What do you think?
Rate this book
BOBEK: THE WILD ONE
She was the wild child of figure skating—graceful, rebellious, unforgettable. This is her story, in her own words.
Nicole Bobek didn’t just skate. She soared, spiraled, and crashed in ways the world could never look away from. With a ponytail flying and a wink to the judges, she captivated audiences in the 1990s, redefining what it meant to be a figure skater. But behind the sequins and spotlight was a girl fighting battles far from the ice—battles with identity, expectations, addiction, and the crushing pressure to be perfect in a sport that demands nothing less.
Told in her unmistakable voice—honest, raw, defiant, and deeply human— THE WILD ONE is more than a memoir. It’s a reckoning. From the cold early mornings at the rink to the dark nights of her public downfall, Nicole takes us on a journey through the highs of Olympic dreams and the lows of criminal charges and courtroom headlines. She doesn’t flinch from the truth. She owns it.
This is the untold story of a skater who refused to be anyone but herself—and paid the price. But it's also a story of resilience, grace, and an unshakable love for the ice. Nicole Bobek’s comeback isn’t just about skating. It’s about survival, and finally, peace.
Nicole Bobek didn’t just skate. She soared, spiraled, and crashed in ways the world could never look away from. With a ponytail flying and a wink to the judges, she captivated audiences in the 1990s, redefining what it meant to be a figure skater. But behind the sequins and spotlight was a girl fighting battles far from the ice—battles with identity, expectations, addiction, and the crushing pressure to be perfect in a sport that demands nothing less.
Told in her unmistakable voice—honest, raw, defiant, and deeply human— THE WILD ONE is more than a memoir. It’s a reckoning. From the cold early mornings at the rink to the dark nights of her public downfall, Nicole takes us on a journey through the highs of Olympic dreams and the lows of criminal charges and courtroom headlines. She doesn’t flinch from the truth. She owns it.
This is the untold story of a skater who refused to be anyone but herself—and paid the price. But it's also a story of resilience, grace, and an unshakable love for the ice. Nicole Bobek’s comeback isn’t just about skating. It’s about survival, and finally, peace.
466 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2025
35 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 12, 2025
"Bobek: The Wild One" is a big, bold book. From the first page, Nicole makes it clear she's not here to polish her image or rewrite history. As she writes, "I know some people will read this and see me in a different light. Some might see me with more compassion. Others may not. And that's okay. I didn't write this to control how people see me. I wrote it so I could finally see myself -clearly, fully, without shame."
That honesty sets the tone for what follows: a candid, conversational, and deeply human story. Nicole doesn't flinch from the dark corners of her life - abuse, addiction or imprisonment - but she also doesn’t wallow. She calls a spade a spade but owns her mistakes. The result is a memoir that feels both raw and redemptive.
She writes with candor and compassion about those who helped her find her footing - Debbie Story, Barbara Roles, Robert Bradshaw, Frank Carroll, Carlo and Christa Fassi, and Kathy Casey among them — and isn’t afraid to be frank about those who didn’t. She aptly calls out opportunistic sportswriters like Christine Brennan, who she says painted her "like some kind of wild animal let loose on the ice. It didn’t matter how hard I worked or what was really going on in my life," Nicole recalled. "Her mind was made up. I was a 'character' in a story she was writing, most of the time airing on the side of fiction rather than journalism."
For skating fans, there’s plenty of fascinating tidbits to unpack. There’s an intriguing mention of a potential switch to pairs skating that was quashed by Mr. John Nicks, and a very interesting chapter on the Tonya and Nancy saga. Her reflections on Michelle Kwan's rise are particularly also insightful: "Maybe I should have resented her - or maybe people expected me to - but I didn’t. I admired her, even if I couldn’t say that out loud back then."
Nicole's tone is that of someone who's finally making peace with her story. It's impossible for anyone with a heart not to feel empathy for her journey. Knowing how the skating world can sometimes be, I couldn't help but wonder how much compassion some people would extend to her. I certainly had it.
If you take one thing away from "Bobek: The Wild One", it’s that people are complex, and people change. No one should be defined by the worst day of their lives, especially if it was over a decade ago. As Nicole’s story reminds us, skating teaches you one thing above all: when you fall, you get back up.
