What do you think?
Rate this book
If Only
In May 1998 a twenty-five-year-old woman walked out of her job, and it made world news. Geri Halliwell had left the biggest pop phenomenon of the nineties, the Spice Girls.
Geri had come a long way from her modest childhood in Watford. Like many other starstruck young girls, she would dress up, stand on the table with a hairbrush in her hand, and sing along to Madonna. She wanted to be a pop star. She wanted to marry George Michael. She wanted to be famous. Geri had boundless energy, plenty of cheek, and she always stood apart from the crowd. However, the road to fame is all too often a rocky one. After leaving school she also left home, and attempted to scrape a living through a series of dead-end jobs. Following stints as a glamour model, various auditions for stage and screen roles, and a taste of celebrity -- as a game-show hostess in Turkey -- Geri responded to a curious advertisement placed in The Stage, looking for candidates to form an all-girl band. The rest is history.
As Ginger Spice, Geri's stage presence was formidable, her outfits legendary. The band enjoyed a succession of number-one hits, two phenomenally successful albums, and a box office hit movie. But Geri wanted her feet back on the ground. It was time to go, to find out who she was when she wasn't Ginger Spice.
Geri is now focusing on building a successful solo career. Over the last year she has also been working on behalf of the U.N., Breast Cancer Awareness, and Comic Relief.
Geri's autobiography is funny, frank, poignant, incisive, and, in the best sense of the word, inspirational. At its heart, If Only is about fame and the roller-coaster journey one girl took from believing it would provide the answer to life's problems to her discovery that the real solutions lie elsewhere.
Geri had come a long way from her modest childhood in Watford. Like many other starstruck young girls, she would dress up, stand on the table with a hairbrush in her hand, and sing along to Madonna. She wanted to be a pop star. She wanted to marry George Michael. She wanted to be famous. Geri had boundless energy, plenty of cheek, and she always stood apart from the crowd. However, the road to fame is all too often a rocky one. After leaving school she also left home, and attempted to scrape a living through a series of dead-end jobs. Following stints as a glamour model, various auditions for stage and screen roles, and a taste of celebrity -- as a game-show hostess in Turkey -- Geri responded to a curious advertisement placed in The Stage, looking for candidates to form an all-girl band. The rest is history.
As Ginger Spice, Geri's stage presence was formidable, her outfits legendary. The band enjoyed a succession of number-one hits, two phenomenally successful albums, and a box office hit movie. But Geri wanted her feet back on the ground. It was time to go, to find out who she was when she wasn't Ginger Spice.
Geri is now focusing on building a successful solo career. Over the last year she has also been working on behalf of the U.N., Breast Cancer Awareness, and Comic Relief.
Geri's autobiography is funny, frank, poignant, incisive, and, in the best sense of the word, inspirational. At its heart, If Only is about fame and the roller-coaster journey one girl took from believing it would provide the answer to life's problems to her discovery that the real solutions lie elsewhere.
