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Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: A Memoir

Author:
Alyson Stoner
Read by:
Alyson Stoner
Read Read Own Own

Unabridged Audiobook

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Ratings
Book
21
Narrator
16
Release Date
August 12, 2025
Duration
11 hours 26 minutes
Summary
*AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER*

'Listeners who appreciated Jennette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died will enjoy [Alyson] Stoner's savvy memoir, which shows how fame and fortune dangled before a parent's eyes can make their morals take a back seat to the desire to give the public what it wants.'— Library Journal

Actor-dancer Alyson Stoner narrates their revelatory and incisive memoir—from family violence and betrayal, to eating disorders and religious trauma—may begin in Hollywood, but its chilling relatability will resonate with anyone navigating identity, privacy, purpose, and mental health in a digital age. This audiobook contains clips from the song 'Stripped Bare,' by the author, Alyson Stoner.

“The author’s voice—equal parts self-deprecating and unflinchingly childlike in its pitch and earnestness—translates beautifully to audio. They add warmth and timing to the humor, while also giving weight to the more vulnerable gut-punch moments.” — Booklist

Raised on soundstages and studio lots from the age of six, shuffling between auditions for Disney Channel, Cheaper by the Dozen, or Missy Elliott music videos, Alyson Stoner experienced many of the defining moments of childhood inside the bizarre fishbowl of Hollywood. From working eighty hours a week at eight years old, to learning how to distinguish fan mail from kidnapping plots, to TV execs saying they weren’t “anorexic enough” to stop working and get help, Alyson struggled to find stability and sanity in a chaotic world.

In Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, Alyson shares their powerful story for the first time, detailing a turbulent home life fractured by substance abuse, harrowing accounts from rehab, the messy process of discovering their sexuality in church, rebuilding a life after an early professional peak, and charting a path of self-discovery and advocacy. With striking introspection, Alyson connects the dots across the entertainment industry ecosystem, child development, and media culture, exposing the “toddler to trainwreck pipeline” of child stars and sparking timely conversations about success and society’s enchantment with fame.

Bold, entertaining, warm, and galvanizing all at once, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything is more than a personal memoir: it’s a beacon for industry reform, a road map for breaking the bonds of generational trauma, and a testament to the freedom and strength that come from finally trusting your own voice and power.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press
Reviews
Profile Avatar Anonymous Jan 2026

Really well written and a great story. It’s great to hear everything from her perspective, she tells it through her childlike eyes at times as well as through her current (post therapy!) eyes.

Profile Avatar Javan M. Dec 2025

Great pacing and detailed storytelling to help us see what life was/is like for children who want to make it big in Hollywood. Alyson graciously shared their story in a way that will allow readers to better understand how life isn’t greener on the other side.

Profile Avatar Michael S. Oct 2025

The true story of a genuinely good person who regained control of their life and found purpose

Profile Avatar Anonymous Sep 2025

One of the best memoirs I’ve ever listened to

Profile Avatar Olivia G. Sep 2025

well written, yet heart breaking and inspirational

Profile Avatar Sondra M. Aug 2025

I loved this so much. Getting a peek into her life like a backstage pass and her being vulnerable meant so much. I learned so many ugly truths that people need to know.

Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: A Memoir

Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: A Memoir

Author: Alyson Stoner
Read by: Alyson Stoner
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