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Who I Am
For the first time ever, Melanie C, aka Sporty Spice, tells her amazing life story in her own words and gives a full and honest account of what life was really like in the Spice Girls. I never told my story before because I wasn't ready. Now, finally, I am. 25 years ago, The Spice Girls, a girlband that began after answering an advert in the paper, released our first single. 'Wannabe' became a hit and from that moment, my life changed for ever. I was suddenly part of one of the biggest music groups in history, releasing hit after hit, performing to our wonderful fans and spreading the message of Girl Power to the world. It was everything I'd dreamed of growing up, and I've had some incredible times... The BRITs! The movie! Travelling the world playing iconic venues like Madison Square Garden, The O2, Wembley Stadium and The London 2012 Olympics!!! When you're a woman, though, that power can be easily taken away by those around you, whether by pressure, exhaustion, shaming, bullying or a constant feeling like you aren't enough. I have been known as Sporty Spice, Mel C, Melanie C or just plain old Melanie Chisholm, but what you will read within the pages of this book is who I truly am, and how I found peace with that after all these years. I have really enjoyed reminiscing and getting everything down on the page, and, though revisiting some of my darkest times was hard, I hope this book can be inspiring and empowering as well as entertaining and give you a bit of a laugh.
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First published September 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 652 reviews
September 28, 2023
I was a big spice girls fan so it was really interesting to get a peek behind the scenes. I was also surprised by how many solo albums Melanie C has made, such a force of nature! It was also surprising that she struggled so much with low self-esteem and had an eating disorder. However, the writing got a bit repetitive, some parts could have been left out without it affecting the book.
September 22, 2022
I loved this book!
I listened to the audiobook, which Mel C reads herself and it was incredible. I just had to get the physical copy for my 5-star bookshelf.
Who doesn't love the Spice Girls! The girl group that took over the world, the girl group that they said would not work. This book takes you behind the scenes, and into the life of Sporty Spice.
Mel C is so frank and open about this time in her life. It was not all glitz and glamour; things were heard for these girls. It made me sad to hear what they went through, the way they were treated and made to feel. They worked so hard for everything that happened for them.
There were so many great stories, how she met and ended up working with Bryan Adams, their first trip to the Brits, the reunion tours and so many more. It is a must read for any Spice Girls fan.
Who was your favourite Spice Girl??
I listened to the audiobook, which Mel C reads herself and it was incredible. I just had to get the physical copy for my 5-star bookshelf.
Who doesn't love the Spice Girls! The girl group that took over the world, the girl group that they said would not work. This book takes you behind the scenes, and into the life of Sporty Spice.
Mel C is so frank and open about this time in her life. It was not all glitz and glamour; things were heard for these girls. It made me sad to hear what they went through, the way they were treated and made to feel. They worked so hard for everything that happened for them.
There were so many great stories, how she met and ended up working with Bryan Adams, their first trip to the Brits, the reunion tours and so many more. It is a must read for any Spice Girls fan.
Who was your favourite Spice Girl??
September 17, 2022
Hold onto to your hats - it’s gonna be a long one.
Spice Girls was the epitome of my childhood and to say I was happy to get this book would be an understatement. Who doesn’t remember growing up pretending to be the Spice Girls?! Collecting the sticker books and putting on concerts.
When this book came in the mail I screamed; I have never been so excited to read a memoir! So yeah maybe my review will be a little (a lot) biased, but it’s my post sooo 🤷🏻♀️
This book was exactly what you wanted it to be - the making and rise of the Spice Girls and everything in between. It starts off with Mel C giving us some background of her own life growing up and how she came to audition for what would eventually be the Spice Girls.
I loved reading about them starting out and how they were just running around, genuinely having a good time, while also working their asses off. I was laughing out loud at them performing in board rooms for meetings, going on adventures, and often peeing in random places?! 😂
“We’d turn up in an office somewhere, tear the place up and leave, everybody’s ties and hairs blowing in the wind. We were a tornado.”
Mel C did show us the downside of the group too. She showcased the struggles the girls had as the pressure mounted and arguments turned more serious. Mel C also provides a raw look at her own struggles along the way (the comments she received early on were infuriating to read). She often struggled with her mental health and eating disorders for years. She does provide trigger warnings and resources for this at the beginning of the book which is always appreciated.
Say what you want about them, but the Spice Girls paved the way for girl bands and didn’t conform to what anyone wanted them to be. They wrote and sang what they wanted, dressed how they wanted, and performed how they wanted.
Thank you THANK YOU to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Books for this gifted copy. It was a dream come true.
And a special thank you to Mel C for giving us such an honest look into her life. Proud to be a Spice Girl fan 💜
Spice Girls was the epitome of my childhood and to say I was happy to get this book would be an understatement. Who doesn’t remember growing up pretending to be the Spice Girls?! Collecting the sticker books and putting on concerts.
When this book came in the mail I screamed; I have never been so excited to read a memoir! So yeah maybe my review will be a little (a lot) biased, but it’s my post sooo 🤷🏻♀️
This book was exactly what you wanted it to be - the making and rise of the Spice Girls and everything in between. It starts off with Mel C giving us some background of her own life growing up and how she came to audition for what would eventually be the Spice Girls.
I loved reading about them starting out and how they were just running around, genuinely having a good time, while also working their asses off. I was laughing out loud at them performing in board rooms for meetings, going on adventures, and often peeing in random places?! 😂
“We’d turn up in an office somewhere, tear the place up and leave, everybody’s ties and hairs blowing in the wind. We were a tornado.”
Mel C did show us the downside of the group too. She showcased the struggles the girls had as the pressure mounted and arguments turned more serious. Mel C also provides a raw look at her own struggles along the way (the comments she received early on were infuriating to read). She often struggled with her mental health and eating disorders for years. She does provide trigger warnings and resources for this at the beginning of the book which is always appreciated.
Say what you want about them, but the Spice Girls paved the way for girl bands and didn’t conform to what anyone wanted them to be. They wrote and sang what they wanted, dressed how they wanted, and performed how they wanted.
Thank you THANK YOU to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Books for this gifted copy. It was a dream come true.
And a special thank you to Mel C for giving us such an honest look into her life. Proud to be a Spice Girl fan 💜
December 30, 2022
*last audiobook on Overdrive app before its shut down in lieu of Libby*
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Read by the author: great narration
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I remember being caught up in the spice girls, and immediately being drawn to ginger spice (Geri inspired me to dye my hair red when I was 17, still don't know how I convinced Dad to let me do it) :). Their songs really touched me and made me happy.
One of my favorite memories is dancing with my cousins to the instanbul concert I had taped off the TV and having so much fun. I never let anyone else be Ginger haha(which made my cousin mad at the time, we made her be baby spice) and I think my other cousin was scary or sporty) .
They were just so... cool 😎 To teen me, they seemed larger than life and on top of the world.. super glamorous and with no cares in the world.
When you are young, you usually don't pay attention to the in and outs of fame... I do remember wanting to be their friend and hang out on tour.
It was only later on, reading Geri's books and watching interviews and now Mel C's book... seeing the glimpses into behind the scenes. What they put up with .. just want to hug them all.
So much if what Melanie c said about anxiety and depression resonated with me. Our experiences aren't the same but we're part of a special "club" for lack of a better word..one we didn't really ask for.
Its sad that mental health wasn't talked about as much back then.. I'm glad for her she got the help she needed.
Melanie made it through the storms of her life and did it climbing that thorny path and hanging on through everything. It gives me hope for myself.
Would highly recommend this, don't judge this as another celebrity memoir.. to use the author's words its "a human story".. there's many currents than the obvious one.
(Excuse any typos, wrote this with a headache)
---
Read by the author: great narration
---
I remember being caught up in the spice girls, and immediately being drawn to ginger spice (Geri inspired me to dye my hair red when I was 17, still don't know how I convinced Dad to let me do it) :). Their songs really touched me and made me happy.
One of my favorite memories is dancing with my cousins to the instanbul concert I had taped off the TV and having so much fun. I never let anyone else be Ginger haha(which made my cousin mad at the time, we made her be baby spice) and I think my other cousin was scary or sporty) .
They were just so... cool 😎 To teen me, they seemed larger than life and on top of the world.. super glamorous and with no cares in the world.
When you are young, you usually don't pay attention to the in and outs of fame... I do remember wanting to be their friend and hang out on tour.
It was only later on, reading Geri's books and watching interviews and now Mel C's book... seeing the glimpses into behind the scenes. What they put up with .. just want to hug them all.
So much if what Melanie c said about anxiety and depression resonated with me. Our experiences aren't the same but we're part of a special "club" for lack of a better word..one we didn't really ask for.
Its sad that mental health wasn't talked about as much back then.. I'm glad for her she got the help she needed.
Melanie made it through the storms of her life and did it climbing that thorny path and hanging on through everything. It gives me hope for myself.
Would highly recommend this, don't judge this as another celebrity memoir.. to use the author's words its "a human story".. there's many currents than the obvious one.
(Excuse any typos, wrote this with a headache)
October 17, 2022
I really enjoyed Mel C's memoir!! She opens up about her struggles with depression, mental health, eating disorders and so much more in this honest, no holds bar memoir of her childhood and time before, during and after the Spice Girls. If you grew up in the 90s/2000s, this is a must read, especially if you were a fan of the iconic girl group! Great on audio read by the author herself too!
March 1, 2023
I grew up in the 90s so obviously the Spice Girls were pivotal to my childhood. I knew I HAD to read this book as soon as I knew it existed.
However, it just....wasn't good.
First of all, it's WAY too long. Like OMG. It starts at her childhood and goes through the pandemic but in a way that is WAY too rambly and jumbled. Which leads me to my second point...
The EDITING. I don't think I've ever read a book with such terrible editing. The book is alllll over the place. It truly feels like she was writing in her diary and just decided to publish it. So many random names that don't mean anything to the story. So many random boring details. It just took away from it all.
The TONE. It actually made me wish I had never read it because it took away the magic of the Spice Girls. It kinda felt like she was throwing all of the other girls under the bus and never really owning her mistakes. Idk. It felt like she was bashing all of them through the entire thing. She talks poorly of Mel B and Geri, specifically and it just left a bad taste in my mouth.
I was also disappointed to find that the Spice Girls only is part of the book. The second half of the book is her solo career, which honestly did not need to be 8 chapters and is far less interesting than her Spice Girls career.
And then, RANDOMLY, this turns into a self help book?? She then spends a chapter on mental health and sharing tips on how to overcome anxiety and depression. Which is like, nice, I guess? but also really random and confusing.
Honestly, I feel like someone gave her free rein of this book and no one ever told her no.
Maybe the audio book is better? But the audio book is also 15 hours long soooo IDK, y'all.
Maybe just go watch some old Spice Girls music videos on YouTube instead, if nostalgia is what you're after.
However, it just....wasn't good.
First of all, it's WAY too long. Like OMG. It starts at her childhood and goes through the pandemic but in a way that is WAY too rambly and jumbled. Which leads me to my second point...
The EDITING. I don't think I've ever read a book with such terrible editing. The book is alllll over the place. It truly feels like she was writing in her diary and just decided to publish it. So many random names that don't mean anything to the story. So many random boring details. It just took away from it all.
The TONE. It actually made me wish I had never read it because it took away the magic of the Spice Girls. It kinda felt like she was throwing all of the other girls under the bus and never really owning her mistakes. Idk. It felt like she was bashing all of them through the entire thing. She talks poorly of Mel B and Geri, specifically and it just left a bad taste in my mouth.
I was also disappointed to find that the Spice Girls only is part of the book. The second half of the book is her solo career, which honestly did not need to be 8 chapters and is far less interesting than her Spice Girls career.
And then, RANDOMLY, this turns into a self help book?? She then spends a chapter on mental health and sharing tips on how to overcome anxiety and depression. Which is like, nice, I guess? but also really random and confusing.
Honestly, I feel like someone gave her free rein of this book and no one ever told her no.
Maybe the audio book is better? But the audio book is also 15 hours long soooo IDK, y'all.
Maybe just go watch some old Spice Girls music videos on YouTube instead, if nostalgia is what you're after.
Want to read
June 27, 2022I’ll tell ya what I want, what I really really want…
… I just want to have this in my hands already 😍😭
… I just want to have this in my hands already 😍😭
October 13, 2022
I was never a Spice Girls fan and did not know their story. I was shocked to learn their career spanned over only a two year period.
This autobiography is the perfect book to understand fame and fortune doesn’t automatically lead to romance and happiness. Instant success brings so many personal issues. I understand her need to be a voice now but although she is proud of her solo career, I am sorry to say I only know of her Bryan a Adam’s duo.
At the end of the book, she did not convince me she is truly happy and that her issues are completely gone.
Ai though Frank with her anorexia and body image, I wish she would have shared more about her personal life. Also, you won’t find out what the Spice Girls were fighting about and why Geri left.
I knew they were a made-up group but just found out how they stood out for themselves and gained control as a group. I guess that is what you call Girl Power.
I do recommend and you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy!
This autobiography is the perfect book to understand fame and fortune doesn’t automatically lead to romance and happiness. Instant success brings so many personal issues. I understand her need to be a voice now but although she is proud of her solo career, I am sorry to say I only know of her Bryan a Adam’s duo.
At the end of the book, she did not convince me she is truly happy and that her issues are completely gone.
Ai though Frank with her anorexia and body image, I wish she would have shared more about her personal life. Also, you won’t find out what the Spice Girls were fighting about and why Geri left.
I knew they were a made-up group but just found out how they stood out for themselves and gained control as a group. I guess that is what you call Girl Power.
I do recommend and you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy!
November 28, 2022
I listened to the Audio book of 'Who I am' read by Melanie C. What a lovely, personal and interesting story!
It needed a really good edit though, far too long and quite repetitive. It was a shame because what Melanie C had to say was so worthwhile listening to and I appreciate and applaud her digging so deep to share it.
It needed a really good edit though, far too long and quite repetitive. It was a shame because what Melanie C had to say was so worthwhile listening to and I appreciate and applaud her digging so deep to share it.
March 29, 2023
Two stars is generous - this was pretty bad. The book is disorganized and (unsurprisingly) not well written - it jumps around a bit and the timeline is hard to follow. Mel C has a weird tendency to include details of meeting people who later died. She also seems to be a big fan of listing things that defined a given decade.
I skimmed the first 100 pages and the last 100 pages (early life and solo career). But what can I say - I was a big Spice Girls fan in 1997-1998 and enjoyed reading that portion of the book.
I skimmed the first 100 pages and the last 100 pages (early life and solo career). But what can I say - I was a big Spice Girls fan in 1997-1998 and enjoyed reading that portion of the book.
June 1, 2023
This might be one of my favourite autobiographies to date.
She's so honest throughout and it was a real deep look into her life and struggles - relatable and raw.
She's so honest throughout and it was a real deep look into her life and struggles - relatable and raw.
November 29, 2023
"In doing the tour, I also realised that I am Sporty Spice. I don't become her, she's within me. I'm a solo artist and I'm a Spice Girl, a mum, a daughter, a girlfriend, a friend, an auntie, a colleague, a human. I am all these things all the time. Good and bad, amazing and shite, this really is me. And accepting myself for that was incredible."
Yes, this book is almost exclusively for Spice Girls fans, and there's one word that permeated the reading experience - nostalgia.
This is not a book you read for the great writing but to get to know the author better, and maybe get some closure on doubts you might have had about what happened to her and the rest of the girls during and after 1996-1998, and probably what the heck does "zig a zig ah" mean.
(And maybe be surprised that your idol is friends with another one of your idols... )
As you go through all the turbulent emotions of Melanie C's career, you suffer and rejoice with her, while "Who Do You Think You Are" or "A Little Piece of Me" are playing in the back of your head.
But one can also take away a few lessons about the music industry, mental illness, feminism (girl power!), and coming to terms with life and oneself. I think Melanie wrote this book both to give fans her version of the truth but also to remind herself that who you are as a person - with all the good and shitty parts of you - is enough, is fine.. And if you are not okay right now, you will be.
And as for me (haha, you'll see), I can say that this book really inspired me not only to accept but to find pride in the fact that I was and still am a Spice Girls fan. You don't have to hate one band/genre in order to love another, and I don't want to feel limited by that kind of thinking anymore.
Accepting and celebrating diversity is one of the legacies of the Spice Girls and I hope to represent that spirit for the rest of my life.
P.S. I can't get over how simple and clean the cover is, it really highlights how less is more.
I wish people would stop putting extra quotes, stickers, and unnecessary ads on the covers of books.
"As a kid I thought that being famous was the coolest thing. People adored you, people wanted to talk to you, people saw you as a person of value, of talent, of substance, of interest. It wasn't until I experienced fame myself that I realised that those of us who seek attention, affirmation and applause are often the least equipped to deal with it. Many musicians, actors, artists, creatives, and so on tend to struggle with mental health problems that can include addiction, anxiety, depression and disordered eating. Our vulnerability is perhaps key to our ability to unlock creativity but it's also the part that can let us down when the going gets tough. Which, when you become "famous", it always does."
"Magazines would highlight the cellulite on women's thighs, rolls of fat on their stomach or sweat stains under their arms and call it "the circle of shame". They would cheerfully berate those who put on weight but then reprimand those who'd lost too much weight. You literally could not win. Women's bodies were the source of constant scrutiny and scorn, and it was completely accepted. This didn't only affect those being talked about, it sent out such damaging messages to the women reading this rubbish too. It was such a harmful time."
"We're not perfect, we do make mistakes. We aren't infallible and the road to recovery isn't a straight one. But it's okay to not be okay and it will be okay."
Yes, this book is almost exclusively for Spice Girls fans, and there's one word that permeated the reading experience - nostalgia.
This is not a book you read for the great writing but to get to know the author better, and maybe get some closure on doubts you might have had about what happened to her and the rest of the girls during and after 1996-1998, and probably what the heck does "zig a zig ah" mean.
(And maybe be surprised that your idol is friends with another one of your idols... )
As you go through all the turbulent emotions of Melanie C's career, you suffer and rejoice with her, while "Who Do You Think You Are" or "A Little Piece of Me" are playing in the back of your head.
But one can also take away a few lessons about the music industry, mental illness, feminism (girl power!), and coming to terms with life and oneself. I think Melanie wrote this book both to give fans her version of the truth but also to remind herself that who you are as a person - with all the good and shitty parts of you - is enough, is fine.. And if you are not okay right now, you will be.
And as for me (haha, you'll see), I can say that this book really inspired me not only to accept but to find pride in the fact that I was and still am a Spice Girls fan. You don't have to hate one band/genre in order to love another, and I don't want to feel limited by that kind of thinking anymore.
Accepting and celebrating diversity is one of the legacies of the Spice Girls and I hope to represent that spirit for the rest of my life.
P.S. I can't get over how simple and clean the cover is, it really highlights how less is more.
I wish people would stop putting extra quotes, stickers, and unnecessary ads on the covers of books.
"As a kid I thought that being famous was the coolest thing. People adored you, people wanted to talk to you, people saw you as a person of value, of talent, of substance, of interest. It wasn't until I experienced fame myself that I realised that those of us who seek attention, affirmation and applause are often the least equipped to deal with it. Many musicians, actors, artists, creatives, and so on tend to struggle with mental health problems that can include addiction, anxiety, depression and disordered eating. Our vulnerability is perhaps key to our ability to unlock creativity but it's also the part that can let us down when the going gets tough. Which, when you become "famous", it always does."
"Magazines would highlight the cellulite on women's thighs, rolls of fat on their stomach or sweat stains under their arms and call it "the circle of shame". They would cheerfully berate those who put on weight but then reprimand those who'd lost too much weight. You literally could not win. Women's bodies were the source of constant scrutiny and scorn, and it was completely accepted. This didn't only affect those being talked about, it sent out such damaging messages to the women reading this rubbish too. It was such a harmful time."
"We're not perfect, we do make mistakes. We aren't infallible and the road to recovery isn't a straight one. But it's okay to not be okay and it will be okay."
September 18, 2022
I absolutely could not put this down. Yes, it has some really triggering moments for anyone that has experienced an eating disorder or mental illness, but she does put a warning at the beginning of the book. I needed to put the book down to process some of it at times, especially a binge eating description that could’ve come from my own diary (scarily accurate to what I’m sure a lot of us go through) and there is a terrifying picture (she says it herself) of Mel when she was in her worst state of anorexia, quite something to take in.
I have read the other Spice Girls Autobiographies, as a huge fan, but have always been a particular fan of Mel C as an individual and a solo artist (Northern Star is a gorgeous album and her recent singles have been absolute bangers!). This book is above all, honest. Totally honest. The description of the experiences all the girls went through in the 90s with fast fame and the press could have tainted the magic of the Spice Girls for me, but the tone in which Mel writes about it doesn’t. It’s honest, but still totally appreciative of the incredible experience that being a Spice Girl continues to give Mel and all the girls. I am sad to see that all of them didn’t really get to enjoy their 96/97/98 years of the band as much as they would’ve wanted to, but it sounds like they are all in an incredible place right now in the present.
I’m still so proud to be a Spice Girl and Mel C fan, and having seen Mel C live last year, I’m so happy for her. She seems to be in the best place right now and I thank her for sharing her story. Mel asks at the end of the book if she should’ve written it, and to that I say you absolutely should’ve, it’s a fantastic book. Thanks for sharing such intimate information with us fans. Love you forever ♥️
I have read the other Spice Girls Autobiographies, as a huge fan, but have always been a particular fan of Mel C as an individual and a solo artist (Northern Star is a gorgeous album and her recent singles have been absolute bangers!). This book is above all, honest. Totally honest. The description of the experiences all the girls went through in the 90s with fast fame and the press could have tainted the magic of the Spice Girls for me, but the tone in which Mel writes about it doesn’t. It’s honest, but still totally appreciative of the incredible experience that being a Spice Girl continues to give Mel and all the girls. I am sad to see that all of them didn’t really get to enjoy their 96/97/98 years of the band as much as they would’ve wanted to, but it sounds like they are all in an incredible place right now in the present.
I’m still so proud to be a Spice Girl and Mel C fan, and having seen Mel C live last year, I’m so happy for her. She seems to be in the best place right now and I thank her for sharing her story. Mel asks at the end of the book if she should’ve written it, and to that I say you absolutely should’ve, it’s a fantastic book. Thanks for sharing such intimate information with us fans. Love you forever ♥️
October 22, 2022
I don’t remember how I became aware of this book, but when I saw that Sporty Spice had recently released a book I immediately bought it. I was a HUGE Spice Girls fan in the late 90s—they were actually my first “favorite band” growing up. I haven’t read any of the other Spice Girls’ memoirs so I didn’t have any insider info going into this read. I really enjoyed learning the background of how the group came to be. Especially because I didn’t have the internet when I was a Spice Girls fan, I learned SO MUCH about the group, and Mel C. specifically, which was so enjoyable. I came away from this feeling that this woman is incredibly driven and can accomplish anything she sets her mind to.
What I didn’t like about this book is that I felt some parts were repetitive and lacked adequate editing. This book was 432 pages, which was a bit long. That’s nothing against the story, or Melanie’s experiences, which are all very valid and hopefully empowering for many readers.
I recommend this book to Spice Girls fans, or anyone who feels they could find empowerment reading about overcoming disordered eating/anxiety/ depression.
What I didn’t like about this book is that I felt some parts were repetitive and lacked adequate editing. This book was 432 pages, which was a bit long. That’s nothing against the story, or Melanie’s experiences, which are all very valid and hopefully empowering for many readers.
I recommend this book to Spice Girls fans, or anyone who feels they could find empowerment reading about overcoming disordered eating/anxiety/ depression.
October 2, 2022
I’m in awe right now. Honest and funny - Mel C. is a storyteller. Someone I would love to go out with and just talk with. This is one of the best memoirs I have read - and I read a lot - even better on audio!
Full rtc.
Full rtc.
June 26, 2023
I was a huge fan of the Spice Girls as a kid, just before it became so uncool to love pop music and cool to hate on all those "prefab" bands. It was great to revisit their story now especially through Chisholm's point of view and to have that image of the Spice Girls as a commercial product without substance pretty much torn to shreds.
This book is also in part an exploration of how toxic the culture of the time was regarding how we dealt with celebrities and their bodies and the toll it took on Chisholm's mental health, it's sometimes quite raw but there's an overall sense that she's made peace with her life so it doesn't make for a super daunting read.
This book is also in part an exploration of how toxic the culture of the time was regarding how we dealt with celebrities and their bodies and the toll it took on Chisholm's mental health, it's sometimes quite raw but there's an overall sense that she's made peace with her life so it doesn't make for a super daunting read.
September 29, 2023
I was excited to read Melanie C’s book as I was absolutely mad for the Spice Girls when I was a teenager.
Unfortunately, this fell a little flat for me. It’s basically a big book that name drops all the famous people she met, a timeline of where she went and how thin she was. There isn’t much emotion, and certainly no secrets are spilled.
She’s done her best to stay on the fence and be polite about everyone, whilst we all know things weren’t as squeaky clean as Mel makes out (if you believe Geri and Mel B’s past interviews and books).
It’s quite repetitive in places, and she has a strange thing for death dates.
The photos in the middle were a nice touch though, some of Victoria grinning are hilarious! It’s amazing to comprehend they were only a fivesome for only two years. What an impact they had in such a short time.
Overall, a generous 3.5* from me, I started getting bored around the half way mark.
Unfortunately, this fell a little flat for me. It’s basically a big book that name drops all the famous people she met, a timeline of where she went and how thin she was. There isn’t much emotion, and certainly no secrets are spilled.
She’s done her best to stay on the fence and be polite about everyone, whilst we all know things weren’t as squeaky clean as Mel makes out (if you believe Geri and Mel B’s past interviews and books).
It’s quite repetitive in places, and she has a strange thing for death dates.
The photos in the middle were a nice touch though, some of Victoria grinning are hilarious! It’s amazing to comprehend they were only a fivesome for only two years. What an impact they had in such a short time.
Overall, a generous 3.5* from me, I started getting bored around the half way mark.
January 31, 2023
Title:
The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl
Author: Melanie Chisholm
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: September 15, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Frank • Insightful • Nostalgic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl is an intimate memoir from international pop star Melanie Chisholm--better known as Mel C. or Sporty Spice--chronicling her trajectory from small-town girl to overnight icon as part of the Spice Girls, one of the biggest music groups in history. In addition to how the band came to be and playing some of the biggest venues in the world, Melanie talks about the pressures of fame, the shaming and bullying she experienced, the struggles she has had with her body image and mental health, and the difficulty of finding yourself when the whole world knows your name.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was nine-years-old when the Spice Girls burst onto the scene and took over the music world. While I cannot honestly say I was a huge fan, I definitely knew who they were, and most of my childhood friends were obsessed, which means I can recall re-enacting performances in living rooms at sleepovers numerous times. As a child, Sporty Spice was the one I related to the most, so of course, I was intrigued when I saw she was releasing a memoir.
This memoir has a pretty linear progression, although it does jump around from time to time, which made things a bit confusing on audio. It delves deeps into the complexities of the music industry giving the reader a behind the scenes glimpse into the relentlessness of fame. One of the parts that surprised me most was how the band came to be. I had no one one of the most popular girl groups came to be because they answered an ad in the newspaper.
Her discussion surrounding her mental health (both during the bands biggest years and during her solo career) really resonated with me. For me, that's where the real value in this memoir is. She opens up about her struggles with anxiety, depression, anorexia and binge eating disorder with the hope of helping someone else, and offering encouragement to ask for help.
Overall, this was a solid memoir with a strong mental health focus. I highly recommend listening to the audio version, read by the author herself, for an enhanced emotional experience. This isn't a tell-tale memoir, so if you're looking for juicy stuff this isn't the book for you.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the Spice Girls
• celebrity memoir enthusiasts
⚠️ CW: mental illness, eating disorder, anorexia, binge eating disorder, body horror, body shaming, anxiety, depression, sexual assault, misogyny, addiction, alcohol, injury/injury detail, death, grief, suicidal thoughts, divorce, bullying
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"We live in much more interesting times now where the gender lines are less binary, and gender is much more fluid. None of us are just one thing, are we? It's something I feel we should hold onto today; that we're all many things, and that's to be celebrated. Our complexity is what makes us so normal/brilliant/unique/interesting!"
Author: Melanie Chisholm
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: September 15, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Frank • Insightful • Nostalgic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl is an intimate memoir from international pop star Melanie Chisholm--better known as Mel C. or Sporty Spice--chronicling her trajectory from small-town girl to overnight icon as part of the Spice Girls, one of the biggest music groups in history. In addition to how the band came to be and playing some of the biggest venues in the world, Melanie talks about the pressures of fame, the shaming and bullying she experienced, the struggles she has had with her body image and mental health, and the difficulty of finding yourself when the whole world knows your name.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was nine-years-old when the Spice Girls burst onto the scene and took over the music world. While I cannot honestly say I was a huge fan, I definitely knew who they were, and most of my childhood friends were obsessed, which means I can recall re-enacting performances in living rooms at sleepovers numerous times. As a child, Sporty Spice was the one I related to the most, so of course, I was intrigued when I saw she was releasing a memoir.
This memoir has a pretty linear progression, although it does jump around from time to time, which made things a bit confusing on audio. It delves deeps into the complexities of the music industry giving the reader a behind the scenes glimpse into the relentlessness of fame. One of the parts that surprised me most was how the band came to be. I had no one one of the most popular girl groups came to be because they answered an ad in the newspaper.
Her discussion surrounding her mental health (both during the bands biggest years and during her solo career) really resonated with me. For me, that's where the real value in this memoir is. She opens up about her struggles with anxiety, depression, anorexia and binge eating disorder with the hope of helping someone else, and offering encouragement to ask for help.
Overall, this was a solid memoir with a strong mental health focus. I highly recommend listening to the audio version, read by the author herself, for an enhanced emotional experience. This isn't a tell-tale memoir, so if you're looking for juicy stuff this isn't the book for you.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the Spice Girls
• celebrity memoir enthusiasts
⚠️ CW: mental illness, eating disorder, anorexia, binge eating disorder, body horror, body shaming, anxiety, depression, sexual assault, misogyny, addiction, alcohol, injury/injury detail, death, grief, suicidal thoughts, divorce, bullying
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"We live in much more interesting times now where the gender lines are less binary, and gender is much more fluid. None of us are just one thing, are we? It's something I feel we should hold onto today; that we're all many things, and that's to be celebrated. Our complexity is what makes us so normal/brilliant/unique/interesting!"
August 8, 2022
I would like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have been a huge fan of the Spice Girls since they first came on the screen and went to their 2008 reunion tour in Toronto. I was hoping one day Mel C would write her own story, as I have read the other ladies books. This did not disappoint. We follow Mel from her childhood, the Spice Girls, and beyond. She is very candid and honest. I enjoyed reading this book.
May 2, 2023
I listened to this book and woah, it's long. 13.5 hours! This is the career journey of Melanie -- and I wish it were more about her relationships. I felt that she would brush over something that had happened and just say "we broke up" and then that was that. Same with the Spice Girl tensions. I just wanted more depth. More specifics. More realizations. Although The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl was 13.5 hours long, I felt like so much was brushed over; that I didn't get the full or deep story. At the end of the book, Melanie says that what's in the book is what she wants people to take away -- and she admits that she could have done better with some stories. For me, Melanie clearly wanted to show people that she's vulnerable, that she was once weak and depleted -- but that she achieved and accomplished and made it herself. This book is very much about her struggles with depression and an eating disorder and her continued struggle. I am not familiar with her solo career (never listened to her music), but a lot of the book is also about her time post Spice Girls.
Read
October 14, 2022I usually stay away from celebrity memoirs, as they can often be gossipy tell-alls, and that’s just not something I gravitate towards.
THE SPORTY ONE isn’t that. It is well-written, candid, and insightful (that doesn’t surprise me, she’s a fantastic song writer, it makes sense). A lot of the anecdotes in the book have been well-documented in the media over the years, although there are plenty of behind-the-scenes. Mel C is frank, but also careful with what she chooses to share, which I completely understand and respect.
I laughed, I cried, I had my heart broken. And reading about everything they dealt with, I’m happy to see they have for the most part remained friends, or at least very supportive of each other.
In summary, The Sporty One is 400+ pages of pure nostalgia, and I enjoyed experiencing Spicemania from the POV of one of the five women who lived it.
(And yes, Mel C was my favorite. Her first solo album is still one I listen to nonstop.)
THE SPORTY ONE isn’t that. It is well-written, candid, and insightful (that doesn’t surprise me, she’s a fantastic song writer, it makes sense). A lot of the anecdotes in the book have been well-documented in the media over the years, although there are plenty of behind-the-scenes. Mel C is frank, but also careful with what she chooses to share, which I completely understand and respect.
I laughed, I cried, I had my heart broken. And reading about everything they dealt with, I’m happy to see they have for the most part remained friends, or at least very supportive of each other.
In summary, The Sporty One is 400+ pages of pure nostalgia, and I enjoyed experiencing Spicemania from the POV of one of the five women who lived it.
(And yes, Mel C was my favorite. Her first solo album is still one I listen to nonstop.)
March 29, 2023
I say this with the utmost respect for my saviours the Spice Girls but this was not a great read (though my hopes are never very high for celebrity memoirs). While it was incredibly interesting to learn more about how the Spice Girls formed and what went on in their short-lived yet infamous run in 96-98, Chrisholm commits some cardinal book/memoir sins:
-incessant name-dropping
-rambling on about random people (sadly they passed from x was a common refrain)
-overuse of exclamation points (like me when I write emails)
-repeating of the same themes (I swear every chapter ends like “it was fine… until it wasn’t!)
-portraying herself as a moralist, in the sense that she’s giving advice
Honestly this was a struggle and I probably should’ve just stuck to reading the Wikipedia on their history. Sorry, Sporty!
-incessant name-dropping
-rambling on about random people (sadly they passed from x was a common refrain)
-overuse of exclamation points (like me when I write emails)
-repeating of the same themes (I swear every chapter ends like “it was fine… until it wasn’t!)
-portraying herself as a moralist, in the sense that she’s giving advice
Honestly this was a struggle and I probably should’ve just stuck to reading the Wikipedia on their history. Sorry, Sporty!
March 10, 2025
I was never really a Spice Girls fan, but having a little sister around during the height of their popularity, they were always in my periphery. I remember even then thinking, “Damn... the one in the track suit can sing.” So, when Melanie C released her first solo effort, I picked up a copy and I’ve been a fan of hers ever since. She’s got a hell of a story. Don’t be confused. I’m warning you ahead of time. This is a book about the author, not a tell-all about the Spice Girls. That’s what a memoir is. You would think that that goes without saying, but judging by some of the reviews... it doesn’t. From childhood, fame and motherhood to misogyny, mental health and eating disorders, Melanie Chisholm has been through some shit. This would have benefited from a little editing, but otherwise, it’s a very captivating look at the author’s life.
April 18, 2023
I listened to the audiobook and loved it.
Full disclosure she talks a ton about the Spice Girls and I ate it all up. I loved hearing about all the behind the scenes stuff that went down and felt she did a great job detailing everything. Even when she spoke about other areas of her life, I found those super interesting and was surprised what a great writer she was. It definitely took me down memory lane and I found myself re-watching Spice girls music videos to see the stuff Melanie C was talking about. If you're a spice girls fan I would definitely recommend this book.
Full disclosure she talks a ton about the Spice Girls and I ate it all up. I loved hearing about all the behind the scenes stuff that went down and felt she did a great job detailing everything. Even when she spoke about other areas of her life, I found those super interesting and was surprised what a great writer she was. It definitely took me down memory lane and I found myself re-watching Spice girls music videos to see the stuff Melanie C was talking about. If you're a spice girls fan I would definitely recommend this book.
November 2, 2022
As a HUGE fan of the Spice Girls, and particularly of Sporty Spice, this memoir was a very beautiful read. It took me back to my childhood and brought many memories, while Mel C was sharing hers with me. The book made one of my idols feel more personable. Mel C is very eloquent and honest with her story and the one she shares with the rest of the spice girls. I appreciated the way she reflected on her success and fame, and I was very impressed on how empathetic and informed she was when she shared her struggles with mental health and eating disorders. Full review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CkalaKxLs...
January 29, 2023
Love love love! All fans should read it
June 11, 2023
A solid 3.5 rounded up because 1) it was linear, 2) she discussed important aspects of her childhood and growing up then jumped into Spice Girls fairly early on, and 3) it never felt as long as it is. Worth a read if you want to mildly spice up your life.
October 10, 2022
So good - such an honest account from Mel C’s perspective on the background of the Spice Girls. It was really interesting to hear all the behind the scenes info on how the Spice Girls formed, the interpersonal dynamics within the group and the darkness that they struggled with
February 8, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
There were a lot of names. (And a lot of them died. (?!)) I had a hard time remembering who was who. And she repeated the same stories or feelings multiple times throughout the book which was odd. Like she wanted to remind us something she mentionned last chapter in case the last time we picked the book was three months ago and needed a refresher, BUT that aside, I LOVED knowing more about the Spice Girls’ journey.
As a child, I recreated the whole show they filmed in Istanbul in my living room. I danced and sang in front of my TV multiple times a day, multiple times a week. It’s probably still somewhere in my brain.
First, I didn’t know it was the only tour they did!
Second, I didn’t know their story as a group of 5 was so short. In my 7 to 9 mind, it was a long run, but it hindsight it was so short for the amount of impact and talent they had.
(And it breaks my little girl’s heart to know that they weren’t getting along since even before Wannabe came out.)
While I was performing as the Spice Girls in my living room, all I wanted to be was a pop star. It’s exactly how Mel C described it. I wanted to be loved by millions. That’s where I thought the peak of happiness was.
I was never even close to be a pop star. It’s now just a dream I let go many years ago, but thank god I let it go. I read Jessica Simpsons, Britney Spears and, now, Mel C memoirs and it would’ve break me. I don’t think my mental health would’ve survived the amount of scrutiny and the lack of personal space and private life. Very far from the American dream I thought it was.
Overall, if you are a Spice Girls fan, you will enjoy it.
If you like to read about the lifestyle of the rich and the famous, you’ll also enjoy it.
It is also about resilience, self-discovery and learning to ask for help.
There were a lot of names. (And a lot of them died. (?!)) I had a hard time remembering who was who. And she repeated the same stories or feelings multiple times throughout the book which was odd. Like she wanted to remind us something she mentionned last chapter in case the last time we picked the book was three months ago and needed a refresher, BUT that aside, I LOVED knowing more about the Spice Girls’ journey.
As a child, I recreated the whole show they filmed in Istanbul in my living room. I danced and sang in front of my TV multiple times a day, multiple times a week. It’s probably still somewhere in my brain.
First, I didn’t know it was the only tour they did!
Second, I didn’t know their story as a group of 5 was so short. In my 7 to 9 mind, it was a long run, but it hindsight it was so short for the amount of impact and talent they had.
(And it breaks my little girl’s heart to know that they weren’t getting along since even before Wannabe came out.)
While I was performing as the Spice Girls in my living room, all I wanted to be was a pop star. It’s exactly how Mel C described it. I wanted to be loved by millions. That’s where I thought the peak of happiness was.
I was never even close to be a pop star. It’s now just a dream I let go many years ago, but thank god I let it go. I read Jessica Simpsons, Britney Spears and, now, Mel C memoirs and it would’ve break me. I don’t think my mental health would’ve survived the amount of scrutiny and the lack of personal space and private life. Very far from the American dream I thought it was.
Overall, if you are a Spice Girls fan, you will enjoy it.
If you like to read about the lifestyle of the rich and the famous, you’ll also enjoy it.
It is also about resilience, self-discovery and learning to ask for help.
October 1, 2022
If you know me well, you know I absolutely love The Spice Girls, I don't care who knows it, I don't care if it takes away my "cool" card.
This was a quick three-day read. I would say Melanie had a rough time in the past with depression and eating disorders, so good on her for coming through the other side. Not a lot of gossip in here, but if you read between the lines - and I do - I think there was some jealousy in the band because let's be frank, she is one of the better singers (I love Emma Bunton's solo work, too).
Also, all of Mel's "wee" stories make me as a tiny-bladdered individual feel SEEN! Girls, you know how it is when you have to pee like a racehorse and there's no place to go but the bushes or a bottle!
Mel, she gets it. I could take another book full of "wee" stories, and she says in the book she may have one in her!
This was a quick three-day read. I would say Melanie had a rough time in the past with depression and eating disorders, so good on her for coming through the other side. Not a lot of gossip in here, but if you read between the lines - and I do - I think there was some jealousy in the band because let's be frank, she is one of the better singers (I love Emma Bunton's solo work, too).
Also, all of Mel's "wee" stories make me as a tiny-bladdered individual feel SEEN! Girls, you know how it is when you have to pee like a racehorse and there's no place to go but the bushes or a bottle!
Mel, she gets it. I could take another book full of "wee" stories, and she says in the book she may have one in her!
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