There Was a Little Girl

The Real Story of My Mother and Me

By: Brooke Shields

Narrated by: Brooke Shields

Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

The perfect gift for Brooke Shields fans, There Was a Little Girl explores Brooke's relationship with her unforgettable mother, Teri, in this extraordinary, heartfelt memoir that became a New York Times best-seller.

Brooke Shields never had what anyone would consider an ordinary life. She was raised by her Newark-tough single mom, Teri, a woman who loved the world of show business and was often a media sensation all by herself. Brooke's iconic modeling career began by chance when she was only 11 months old, and Teri's skills as both Brooke's mother and her manager were formidable. But in private she was troubled and drank heavily.

As Brooke became an adult the pair made choices and sacrifices that would affect their relationship forever. And when Brooke's own daughters were born she found that her experience as a mother was shaped in every way by the woman who raised her. But despite the many ups and downs, Brooke was by Teri's side when she died in 2012, a loving daughter until the end.

Only Brooke knows the truth of the remarkable, difficult, complicated woman who was her mother. And now, in an honest, open memoir about her life growing up, Brooke will reveal stories and feelings that are relatable to anyone who has been a mother or daughter.

©2014 Brooke Shields (P)2014 Penguin

Blown Away

I grew up with Brooke and though we never met, our surroundings in NYC and our careers overlapped in some ways. I didn't know this when I started and I also thought her voice would annoy me. It didn't. She is insightful, brave, HONEST, hardworking, TOGETHER. Amazingly together given her experiences. I am hereby officially a fan. If I ever meet her I might just tell her that I learned a lot about my own mom from her. I can't believe a book about Teri Shields would change me so!!! The only reason it wasn't all 5 stars is that I cringed every time she said "Momma". Probably says more about me than the book. I have never heard or read anything that describes the complex mother/daughter relationship, esp in the face of chronic addiction. She must have done a sh-t load of work on herself to break it down like this. I respect her immensely for this.

I'm wiped out

I wasn't expecting this. I loved that Brooke narrated it herself and that she was so open about her relationship with her mother. It was an intriguing roller coaster of emotions. The last few chapters were so sad that I could only read in small increments.

Incredible

Well done. Very interesting and insightful. Look at a relationship of mother and daughter. Done with open eyes seeing both the hard times and the blessings. Done with love.

Enlightening

I enjoyed this audio book very much. Brooke was very detailed and raw. She painted a story very different than the media presented at the time these milestones were occurring. It was refreshing to hear Brooke’s truth.

Loved every minute of this book

So raw and real, read with such feeling by Brooke. Hearing her take on the dynamic with her Mom was touching.

Raw and Honest

I grew up in the same era as Brooke and followed her movies and career. Thank you Brooke for sharing your story with such honesty and vulnerability. This was such an interesting story and so well written.
I loved the natural flow of the narration, like chatting with a friend.

Thank you

I got a lot of help about my mother from your honesty. BRAVO. You are a wonderful author. Thank you again

Interesting, but sounds a little entitled at times

I had heard years ago that Brooke Sheilds had fired her mother as her manager and that her mom was the typical show biz mother... It was interesting to read Brooke's side of it and how she saw her mother.. They had a loving, yet very difficult relationship, mostly because of her mom's drinking.. I can relate to many of the conflicts she faced, as my mom is also very difficult.. Brooke's mother eventually developed dementia.. I can also relate to that, as both of my parents have different forms of the disease.. My heart broke for her in many parts of the book. It's well written and very well performed.. She sounds like your typical bossy only/oldest child at times, and I'm sure her mom probably very much resented a child telling her what to do.. and there's a little air of entitlement here and there that kind of turned me off... For that I took off one star, but overall, interesting story.

Heartwarming but Also Sad

I was pleasantly surprised with this selection in spite of all the negative reviews. I have to disagree with reviewers who said that Brooke Shields sounded entitled. She read the story rather well and what mattered often came out in what words she emphasized, and the emotion she put into the reading. As a medical professional who works with children and parents, and as the daughter of a father who had an emotionally abusive paren, I saw a phenomenon that is all too real in Brooke Shield's story--that children often cling to the hope that their parent will change and show them the love they truly deserve until the very end. It was a heart-warming story but sad at the very same time.

the love and frustrating family

I didn't grow up watching Brooke Shields but was peripherally aware of the press about her mother. this unvarnished reveal is both heartwarming and heartbreaking