Some of the biggest names have had some of the biggest fails (Image: Matt Kent, Getty Images)
Over the years, numerous D-list publications have emerged from A-list celebrities, with several managing to escape widespread attention.
You might be surprised to discover that some beloved stars have experienced spectacular failures in their literary pursuits.
The very worst of literary offences have been committed and it’s scarcely believable these works actually exist, yet regrettably, they do.
This World Book Day, we’re revisiting the forgotten failures from globally renowned personalities, and we’re grateful they’ve maintained focus on their usual day jobs ever since.
Here’s the definitive catalogue of embarrassing reads, with some barely requiring any reading whatsoever.
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Selfish – Kim Kardashian
Certain critics hailed Kim Kardashian‘s selfie compilation as a groundbreaking artistic declaration and even a feminist empowerment statement.
Others couldn’t suppress their discomfort at the hundreds of pages dominated by self-portraits and sporadic commentary.
Published in 2015, the volume aimed to showcase a collection of previously unseen photographs of the celebrity as she ascended to become amongst the planet’s most recognisable figures.
Numerous captions – indeed, the majority – offer minimal context to her self-taken images. One states: « I love that we have these memories, » whilst another reads: « I’m obsessed with contour. »
The book came out in 2015 (Image: Amanda Edwards, WireImagevia Getty Images)
Rebels: City of Indra – Kendall and Kylie Jenner
Joining their elder sister in the literary sphere, or rather its absence, the Jenner siblings published a young adult fiction novel in 2014.
At a time when global audiences were captivated by science fiction and dystopian narratives, with The Hunger Games leading the charge, the savvy businesswomen seized the opportunity to capitalise on this trend.
Their futuristic novel explored themes of social stratification through two characters, Lex, an orphan, and Livia, a wealthy heiress, who were heavily influenced by the sisters’ own personalities. The plot twist reveals that they are long-lost twins – spoiler alert.
Given their lack of previous writing experience or subsequent interest in literature following the book’s release, it’s widely believed that the novel was ghostwritten. At least Kim managed to pen her own photo captions.
The book was released in 2014 (Image: Getty Images)
What I See – Brooklyn Beckham
This is one celebrity endeavour that’s regrettably hard to erase from memory, often hailed as the epitome of a celebrity vanity project. Brooklyn Beckham indulged his passion for photography in a book that no one asked for and very few purchased.
The book comprises the nepo-babies’ photography, featuring blurred images of animals, selfies, and fairly ordinary photos lacking the artistic theme or flair typically expected in photography books.
Comprising 300 photographs, the collection aimed to offer an intimate glimpse into the Beckhams’ private world when she was merely 18 years old, sending the internet into meltdown.
One particular caption remains memorable for its straightforward commentary, reading: « I like this picture because it’s a bit blurry, but you can tell what’s going on. »
The book was considered a flop (Image: PA)
Swan – Naomi Campbell
Venturing into literature, the internationally acclaimed supermodel published a novel entitled Swan in 1994. Set against the backdrop of the fashion and modelling industries, it follows a supermodel embroiled in a sinister blackmail scandal.
Despite attending a high-profile book signing at Harrods upon its launch, the model has kept remarkably quiet about the project ever since – and understandably so.
Critics delivered scathing reviews of her literary efforts, whilst readers who’ve discovered the tale since have awarded it disappointing ratings.
On Goodreads, the reader review platform, it holds a modest 2.7 rating, based on merely 27 reviews.
A Mother’s Gift – Britney Spears
Prior to publishing her bestselling memoir, The Woman In Me, Britney Spears co-wrote a novel with her mother exploring a fictional mother-daughter dynamic – and it’s challenging to locate anyone with positive feedback about it.
The 2001 publication chronicles a teenage girl from a modest town harbouring ambitious aspirations, achievable only through her devoted mother’s support.
While the narrative bears similarities to Britney’s purported real-life experiences, many have speculated it was ghostwritten.
A Mother’s Gift received a lukewarm reception, with reviews remaining consistently modest – currently holding an overall rating of 3.34 on Goodreads.
She debuted the novel in a major book signing (Image: Daily Record)
This Is Me – Katie Price
Few can match Katie Price’s prolific output in publishing, having written over 50 titles. The British reality television personality has explored virtually every genre imaginable – from children’s literature to memoirs, fiction and lifestyle guides.
Regrettably, none have been hailed as outstanding additions to her bibliography, and This Is Me proved no different. The 2024 release plummeted to 1,400th position in Amazon’s book rankings following initial momentum.
Nevertheless, some critics have labelled it her « most reflective » work to date, achieved after numerous previous attempts.
Price has written over 50 books (Image: PA)
It’s Not About the Bike – Lance Armstrong
Upon its 2000 release, admirers of the globally renowned cyclist embraced his memoir for its uplifting account of surviving cancer and his determination to continue competing.
Yet when Armstrong admitted in 2013 to taking performance-enhancing substances, much of the book’s content was deemed dishonest.
The previously celebrated autobiography quickly became regarded by many as a « sham ». Revisiting the text armed with this revelation, readers found it brimming with audacity, noting numerous ironic statements given his achievements were attributed to doping.
Since then, the book has consistently attracted poor ratings, currently sitting at just 3.7 on Goodreads.
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