Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect

by Valerie Bertinelli

From beloved actress and New York Times bestselling author Valerie Bertinelli, her most vulnerable book yet offering wisdom hard-won through divorce, menopause, and generational pain, with a powerful message of self-acceptance and embracing the past with compassion.

With her signature warmth and disarming humor, the beloved actress and New York Times bestselling author strips away the polished façade and shares what it’s really like to grow older, love harder, and start over. Now in her mid-sixties, Valerie reflects on the hard-won lessons of aging, self-worth, and letting go. From her experiences with menopause, relationships, and family trauma, she writes with clarity and compassion about the insecurities that have haunted her for shame and anxiety about her body, and the false belief that her value depended on perfection. Through it all, Valerie reflects on the quiet, daily work of self-acceptance—the kind that doesn’t make headlines but changes lives. Getting Naked isn’t just a story of survival. It’s a reckoning—with her past, her family history, and the generational pain that shaped her. It’s about the myths we believe when we’re young—about beauty, love, success—and how we carry them until they break us open. It’s about unlearning the script that says women must please, endure, and stay silent.

The result is a deeply personal, unexpectedly funny, and profoundly uplifting look at the inner journey we all share. Getting Naked isn’t about vulnerability for vulnerability’s sake. It’s about finally letting go of the need to be perfect, quieting the harsh inner critic, and choosing compassion over judgment. After all, it’s never too late to make peace with yourself—and to fall madly in love with the perfectly imperfect person you already are.

240 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 10, 2026

About the author

Valerie Bertinelli is the host of her own daytime series Valerie’s Home Cooking and co-hosts Kids Baking Championship on the Food Network. The two-time Golden Globe award-winning actress takes her fans into her kitchen with her new cookbook “Valerie’s Home Cooking” (Oxmoor House, an imprint of Time Inc. Books, October 2017). Her fun flavor combinations, like Brown Sugar Sriracha Bacon Bites, Lobster BLTs, and Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons, transform traditional classics into crave-worthy and exciting new dishes to enjoy with friends and family. Bertinelli first became a household name for her role as Barbara on CBS’s long-running series, One Day at a Time. Over the years, her career expanded from acting to include hosting, spokesperson, business entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author. She has also helped develop, produce, and star in several television movies and mini-series, and in August 2012 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She most recently starred as Melanie Moretti in TV Land’s critically acclaimed sitcom Hot in Cleveland.

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valerie reflects on her life, noting again that we are too focused on appearance, and regretting all of the time she spent when younger obsessing about weight. Disappointments, like her cooking show's cancellation, personal challenges, and her two divorces are offset by finding other sources of joy in her life. I was conflicted by the cover (the author discreetly unclothed) which I suppose echoes the title, but I thought a better option might have been Valerie in a mirror, which she mentions frequently.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 4 out of 5]

William Morrow provied an early galley for review.

I have been a fan of hers since the 1970's and read her previous book Losing It back in the day too. We're around the same age, so I tend to think of her as "my generation". I am always eager to hear more from her.

This time around, she shares a collection of "essays" focusing on aspects of her life - topics that all of us as we go through our own lives. They are relatable and so is her discussions of each one. I found it easy to "hear" the words in her distinctive voice. It was like having a conversation with a long-time friend.

It is nice to hear "real talk" from someone who has been part of the pop culture sphere for most of her (and my) life.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect by Valerie Bertinelli is another great autobiography that I truly enjoyed.

This is another great installment from this author and she continues to give further insight into her life as she navigates new challenges, surprises, choices, and acceptance.

This book is more like journal entries that create a theme, or collection, than just a purely seamless presentation. Even though I prefer her previous books, I have read them all, I still enjoyed everything she brought to the table.

WE get to follow along as she comes to terms with life, past choices, reality, aging, imperfections, and learning to appreciate grace, forgiveness, sunshine, and the small things that come our way.

I really enjoyed the privilege of being able to be included in her life.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and William Morrow | Harper Wave for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/10/26.