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
31 people are currently reading
1192 people want to read
About the author
Geri Halliwell
37 books89 followersGeraldine Estelle "Geri" Halliwell (born 6 August 1972) is an English pop singer-songwriter, clothes designer, author and actress. Halliwell came to international prominence in the 1990s as Ginger Spice, a member of girl group the Spice Girls. On 30 May 1998, Halliwell left the Spice Girls due to depression and differences within the group. In 2007, it was announced that the Spice Girls had reunited, and that Halliwell had rejoined the group. Together they embarked on the Return of the Spice Girls tour and released a Greatest Hits album. Halliwell has reportedly amassed a $30 million fortune during her last two years in the group.[5]
In 1999, Halliwell launched her solo career and released her debut album Schizophonic, it spawned three number ones at the UK Singles Chart: "Mi Chico Latino," "Lift Me Up," and "Bag It Up," while the lead single, "Look at Me," peaked at number 2. In 2001, Halliwell followed up with her second album, Scream If You Wanna Go Faster; the first single, "It's Raining Men," was a major hit worldwide, it peaked at number 1 in the UK and peaked in the top 10 in over 27 countries, becoming Halliwell's biggest hit to date. Halliwell released her third studio album, Passion, in 2005. Geri has been nominated for four Brit Awards (in 2000 and 2002). After a few years of relative obscurity, in April of 2010, Halliwell announced that she had started working on new music.[6] In April 2013, the Nine Network announced that she would become the fourth judge on Australia's Got Talent.[7] On 12 September 2013, it was announced that Halliwell would return to the music industry in Australia with the release of her first solo single in nearly eight years, "Half of Me".[
In 1999, Halliwell launched her solo career and released her debut album Schizophonic, it spawned three number ones at the UK Singles Chart: "Mi Chico Latino," "Lift Me Up," and "Bag It Up," while the lead single, "Look at Me," peaked at number 2. In 2001, Halliwell followed up with her second album, Scream If You Wanna Go Faster; the first single, "It's Raining Men," was a major hit worldwide, it peaked at number 1 in the UK and peaked in the top 10 in over 27 countries, becoming Halliwell's biggest hit to date. Halliwell released her third studio album, Passion, in 2005. Geri has been nominated for four Brit Awards (in 2000 and 2002). After a few years of relative obscurity, in April of 2010, Halliwell announced that she had started working on new music.[6] In April 2013, the Nine Network announced that she would become the fourth judge on Australia's Got Talent.[7] On 12 September 2013, it was announced that Halliwell would return to the music industry in Australia with the release of her first solo single in nearly eight years, "Half of Me".[
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 4, 2020
It is the ultimate cinderella story,the Spice Girls came from absolutely nowhere,with very limited talent, to become world famous.
And it was Ginger Spice,Geri Halliwell,who as long as she was with them,was the best known of them all.This was the girl who coined the term "Girl Power."
I can't stand their sound,I don't consider it music.When I watch their youtube clips,I see a lot of jumping about,a lot of noise and little else.
But this book surprised me,I loved it.The best thing about it is the humour.It's been a long time since I read it but I remember how much I enjoyed it.
She came from a background of urban poverty and had to deal with ill health as well.These things,however,don't dominate the book.It's bursting with amusing anecdotes and is lots of fun to read.
The title If Only refers to her wish to be taller,healthier and more talented.But as it happened,her wildest dreams came true.
And it was Ginger Spice,Geri Halliwell,who as long as she was with them,was the best known of them all.This was the girl who coined the term "Girl Power."
I can't stand their sound,I don't consider it music.When I watch their youtube clips,I see a lot of jumping about,a lot of noise and little else.
But this book surprised me,I loved it.The best thing about it is the humour.It's been a long time since I read it but I remember how much I enjoyed it.
She came from a background of urban poverty and had to deal with ill health as well.These things,however,don't dominate the book.It's bursting with amusing anecdotes and is lots of fun to read.
The title If Only refers to her wish to be taller,healthier and more talented.But as it happened,her wildest dreams came true.
October 29, 2013
As a Spice Girls fan, of course I was going to enjoy this. As an aspiring writer, I identified with a lot of Geri's career struggles.
I found the first 1/3 of the book to be the most honest and thoughtful, perhaps because she had the most distance from it, the most time to reflect and understand. The middle 1/3, about the rise of the Spice Girls, was fascinating because I could track my own journey along with it. (Did I remember that scandal? Where was I when they were doing this concert? Etc.) Not to mention all the behind-the-scenes info, like her friendship with Mel B, or their interactions with other celebrities at award shows, or going out dancing with her bodyguard.
I also enjoyed the connections I saw between her story/their story and their music. I could see where certain lines came from, or where certain scenes in their movie clearly were inspired by real life experiences. Again, as a fan, that's just a blast.
But toward the end, as Geri was feeling more and more distanced from the Spice Girls phenomenon, Present Day Me felt like I could see an increasing gap between what she was perceiving and what was actually happening. I'm no expert, but it seems to me like Geri was a deeply insecure person -- possibly even a deeply unhappy person -- with depressive and self-destructive tendencies, and eventually the fame and intense touring schedule just got to be too much. (Understandable. It seems like the highs were super high, and the lows were super low. I appreciated her honest portrayal of how wonderful and simultaneously how stressful that level of success is.) But I suspect that if it hadn't been the Spice Girls bringing her problems to the forefront, it would have been something else. Now, there's nothing *wrong* with that -- it's human -- but she didn't seem to be fully aware of it. Instead she kept trying to justify her actions, looking outward instead of inward, even as she claimed to be doing the opposite. And for all her assertions that she was happier and felt better after leaving, I didn't see it. She was doing different work, fulfilling work, sure. But she still seemed to be floundering, grasping at straws every which way, and hoping for the best. Again, that's all very human, it just made me feel a bit sorry that she struggled so much.
(Side note: She kept looking for causes to support, but it seemed obvious to me that she would have been (and could probably still be) an excellent spokesperson for mental health issues, such as eating disorders, depression or anxiety. But again, I think she didn't have the distance to perceive that yet.)
(Oh, her father's death seemed to be hugely unresolved for her, as well.)
It was interesting for me to realize that this was written in 1999, right after the split. I'd be so curious to see what she has to say about it all now. And of course, to see what the other girls' views of these same events were. As Geri says more than once in the book, we each have our own perspectives, our own versions of the truth. This was hers, and I enjoyed reading it.
On a writing note, it's not brilliant, but there are some nice turns of phrases here and there, and overall it's quite an easy/conversational narrative.
I found the first 1/3 of the book to be the most honest and thoughtful, perhaps because she had the most distance from it, the most time to reflect and understand. The middle 1/3, about the rise of the Spice Girls, was fascinating because I could track my own journey along with it. (Did I remember that scandal? Where was I when they were doing this concert? Etc.) Not to mention all the behind-the-scenes info, like her friendship with Mel B, or their interactions with other celebrities at award shows, or going out dancing with her bodyguard.
I also enjoyed the connections I saw between her story/their story and their music. I could see where certain lines came from, or where certain scenes in their movie clearly were inspired by real life experiences. Again, as a fan, that's just a blast.
But toward the end, as Geri was feeling more and more distanced from the Spice Girls phenomenon, Present Day Me felt like I could see an increasing gap between what she was perceiving and what was actually happening. I'm no expert, but it seems to me like Geri was a deeply insecure person -- possibly even a deeply unhappy person -- with depressive and self-destructive tendencies, and eventually the fame and intense touring schedule just got to be too much. (Understandable. It seems like the highs were super high, and the lows were super low. I appreciated her honest portrayal of how wonderful and simultaneously how stressful that level of success is.) But I suspect that if it hadn't been the Spice Girls bringing her problems to the forefront, it would have been something else. Now, there's nothing *wrong* with that -- it's human -- but she didn't seem to be fully aware of it. Instead she kept trying to justify her actions, looking outward instead of inward, even as she claimed to be doing the opposite. And for all her assertions that she was happier and felt better after leaving, I didn't see it. She was doing different work, fulfilling work, sure. But she still seemed to be floundering, grasping at straws every which way, and hoping for the best. Again, that's all very human, it just made me feel a bit sorry that she struggled so much.
(Side note: She kept looking for causes to support, but it seemed obvious to me that she would have been (and could probably still be) an excellent spokesperson for mental health issues, such as eating disorders, depression or anxiety. But again, I think she didn't have the distance to perceive that yet.)
(Oh, her father's death seemed to be hugely unresolved for her, as well.)
It was interesting for me to realize that this was written in 1999, right after the split. I'd be so curious to see what she has to say about it all now. And of course, to see what the other girls' views of these same events were. As Geri says more than once in the book, we each have our own perspectives, our own versions of the truth. This was hers, and I enjoyed reading it.
On a writing note, it's not brilliant, but there are some nice turns of phrases here and there, and overall it's quite an easy/conversational narrative.
November 12, 2009
"No two people see events the same way.
Everybody's truth is different. This is my truth.
