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Daddy Issues: A Memoir

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An unflinching memoir from Sofia Franklyn, cocreator of the hit podcast Call Her Daddy , offering an explosive story of power, friendship, reclamation, and surviving yourself.

Long before the internet was watching, Sofia Franklyn learned to disappear. Dysfunction was normal and escape was instinct. New York City offered reinvention, and there she met Alex Cooper. They moved roommates, best friends, business partners.

Call Her Daddy became a phenomenon overnight, evolving into a cultural force and transforming its hosts into avatars of a moment and then into targets. But at the height of the show’s early success, their relationship imploded.

In hindsight, the warning signs were everywhere. Secrets, omissions, things left unsaid. Millions watched as Sofia went from one half of a beloved duo to the villain in the internet’s messiest breakup. She found herself at rock bottom again, not by the familiar hands of men, but by the unexpected betrayal of another woman. What followed was a private collapse that forced a reckoning, leading Sofia to interrogate her ambition and the cost of being understood as a headline.

After years of silence, Sofia tells her side for the first time. Daddy Issues is not a story of revenge. It’s a testimony and a raw, darkly funny portrait of girlhood, friendship, sexuality, agency, and healing. At its core, it is a story of reclamation and the long, brutal work of surviving yourself.

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 10, 2026

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Sofia Franklyn

3 books13 followers

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5 stars
167 (54%)
4 stars
95 (31%)
3 stars
38 (12%)
2 stars
4 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for Emma Griffioen.
436 reviews3,225 followers
Want to Read
March 4, 2026
I only ever watch CHD when someone I love is on it, and I am not an OG listener from when Sofia Franklyn was part of it, but I AM SAT for this memoir, I need the tea!
Profile Image for Alisa Saiko.
158 reviews7 followers
Review of advance copy
November 2, 2026
I'm always a little iffy about rating someone's personal story. Who am I to judge that? Like sorry your life story sucks?

I was an OG CHD listener. It was 2018 and I'd recently gotten out of an abusive relationship. My self-worth was at an all-time low. But here were two cool, gorgeous, funny women who didn't apologise for being themselves or living their lives. I wanted to be Sofia and Alex.

So when all the drama went down, it was genuinely a sad time. We were already navigating the isolation and uncertainty of covid. Suddenly everyone had an opinion. You almost felt like you had to choose which parent you loved more (#teamsofia always).

When this book was announced earlier this year, I knew I needed to read it as soon as it was released. And Sofia did NOT disappoint. This story is raw, funny, engaging and heartbreakingly sad. We follow Sofia from her early teenage years right through to meeting her now-husband. Through arrests, alcoholism, sobriety, breakups and betrayal. The tea is steaming and I could not get enough.

Sofia narrates the audiobook herself, and she is absolutely fabulous. I could listen to her talk all day. If you're considering picking this one up, I highly recommend the audiobook.

You don't need to have been a CHD listener or even know the drama to enjoy this book. At its heart, this is a compelling memoir about a young woman who found herself caught in the crossfire of a friendship with someone willing to do anything to get to the top.

I went into this expecting the tea, but came away feeling a kinship with Sofia and everything she went through. An absolute five-star banger to start November.

Thank you to LibroFM and Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC in exchange for my review.
Profile Image for Rosi.
396 reviews24 followers
November 8, 2026
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with a complimentary copy of this memoir and the audiobook.

In Daddy Issues, Sofia Franklyn finally shares her side of what happened with “Call Her Daddy,” the podcast she co-created with Alex Cooper that ultimately brought both into the spotlight. She discusses how their friendship and business relationship fell apart, how she felt blindsided by Alex and the Barstool team, and what happened to her life and career afterward.

Although a significant portion of this memoir focuses on her fallout with Alex Cooper, there’s much more to Sofia’s story than the podcast drama. She opens up about growing up without a father, having an abusive father figure who struggled with drug use, and her own experiences with alcohol, drugs, and mental health. I appreciated how vulnerable she was when discussing these parts of her life, especially because they’re not necessarily easy things to share publicly.

