I have to start this review with a caveat: I was in the prime age for Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica on MTV to rock my world. I watched that show with fervor. I wanted to be as beautiful as Jessica Simpson. I coveted her hair, her makeup, her fashion, her house, everything. When Nick Lachey and Jessica divorced, I was devastated. Their reality show had sold me, and I just knew they were the perfect couple. I mean, why else would they write such beautiful love songs for each other?
When Open Book was released, I immediately put it on my to-read list, if for nothing else than nostalgia. I didn’t have high expectations. Jessica Simpson was famous for lines like “Is this chicken or tuna I’m eating?” Certainly, the woman who uttered this well-known question could not write a compelling autobiography. I am pleased to say that I underestimated her. From the first chapter, I was hooked.
Now, granted, Jessica Simpson had help, but the stories are all hers, and, boy, does she go deep. Nothing, it seems, is off the table. Sex, lies, scandals – it’s all in there. The most interesting parts for me were, of course, those centered around Newlyweds and her relationship with Nick. We all know how scripted reality shows are, but to get an insider perspective on the life of one of the first reality stars is eye-opening. It’s an important reminder in the age of social media influencers that life behind the curtains is often not what it seems.