If only there was a world
with no pain...only love.
If only there was no fear.
If only..."
That is how the book begins and I've always loved that part. Every diary I've had I've always wrote that on the inside. If Only by Geri Halliwell, most people probably know her better as Ginger Spice, the book goes through her life from the time she is young through the Spice years, her solor career and life after the Spice Girls. Geri's relationship with her father is very touching.
I read If Only when I was, maybe 13, and around age 12 is when a lot of problems started with my parents. By the time I was 13 I was depressed most of the time and this book really helped me a lot.
People can think what they want of Geri Halliwell, but the only thing that matters to me is what I think of her; she's a great person and has really accomplished a lot. I really had no idea to what her life was like until I read this book. Geri did things she wasn't proud of and she's not perfect and I think this book really can show you that stars are people just like us.
When I read If Only and finished it for the first time, I felt good and determined. No matter what I went through I wasn't going to let it beat me. This book definitely was inspiring. It inspired me to go after my dreams and that's just what I am doing.
Everybody's truth is different. This is my truth.
If only there was a world
with no pain...only love.
If only there was no fear.
If only..."
That is how the book begins and I've always loved that part. Every diary I've had I've always wrote that on the inside. If Only by Geri Halliwell, most people probably know her better as Ginger Spice, the book goes through her life from the time she is young through the Spice years, her solor career and life after the Spice Girls. Geri's relationship with her father is very touching.
I read If Only when I was, maybe 13, and around age 12 is when a lot of problems started with my parents. By the time I was 13 I was depressed most of the time and this book really helped me a lot.
People can think what they want of Geri Halliwell, but the only thing that matters to me is what I think of her; she's a great person and has really accomplished a lot. I really had no idea to what her life was like until I read this book. Geri did things she wasn't proud of and she's not perfect and I think this book really can show you that stars are people just like us.
When I read If Only and finished it for the first time, I felt good and determined. No matter what I went through I wasn't going to let it beat me. This book definitely was inspiring. It inspired me to go after my dreams and that's just what I am doing.
June 12, 2012
Yes. I read this. Stop laughing. It was interesting. You clearly need to spice up your life.
February 18, 2009
How I Came To Read This Book: I borrowed it from my sister Gillian.
The Plot: Geri Halliwell is the fifth member of one of the 90s most popular and famous supergroups - the Spice Girls, but she is perhaps most famous for splitting from the group in '98, as their stars showed no sign of stopping. This book is her autobiography written shortly after her departure from the group, which essentially encapsulates her life pre-Spice as a poor club kid in Watford, and what her role in the evolution of the Spice Girls was, and how she became increasingly disillusioned with fame which spurred her split.
The Good & the Bad: This book is very interesting - as is the other Spice bio I've read, Victoria Beckham's Learn To Fly. I'm kind of glad I read Geri's book a decade after it was written, if only because I know where her career went, and that she actually did reunite with the band. I actually found Geri's background quite interesting (more than Vic's) as she really appeared to always have a hunger for the spotlight, even if she was forced to go about it in shady ways by working in the 'glamour' modeling industry for awhile.
I also found her insight on the Spice Girls interesting. Because her book was so focused on either life pre-Spice or life in-Spice, she went into a fair bit more detail about events and roles in them than Victoria ever did. Additionally, there were some revelations to be had - such as her surprisingly very tight relationship with Mel B and the fact the band apparently made a deal at one point that they'd do everything they could in two years before calling it quits - a promise everyone seemed to forget but Geri.
That being said, there is a note of falsity throughout, particularly when Geri starts to formulate her leaving the group. For one, certain phrases and ideas throughout the book I realized were actually found in the lyrics and themes of her debut solo album - an interesting PR-laden coincidence given her debut single was released a mere two weeks after the book was released (which is mentioned IN the book's epilogue as to "What's next" for Geri). I also found it a bit weird / false - as I did at the time of Geri quitting - that she did such an about-face in terms of her image, motives ("to give back and do something good"), and to become so disillusioned with fame...only to release a solo album within the year. Those things don't ruin the book per se, but they certainly seem to shed a bit of light as to what's included - and possibly left out.
