Having read Britney Spears’ autobiography, I thought it might be interesting to read the paparazzi side of her story. Waiting for Britney Spears details the author’s journey into the dark side of celebrity reporting. Drugs, alcohol, and high speed chases abound in this story. You will hear details of upscale restaurants and mansions of the rich and famous. It also paints the reality of someone that is famous and can’t get 2 minutes to herself. Someone that is a person like the rest of us but can’t get a break, until she literally breaks. Follow along on the wild ride of Britney Spears.

While I found this book detailed and interesting, I also found it to be very overwritten, loaded with adjectives that seemed unnecessary, bogging down the plotline. Clearer sentence structure would be a better way to convey the story.

What I thought would be a book of fun gossipy reminiscing quickly evolves into thoughtful reflections on the toxicity of paparazzi culture of the 2000’s from the lens of Britney’s media coverage. It’s exciting and engaging writing with real depth, and I found myself equally in the pop culture tidbits and the author’s own personal experiences. I adore Britney, and I’m always a little skeptical of anyone using her name and legacy, but the author treats writing about her with care and following his evolution alongside hers makes for a really compelling narrative. A worthwhile read for anyone who loves early 2000’s pop culture and are ready to reckon with its dark side.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

Waiting for Britney Spears, a True Story, Allegedly, is a ridiculously well-written account of the rise and fall of Britney Spears as experienced through the eyes of Jeff Weiss, a former tabloid writer. He begins his tale recounting his experience as a crowd extra in one of Spears’ first music videos and closes his book with the establishment of her family’s controversial conservatorship over the troubled star. Weiss’ affection for Spears is evident and rings true—while he acknowledges that he was also part of the exploitation machine that added to her struggles in the mid-2000s (and grapples with his guilt about it as well…). It was compelling to read about how the tabloid industry operates (both ethically and otherwise) and Weiss is a gifted writer. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my unbiased review.