One of the most interesting parts for me was learning about the early days of “Call Her Daddy.” Sofia discusses how she met Alex, how she came up with the podcast’s name, and even how she came up with the phrase “Unwell,” which is now the name of Alex Cooper’s podcast network. She also shares her experience seeking legal advice about potentially pursuing claims involving defamation and the use of her ideas, only to discover how expensive and difficult that process could become.

What really stood out to me was the contrast between their lives after the fallout. While Alex Cooper continued building her career and signing massive podcast deals, Sofia described struggling with depression, public criticism, and the feeling that her reputation had been completely destroyed. Watching someone you once considered a friend achieve that level of success while you’re dealing with the consequences of a very public falling-out must have been incredibly difficult and I felt deeply for her.

I will say that this isn’t the best piece of creative nonfiction I’ve ever read. There were moments when I felt the writing could have been stronger, and the narrative sometimes focused so heavily on Alex that I wanted to hear more about Sofia herself and her life outside of “Call Her Daddy.” However, I can’t deny how raw and personal this memoir felt. Listening to Sofia narrate her own experiences also made the audiobook more impactful for me.

I’m not someone who likes to automatically take sides, especially when there are multiple perspectives to a story. This is Sofia’s account of what happened, and I think it’s important to recognize that distinction. That being said, I’m glad she finally had the opportunity to share her perspective.

More than anything, this memoir made me think about how fame, money, and ambition can completely change friendships, particularly when business and personal relationships become so intertwined. It also shows how difficult it can be to rebuild your life when the public has already formed an opinion about who you are.

My full review is also available on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dfh1G_...

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPLg3hFk5/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/shorts/gjhuRZ4Utg...
Profile Image for kaitlyns_library.
1,168 reviews50 followers
November 2, 2026
I was intrigued to read this one. I don’t follow CHD, Sofia Franklyn or Alex Cooper. I read this because I find a quick memoir interesting. I found this to be compelling and I definitely felt for Sofia Franklyn. I do think some of her trauma was just pushed aside as a way for her to process what she went through, so I do hope she’s healing from it through support irl. My only side eye was the mention of Scooter Braun.
Profile Image for Chelsea (thisisjusttheprologue_).
154 reviews2 followers
November 7, 2026
Thank you to Simon Books for my free copy of Daddy Issues for review!

The first time I heard of CHD, my friend had just picked me up and we were on our way to the bar. He said, “You HAVE to listen to this new podcast,” and turned it on. The voices of two girls filled the car with jaw-dropping female locker room talk. I was shocked that they had the balls to talk like that on a podcast, but I also knew that it was genius. There were only 3 episodes out at that point in 2018 which I went back and listened to the next day. And every Wednesday, I tuned in for the new episode. The girls were raunchy, hilarious, and felt so real. When the fall-out happened, AC was able to tell her narrative and yeah, Sofia was made out to be a villian. There are two sides to every story, and I’m glad that Sofia is finally able to share hers.

Daddy Issues is required reading for anyone who has paid any attention to the CHD controversy. Sofia gives the reader some of her backstory, but the majority of the book details the rise and fall of a friendship and podcast partnership. Throughout the book, Sofia is brutally transparent about sharing things about herself and her life that are surprising and sometimes unflattering- but that’s what left me feeling that she is being as honest throughout the book as she can possibly be. This is her truth.

What I walked away with most from this book is the harsh reminder that despite being famous, situations like this still involve real people. People with real feelings, real struggles, and people who feel real pain. It has become so easy for strangers on the internet to say terrible things about others and as Sofia says, she ended up reading so many bad things about herself that she started to believe it. What a terrible thing for anyone to go through, being attacked and bullied to the point that you’re questioning your own worth and looking for an escape. It costs nothing to be kind.

As for all memoirs and autobiographies, this book gets five stars from me because how could you possibly give someone less than five stars for being brave enough to share their story? #SimonBooksBuddy #daddyissues
9 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2026
Read the book in one sitting, but I found it hard to read due to the style of writing, hence the 3.5 stars.


The book felt unfinished and slightly choppy, as if parts were thrown in together.