The Bottom Line: A great, interesting read on one of the Spice Girls' most enigmatic and energetic members.
Anything Memorable: Nope, although I promise you'll have some Spice tunes in your head after reading this sucker!
50-Book Challenge?: Book #8 in 2009.
The Plot: Geri Halliwell is the fifth member of one of the 90s most popular and famous supergroups - the Spice Girls, but she is perhaps most famous for splitting from the group in '98, as their stars showed no sign of stopping. This book is her autobiography written shortly after her departure from the group, which essentially encapsulates her life pre-Spice as a poor club kid in Watford, and what her role in the evolution of the Spice Girls was, and how she became increasingly disillusioned with fame which spurred her split.
The Good & the Bad: This book is very interesting - as is the other Spice bio I've read, Victoria Beckham's Learn To Fly. I'm kind of glad I read Geri's book a decade after it was written, if only because I know where her career went, and that she actually did reunite with the band. I actually found Geri's background quite interesting (more than Vic's) as she really appeared to always have a hunger for the spotlight, even if she was forced to go about it in shady ways by working in the 'glamour' modeling industry for awhile.
I also found her insight on the Spice Girls interesting. Because her book was so focused on either life pre-Spice or life in-Spice, she went into a fair bit more detail about events and roles in them than Victoria ever did. Additionally, there were some revelations to be had - such as her surprisingly very tight relationship with Mel B and the fact the band apparently made a deal at one point that they'd do everything they could in two years before calling it quits - a promise everyone seemed to forget but Geri.
That being said, there is a note of falsity throughout, particularly when Geri starts to formulate her leaving the group. For one, certain phrases and ideas throughout the book I realized were actually found in the lyrics and themes of her debut solo album - an interesting PR-laden coincidence given her debut single was released a mere two weeks after the book was released (which is mentioned IN the book's epilogue as to "What's next" for Geri). I also found it a bit weird / false - as I did at the time of Geri quitting - that she did such an about-face in terms of her image, motives ("to give back and do something good"), and to become so disillusioned with fame...only to release a solo album within the year. Those things don't ruin the book per se, but they certainly seem to shed a bit of light as to what's included - and possibly left out.
The Bottom Line: A great, interesting read on one of the Spice Girls' most enigmatic and energetic members.
Anything Memorable: Nope, although I promise you'll have some Spice tunes in your head after reading this sucker!
50-Book Challenge?: Book #8 in 2009.
June 1, 2023
TWs: eating disorders, body image issues
I wasn't huge fan of the Spice Girls. I liked a few of their songs but they weren't my thing. I had a sort of liking for Robbie Williams from Take That, but I was heavily into Depeche Mode at that time (although Geri & I share a love of George Michael since our early years). So I know a bit about the Spices, but I'm not an expert by any means. The first part of this book was a bit slow & it didn't really 'sound' like Geri, it was very impersonal during her early career as a model (I did this, then & I did that) & keeps the reader at a distance. Once she auditions for the band, things pick up.
I didn't realise that the girls were so involved in writing the songs, I kind of thought they were manufactured like SAW stuff - my bad, & I'm happy to be corrected on that one. It was also sobering reading to see how much Geri struggled with her body image & eating disorders. It must be very difficult being in the public eye & feeling as she did, & I'm not surprised that she eventually took a step back. The edition I read finished before she started off on her solo career & became a mum, so there's still more of her story to tell. Verdict: slow start but the sections about the band were interesting & I enjoyed reading it overall.
I wasn't huge fan of the Spice Girls. I liked a few of their songs but they weren't my thing. I had a sort of liking for Robbie Williams from Take That, but I was heavily into Depeche Mode at that time (although Geri & I share a love of George Michael since our early years). So I know a bit about the Spices, but I'm not an expert by any means. The first part of this book was a bit slow & it didn't really 'sound' like Geri, it was very impersonal during her early career as a model (I did this, then & I did that) & keeps the reader at a distance. Once she auditions for the band, things pick up.
