The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl

Chisholm debuts with a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most successful female musical groups in history—the Spice Girls. Upon graduating from a performing arts college in 1993, Chisholm envisioned a career in London’s theater scene, but after nailing an open audition for an all-female pop act, she became one of the Spice Girls. According to Chisholm, each member of the group worked hard, but the collaboration didn’t come without conflict. Melanie Brown (Scary Spice) and Geri Halliwell (Ginger Spice) often clashed, creating “an intense atmosphere at times,” and the band’s manager added to the tension by making the women feel “bullied, bossed about [and] undermined.” Chisholm is frank about the mental, emotional, and physical tolls of fame—including her experiences with anorexia, binge eating disorder, anxiety, and depression—but she also celebrates the good times she had with her bandmates and recognizes how their personal struggles affected the band’s stability: “Maybe with a bit more maturity, emotional support, and sleep we could’ve worked things out, but it wasn’t meant to be.” Spice Girls fans will eagerly devour this, but even those who are unfamiliar with the group will appreciate Chisholm’s compassion and introspection. Agent: Max Edwards, Aevitas Creative. (Sept.)