My heart goes out to Sofia, she clearly had been struggling with a lot of demons and addiction is no joke.

But the style of writing made you almost frustrated with her and her self sabotaging tendencies. I almost wanted to shake her shoulders and tell her to get up and find her own voice.

Sofia, you are brave for writing this, thank you for not holding back, I hope the success of the book propels you towards more momentum in whatever path you choose.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sasha  Niz Konrad.
88 reviews
November 10, 2026
I was curious about all the hype in this “tell all memoir” and I will admit that you definitely will form an opinion of how the CHD situation was handled and can appreciate the candid vulnerability from Sofia. It was a juicy memoir read!
Profile Image for Kathryn Connolly.
141 reviews
November 10, 2026
I absolutely flew through this! Very similar to strangers in that I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t put it down. It’s short and an easy read but I would have read another 500 pages on it
Profile Image for hellybeanss .
8 reviews
November 10, 2026
What if the worst friend you ever had became the most successful person in the world?
70 reviews
November 10, 2026
I've been counting down the days!!! Always been team sofia

The comparison Sofia makes about receiving more hate than Harvey Weinstein is genuinely insane, but looking back at the level of backlash she received, it's hard to argue with her. How did she stay quiet for so long? Not sure many people would have survived that

When Sofia pointed out Alex was celebrated as such a savvy businesswoman for securing a reported $60 million Spotify deal, Yet when Sofia wanted more than $500,000 a year, she was branded greedy/ungrateful .. When Sofia had been part of building the original podcast and appeared in around 80 episodes. ... The double standard is insane???

I was surprised (but not really surprised) that Alex's humor and material secretively came from MILF Hunter and that Alex basically forced her into sobriety and therapy? and the cost to get celebrities on the podcast??!!

I hadn't realized the full extent of what happened with Peter and his career either, their break up and the struggle to rebuild Sofia with an F!!

My only criticism is that I wanted more, like 300 pages more. More about her husband, more about what happened after the fallout, and more of the details surrounding the people involved. I understand this is Sofia's story and not an exposé of everyone else, but I was left with so many questions!!! 10/10
Profile Image for Trey Stangel.
7 reviews
November 10, 2026
Humanity, the memoir left me with a rare and honest dose of humanity!! I’ve followed Call Her Daddy and its founders from the point of inception. As an 18 year old I found Alex and Sofia to be entirely refreshing. I was both aware of the salacious nature of their content and found it to be NARCOTIC.

It was empowering to see young people expressing their human desires so unabashedly. The dissolution of their relationship and entertainment was almost devastating. It felt like confirmation that there are irreconcilable consequences for living such a care free life.

Reading Daddy Issues put a really great button on the storyline. It affirmed in me the belief that you can live a care free life. It affirmed that living such a way will certainly have consequences!! but also that if your heart is invested in the things you do that the consequences of your actions will be so much more than a mess :)

I rated it 5 stars because it is an authentic memoir from a young woman who is not in a polished editorial industry. Sofia offers a unique perspective on a world that often feels inaccessible and it is brave that she shared so much vulnerability without lacquering over it with a ghostwriter

thanks for sharing Sofia!!
Profile Image for Tiana Young.
33 reviews
November 10, 2026
i’m very much not a fan of alex cooper so i was secretly excited to indulge in this and further my own narrative. i was surprised to find that i left this memoir not liking either of them… at all 🥴 i will always respect someone who decides to come forward and make a memoir about all of their raw truths, their flaws, vulnerabilities, etc so major props to sofia for making the move to do this, however by the end of the book i felt a really icky feeling of “damn this girl is a fucking MESS and deeply unlikable.” i think the entire story made it clear to me why alex cooper was able to continue her success- she always had the reigns, was always ready to hustle, and knew how to make it all work for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1 review
Review of advance copy received from Author
November 9, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

There is something so incredibly powerful about someone being willing to share their story so openly, honestly, and vulnerably. Sofia was so raw and unfiltered, and I have so much admiration for her willingness to lay it all out there.

What stood out to me most was her strength. To go through everything she has endured, pick up the pieces, and find a way to emerge from the ashes is truly something. There is so much courage in being willing to revisit the hard parts of your story, own them, and share them with the world.

