Beyond the Rating: Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything

Looking deeper into Alyson Stoner's Memoir

What’s it About?

After 17 years in Hollywood, Alyson learns their bank account is at zero dollars. Maybe their team (and their mom) doesn’t actually have their back? This book walks through their experiences from getting an agent at age 7 to now, working as a mental health advocate.

CW: mental illness / eating disorder, exploitation, abuse

What Do I Think?

I found myself laughing out loud multiple times and admiring her clever analogies. And the name-dropping in a book about an entertainment personality is always interesting. That said, the book is truly heartbreaking at times and the content warnings must be heeded as they are described in graphic detail.

This almost earned a 4 star rating from me as I really felt like I got to know the author and their struggles, but I wish there was a bit more time spent on the not-so-bad parts of their life.

What’s the Narrator Like?

Listen to the audiobook if you’re a voice acting geek. The author skillfully narrates the book, modulating their voice to reflect their young, teenage, and adult self, their mother, their “people,” and actors and crew on their various projects.