My Languishing TBR: C #AtoZChallenge2025 #Books #Bookreview

C is for Cher

I’m doing folklore and book review posts to reach and please a larger audience. Previous years have shown select interest in both and to minimise blogging throughout the year, I’m focusing my efforts on April.

Focusing on an A to Z of my TBR (to be read) list, each letter will have books starting with that letter on my list, a book I’ve read and reviewed (with the review!) and one of my books matching the letter with a link about more info about the book.

I chose the books this year quite randomly from my Goodreads Want to Read page. Some are quite creatively added to letters.

If you’d rather check out my folklore post for today, go here.

You can read reviews for from previous years for this letter here, here and here, and my year-end reviews here, here, here, here and, most recently, here and here.

My TBR

About the Book I’ve Read

Cher: The Memoir, Part 1 by Cher

THERE IS ONLY ONE CHER …

… and for seven decades she has been showing us why. Cher holds the attention of the world with her voice, her acting, her style, her wit and her unstoppable spirit. Now, for the first time, she tells her story in her own voice – as honest as it is hilarious, as powerful as it is perceptive.

Cher’s childhood was anything but normal. As her mother Georgia – blessed with movie-star looks and a knockout voice – moved them around the country over and again in the hope of finding fame, her school life wasn’t straightforward. But she always knew she was going to be somebody when she grew up.

Cher’s powerful instinct to keep moving eventually landed her in the arms of Sonny Bono. The duo became famous beyond their wildest dreams, from humble beginnings singing backup in Phil Spector’s studio through to pop stardom as Sonny and Cher, and then on to the television show that made them household names. But as time passed, fame changed the dynamic of their relationship and Cher evolved from a wide-eyed teenager into a woman. She started fighting for herself, breaking away from Sonny’s control – and realising that things were not as they seemed.

Taking risks, making headlines, falling in love, Cher struggled and stumbled while trying to become her own woman. The Memoir, Part One brings us to the brink of her next chapter, as she begins to chart her own path, finally claiming her rightful place in the world and becoming CHER.

Check it out on Goodreads.

My Review

Up until she met Sonny, I read the book at a fast pace – it was so interesting to see how her mother and grandmother’s lives influenced her own, along with her commentary as a modern adult on the situation. But Sonny… he was gaslighting her so much, I needed to take breaks between chapters. I have no idea how she could’ve stayed with such a manipulative, emotional abusive man. Except… looking at her mother and grandmother, the psychology makes sense. It was a relief when she was finally free of him and moved on with a better man. Then followed her mum’s example and dumped him for another… Sigh. She certainly has a knack for choosing odd, broken men.

Reading this memoir was an emotional rollercoaster: and we stopped before she started doing film. I want to read the next book, but I need a breather. (Good thing the next instalment comes out long after this one.) Her musical memoir was much easier to watch.

So much of her story is inspiring, not just because she worked for what she wanted, but also because she grew as a woman and learned what she would and wouldn’t tolerate in a partner (and men in general).

Trigger warnings: gaslighting, crude language including swearing, social situations deemed inappropriate and even criminal by today’s standards, drug use.

My Book

Queen of Nightmares (Irascible Immortals #3)

Remember that you can request all of my books from your local library!

I hope you enjoyed this. For more books I’ve read and reviewed, check out either my Pinterest board about reviews or my Goodreads profile. Alternatively, you can check out my reviews on BookBub. Have you read any of the books? Loved or hated any of them?

If you’ve enjoyed this review, you can support my work by buying me a coffee. It helps sustain my reading journey — from the books I buy to the time spent wandering through stories and writing them into reviews. Thank you for being part of it.

*FYI, my reviews are my honest opinion and if something bothers me, I tell it straight. How else will anything change? My opinions are based on being a voracious reader and book buyer, not an attack on the author.*