Book Review: Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything by Alyson Stoner

Alyson Stoner knocks it out of the park with this Hollywood memoir about the ups and downs of their life.

4/5 Stars

I remember loving Alyson Stoner when I was younger. I was notably obsessed with the Step Up and Cheaper by the Dozen franchises. When I saw they wrote a memoir recently, I jumped at the chance to read it, and I am happy I did.

Alyson went through the ringer growing up with an alcoholic mother and an abusive step-father. They developed eating disorders due to Hollywood pressures and veered hard into the Christian scene in response to questions about control and sexuality. They have been used, abused, and come out the other side an incredible advocate against child labor in the Industry. From Camp Rock drama (devastating) to the Missy Elliot video (iconic, but A LOT), Alyson has found ways to move on from the chaos of their childhood and cultivate true peace and meaning for themselves. Throughout the entire book, I found myself applauding their dedication to self-actualization and prioritizing of themselves over others.

What makes this celebrity memoir different is the focus on the positives and the lessons more than the negatives and the pain, even in the hardest moments of Stoner’s life. There has been hope in other celebrity memoirs I read, but I am usually left feeling absolutely, overwhelmingly devastated by them- a la Pageboy and I'm Glad my Mom Died. While those books left me feeling a deep sorrow for the pain they endured, I felt all those feelings alongside a sense of motivation while reading Stoner's memoir. Now that they are a mental health advocate, their insight into finding your own voice and power shines through. This was a truly special memoir!