Let’s be real—memoirs can either be snooze-fests or page-turners, and Cher’s? Absolutely the latter. This first installment (with Part 2 due in 2025) isn’t just a celebrity fluff piece; it’s a *rollercoaster* of vulnerability, grit, and sequins. Stephanie J. Block (Broadway’s Cher) co-narrates, and their voices blend so seamlessly you’ll forget who’s who—a testament to how well Block channels Cher’s essence.

The biggest surprise? Cher’s *rawness*. Behind the diva persona is a woman who battled poverty, addiction, and emotional abuse with zero entitlement—just relentless hustle. Her reflections on Sonny Bono are particularly striking: she acknowledges his manipulation and infidelity without bitterness, almost with a childlike fondness. It’s complicated, messy, and *human*.

Trigger warnings abound (domestic violence, gaslighting), but Cher’s wit and warmth balance the heaviness. She dishes on her iconic Bob Mackie designs (obviously) and her mom’s outdated ‘success = landing a man’ mindset—but it’s her candidness about reclaiming her career that hits hardest. The prose isn’t Pulitzer-worthy (ghostwriter vibes), but her voice *leaps* off the page like she’s chatting over coffee.

For fans: It ends pre-movie stardom, leaving you desperate for Part 2. For newbies: You’ll finish this feeling like you *know* Cher—the woman behind the glitter, not just the legend.