CLICK TO PRINT CLOSE WINDOW

Reality TV Stars Gone Literary

Cookbooks, memoirs and more from your favorite reality stars.

by Rebecca Adler Warren { View Profile }

Images loading...

Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin

She was famous long before her reality show, but as Griffin puts it, "My Life on the D-List, or as I like to call it, ‘My Little Ghetto Fake Network Show,’ has actually been the best thing that’s ever happened to my career." Two Emmy’s and one hilarious, Oprah-baiting memoir later, we can’t help but agree. Buy it here.

The Naked Truth by Danielle Staub

Kidnapper, stripper, housewife, author. That’s the career trajectory of New Jersey Housewife Danielle Staub, who sets the record straight about her infamous past in The Naked Truth. Staub dishes on everything from childhood sex abuse to her divorce, but manages to stay mum when it comes to her castmates. Buy it here.

I Do, Now What? by Giuliana & Bill Rancic

The E! News host and Apprentice winner met in front of the camera (she was interviewing him) and later married. Now they’ve got their own reality TV show and this book, a couple’s guide to marriage, money, baby-making and more. I Do reads like a kooky, honest, totally in love transcript from one of the couple’s long distance (she calls L.A. home, he resides in Chicago) phone conversations. Buy it here.

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler

Handler’s career as a bestselling author was launched years before her current run as E!‘s late night talk show host. Fresh off her run on the reality prank show Girl’s Behaving Badly, Handler published My Horizontal Life. Her newest collection of essays pays homage to her often ridiculous childhood, living with her then-boyfriend ("He’s similar to a large toddler, the only difference being he doesn’t cry when he wakes up.") and dog ownership. Buy it here.

Class with the Countess by Countess LuAnn de Lesseps

Elegance and grace probably aren’t the first words that come to mind when describing Real Housewives star Luann de Lesseps. She’s been known to gossip about her castmates, make out in public and sing auto-tune enhanced dance music ("Elegance is Learrrrrned!"). But that hasn’t stopped this former beauty queen from capitalizing on her life as the wife of a European count (they’ve since divorced). Here, she rather convincingly extols the virtues of the "international air kiss," the best remedy for jet lag and provides an illustrated guide to formal place settings. Buy it here.

Didn’t I Feed You Yesterday by Laura Bennett

Remember the pregnant Project Runway finalist Laura Bennett? You know, the one from Manhattan with five kids and one on the way. Her most recognizable post-reality TV move is this book, a witty, revealing, often over-the-top guide for modern moms. A sample: "As if I needed another reason, every package of eight-pound baby comes with a special toy surprise-a designer handbag, an art deco bracelet, or a pair of fabulous shoes. My husband’s gifts are incentive enough to endure nine months of pregnancy." Buy it here.

Little Kids, Big City by Alex McCord and Simon Van Kempen

The Real Housewife and her husband on raising two boys in The Big Apple. Buy it here.

This is Why You’re Fat by Jackie Warner

Bravo’s resident fitness guru and reality star packs her exercise tome with plenty of straightforward advice including, health tips, recipes, exercise routines and more. Buy it here.

Never Make the Same Mistake Twice by Nene Leakes

With chapter titles like "The Gun Should Have Been the First Sign" and "‘Hustler’ is Not a Good Job Title," it’s clear that outrageous, outspoken Atlanta Housewife Nene Leakes is not above telling it like it is. She shares life lessons and, more importantly, mounds of behind the scenes dirt on her beef with castmates Kim and Sheree. Buy it here.

Skinny Italian by Teresa Giudice

Label lovin’ New Jersey Housewife Teresa credits a DIY Italian diet with helping her stay thin and fabulous, four children later. "I swear on Us magazine, I have never had lipo, a tummy tuck, a "mommy makeover," or even a C-section," she writes. In her guide to living la bella vita, she shares recipes, style advice (don’t read Vogue, do "people-watch your way into fashion") and plenty of family photos. Buy it here.

Uncharted TerriTORI by Tori Spelling

The 90210 actress turned Oxygen reality star has found new success as an author. Her juicy third memoir chronicles the truth about her weight, her reconciliation with mom Candy and a psychic reading with a message from Farrah Fawcett.

The Skinnygirl Dish by Bethenny Frankel

Bravo’s hardest-working star is all business in this book of recipes for a naturally thin body. Luckily Frankel is as frank about food as she is about her relationships. Our favorite tip: "Nothing irritates me more than the idea that bread is evil because it is made of ‘carbs,’ but it’s just fine to gorge on bacon, cheeseburger, steak and eggs. A slice of bread with a good-investment topping is one of my very favorite quick snacks." Amen, sister. Buy it here.

The Master Your Metabolism Cookbook by Jillian Michaels

The Biggest Loser’s toughie weight-loss coach Michaels wants you to breakup with fad diets and eat balanced meals instead. Here, she provides recipes and no BS advice for living a healtheir life. Buy it here.

I Just Want You to Know by Kate Gosselin

The busy mom to eight and reality TV diva Gosselin just wants us to know that she’s a well-meaning person and a good mother, at least that’s the take away from this memoir on faith and family. In her signature voice, Gosselin chronicles the beginnings of her big brood and writes intimate letters to each of her kids. Buy it here.

Secrets of a Jewish Mother by Jill Zarin, Lisa Wexler, and Gloria Kamen

RHONYs resident yenta Jill Zarin (along with her mother and sister) shares life lessons on beauty, business and (inevitably) interfaith marriage. Buy it here.

The Duggars: 20 and Counting!

In this how-to guide for raising oodles of kids, the Duggars calculate the total number of months Michelle’s been pregnant (144!), confess the real reason all their kids have "J" names and share thrifty tips, like how to make homemade laundry soap. Buy it here.

If You Have to Cry Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone

Acid-tongued PR guru Cutrone doles out career dos and don’ts in her memoir of coming up in the fashion business, finding religion and raising her daughter, Ava. Buy it here.

Become Your Own Matchmaker by Patti Stanger

Want to score a husband? Stanger’s guide to dating and mating has a few clues. One piece of advice: don’t expect to meet your match at the frozen yogurt shop. Buy it here. *FOR OUR DEFINITIVE READING LIST OF THE BOOKS WE LOVED THIS YEAR, CLICK HERE.*

First Published Mon, 2010-08-23 08:35

Find this story at:

http://www.more.com/news/womens-issues/reality-tv-stars-gone-literary

CLICK TO PRINT CLOSE WINDOW