When I finished the final page, I wanted to give Nicole the biggest hug. This book was clearly cathartic for her - and it's a wonderful memoir for any reader who believes in the power of second chances.
That honesty sets the tone for what follows: a candid, conversational, and deeply human story. Nicole doesn't flinch from the dark corners of her life - abuse, addiction or imprisonment - but she also doesn’t wallow. She calls a spade a spade but owns her mistakes. The result is a memoir that feels both raw and redemptive.
She writes with candor and compassion about those who helped her find her footing - Debbie Story, Barbara Roles, Robert Bradshaw, Frank Carroll, Carlo and Christa Fassi, and Kathy Casey among them — and isn’t afraid to be frank about those who didn’t. She aptly calls out opportunistic sportswriters like Christine Brennan, who she says painted her "like some kind of wild animal let loose on the ice. It didn’t matter how hard I worked or what was really going on in my life," Nicole recalled. "Her mind was made up. I was a 'character' in a story she was writing, most of the time airing on the side of fiction rather than journalism."
For skating fans, there’s plenty of fascinating tidbits to unpack. There’s an intriguing mention of a potential switch to pairs skating that was quashed by Mr. John Nicks, and a very interesting chapter on the Tonya and Nancy saga. Her reflections on Michelle Kwan's rise are particularly also insightful: "Maybe I should have resented her - or maybe people expected me to - but I didn’t. I admired her, even if I couldn’t say that out loud back then."
Nicole's tone is that of someone who's finally making peace with her story. It's impossible for anyone with a heart not to feel empathy for her journey. Knowing how the skating world can sometimes be, I couldn't help but wonder how much compassion some people would extend to her. I certainly had it.
If you take one thing away from "Bobek: The Wild One", it’s that people are complex, and people change. No one should be defined by the worst day of their lives, especially if it was over a decade ago. As Nicole’s story reminds us, skating teaches you one thing above all: when you fall, you get back up.
When I finished the final page, I wanted to give Nicole the biggest hug. This book was clearly cathartic for her - and it's a wonderful memoir for any reader who believes in the power of second chances.
October 17, 2025
This is a very courageous book. I’m so glad Nicole—possibly more of an iconic skater than she may realize—got to tell her story.
Like other skating fans, in trying to guess who some of the unnamed skaters are.
It could have been edited better. There’s a lot of redundancy.
So, I’m giving the book 4 stars, but Nicole a 6.0 for writing it.
And I hope she realizes now that she’s just as legendary as Michelle Kwan or Nancy Kerrigan.
Scenes of this book may haunt me forever.
And the US federation, like most skating federations, is a mix of politics and bullshit. They put pressure on Michelle Kwan trying new things. She only skated “A Day in the Life” once or twice and then she was back to “East of Eden”—which is a masterpiece. But it was awful to watch Michelle and Frank Carroll give interviews like they liked both programs and either was fine with them.
No, US Skating wanted a very specific Michelle Kwan.
I don’t fan-girl out. I don’t hope authors will see my reviews and we’ll become BFFs…
We all know that US Figure Skating failed Nicole Bobek. We may not have seen all of it, but we knew they were failing her while they were failing her.
But we fans loved Nicole. Whether it was “Lara’s Theme,” which she owns, or her incredible Aretha Franklin medley…we were cheering and we didn’t forget them or her.
What I can’t stop thinking is maybe we failed her, too?
Like other skating fans, in trying to guess who some of the unnamed skaters are.
It could have been edited better. There’s a lot of redundancy.
So, I’m giving the book 4 stars, but Nicole a 6.0 for writing it.
And I hope she realizes now that she’s just as legendary as Michelle Kwan or Nancy Kerrigan.
Scenes of this book may haunt me forever.
And the US federation, like most skating federations, is a mix of politics and bullshit. They put pressure on Michelle Kwan trying new things. She only skated “A Day in the Life” once or twice and then she was back to “East of Eden”—which is a masterpiece. But it was awful to watch Michelle and Frank Carroll give interviews like they liked both programs and either was fine with them.
No, US Skating wanted a very specific Michelle Kwan.
I don’t fan-girl out. I don’t hope authors will see my reviews and we’ll become BFFs…
We all know that US Figure Skating failed Nicole Bobek. We may not have seen all of it, but we knew they were failing her while they were failing her.
But we fans loved Nicole. Whether it was “Lara’s Theme,” which she owns, or her incredible Aretha Franklin medley…we were cheering and we didn’t forget them or her.
What I can’t stop thinking is maybe we failed her, too?
November 14, 2025
Excellent book eye opening of her life.
November 13, 2025
A very honest book by Nicole Bobek. She has a ton of insight yet not claiming to have all the answers. I really enjoyed her perspective on things. She has always been one of my favorite skaters.
October 11, 2025
I enjoyed this book very much, except for the almost constant incomplete sentences. Also I wish that it didn't jump around in time.
October 17, 2025
Traditional format (digital) 📕
As a huge fan of figure skating (especially the 1990s era of US skating) I had to pick up this book as Bobek was one of the skaters I loved to see skate. She was the perfect mix of grace, power and had (has) the best spiral ever. After she dropped out of the competitive scene I didn't really follow her much so this book was super interesting to read to get her full story from then until present day.
From a memoir perspective you can feel all the feels with this one. You can feel all the emotions and Bobek really put her whole story out there trauma and all. I would have liked a little more about the skating at the start of the book but since this is her 40+ year story I see why it was just high level.
Now the big BUT.......I had some major issues with a few things about the writing/editing of the book. First off I don't know if this was just because I read the eBook but the timelines jumped all over the place and there were what I think are journal/interview/podcast entries throughout but in eBook format this is not obvious and hard to follow what is happening in an organized fashion. This leads to my next comment - WAY too much repetition throughout the entire book. This needed a LOT more editing in my opinion; there were many points from beginning to end where I thought I didn't turn the page on my ereader only to realize the exact same thing was said with slightly different words (but at times even the same ones - like the exact same phases!). I can be a little forgiving once or twice but it actually took away from my reading experience.
I would recommend this book to those skating fans of the Kerrigan/Harding/Kwan/Lipinski era of US skating. I give the emotion and telling of her story as a memoir a 5/5 but from a reading perspective I have to go with a final rating of 3/5 due to the editing/format of the book (and to be honest this is generous rounding up). With some better editing and removing the redundancies and fixing the timelines it would have made it shorter and more enjoyable to read and possibly would have allowed for more skating content to be incorporated into the same number of pages.
As a huge fan of figure skating (especially the 1990s era of US skating) I had to pick up this book as Bobek was one of the skaters I loved to see skate. She was the perfect mix of grace, power and had (has) the best spiral ever. After she dropped out of the competitive scene I didn't really follow her much so this book was super interesting to read to get her full story from then until present day.
From a memoir perspective you can feel all the feels with this one. You can feel all the emotions and Bobek really put her whole story out there trauma and all. I would have liked a little more about the skating at the start of the book but since this is her 40+ year story I see why it was just high level.
Now the big BUT.......I had some major issues with a few things about the writing/editing of the book. First off I don't know if this was just because I read the eBook but the timelines jumped all over the place and there were what I think are journal/interview/podcast entries throughout but in eBook format this is not obvious and hard to follow what is happening in an organized fashion. This leads to my next comment - WAY too much repetition throughout the entire book. This needed a LOT more editing in my opinion; there were many points from beginning to end where I thought I didn't turn the page on my ereader only to realize the exact same thing was said with slightly different words (but at times even the same ones - like the exact same phases!). I can be a little forgiving once or twice but it actually took away from my reading experience.
I would recommend this book to those skating fans of the Kerrigan/Harding/Kwan/Lipinski era of US skating. I give the emotion and telling of her story as a memoir a 5/5 but from a reading perspective I have to go with a final rating of 3/5 due to the editing/format of the book (and to be honest this is generous rounding up). With some better editing and removing the redundancies and fixing the timelines it would have made it shorter and more enjoyable to read and possibly would have allowed for more skating content to be incorporated into the same number of pages.
November 11, 2025
What A Ride
I did not expect such a heartfelt and painful yet inspirational memoir. Nicole's story really made me relive her vulnerability and strength through her journey of skating and life.
She really experienced the highs and !ows of her life to the fullest - I really admire her bravery and honesty in telling her story!
I did not expect such a heartfelt and painful yet inspirational memoir. Nicole's story really made me relive her vulnerability and strength through her journey of skating and life.
She really experienced the highs and !ows of her life to the fullest - I really admire her bravery and honesty in telling her story!
October 23, 2025
Jay813
I remember watching Nicole skate & she was so talented & memorizing. Her downfall was shocking & in this book she pulls no punches. From winning a gold medal at Nationals to falling into drug use, Nicole tells it all. A must read for ice skating fans.
I remember watching Nicole skate & she was so talented & memorizing. Her downfall was shocking & in this book she pulls no punches. From winning a gold medal at Nationals to falling into drug use, Nicole tells it all. A must read for ice skating fans.
October 15, 2025
I enjoyed reading Nicole's story but as a figure skater who has also been through addiction, my heart wept for her while reading about that part of her life. I am grateful that she agreed to share with us.
A note for the authors--I never want to read the words "Raw" or "Wild" again. You have used those words beyond their limit in this book, please consider yourselves fired from ever using those words again.
A note for the authors--I never want to read the words "Raw" or "Wild" again. You have used those words beyond their limit in this book, please consider yourselves fired from ever using those words again.
October 31, 2025
Nicole’s story is worth the read, I would give it 4.5 stars if I could rate it separately. But this book is very poorly written. Things repeated/duplicated, places where it sounds like it was downloaded from an interview and not rewritten for reading, highly overused stylized writing choice of choppy sentences, verrrrry flowery descriptions, and lots and lots of vamping and filler. If this had been written by a competent writer and properly edited, it would be about 60% shorter.
We’re all rooting for you, Nicole.
But you deserved better.
We’re all rooting for you, Nicole.
But you deserved better.
November 10, 2025
BOBEK: The Wild One is one of the most powerful and raw memoirs ever written about the rise, fall, and redemption of a true icon. This is not a sugarcoated skating story or a simple retelling of fame and scandal. It is a cinematic, deeply human journey that takes readers inside Nicole Bobek’s extraordinary life with honesty, heart, and fearless emotion.
Ignore the handful of two and three star reviews. Those were written by bitter, no-talent English teachers who read for grammar instead of vision. They completely miss the rhythm, emotion, and cinematic quality of the writing. Their narrow view is exactly what keeps readers from experiencing an incredible story of perseverance and survival.
Nicole’s story is alive on the page. You feel the highs, the heartbreak, and the beauty of her spirit as she fights through loss, addiction, love, and transformation. The writing captures her voice so vividly that it feels like she’s sitting across from you, telling her truth with the kind of courage few people ever find.
This is a book that stays with you long after you finish it. It is an intimate portrait of what it means to fall apart and rebuild yourself completely. Anyone who has ever struggled, stumbled, or been judged unfairly will find hope in these pages.
BOBEK: The Wild One deserves to be read, shared, and remembered for what it truly is—an unforgettable story of grace, grit, and redemption.
Ignore the handful of two and three star reviews. Those were written by bitter, no-talent English teachers who read for grammar instead of vision. They completely miss the rhythm, emotion, and cinematic quality of the writing. Their narrow view is exactly what keeps readers from experiencing an incredible story of perseverance and survival.
Nicole’s story is alive on the page. You feel the highs, the heartbreak, and the beauty of her spirit as she fights through loss, addiction, love, and transformation. The writing captures her voice so vividly that it feels like she’s sitting across from you, telling her truth with the kind of courage few people ever find.
This is a book that stays with you long after you finish it. It is an intimate portrait of what it means to fall apart and rebuild yourself completely. Anyone who has ever struggled, stumbled, or been judged unfairly will find hope in these pages.
BOBEK: The Wild One deserves to be read, shared, and remembered for what it truly is—an unforgettable story of grace, grit, and redemption.
October 15, 2025
Bobek: The Wild One is a beautifully crafted and emotionally charged portrait of one of figure skating’s most enigmatic stars. Todd Fischer and Caidin Ferrigno have created a work that goes far beyond a traditional sports biography. Their writing is elegant, deeply human, and filled with empathy, revealing the soul of a woman whose life was both dazzling and turbulent.
The book moves with the rhythm of Nicole Bobek herself—graceful, unpredictable, and full of heart. The authors weave together vivid storytelling and psychological insight with remarkable skill. Each chapter reads like a cinematic moment, painting scenes of triumph, heartbreak, rebellion, and redemption with a rare poetic precision.
What stands out most is the beauty of the prose. Fischer and Ferrigno write with an honesty that never feels intrusive and a compassion that never turns sentimental. Their language is lyrical yet grounded, allowing the reader to feel the intensity of Nicole’s journey without losing sight of her humanity.
Bobek: The Wild One is both a tribute and a revelation. It captures the artistry of skating, the fragility of fame, and the courage it takes to rebuild after falling. This is storytelling at its finest—clever, heartfelt, and written with a grace that mirrors its subject.
The book moves with the rhythm of Nicole Bobek herself—graceful, unpredictable, and full of heart. The authors weave together vivid storytelling and psychological insight with remarkable skill. Each chapter reads like a cinematic moment, painting scenes of triumph, heartbreak, rebellion, and redemption with a rare poetic precision.
What stands out most is the beauty of the prose. Fischer and Ferrigno write with an honesty that never feels intrusive and a compassion that never turns sentimental. Their language is lyrical yet grounded, allowing the reader to feel the intensity of Nicole’s journey without losing sight of her humanity.
Bobek: The Wild One is both a tribute and a revelation. It captures the artistry of skating, the fragility of fame, and the courage it takes to rebuild after falling. This is storytelling at its finest—clever, heartfelt, and written with a grace that mirrors its subject.
October 15, 2025
I really enjoyed reading Bobek: The Wild One. The writing is clever and beautiful and makes you feel like you are right there with Nicole Bobek through everything she went through. The authors did a great job showing both her talent and the struggles she faced.
The book is full of energy and emotion. It is easy to follow and keeps you interested from the first page to the last. You get to see what it was like to be in her life and on the ice, and it makes you care about her as a person, not just as a skater.
What I loved most is how the authors make her story feel real and relatable. The writing is clear and fun to read, and you can tell they really cared about telling her story the right way.
Bobek: The Wild One is a great book if you want a story that is exciting, heartfelt, and full of personality. It left me wanting to know more about Nicole and her journey.
The book is full of energy and emotion. It is easy to follow and keeps you interested from the first page to the last. You get to see what it was like to be in her life and on the ice, and it makes you care about her as a person, not just as a skater.
What I loved most is how the authors make her story feel real and relatable. The writing is clear and fun to read, and you can tell they really cared about telling her story the right way.
Bobek: The Wild One is a great book if you want a story that is exciting, heartfelt, and full of personality. It left me wanting to know more about Nicole and her journey.
October 18, 2025
I’m going to go ahead and say it right now. This is hands down the best skating book ever written. It’s raw, emotional, and absolutely riveting from start to finish. Nicole Bobek’s story has always been one of the most fascinating in figure skating, but this book finally gives her the voice and depth she deserves. Every chapter feels honest and alive, pulling you right into her world of triumph, chaos, heartbreak, and redemption.
The writing is powerful and beautifully human. It doesn’t shy away from the pain, but it also celebrates the resilience and magic that made Nicole who she is. Whether you followed her career back in the day or you’re just discovering her now, this book will move you, shock you, and inspire you all at once.
A masterpiece of storytelling and one of the most unforgettable athlete memoirs I’ve ever read.
The writing is powerful and beautifully human. It doesn’t shy away from the pain, but it also celebrates the resilience and magic that made Nicole who she is. Whether you followed her career back in the day or you’re just discovering her now, this book will move you, shock you, and inspire you all at once.
A masterpiece of storytelling and one of the most unforgettable athlete memoirs I’ve ever read.
November 3, 2025
Nicole has a very compelling story, but the writing was so bad that it made it a very dificult read. Way too long, way too many unnecessary details, way too much repetition. Also, it was inexcusable that they had the wrong year for the tragic plane crash that took the lives of so many skaters, coaches, and famlies this past January.
October 14, 2025
It was interesting to read because I realized I knew very little about Nicole Bobek but SO much repetition. How many times did you need to say that you were non-rule following, skating for passion, not money etc etc. It felt like every chapter was the same.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews