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Storm in a C Cup: My Autobiography
In December 2014 Caroline Flack danced her way into the nation's hearts when she raised the BBC's coveted Strictly Come DancingGlitterball. Known for her throatylaugh, edgy humour and quick-fire wit, showcased on some of Britain's most popular spin-off shows, 2015 saw her thrust into the mainstream, hosting ITV's flagship talent show, The X Factor, with Olly Murs.
In Storm in a C Cup, Caroline reveals the laughter and pain behind the TV persona, from a sheltered Norfolk childhood shared with her twin sister, through her madcap student days, to the challenging career ladder leading to eventual TV success, not forgetting its dark shadow, when intrusive media attention turned the dream into a nightmare. She takes us behind the cameras at some of TV's most successful reality shows, including the tensions, stresses and unlikely friendships of the three-month adventure that was Strictly. Caroline wears her heart on her sleeve, documenting her joys and heartbreaks with the humour, resilience and unflinching emotional honesty that have made her of one of television's most popular celebrities working in television today.
In Storm in a C Cup, Caroline reveals the laughter and pain behind the TV persona, from a sheltered Norfolk childhood shared with her twin sister, through her madcap student days, to the challenging career ladder leading to eventual TV success, not forgetting its dark shadow, when intrusive media attention turned the dream into a nightmare. She takes us behind the cameras at some of TV's most successful reality shows, including the tensions, stresses and unlikely friendships of the three-month adventure that was Strictly. Caroline wears her heart on her sleeve, documenting her joys and heartbreaks with the humour, resilience and unflinching emotional honesty that have made her of one of television's most popular celebrities working in television today.
284 pages, Hardcover
Published October 22, 2015
130 people are currently reading
774 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Flack
3 books10 followersCaroline Flackwas an English television presenter, whose career began when she starred in Bo' Selecta! in 2002, but has since gone on to present various ITV2 spin-off shows such as I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! The Xtra Factor from 2011 until 2013. Caroline won the twelfth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2014. Caroline was a (2015) co-presenter of The X Factor, replacing long-standing presenter, Dermot O'Leary alongside Murs again.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
September 10, 2020
I really liked this book. It felt really weird reading it after her death. Its awful that Caroline took her own life and I’m thinking of her family and friends who she very clearly loved as she wrote a lot about them in the book. It’s hard to know what to say but I definitely recommend this.
September 15, 2021
Heart-breaking book. Caroline was such a lovely, warm and funny person. I admired her spirit, her enthusiasm and her wonderful positive outlook on life and love. It was fascinating and comforting to read about her early life in Norfolk, then later on in Cambridge at Bodywork, before finally cumulating in her dream of working on the x-factor coming true. Poignant words. She is greatly missed and I don't think she will ever be forgotten.
January 17, 2016
I actually read this book first in October and have read it once more since, but never got round to leaving a review on here. Having been a huge supporter and fan of Caroline's since I was 14, I couldn't wait to get my hands on her autobiography. I thought, like most people who look up to somebody, that I knew everything about her and what she'd been through but I was so wrong. Storm In A C Cup is the kind of book that when you read it, it feels like you're just sitting down with the writer for a cup of tea and a catch up. It's the perfect example of a book that makes you feel things, and for that reason it's perfect for when you're having a down day or just need to smile. I cried, I laughed a LOT, I cried some more, and more than anything I learnt lessons that nobody has ever taught me before. I learnt that it's ok to feel alone, it's ok to be heartbroken, it's ok to be sad when you should be happy and most importantly that all of these things pass with time. This book isn't a typical trashy showbiz autobiography, instead it's full of funny little anecdotes that resonate with you and remind you that others feel the way you do sometimes. For that reason I'd recommend everybody to read it, but especially young women because Caroline has so many experiences and tips to share with us that really do help you to understand that everything happens for a reason, even if you don't realise it at the time.
April 21, 2020
Reading this, knowing what was going to happen only a few short years later, was in equal parts strangely reassuring and very emotional.
You have to read this book, as if you're listening to Caroline chatting with you over a cocktail or two. Deliciously rambling at times, I feel now, more than ever, that I actually knew her. In many ways I was her: the 80s childhood, the obsessive crushes followed by the 'bubs', the regrets, the depression...
Is it a brilliant piece of writing, worthy of awards? No. If I were rating this against classics in literature it would fall many miles short. But that's not what this is trying to do. It's a girl, telling you about her life: the opportunities, the experiences, the heartbreaks, the highs. A autobiography showing you her: broken parts and all. And that's why I gave it 5 stars and will argue it is worthy of them over and over again.
Her life wasn't one tragic circumstance after another. She knew happiness, she knew success. However tumultuous the last few years of her life were, they do not and never should define her.
I never knew her, yet now I miss her.
You have to read this book, as if you're listening to Caroline chatting with you over a cocktail or two. Deliciously rambling at times, I feel now, more than ever, that I actually knew her. In many ways I was her: the 80s childhood, the obsessive crushes followed by the 'bubs', the regrets, the depression...
Is it a brilliant piece of writing, worthy of awards? No. If I were rating this against classics in literature it would fall many miles short. But that's not what this is trying to do. It's a girl, telling you about her life: the opportunities, the experiences, the heartbreaks, the highs. A autobiography showing you her: broken parts and all. And that's why I gave it 5 stars and will argue it is worthy of them over and over again.
Her life wasn't one tragic circumstance after another. She knew happiness, she knew success. However tumultuous the last few years of her life were, they do not and never should define her.
I never knew her, yet now I miss her.
March 13, 2022
A poignant read now considering! 💔
March 5, 2020
“Bitter words are corrosive and can do lasting damage.”
I don’t know what I think of this autobiography... Although it’s written with a lot of humour and she had a very busy and successful life, the majority of it is full of worry, uncertainty and sadness. I did find it difficult to read this book at many points but I liked having some background to her life before her tragic death. Very raw especially after what happened, and I am glad I read it.
I don’t know what I think of this autobiography... Although it’s written with a lot of humour and she had a very busy and successful life, the majority of it is full of worry, uncertainty and sadness. I did find it difficult to read this book at many points but I liked having some background to her life before her tragic death. Very raw especially after what happened, and I am glad I read it.
June 12, 2016
What I wanted was a gritty memoir on celeb culture, and I sort of got it... I found the beginning section of the book to be quite tiresome, as I didn't find a lot of the stuff to be relevant, meaning a lot of it felt like padding. But once Caroline started talking about how she got into presenting then I found I flew through the book easily as I found it really interesting.
January 3, 2022
I have had this book on my TBR since Caroline took her own life, and have never gotten round to reading it. I admit I didn't know a massive amount about her but wanted an insight into her life and wondered if the book could provide it. I had watched Caroline on various programmes but wasn't completely familiar with the extent of her career and only read snippets of the hear say surrounding her death. I also read Dawn O'Porter's book and Caroline was heavily mentioned in it as they were very close, it was nice to read such pleasant memories of her.
Throughout this book it is very clear that she has suffered with depression for the majority of her adult years, despite her career being largely successful there were just things she couldn't overcome. The book documents Caroline's early life and career , the ups and downs of work and then no work, as is typical of a biography. Obviously, the ending seems somewhat unfinished, but this is due to her death no doubt. She had so much more to write about but never managed it, and it's so sad.
This book was released in 2015 and sadly she took her own life in 2020, I don't know if she had begun to start a second book but she did plenty of work in the years after finishing this book and sadly taking her own life, but she did have plenty more that could have been said and I only hope she is at peace now. I feel so sorry for her family and what they must have gone through with her tragic death and all the media surrounding it, in my honest opinion being in the spotlight has a lot to answer for in terms of mental health and how people cope being in the public eye, everything is magnified, good and bad.
I am glad I read this book as it gave me an insight into her career, sadly she was taken way too soon but nobody ever knows what goes on in someone's minds, no matter how smiley and cheerful they may appear on our screens. It's a waste of a life unfortunately as I have no doubt she had much more to give. A lovely read though and it was lovely to read about her close relationship with her twin sister and close friends, even though she was mostly unlucky in love, we don't always need a man in our lives to survive. I think deep down all she wanted was to be loved.... by everyone.
RIP Caroline.
Throughout this book it is very clear that she has suffered with depression for the majority of her adult years, despite her career being largely successful there were just things she couldn't overcome. The book documents Caroline's early life and career , the ups and downs of work and then no work, as is typical of a biography. Obviously, the ending seems somewhat unfinished, but this is due to her death no doubt. She had so much more to write about but never managed it, and it's so sad.
This book was released in 2015 and sadly she took her own life in 2020, I don't know if she had begun to start a second book but she did plenty of work in the years after finishing this book and sadly taking her own life, but she did have plenty more that could have been said and I only hope she is at peace now. I feel so sorry for her family and what they must have gone through with her tragic death and all the media surrounding it, in my honest opinion being in the spotlight has a lot to answer for in terms of mental health and how people cope being in the public eye, everything is magnified, good and bad.
I am glad I read this book as it gave me an insight into her career, sadly she was taken way too soon but nobody ever knows what goes on in someone's minds, no matter how smiley and cheerful they may appear on our screens. It's a waste of a life unfortunately as I have no doubt she had much more to give. A lovely read though and it was lovely to read about her close relationship with her twin sister and close friends, even though she was mostly unlucky in love, we don't always need a man in our lives to survive. I think deep down all she wanted was to be loved.... by everyone.
RIP Caroline.
December 21, 2020
Reflections and lessons learned:
Ok, so it might not win a Booker prize for cutting edge writing style, but it did deliver the story and some of the background that I needed from the person that was constantly in my Heat magazine every Tuesday morning, enjoyed with a breakfast Boost bar on the train. I’ve not watched Love Island or Strictly, but she was a character that was hard to ignore regardless. A giggly friendly presenter that had her talents, but the attraction was her lust for living. Awful to think what could have driven her so low at the end, but glad that we got to enjoy and share in her tv personality and these earlier parts of her life
Ok, so it might not win a Booker prize for cutting edge writing style, but it did deliver the story and some of the background that I needed from the person that was constantly in my Heat magazine every Tuesday morning, enjoyed with a breakfast Boost bar on the train. I’ve not watched Love Island or Strictly, but she was a character that was hard to ignore regardless. A giggly friendly presenter that had her talents, but the attraction was her lust for living. Awful to think what could have driven her so low at the end, but glad that we got to enjoy and share in her tv personality and these earlier parts of her life
December 23, 2023
Be kind
A light, easy read but heavily poignant for obvious reasons. The final line of the book broke my heart knowing what was to unfold in the few short years that followed.
A light, easy read but heavily poignant for obvious reasons. The final line of the book broke my heart knowing what was to unfold in the few short years that followed.
March 1, 2020
A really good autobiography, chronicling Caroline Flack’s journey to stardom. God, didn’t that girl graft for her fame. I’m kind of sad that this book has been sat on my bookshelves for ages and I’ve only just got round to reading it after her passing (from suicide). I was invested in her story but it kind of saddens me when she talks about the abuse she received (after dating Harry Styles) from both the media and online trolling, the guy who was “stalking her” etc
However, this book was also full of triumphs and happy times as well, I got to know more about Caroline Flack than I knew before.
Definitely worth reading. 4* from me.
However, this book was also full of triumphs and happy times as well, I got to know more about Caroline Flack than I knew before.
Definitely worth reading. 4* from me.
June 13, 2020
I have wanted to read this for a while and a long time before Caroline’s untimely death and I was nervous reading it but I’m so glad I did.
It feels like you’re chatting with her, it’s fruendly, bubbly, funny, everything she was really jumps out from the pages.
Profoundly sad in places and a very very difficult thing to read about the hate she experienced and shows our press have so much to answer to.
Also funny, moving and witty. I loved it.
I never realised in all honesty how bad it got over Harry Styles and it makes me a raw combination of angry and sad. This is happening to so many people and it has to stop.
So sad she is no longer with us and so sad the dark times came back.
It feels like you’re chatting with her, it’s fruendly, bubbly, funny, everything she was really jumps out from the pages.
Profoundly sad in places and a very very difficult thing to read about the hate she experienced and shows our press have so much to answer to.
Also funny, moving and witty. I loved it.
I never realised in all honesty how bad it got over Harry Styles and it makes me a raw combination of angry and sad. This is happening to so many people and it has to stop.
So sad she is no longer with us and so sad the dark times came back.
July 5, 2020
I was a huge fan of Caroline and was devastated when she passed away earlier this year. When I saw this in Easons I knew I had to get it. This book shows how full of life Caroline was and definitely one of my favourite books
September 24, 2025
"My new life starts here", that's the last sentence in this book. Sounds amazing, but it's sad to think she took her own life only a few years later.
I loved Caroline on the X Factor. Her laugh, her presence, she was brilliant. She died too young. But I'm happy I got this book (and eventually read it). You really get to know her.
I loved Caroline on the X Factor. Her laugh, her presence, she was brilliant. She died too young. But I'm happy I got this book (and eventually read it). You really get to know her.
November 3, 2020
A truly lovely insight of her life from a beautiful woman. Interesting upbringing and determination to find a perfect job. Caroline tells us honestly about her friends and relationships. A wonderful book about her life.
August 6, 2023
Loved everything about it
December 1, 2023
An insight into Caroline’s rise in tv.
Sadly too, the evidence of how cruel the media can be eventually and as we now know, became too much for her to cope with. Very sad.
A bright and beautiful person who had so much to give still.
Angel gone too soon.
Sadly too, the evidence of how cruel the media can be eventually and as we now know, became too much for her to cope with. Very sad.
A bright and beautiful person who had so much to give still.
Angel gone too soon.
March 19, 2020
Just absolutely love her and thoroughly enjoyed remembering her life through this book. I hope she’s finally at peace wherever she is x
February 22, 2020
So Glad I Read About Caroline In Her Own Words
So glad I read this. Loved her earlier life and how close she was to her twin sister. I thought her rise to fame was really interesting and OMG training for Strictly sounds like a nightmare. It was a great insight into a fabulous woman.
So glad I read this. Loved her earlier life and how close she was to her twin sister. I thought her rise to fame was really interesting and OMG training for Strictly sounds like a nightmare. It was a great insight into a fabulous woman.
February 22, 2016
This is not a book I would have brought for myself generally. I'm not an autobiography person, I've tried them before and they just haven't pulled me in, but my mom got me this for christmas as she thought I would enjoy the hearing about Prince Harry and Harry Styles (she was right). Although their sections in the book were relatively short, by the time I got to them I didn't even care. I was invested in Caroline's story, her career, her relationships, her life.
Like I said, I'm not an autobiography person, so I don't know the usual layout for them. I always pictured them as starting right from the beginning of their life and going through their life until the point in which they are writing their book. That's what put me off, I didn't want to wade through the nonsense at the beginning about their childhood to get to the interesting bits about their life. But Caroline Flacks autobiography wasn't like that.
The first chapter starts at a photoshoot with Caroline being told of a scandal concerning her that is about to break. It pulls you straight in, and although the next chapter does go back to her childhood, it isn't filled with boring childhood anecdotes. She tells the romantic story of how her parents met and fell in love, and the milestone events from her childhood involving her twin sister and her grandparents. It didn't feel like a chore to read about her life before fame, she didn't ramble on about miscellaneous details of her everyday life. She told stories that were really relatable, about her first crush and boyfriend, arguments with her brother and sisters and missing her family while at university. Yes, her university experience wasn't exactly the norm, she went to a university for dance in London and had experiences that I think were derived from that. But it was interesting to read what those schools were like, how hard it was for her, especially as I constantly see pictures from similar schools on my Facebook feed.
The autobiography was mainly focused on Caroline's disastrous love life, and normally that is something I don't like in a book unless it is a contemporary. But these weren't your usual love stories, they were funny and filled with blunders and awkward first meetings, usually due to Caroline's rambling nature and quirky sense of humour. Most importantly they were relatable! It's one of the main things I loved about this book, Caroline's life is relatable because everything she describes is what any socially awkward person would do (which I am).
There were a few grammatical and spelling errors in here which threw me off a bit, but there weren't enough to put me off reading. They were minimal and didn't take away from the enjoyability of this book. That is the main reason I gave this book 4 stars, enjoyability. I found myself smiling throughout the whole thing. This is the autobiography for people who don't do autobiographies and I would highly recommend it.
Like I said, I'm not an autobiography person, so I don't know the usual layout for them. I always pictured them as starting right from the beginning of their life and going through their life until the point in which they are writing their book. That's what put me off, I didn't want to wade through the nonsense at the beginning about their childhood to get to the interesting bits about their life. But Caroline Flacks autobiography wasn't like that.
The first chapter starts at a photoshoot with Caroline being told of a scandal concerning her that is about to break. It pulls you straight in, and although the next chapter does go back to her childhood, it isn't filled with boring childhood anecdotes. She tells the romantic story of how her parents met and fell in love, and the milestone events from her childhood involving her twin sister and her grandparents. It didn't feel like a chore to read about her life before fame, she didn't ramble on about miscellaneous details of her everyday life. She told stories that were really relatable, about her first crush and boyfriend, arguments with her brother and sisters and missing her family while at university. Yes, her university experience wasn't exactly the norm, she went to a university for dance in London and had experiences that I think were derived from that. But it was interesting to read what those schools were like, how hard it was for her, especially as I constantly see pictures from similar schools on my Facebook feed.
The autobiography was mainly focused on Caroline's disastrous love life, and normally that is something I don't like in a book unless it is a contemporary. But these weren't your usual love stories, they were funny and filled with blunders and awkward first meetings, usually due to Caroline's rambling nature and quirky sense of humour. Most importantly they were relatable! It's one of the main things I loved about this book, Caroline's life is relatable because everything she describes is what any socially awkward person would do (which I am).
There were a few grammatical and spelling errors in here which threw me off a bit, but there weren't enough to put me off reading. They were minimal and didn't take away from the enjoyability of this book. That is the main reason I gave this book 4 stars, enjoyability. I found myself smiling throughout the whole thing. This is the autobiography for people who don't do autobiographies and I would highly recommend it.
April 16, 2020
I remember watching Caroline on TV when she was hosting TMi with Sam and Mark, and she was always a joy to watch. She stayed on TV screens and I would catch her on shows every now and then, especially Love Island which I enjoyed. I'd never have thought that Caroline struggled with mental health given her bubbly personality on television, and it's shocking the vile things that were said about her in tabloids and by rabid One Direction fans on Twitter. She didn't deserve any of the things that had been said about her, and this gave an insight to her career and how damn hard she worked to get to where she had been.
August 27, 2018
I'm a fan! I just love her. Originally I hated her, she dated Harry Styles. He was 17 years old, still a kid, voice hadn't completely changed yet. She's double his age. How? What? Really? I'm around her age and think Harry is the most amazing man in the world but not when he was 17!!??!! Anyways, I love Caroline ' s spunk, I think she is adorable. Wish she was on something that was shown in the States. It was a fun read, I enjoyed hearing what Simon Cowell is like off camera, and what went on behind the scenes of different shows...
December 19, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book, although enjoyed seems like an inappropriate word.
It was very interesting and an easy read, I'd read it after she died and so read it in the full knowledge how her downward spiral and life difficulties ultimately led her.
Despite this it's not a depressing book in the slightest, her upbeat punchy personality intertwines with her more vulnerable and lonely moments..
It was very interesting and an easy read, I'd read it after she died and so read it in the full knowledge how her downward spiral and life difficulties ultimately led her.
Despite this it's not a depressing book in the slightest, her upbeat punchy personality intertwines with her more vulnerable and lonely moments..
May 2, 2021
Reading this after her death was incredibly sad. She had so many wonderful stories to share. Unfortunately the organisation of the book isn't great which made it sort of frustrating to read. That being said, it did feel like the way a friend would tell you their stories. Such a shame she's no longer with us
May 25, 2021
A friend bought me this book, at first I wasn't sure if I would like this or if I would even finish it.
I was very wrong!! This was a great read and really highlighted how hard working and resilient Caroline was and it definitely paid off. It shows all of Caroline's life from a child through to adulthood, from education to love and heartbreak.
I was very wrong!! This was a great read and really highlighted how hard working and resilient Caroline was and it definitely paid off. It shows all of Caroline's life from a child through to adulthood, from education to love and heartbreak.
July 29, 2021
A good read
I enjoyed it and loved the fact that she lived quite close to me in North London, which I never knew about. But overall I enjoyed it.
