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If Only You Knew
Pop legend Lulu looks back over her astonishing life with fresh eyes, reflecting on all she has learnt.
From the tenements of Glasgow to the Royal Albert Hall and the glittering lights of Lulu's journey to fame and fortune is like no other British pop star. When she was 14 years old, she was invited down to London to sing, and the rest is history. She stepped into a part she played for the next 60 years. A part she played so well that she gradually lost who she was, becoming the version of herself she thought others wanted to see.
The book charts the highs and the lows of one of the longest running shows in British rock and roll history. It is the story of one woman's determination to stay real, relevant and happy, and one which ultimately reveals a woman who is far stronger and far braver than anyone knew.
This is a pop memoir like no other.
From the tenements of Glasgow to the Royal Albert Hall and the glittering lights of Lulu's journey to fame and fortune is like no other British pop star. When she was 14 years old, she was invited down to London to sing, and the rest is history. She stepped into a part she played for the next 60 years. A part she played so well that she gradually lost who she was, becoming the version of herself she thought others wanted to see.
The book charts the highs and the lows of one of the longest running shows in British rock and roll history. It is the story of one woman's determination to stay real, relevant and happy, and one which ultimately reveals a woman who is far stronger and far braver than anyone knew.
This is a pop memoir like no other.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published September 25, 2025
29 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 23, 2026
When I started reading this book I thought ‘another claim to fame story’ but I was so wrong. Growing up in the Lulu era it was easy to be carried along with all the highs and lows of her career but Who knew indeed? This book was a realistic insight to the background of her struggles with life and her strong Glasgow character that eventually pulled her through. Well done Lulu to keep fighting and ‘Shout’ about it.
December 11, 2025
I do love a good memoir, and this was another really good one, that I managed to get for 99p the other day. It’s back to full price, so a real bargain!
I didn’t know much about Lulu at all, apart from her huge hit Shout, acting in To Sir With Love alongside Sidney Poitier, and her collaboration with Take That in the 90s. So I had a lot to discover, and I certainly did, as Lulu took me on a journey through her childhood in the Glasgow tenements in the 1950s, right up to singing with Rod Stewart at Glastonbury this year!
Starting from very humble beginnings, I enjoyed reading about her road to stardom, and then trying to keep making music that she enjoyed, but the record industry and her manager didn’t want her to sing. Lulu struggled her whole life being a people pleaser, so just painted on her big smile and did exactly what she was told. It wasn’t until much later in life when she realised she wasn’t being authentic to herself that she started to search for answers and for help.
This was a very easy to read memoir, in fact so easy I read it within 24 hours! It’s full of big names throughout, Bowie, The Beatles, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, The Bee Gees, Elton John, Take That, Ronan Keating, and Frank Sinatra, who offered to teach her how to take care of her vocal chords! Imagine that, but she didn’t take him up on it and later wished she had.
Highly recommended if you enjoy memoirs.
I didn’t know much about Lulu at all, apart from her huge hit Shout, acting in To Sir With Love alongside Sidney Poitier, and her collaboration with Take That in the 90s. So I had a lot to discover, and I certainly did, as Lulu took me on a journey through her childhood in the Glasgow tenements in the 1950s, right up to singing with Rod Stewart at Glastonbury this year!
Starting from very humble beginnings, I enjoyed reading about her road to stardom, and then trying to keep making music that she enjoyed, but the record industry and her manager didn’t want her to sing. Lulu struggled her whole life being a people pleaser, so just painted on her big smile and did exactly what she was told. It wasn’t until much later in life when she realised she wasn’t being authentic to herself that she started to search for answers and for help.
This was a very easy to read memoir, in fact so easy I read it within 24 hours! It’s full of big names throughout, Bowie, The Beatles, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, The Bee Gees, Elton John, Take That, Ronan Keating, and Frank Sinatra, who offered to teach her how to take care of her vocal chords! Imagine that, but she didn’t take him up on it and later wished she had.
Highly recommended if you enjoy memoirs.
November 7, 2025
An open an honest memoir from a spirited and talented lady. I feel like I know her after hearing her read this on audible. Her delivery appears to be genuine showing her frustrations of never being understood in her early professional years. Her management put her in a musical genre box that did not suit her style and passionate nature. Her strong resilience has got her through her challenges and it does seem that she is forever smiling. Good on her!
October 18, 2025
It was a good book, well written and gave you an insight into Lulu’s life. The good times, the wild times and the low darker periods.
It’s amazing that she’s still performing and has survived where others have disappeared. Shows what a fighter and survivor she is!
I enjoyed it but it wasn’t as gripping as I expected
It’s amazing that she’s still performing and has survived where others have disappeared. Shows what a fighter and survivor she is!
I enjoyed it but it wasn’t as gripping as I expected
February 7, 2026
Loved this book. I had wanted to listen to it but it wasn’t available in the States so bought a hard copy in london. I had no idea of the breadth and depth of Lulu’s career. She’s super talented. Looks amazing for her age. She’s literally one year younger than my mum who also grew up in the east end of Glasgow.; quite e stories! Highly recommend. .
January 19, 2026
Such a great memoir, one which was easy to read and difficult to put down. A great insight into Lulu’s life. Well
January 29, 2026
4.5⭐️
I wanted to read this to see if the goss on her and Jason Orange were true 😃 good memoir, I flew through it.
I wanted to read this to see if the goss on her and Jason Orange were true 😃 good memoir, I flew through it.
February 8, 2026
A very interesting read about Lulu’s life
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews