting to think how things would be different (if at all) if he had taken that role!
The book is a very easy read, blunt and honest. It did contain one extra that my 7 year old self is rather proud of…
Yes, it’s signed ‘love Jason’. At last.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
I grew up. And so did Jason.
Reading this book as an adult was a bit of a trip down Memory Lane (see also my review of Dannii Minogue’s My Story) into all those things that had innocently passed me by in my youth. If 7 year old kids were madly keen on Jason even though they didn’t watch his show, he must have been pretty popular. And he was. Perhaps Jason was the Justin Beiber of my generation?
In this autobiography, Jason talks candidly about his rise to fame from average Aussie household to household name on what became a world-popular soap. How manufactured pop became a sort of symbol for the late 80s/early 90s (Kylie, Jason, Dannii, Craig McLachlan and Check 1-2, Jo Beth Taylor, the Blakeney twins, even Stefan Dennis had a turn so I’m told) and Stock Aitken Waterman became The Hit Factory. Jason knew though that 7 and 8 year olds grow up and discard the idols of their youth (me, I moved on to New Kids on the Block) and it appears that he wasn’t the squeaky clean surfer boy his image suggested. Jason was getting in deeper and deeper with drugs – first marijuana, then cocaine and other drugs.
A significant part of the book is Jason’s case with The Face – suing them for saying he was gay. (He’s not). It appeared that he attributed some of what went on – the fall from grace, the increasing drug use to the toll it took on him personally.
Fortunately, this story has a saving grace in the form of Jason’s partner, Ange and their two children. He describes their relationship as being the pivotal point for his becoming clean and return to acting (for example, in the Australian drama MDA).
There are some interesting titbits in this book – Kylie comes across as the sweetest girl out there and Jason turned down a role in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It would be interesting to think how things would be different (if at all) if he had taken that role!
The book is a very easy read, blunt and honest. It did contain one extra that my 7 year old self is rather proud of…
Yes, it’s signed ‘love Jason’. At last.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
June 3, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this biography. It took me back to my teenage years when I adored Neighbours and idolised Kylie and Jason. It was such a great read and eye opening to see from the point of view of living the reality of a soap star compared to how that era was portrayed in the media. It is also good to hear that whilst there were was a dark period in his life he has come through it all to enjoy his family, career and life in general.
June 13, 2008
Having been a huge Kylie and Jason fan when I was a young girl I found the first half of this biography really fun and interesting to read. However the second half deals with Jason’s downfall with drugs, and although interesting to start with it soon gets a little repetitive and boarders on boring.
November 27, 2011
I loved this book, I finished it alot quicker than I normally finish books and found it very interesting. Jason had a simple way of telling his life story, that made it easy to read and a real page turner. He paints an honest story, which I really ennjoyed.
January 9, 2008
I was shocked that Jason had coke problems. After moving to the US I heard nothing about him. I picked this up to catch up on his life. Crazy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2008
Found this book very simplistic in its story telling and really quite boring. Wouldn't recommend it.
September 2, 2010
Good, a bit dirty and uncomfortable during his druggy days but easy read.
January 14, 2011
Found interesting, but then again I am a fan :)
Read
August 2, 2011I can't help liking Jason. You feel that he's now being very honest after years of having to hide his true personality for the sake of his career. Bit screwed up but he's had a good life.
May 12, 2013
I am a fan so...can't say anything for this book that I was waiting for many years to be published and read it!!
January 19, 2014
Was a big fan in my teens and having just seen Jd In Priscilla Musical I wanted t read his autobiography. I read it.in a day....it was interesting and,seemed really honest warts,and all
April 19, 2014
Awesome book. Brutally honest! Highly recommend!
September 30, 2021
A really good read, made me nostalgic for my yoof.
4 stars.
4 stars.
Read
August 2, 2011really good book, very interesting if you've followed jason since the neighbours days...
November 14, 2012
Honest! Love this guy x
September 28, 2015
This is the dumbest thing I have ever read. As such, I can only recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews