Life Is Not a Fairy Tale - by Fantasia (Paperback)

About the Book

"American Idol" winner Fantasia delivers a lively, honest, and inspirational memoir about overcoming life's obstacles, having faith in oneself, and finding the inner strength it takes to make even impossible dreams come true. Color photos.

Book Synopsis

Fantasia Barrino, star of the 2023 film The Color Purple, tells the story of her astonishing rise from hopeless high school dropout to American Idol superstar in the inspirational New York Times bestseller Life Is Not a Fairy Tale.

In one moment, with one tearful performance of "Summertime," the nineteen-year-old Fantasia captured the hearts--and the votes--of millions of American Idol fans. Her powerful voice and independent style made her an overnight national sensation. But life wasn't always sensational for Fantasia.

At the age of seventeen, despite the promise of her extraordinary voice, Fantasia was in danger of becoming just another sad statistic: an uneducated, unmarried teenage mother living in the projects. But Fantasia had been raised by two strong, influential women: Both her grandmother and mother are preachers, and she was raised with an unshakable faith. In Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, Fantasia speaks--with a spirit as strong as her voice--about what it takes to believe in the power of one's self. She turns all that she's learned into uplifting life lessons, including:

- Recognize your gift
- You made your bed, now lie in it
- Give props where props are due
- Like mother, like daughter
- It ain't about the bling

Fantasia keeps it real with her sassy, self-confident style and down-to-earth advice, making us laugh and cry with her. Life Is Not a Fairy Tale is more than just a celebrity success story. It's a book of revelations that will inspire everyone to reach for their greatest potential.

Review Quotes

"Fantasia Barrino is a S-T-A-R."
--Los Angeles Times

"In song after song she reaches back to her church roots, pulling notes from deep within and passionately sending them out to the sky."
--New York Daily News

"With a chart-topping single and her new album, Free Yourself, the American Idol champ showed a nation how to turn obstacles into inspiration."
--CosmoGirl

About the Author

Fantasia began singing at the age of five. At nineteen, she became an American Idol winner. Her debut album, Free Yourself, was released in 2004 and went platinum in 2005. She is the author of Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, has starred on Broadway, and is set to make her feature film debut reprising the role of Celie in the 2023 film adaptation of The Color Purple.