Kimberly L. Dallas says:

i bought this book for several reasons, one was i frequently told that i look like ms. b, i don’t think so especially that fabulous hair, also that my nickname as a teen was the wild cherry, (kinda like i interpreted the character on the show was) because i was clueless bout my throwing the mack right back at boys with 2 bodyguards,(bro/sis) that kept me a virgin for a long time. another was i was a vh fan,i’m not anymore. the music,yes, the band,no way. another was curiousity and that is still bothering me. i don’t know why i don’t return it. it seems that she is being open, honest & sincere as possible,but i honestly can’t tell. i truly wonder if everything she wrote & things maybe not written doesn’t indicate an absolute unbelieveable mentally unstable masochist, someone who believed that it was just another role in a show, or a hypocrite wanting you to buy this stuff. in one part, she states she truly blames a woman for his constant cheating because “women know better, are wired differently” then she admits that she cheated on men before the role began,then did it during as well. that she used a man(in more than one way apparently) to get the “courage “? to cancel the role. i refuse to call that mess a “marriage”, not even mine was that surreal & it was. i don’t see how anyone could call it a real marriage, just a long running horrible role with an all access (what a interesting way to put it) pass.
i admire her sincere love for her son. i do not understand how anyone could insist that he was better off in an on/off season 2 parent “family”. and to advise him to call my manager about that bucks for *ucks scum?(no offense intended) as soon as i overheard that conversation, i’d have found a way to get her & him back over to the picture room, then videotaped(to sell,but of course, like everything, apparenty)my nervous breakdown induced revenge of attaching them both to the party bed, implanting the guitar in them both, then torching it with a beer in my hand,a huge smile on my face. i would not have waited for a phone call from a now ex business associate, that “not now, your *ss needs work” degradation in the sacred party room for him or almost any of it. nothing on or off this earth would have made me take an iota of what was described in the book. nothing. so i truly don’t understand why she did. unless it was simply a confusion of a nonstop part in a movie or an unmatched masochist. did anyone else notice some of the correlations of the tv movies names&themes that seemed to go hand in hand with what was actually occurring in “private”, not to mention that freefall tower stuff? that seemed it was so much fun because it was attempting suicide with no real risk of succeeding at a time of so much painful sounding humilation? i’m not being holier than thou. i messed up major in my life time & am far from flawless. i went thru a rotten joke technically called a “marriage” but nowhere near what was described in the book, & the minute i found about his infidelity, he hid from me. i don’t think i’d ever have married the guitar master. at one time,i truly believed a person that could make instruments express themselves like that, had to be a seriously sensitive person. & the charade of togetherness going on snl with her, letterman with the band, seeming to be there,then the lifetime show. talk about acting, that was faking it at an amazing level. sorry about that long rant but that’s what this book really is about, an unreal, almost pathetically, humilatingly painful period of time and for what? it is not just an eating problem that is at the heart here. i, too have had lifetime problems with my weight, but without detail, because i did not want to be noticed/wanted as a female or person period, but the pain i went thru, i’d never disclose in book no matter what kind of money i was offered and i need money desparately even now. i don’t understand how anyone, even a nearly lifelong public person, would go into the amount of detail in this book. it seems humilation/degradation is a way of life or something blown off as a “part”, even though she does not appear to be begging for or asking for pity,sympathy, zip. it does seem that if the price is right, she’ll do it though. now, before that comes across as too cold, look at this logically and consider this weight loss “help” program. she was paid to join a weight loss program that many people cannot afford and it was not stated but were either hers or kirstie’s food bought by them or was it part of the deal? how many people see this as what it is meant to come across as? a great,we care about you,(at least as long as you pay for it)guaranteed way to lose weight, but how many non-spokespersons get free food, power teams to “be there just for you” paid to do it to begin with, possibly free designer clothing, possibly big events where you are the star attraction to further your self esteem,not to mention the chance to meet “the one” as well as lots of others including what are called “celebrities”, possible “awards” including “perks” like 6 figure book deals,”personal trainers”with wonderful gym equip/machines, “life coaches” “consultants”,”stylists”, frequent flyer awards city, etc. (i hate those titles,my mother was all those and more and she’s never gotten the fame she deserved,just like alot of you may have a family member/someone that’s taught you all the same things for free and outta true,real,love for you and nothing else)doing commercials, appearances you also get paid for. come on, how could j. craig stay in the business of promoting this country’s need for assisted weight loss, if she paid her clients the way this deal went down? i understand that kirstie is looking into building her own empire based on the same principle. i truly wish her luck, but i would really like to understand how people believe that you must buy pre made food and have other expenses as well, to successfully and permanently lose weight even if you quit this program just like you may have so many others like most “dieters” do, when losing weight successfully and permanently begins and ends with the same thing,no matter what you choose. behaviour/psychological modification, management, physical exercise of some kind like it or not,eating what is correct and intelligently for your body’s and life’s makeup,etc,etc, basically common sense. even if you believe that adhering to craig’s food and program will do it for you this time, does that mean you must eat that food, do that program till you die to reach “maintenance” or risk a “backslide” and return to the “yo-yo” hand that feeds you? again,i seem to be ranting, but this book is to promote that diet program gave her life back to her, when it is not craig that did that. it was a season finale for the first role, now it’s a new one to play with a male lead change and i’m sincerely happy for that change, and for a son that seems to have his head on straight so far and is a true rock for mom to depend on. for the devotion & love shown to him,i do admire ms. b, but i hope he doesn’t feel that life rests on his shoulders. i hope he has a sincerely happy independent life with no one laying guilt on him for all they put up with so he’d have a “2 parent family” (sheez, what a joke that appears, i wonder if he had frequent flyer/hotel cards before his band days to) i do pray that his life is wonderful and that,yes,ms b has finally, after all, found “a one”. I apologize for the length of this. i would like to be able to send her a suggestion of fabulous book to read if she hasn’t already. as well for everyone,and no, i did not write it or am getting paid to suggest it. it’s called how to forgive the loss of a love. one of the authors was a peter mc william? and that small book should be in everyone’s library,along with a sister to it, named making peace with yourself. both are fabulous,even though i do have points about the 2nd. but the i think it should be of value to ms. b and just about everyone who has ever felt anything. in the 1st,mr mc william’s eulogized in the back, he died in 2000, with a fabulous poem i have made part of will to be on my own headstone. it pretty much says it all. ms b, this was not meant as a vicious, malicious review. honestly, i sincerely hope you have found your way after all the seasons you’ve been thru. good luck.
Rating: 3 / 5

Julia E. says:

I’ve always liked Valerie Bertinelli, i’m a huge fan of Vanhalen and I was excited to read this book, BUT I didn’t get past the first chapter and I had to put it down. Why did Valerie feel she had to diss our President and in the first chapter?? Don’t these Stars realize they are going to alienate at least 1/2 of the American population by saying such things?? Why make any kind of political stand? I totally lost interest and paid money for something I won’t finish reading.
Rating: 1 / 5

Marta says:

I just started this book this afternoon and I had been looking forward to reading it for months. After one chapter I put it down in disgust and I am almost positive I won’t be finishing it. Why? Because once again an author feels it necessary to slam Republicans and the current administration.

Once again I am writing these words in an Amazon review – Newsflash authors: Some of your readers are Republicans, some of us are conservatives, some of us really do like GWB, Cheney etc. Oh the horrors. Sorry but it’s a fact – we exist. And I am so damn sick and tired of books that have NOTHING to do with politics inflicting this on unsuspecting readers.

Valerie, I didn’t want to read your book to see you slam the administration. I wanted to read about your life. I have always liked you from One Day at a Time on. And now. . . . well you’re just another Hollyweirder who goes on my boycott list.
Rating: 2 / 5