I do confess that broke my heart out when she took her own life in Feb 2020. It should never happen and pray that her death will highlights of the importance of mental health issues. RIP Ms Flack #bekind
I enjoyed it and loved the fact that she lived quite close to me in North London, which I never knew about. But overall I enjoyed it.
I do confess that broke my heart out when she took her own life in Feb 2020. It should never happen and pray that her death will highlights of the importance of mental health issues. RIP Ms Flack #bekind
October 7, 2022
Interesting read about her earlier life didn’t know she had done so much. RIP
July 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this. I do like Caroline, I feel she gets an unfair rap online from Love Island watchers and demented One Direction fans and she always comes across as a lovely person; it also helps she’s the reality tv presenting queen. This book was fabulous in it was one of the few celebrity memoirs which doesn’t have such a sense of self importance it insults the reader with 600 pages on their childhood pets. It instead gives us a real insight into how she got into the television industry, and although you get the impression she is fearful of burning bridges in the industry, it makes her look so much better for it. Every anecdote is positive and she seems so thankful for the support of her family and friends; famous and not so, and this makes such a welcome change. Now obviously this book is a few years old meaning Love Island is basically ignored, no one could predict what a huge show it would become over the next few series, and of course her presenting of X Factor was maybe not the start of something she thought it was. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style and she comes across as someone I’d love a drink and a gossip somewhere sunny with.
June 7, 2020
Storm In A Cup - Caroline Flack
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It’s all about the Flack, if only the Flack was back.
.
Caroline has been one of my biggest girl crushes and was gutted when I saw the news about her passing.
.
Soon as I saw this book on kindle I knew I had to read it
.
It’s so sad reading this, when she’s no longer here and hoping she’s in a better place knowing that she has always been hounded by the press
.
She’s had a strong family bond but from what I can gather she’s felt alone at times as well and it makes you wonder whether all this was a build up to her deciding she couldn’t take it no more.
.
I genuinely don’t think there is anything to review about this book, if you loved/disliked Caroline for whatever reason, I do recommend you read this just to gain a better understanding of her life and other celebs and just take a thought that may also be having to deal with similar situations.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
It’s all about the Flack, if only the Flack was back.
.
Caroline has been one of my biggest girl crushes and was gutted when I saw the news about her passing.
.
Soon as I saw this book on kindle I knew I had to read it
.
It’s so sad reading this, when she’s no longer here and hoping she’s in a better place knowing that she has always been hounded by the press
.
She’s had a strong family bond but from what I can gather she’s felt alone at times as well and it makes you wonder whether all this was a build up to her deciding she couldn’t take it no more.
.
I genuinely don’t think there is anything to review about this book, if you loved/disliked Caroline for whatever reason, I do recommend you read this just to gain a better understanding of her life and other celebs and just take a thought that may also be having to deal with similar situations.
April 4, 2022
I enjoyed this book heartbreaking as it was to read
I met her a few times and she was a lovely girl always pleasant and friendly. Chats to everyone.
I liked the book and it was harrowing somewhere after her tragic demise her death is just awful.
2 years later and it’s still so sad.
I would have liked more pictures and I feel like there was more story to tell as it just ended at X Factor I feel
like she could have carried on into Love Island but for her it was the beginning that was the end of the book.
Clearly she wasn’t ready to tell more then she already penned but you feel for her twin and family and her young nieces and nephews.
This is a prime example of todays modern culture and how the effects it has on someone’s
Mental WellBeing.
RIP Caroline
Hope you find happiness where you are x
I met her a few times and she was a lovely girl always pleasant and friendly. Chats to everyone.
I liked the book and it was harrowing somewhere after her tragic demise her death is just awful.
2 years later and it’s still so sad.
I would have liked more pictures and I feel like there was more story to tell as it just ended at X Factor I feel
like she could have carried on into Love Island but for her it was the beginning that was the end of the book.
Clearly she wasn’t ready to tell more then she already penned but you feel for her twin and family and her young nieces and nephews.
This is a prime example of todays modern culture and how the effects it has on someone’s
Mental WellBeing.
RIP Caroline
Hope you find happiness where you are x
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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