Britney Spears’ memoir is officially a blockbuster.
The pop star’s The Woman in Me sold 1.1 million copies in its first week on sale, publisher Gallery books announced in a news release. The book, a No. 1 New York Times bestseller, is currently in its fourth printing.
Spears’ memoir tells the story of her life and career as one of the country’s most recognizable musicians. Spears shot to fame as a teenager in the late 1990s with her albums ...Baby One More Time and Oops!...I Did It Again; the latter sold 1.3 million copies in its first week of sales. A Kirkus critic wrote of the book, “Spears’ vulnerability shines through as she describes her painful journey from vulnerable girl to empowered woman.”
The book has been the subject of intense media interest, despite Spears not embarking on a book tour or doing television interviews for the memoir. People magazine printed exclusive excerpts from the book before it debuted, covering, among other things, her relationship with fellow pop singer Justin Timberlake, her struggles with mental illness, and her more than 13 years in a conservatorship overseen by her father.
Gallery Books said that the audiobook version of the memoir, narrated by actor Michelle Williams, is the fastest selling audiobook in its history. A clip from the audiobook, featuring Williams doing an impression of Timberlake gushing over singer Ginuwine, went viral last week.
In a statement, Spears said, “I poured my heart and soul into my memoir, and I am grateful to my fans and readers around the world for their unwavering support.”
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