I didn't realise that the girls were so involved in writing the songs, I kind of thought they were manufactured like SAW stuff - my bad, & I'm happy to be corrected on that one. It was also sobering reading to see how much Geri struggled with her body image & eating disorders. It must be very difficult being in the public eye & feeling as she did, & I'm not surprised that she eventually took a step back. The edition I read finished before she started off on her solo career & became a mum, so there's still more of her story to tell. Verdict: slow start but the sections about the band were interesting & I enjoyed reading it overall.
November 11, 2014
3.5 stars
I didn't realize how much Geri struggled in her life... with a lot of things really. Parents in an unhappy marriage, financial stress, mental health issues and an eating disorder to name a few. For the first 1/4 of this book I really felt sorry for her. Then she joined the Spice Girls... I was a big fan when I was younger and let's face it, I still am! Much like Victoria Beckham's book, I got caught up in the excitement of them forming the band and their crazy trip to stardom. However, even though this is "Geri's side" of how things happened I still thought of her as selfish for leaving and I was just as outraged as when I was reading it in VB's book. Funny how that happens.
I'm glad she did what she needed to do for her own well-being and I'm glad for her that the book (which was written in 1999) ended "happy."
I didn't realize how much Geri struggled in her life... with a lot of things really. Parents in an unhappy marriage, financial stress, mental health issues and an eating disorder to name a few. For the first 1/4 of this book I really felt sorry for her. Then she joined the Spice Girls... I was a big fan when I was younger and let's face it, I still am! Much like Victoria Beckham's book, I got caught up in the excitement of them forming the band and their crazy trip to stardom. However, even though this is "Geri's side" of how things happened I still thought of her as selfish for leaving and I was just as outraged as when I was reading it in VB's book. Funny how that happens.
I'm glad she did what she needed to do for her own well-being and I'm glad for her that the book (which was written in 1999) ended "happy."
October 8, 2007
I love this book and this is the first autobiography is have ever read...being a spice girls' fan and particularly Geri's fan, i can't help but want to know more about her. The more i read this book, the more i can relate to her, and her decision to leave the Spice girls...She discusses about her family and explains everything quite clearly. Geri is a clever woman...who is brave to express herself and definitely define the word "Girl Power".
August 6, 2011
Very easy reading and quite interesting not just for the 'behind the scenes' of the Spice Girls, but also getting to know Geri on a more personal level. I never realized just how much she battled with her personal life and appearance, but through reading this book it was nice to see 'first hand' that she's really just a normal person with common problems.
February 8, 2021
I never knew I needed a book about Ginger Spice until I read a book about Ginger Spice.
September 30, 2015
Geri Halliwell was always my favourite Spice Girl. Her cheekiness, her bright red hair, her sense of humour... I loved everything about her and still do! However, up until recently, I'd never owned any of her two autobiographies despite this one being published in 1999 (well, I was 5 when this was released!) so therefore had never read them! And I'm really glad that I left it until now to read, as my 543 page mass market paperback edition of "If Only" took me straight back to my childhood and made me nostalgic in the way only the Spice Girls can do!
There's a recurring theme throughout this book that to me says 'be careful what you wish for because you just might get it' - Geri always wanted to be famous, whether it was by being a glamour model, a tv presenter, or as one of five of the most successful British girlband ever. But when she rapidly achieved her dreams, she realised that the reality of them could never exceed her fantasies. Which in a way is really sad, as even though she was in the biggest group in the world at the time, part of Geri was still desperately unhappy :(
As well as this, Geri openly speaks about her battles with bulimia, and not being able to grieve properly after her fathers death. I found these scenes really hard to read, but it shows that she is a human behind the celebrity.
My favourite scenes to read were about Geri's decision to quit the Spice Girls - at the time when it happened I was 4 and was desperately heartbroken, but reading the book I really do understand why she decided to leave. Of course, its still sad to reflect on my favourite member leaving my favourite band, but now I completely understand why she chose to do so.
I also really liked reading about the formation of the Spice Girls and reading all the behind the scenes stuff about them becoming friends and in rehearsals and preparing for world domination.
All in all, I gave this 5/5 as it has become one of my favourite celebrity autobiographies. I'm now going to start reading Geri's second book "Just For The Record" and be taken back to my childhood all over again with what happened next in Geri's solo career!
There's a recurring theme throughout this book that to me says 'be careful what you wish for because you just might get it' - Geri always wanted to be famous, whether it was by being a glamour model, a tv presenter, or as one of five of the most successful British girlband ever. But when she rapidly achieved her dreams, she realised that the reality of them could never exceed her fantasies. Which in a way is really sad, as even though she was in the biggest group in the world at the time, part of Geri was still desperately unhappy :(
As well as this, Geri openly speaks about her battles with bulimia, and not being able to grieve properly after her fathers death. I found these scenes really hard to read, but it shows that she is a human behind the celebrity.
My favourite scenes to read were about Geri's decision to quit the Spice Girls - at the time when it happened I was 4 and was desperately heartbroken, but reading the book I really do understand why she decided to leave. Of course, its still sad to reflect on my favourite member leaving my favourite band, but now I completely understand why she chose to do so.
I also really liked reading about the formation of the Spice Girls and reading all the behind the scenes stuff about them becoming friends and in rehearsals and preparing for world domination.
All in all, I gave this 5/5 as it has become one of my favourite celebrity autobiographies. I'm now going to start reading Geri's second book "Just For The Record" and be taken back to my childhood all over again with what happened next in Geri's solo career!
November 15, 2015
We as the public only get to see a little glimpse of what happens in the life of our favorite stars, sometimes this little glimpse make us believe we know them and also that we know and that we can judge different situations. If we remember Ginger Spice we collectively will think about a very confident woman with no issues about herself at all... but is Geri Halliwell really the Ginger Spice we all got to know and love?
This book takes us from the very beginning, from a little Geri from Watford that dreams of being famous, to a Geri that hopes that once all her dreams have come true she will finally be able to love herself more, to a Geri that makes all her childhood dreams come true as one of five Spice Girls only to notice that the fame and the feeling she had while dreaming about it does not feel the same in reality.
Why did Geri just "suddenly" up and left the Spice girls when she had all going for her in the group? This and many other answers to questions I didn't know I had, are presented in this bigger glimpse into Geri's life and now everything makes a bit more sense, at least to me... ;)
This book takes us from the very beginning, from a little Geri from Watford that dreams of being famous, to a Geri that hopes that once all her dreams have come true she will finally be able to love herself more, to a Geri that makes all her childhood dreams come true as one of five Spice Girls only to notice that the fame and the feeling she had while dreaming about it does not feel the same in reality.
Why did Geri just "suddenly" up and left the Spice girls when she had all going for her in the group? This and many other answers to questions I didn't know I had, are presented in this bigger glimpse into Geri's life and now everything makes a bit more sense, at least to me... ;)
February 15, 2013
I actually like Geri Halliwell and was a big Spice Girls fan back in the day, which made me think I wouldn't like this. When I read autobiographies about people I like, I tend to come away thinking they are dicks. This was thankfully different :) I didn't know anything about Geri's life before the Spice girls and ended up enjoying reading that bit the most. I liked her determination and drive. How she never gave up even when she kept getting knocked back. The Spice Girls bits seemed to go really quick, was it really only two years they were together? It felt longer at the time. We paid to watch their concert on tv, I remember hopeing that Geri would make a surprise appearance but she never did. Shame it only goes up to the start of her solo career.
April 3, 2011
A very moving story about former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell. From growing up in Watford, several attempts to make it in show business and surviving just to eat. From her battle with buliema and the death of her father. To the rise of fame with the Spice Girls to her decision to leave the group. The Spice Girls were my favorite group when i was in high school so they shaped me in some form. As much as I loved Mel B and if you read this book you can see why. But there was always that thing Geri had and it made me like her the best. To reveal personal stories about her life from the good, bad and joyful to disappointments.