I read this book in one day and was in tears at many points. I don’t know her but I’m truly so proud of her
Profile Image for Hale.
32 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2026
I’ve never been a fan of leaving reviews for memoirs but if I’m being honest (and totally biased) I’ve always had this feeling that the fall out between Alex and Sofia was never what was campaigned online. The whole hate campaign and absolute nastiness towards Sofia sat with me wrong and things didn’t add up. I remembering feeling so frustrated like Sofia defend yourself and speak up for yourself!!! Reading this, learning about Sofias life/how she was raised, and all that happened between her and Alex just makes so much sense. My heart truly hurts for Sofia. I’m glad she finally got to say her piece.
1 review
November 10, 2026
I read it in one sitting! Could not put it down. I was team Sofia from the very beginning and am so proud of her for sharing her voice and side of the story.

Her words are raw and powerful discussing difficult topics like addiction, betrayal, abandonment issues and being backstabbed by someone you trust.

Thank you for bringing these topics to light and shedding insight on the feelings behind these deep rooted moments.

Profile Image for Ashton.
52 reviews
November 10, 2026
Honestly, I’m kind of impressed. I started this as an audiobook while baking for Friendsgiving (kind of ironic), but I think Sofia really did a great job with it. It was refreshing to hear her go more in-depth on stories we all already know, and I thought her vulnerability throughout was genuinely great.

I’ve always been a Sofia fan over Alex, and I really hope she gets her flowers one day. Alex Cooper and Dave Portnoy are losers, and Matt Kaplan, you too.
Profile Image for Erin Mohan.
7 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2026
I’m always here for the drama. I just wish she addressed things more after she described what happened to her. I wanted to hear what she took from certain experiences and how she changed especially with the drugs and partying at a young age- she describes smoking crack but never brings it up again. Was this a one-time thing? Something she struggled with? I feel like a big chunk of major life events were just glossed over like something that happened and not something that formed her future.
Profile Image for McKenzie Davis.
15 reviews
November 10, 2026
Literally finished this in one sitting ☕️I loved hearing more about Sofia's childhood, personal life/love life, and how she got into podcasting & influencing. This was a super entertaining read, especially if you were at all invested in the CHD drama when it was unfolding! As someone who cannot stand AC, I really enjoyed hearing Sofia's POV on what went down!!! She was super vulnerable and honest throughout the entire book and I'm so glad she got to share her full story!
Profile Image for Georgina Katherine.
71 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2026
Naturally had to binge this when my day off aligned with its release date 🙂‍↕️ CHD used to go triple platinum in my early university days (Bailee and I literally went as Alex and Sofia for Halloween) so had to read this tea. Cliff notes is Alex Cooper is a social climbing narcissist (not news… tbh I think her marriage is her karma) and Sofia got played in her face with CHD (tough hand sorry girl glad you’re doing well now)
Profile Image for •mikaela• :).
620 reviews16 followers
Review of advance copy
November 3, 2026
✨ALC Review✨

Damn, spill the tea and then some more. 👀

I listened to Call Her Daddy back in the day when Sofia and Alex hosted it, it was a vibe.
Once they split I listened to a few episodes of each of their respective podcasts then fell off all together.
But damn, this offers some insight into the whole situation.
What a circus! 🎪

Get your power back girl. 🖤
117 reviews
November 10, 2026
I love memoirs and it takes a lot to deliver a great one. This one does just that. It’s insanely detailed and personal while not at all fluffy to film pages. I never listened to Call Her Daddy and knew very little about Sofia. This books has depth and character. And while I know we are in 2026, and you shouldn’t pick sides and they’ve all moved on….but…
9 reviews
November 10, 2026
Hi this was so good. You can hear this in Sofias voice while reading. Such a quick and easy read too. I gasped so many times. If you know me gasped the hardest when I learned Alex fucked David dobrik. I hate Alex and I’m so happy Sofia is able to tell her story, find LOVEEE!! I wish we got more of that, and I can’t wait for what’s to come.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews