A compulsive memoir elevated by performance

I listen to memoirs for one of two reasons: to hear stories similar to my own or to hear about lives completely different from my experience. I’m not sure what exactly made me pick up Crystal Hefner’s memoir—I’d never been particularly interested in the mystique of Playboy and its founder, the late Hugh Hefner—but I’m sure this time it was the latter. Before the narrative even ventured into any of the shocking, salacious details of her time at the infamous Playboy Mansion, I was impressed by Crystal’s performance. Her voice contains a real warmth and vulnerability, which is amplified in those moments she breaks into a self-deprecating chuckle (as she recounts her misguided exploits) or audibly chokes up while recounting the heartache she experienced. Before I knew it, I had listened to the whole thing, and it turned out to be not only a fascinating (often horrifying) glimpse into a life few could imagine—I certainly never had!—but an earnest personal reckoning. Only Say Good Things is a great example of a memoir that’s meant to be heard. —Sam D.

From the daddy of the Bravosphere

The cultural juggernaut that is the Real Housewives franchise is impossible to ignore—even if you’ve never watched a single episode. Over the years, The Real Housewives has only grown in popularity—with multiple spin-offs and international editions—invigorating a massive fanbase to follow the lives of upper-echelon women as they navigate drama, friendships, life-defining moments, and launch their own successful brand lines. Andy Cohen has been at the helm since he launched The Real Housewives of Orange County nearly 20 years ago in 2006. In The Daddy Diaries, Andy details his crazy journey through huge life moments—including raising the two children he had via surrogacy—along with hosting Watch What Happens Live, being close friends with fellow single father Anderson Cooper, all while balancing his day-to-day as the guru of reality TV. —Nicole R.

After the altar

If you’re anything like me and couldn’t get enough of Lauren Speed and Cameron Hamilton—the couple who famously fell in love sight unseen and tied the knot on the first season of Netflix’s Love Is Blind—you’re in luck. The reality TV sweethearts have shared their story with us in Leap of Faith. Lauren and Cameron take turns narrating, and it’s so much fun hearing about their life after the pods (the show's small rooms where things go down) and how they navigated early married life in quarantine. The couple recently announced they are expecting their first child and have talked openly about their struggles with infertility on their podcast, The Love Seat. As Lauren and Cameron get ready to welcome their baby after six years of matrimony, now is the perfect time to revisit their epic love story. —Margaret H.

Fierce

With its terrible haircuts and over-the-top fainting spells (including the infamous fall by Tyra Banks herself), America’s Next Top Model provided some seriously iconic television. Naturally, being one of the best shows of the early aughts, it is also a ruthless embodiment of the toxic beauty standards of the time, which are rearing their ugly heads today with the revival of fashion trends from the era. For anyone who is totally here for the return of spaghetti straps and gossip between models—but isn’t willing to let the fashion industry affect their body image like it did in the 2000s—this juicy memoir from Cycle 9’s only plus-size contestant is for you. Sarah Hartshorne pulls back the curtain on everything from the infamous NDA section of her contract to just how deeply the show impacted the self-esteem of both its alumnae and adoring fans. It’ll give you plenty to smize about, and so much more. —Haley H.

An appropriately candid history of reality TV

There are few mediums more simultaneously beloved and reviled than reality television. Since its inception, the genre has sought to strip away the clean veneer of creative professionals in favor of an unscripted, no-holds-barred glimpse into the lives of ordinary people. Reality shows have also, unsurprisingly, long been the topic of both conversation and controversy, with critics lambasting reality as deceptive and rigged at best, and downright abusive or exploitative at worst. In Cue the Sun!, acclaimed television critic and cultural commentator Emily Nussbaum enters the fray and delivers a balanced—and juicy—history of TV's most talked-about genre. Her take on the shows that you either love or love to hate is conversational, compassionate, smart, and riveting, and Gabra Zackman's skilled narration is a treat, engaging for reality fans and skeptics alike. —Alanna M.

Jer-ry! Jer-ry! Jer-ry! Jer-ry!

I’m probably showing both my age and limited appreciation of the genre with this pick, which is reality-TV-adjacent at best. But if you watched The Jerry Springer Show back in the ’90s, you’ll easily draw a line from the show’s chair-throwing shenanigans to Bravo’s table-flipping drama a decade later. Everyday people wearing too much makeup and getting violent over “real” situations that were orchestrated for maximum effect? Yeah, Jerry did it first. With Final Thoughts, ace podcaster Leon Neyfakh turns his investigative lens on the show and the enigmatic Springer himself, who passed away in 2023. Surprisingly deep, ambitious, tragic, and revealing, Final Thoughts is a bad-taste exploration for people with good taste—and that’s the kind of reality I crave. —Kat J.

What do you know about love?

My husband and I are drawn to reality television that combines competition and talent since it allows us to imagine ourselves under pressure and how we'd either succeed or fail if given the chance. Whether couples are competing against others while they traverse the globe or individuals are creating fashionable garments or fancy cakes, we dissect their decisions from the comfort of the couch. Getting to be a fly on the wall while Esther Perel analyzes couples' relationship issues is a different version of that same dynamic, since I still get to imagine: I wouldn't make those mistakes. I'd prefer to hear more queer relationship stories rather than husband-wife binaries, but at the same time, it allows me to feel a level of superiority. As these men and women grapple with the swirl of emotional, economic, and erotic forces, I think about how I've navigated similar (but different) terrain in my nontraditional marriage without the luxury (or burden) of societal expectations. All the while, I'm also picking up pointers from Perel and the couples willing to let us snoop, which will hopefully help me continue to figure out what love means so I can stay one step ahead. —Jerry P.

The reality of dating, revealed

From a young age, matchmaking contests on MTV taught me that most blind dates end in a list of pros and cons. However, without the safety net of a staged tv set, rejecting a potential suitor requires a lot more nuance than yelling a simple catchphrase. Hosted by comedian and writer Gabi Conti, this genre-defying podcast invites guests who suspect they may have been courted by a budding serial killer to share their dating horror stories. Offering tips to help prevent dangerous experiences for singles in the future, I feel safer for having given this binge-worthy series my heart. —HH

The "Simple Life" that's been everything but

If you've watched the YouTube documentary This Is Paris, you're already familiar with some of Paris Hilton’s experiences while at three different behavior modification schools. But did you know that the only "Hilton" money she has actually comes from the commercials she's done? Hilton elaborates on these truths and more in her captivating memoir, Paris. Narrated by Hilton herself, the memoir takes listeners on a journey through her remarkable life, providing sincere glimpses at some of her most personal, traumatic, and happiest moments—from co-starring in the reality TV hit The Simple Life to sitting in front of Congress advocating for an end to institutional child abuse. Paris is a candid reflection of the author’s current state of mind as she continues to heal from her past and advocate for teens facing similar challenges. —Patty R.

Reflecting on a childhood in the spotlight

Slow-rolling scandals have rocked the Duggar family since they first appeared on reality TV. But it's Jill’s account of her childhood and her more recent “deconstruction” (a term for the process of questioning one’s evangelical upbringing) that truly shed new light on the situation. At its heart, this is a story about agency, and the right to reclaim it if it’s been denied. Jill's narration is steeped in honesty and tinged with regret, but there is also so much well-earned hope and pride for the life she has created. —EC

The Housewives, Bravo, and Andy —Oh My!

By nature, my bookish personality usually sends me toward an audiobook over most forms of entertainment, including TV. However, even the most bookish parts of me cannot resist the allure of Sunday night reality TV. The more drama, the better. So, it shouldn’t be a shocker that I am a huge fan of The Real Housewives series. With several seasons spanning across nine states, the franchise has also led to numerous spinoffs, many of which are also on my Sunday night watchlist. The Housewives is the “real story” of the hit Bravo series, giving us some very nostalgic behind-the-scenes insights and historical background on the network—and answering some of the questions on the minds of every true Bravo-head. Author and narrator Brian Moylan is completely entertaining and engaging, and kept me laughing the entire time as I relived Teresa’s infamous table flip on RHONJ. —PR

Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

If you immediately understood my headline, then this listen is for you. I’m a huge fan of Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey’s podcast Office Ladies, and this audiobook is really an expansion of their show. Jenna and Angela—a.k.a. Pam and Angela from The Office—have a great rapport, and the back and forth of the besties makes you feel like you’re in the room with them, laughing along as they reminisce. The audiobook goes deeper into behind-the-scenes tales from the show, more about their friendship and their lives, and includes humorous chapters like how to walk a red carpet! It’s joyful, it’s entertaining, and nowhere near as cringe-worthy as the show that inspired it. —Katie O.

Soothe the seven-year-itch

Watching reality TV shows about couples looking to reignite their passion through questionable methods is my number-one guilty pleasure. If you can relate—this one is for you. Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg, authors of How to Be Fine: What We Learned from Living by the Rules of 50 Self-Help Books, take on relationship advice—some sensical, some zany—in their new Audible Original podcast, Romance Road Test. Over the course of 15 episodes, Meinzer and Greenberg put their marriages to the test as they re-create their first dates, clip their husbands’ toenails (no thanks), and ✨add a little bit of spice✨ to their daily routines. Having been with my partner for more than seven wonderful years, I’m always looking for new ways to strengthen our connection—and am grateful to Meinzer and Greenberg for trying out bad advice so I don't have to. —Rachael X.