June 3, 2014
While I am a fan of "Ginger Spice" and "Geri" and liked this book, I found that it could have been edited a little better. Things tended to jump around a lot and didn't flow as much as I would have like - dates would have also helped.
One thing that I didn't like what that Geri kept mentioning that she was alone and didn't trust anyone and then would mention how her sister, brother or longtime friend knew her better than anyone and were always there for her.
I have her second book and am excited to read that!
One thing that I didn't like what that Geri kept mentioning that she was alone and didn't trust anyone and then would mention how her sister, brother or longtime friend knew her better than anyone and were always there for her.
I have her second book and am excited to read that!
November 11, 2015
Oh, man! This book is intense! I mean, REALLY intense! Geri Halliwell pulls no punches in telling the story of her life. Not recommended for anyone under thirteen - and maybe you should even be a little older than that! - but if you're mature enough, prepare for a gripping, deeply emotional, and at times painful depiction of the inner life of a celebrity. This shows not to judge a book by its cover: no matter how much wealth and fame a person has, they are still human, can still feel pain, and are still deserving of our sympathy.
Read
July 1, 2008Aw Geri - you won me over. I used to make fun of you for being so trashy and overbearing. Now I understand, you were just insecure like so many pop stars.
Written in 1999, a short time after the Spice Girls broke up. I think this would be a different book if it were written today. I'm sure the few years away from that spotlight have changed her quite a bit. Plus, with the reunion -omg, the stories!
I'm serious.
Written in 1999, a short time after the Spice Girls broke up. I think this would be a different book if it were written today. I'm sure the few years away from that spotlight have changed her quite a bit. Plus, with the reunion -omg, the stories!
I'm serious.
April 15, 2018
I read this a long time ago, sometime after the Spice Girls broke up. I don't remember a lot about it, just her trying to justify quitting the Spice Girls as something rather noble instead of selfish. I don't really care about her reasons, but I've always found Halliwell fairly manipulative, always trying to present her side of the story so she looks like the hero. Between this and the documentary movie that they made about her just after she left the band, I developed a dislike for her.
February 20, 2020
Not great writer, but she was my childhood heroine so i'm very biased
February 18, 2008
I didn't enjoy this book as much as Victoria Beckhams. Most of it was an interesting read, however in some parts she really doesn't come across very well. She does, however, show that behind all the bravado of 'ginger spice' there is more to her than meets the eye... An ok read, but there are definitely better books out there...
May 6, 2009
The inaugural book for my new "shelf of shame". You've probably read books similar to these, but you're too busy adding pretentious reviews to your profile to admit it..
I came to read this ghost written, substance less gem after finding it on the shelf at Kyle's grandad's. He claimed it belonged to Kyle's cousin, Natalia. Sure, I believe you Mr. Meikle. I believe you.
I came to read this ghost written, substance less gem after finding it on the shelf at Kyle's grandad's. He claimed it belonged to Kyle's cousin, Natalia. Sure, I believe you Mr. Meikle. I believe you.
September 10, 2010
I read this years ago, right around the time I was convinced I would've been a Spice Girl 'if only' I grew up in England ;) I'm sure she had one hell of a shadow writer, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
June 14, 2013
Being someone who enjoys biographies, I added this to my collection and found it to be a very honest, insightful account which reminds us that Geri is only human too...was a few years back but remembering it to be an enjoyable read.
February 13, 2014
i thought she was amazingly honest about her eating disorders and about her sometimes erratic mood swings. she didnt hide her past, which sometimes was questionable, but always strived to accomplish her dream which she did. good luck to her in the future
February 7, 2009
It was an easy fun read by someone with an ounce of depth.
February 24, 2009
An excellent biography
July 10, 2016
Pretty good! I was surprised. She is fairly candid.
July 18, 2012
Very Insightful account of her Time in the Spice Girls
August 15, 2012
Read this a while ago and enjoyed it. Watching the Spice Girls during the closing ceremonies reminded me about it.
November 9, 2012
Great memoir!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews