Cheryl

by Sean Smith

The whole country, it seems, has fallen in love with Cheryl Cole. From the first time she stood up to Simon Cowell or shed a genuine tear on hearing a heartbreaking story from one of the X Factor contestants she has found a place in the hearts of a nation. Now, a genuine superstar, she has never forgotten her humble beginnings in Newcastle and for the first time the real story of her difficult path to fame and fortune can be told. The UK's leading celebrity biographer Sean Smith has retraced the steps of her remarkable journey using new research and interviews to reveal the real woman behind the beautiful public face. He discovers a cheeky, feisty, and gifted Geordie girl who has had to battle for everything she has achieved. Cheryl's story begins in a grim, working class area of Newcastle where the lives of her friends and family were blighted by drugs and unemployment. Smith explores the ambitions of a little girl who became a championship dancer and a successful child model but would bunk off school and, at the age of sixteen, entered into a relationship with a drug addict more than ten years older than herself. But thanks largely to her remarkable mother, Joan, Cheryl took her chance to win the Rivals and become part of Girls Aloud, the most successful girl group in UK pop history. Disaster followed in 2003 when she was convicted of an assault on a nightclub toilet attendant and her dreams of stardom almost vanished. The public forgave her then, offered sympathy following allegations of her husband, footballer Ashley Cole's infidelity, before her emergence on the X Factor as an iconic figure for modern women everywhere. As her every move is scrutinised by a celebrity hungry public, Smith discusses what the future holds for Cheryl. Fully illustrated, Cheryl is the definitive biography of this most human of superstars.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Sean Smith is the UK’s leading celebrity biographer and the author of the number one bestseller Cheryl, as well as bestselling books about Tom Jones, Robbie Williams and Kate Middleton.

His books about the most famous people of our times has been translated throughout the world. His subjects include Adele, Kim Kardashian, Gary Barlow, Kylie Minogue, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Victoria Beckham, Jennifer Aniston and J.K. Rowling. The film Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story was based on his biography of the Harry Potter author.

Described by the Independent as a ‘fearless chronicler’, he specialises in meticulous research, going ‘on the road’ to find the real person behind the star image.

Reviews

[Moza_a_240526 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a biography of the famous British singer Cheryl Cole. Cheryl comes from a grim, working class area (New Castle). Despite the problems of drugs and unemployment that surrounded her, she had a strong determination to chase her dream of becoming a pop star. The book revealed how Cheryl’s love of performing evolved from stage to another. Moreover, Cheryl’s personal experiences in the book prove to the readers that posh life is not always fancy, and that it comes with it’s own complications and difficulties. Personally, I enjoyed reading the book. I was able know more about Cheryl as a person and more about her career achievements. Also, I was able to know the reason that ended her marriage with football player ‘Ashley Cole’ and the struggles she faced to maintain her marriage. Luckily, now I know the actual stories behind some of her songs. Sean Smith (the biographer of Cheryl’s book) simply reveals the real woman behind the gorgeous public face.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 2 out of 5]

A window into the world of the lifestyles of the rich and the famous. Almost every single one has a very short shelf-life, even the extraordinarily talented ones. Cheryl C. burgeons with appeal but...was it worth it?

[El · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. Just rambles on and on. Terribly written and no interesting details.

[Book Addict Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am reviewing this book after having read Cheryl's autobiography which was published in 2012. I don't usually enjoy biographies, especially those written by authors with no interest in the subject, just the money that can be made from the book.

Sean Smith however doesn't fall into this category and instead writes books about subjects he is interested in and the research that goes into his work is fantastic (see his Britney biography). This is evident in just how much of what he writes here was similar to what Cheryl wrote in her book. He wasn't far wrong with most of what he wrote.

I intend to read more of Smith's biographies because of the research that went into them meaning you know that it will be a good read.

[miss vampire 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love thiss