BOOKS

May Reads: Memoirs, Misses & a Little Magic

I’ll be honest—I’m not big on fiction. I have this habit of believing everything I read is real (which makes fantasy novels very confusing). So, I stick to non-fiction and memoirs, where the wild stories actually happened—or at least might’ve.

Right now, I’m wrapped up in I Regret Almost Everything, the memoir of restaurateur Keith McNally. It’s a rags-to-riches story with a heavy side of heartbreak, scandal, and soul-searching. He spills it all—including a grand love affair with a man, and a few other dalliances along the way. It made me think of the Edith Piaf classic “Je Ne Regrette Rien.” I mean, really—who doesn’t have some regrets? But everything? That’s next-level.

Honestly, hats off to McNally for laying it all out. It’s raw, messy, human—and totally worth a read. (Quick heads-up: If you’re under 50, a few of the celebrity names might go right over your head, but that’s half the fun. Google is your friend!)

Now, not every memoir this month was a hit. There was one I had high hopes for—written by a brilliant comedy writer who’s crafted zingers for some of the greats. I won’t name names (he’s a sweetheart and has plenty of fans), but his book was… a bit of a headache. The first few pages felt like a wordy rollercoaster with no seatbelt. I had to tap out. Still, don’t take my word for it—look it up and see if it’s your kind of ride.

And then came the surprise gem of the month: Fearless and Free by Josephine Baker. I thought it’d be light bedtime reading—glamorous, a little gossipy—but it turned out to be so much more. Originally written in French in 1949 and only recently translated, it reads like an interview and dives deep into her incredible life. Glamour? Check. Intrigue? Check. French Resistance heroics during WWII? Also check. The style is totally of its time, and I loved every word of it.

So that’s the literary lineup from my merry month of May.

Oh—and speaking of memoirs, mine’s out there too! Scattershot: My Journey from the Projects to Paris to Rodeo Drive is on Amazon, and people are loving it (just check the reviews!).

Happy reading—and remember, real life is often stranger (and more fabulous) than fiction.

---