Ever wonder what your favorite celebrities are reading — whether it’s a timeless classic or the buzzy bestseller they can’t put down? Welcome to Page-Turners, where stars reveal the books that keep them hooked, inspired and up all night. Warning: your TBR pile is about to get a lot longer.
Christy Carlson Romano loves books that help her reflect and make sense of her childhood as a former Disney star.
“There’s a throughline here between trauma, addiction, ambition, and what we read to make sense of all three,” she told Page Six.
The “Even Stevens” actress’ new memoir, “Once Upon a Trainwreck,” is out now, and details being thrust into the spotlight at an early age and how she dealt with fame, addiction, motherhood and more.
See below for Romano’s must-read book recommendations.
“Dopamine Nation” by Anna Lembke
“This gave me language for what I’d lived through, and it changed how I think about attention, social media, and what we’re actually selling when we call something entertainment.”
“I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy
“I read it in one sitting and cried through half of it, not from sadness, but from recognition.”
“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“I’ve read it five times. The first time I was Daisy. The last time I understood I’d been chasing the green light my entire career.”
“Life Is a Contact Sport” by Ken Kragen
“Kragen managed Kenny Rogers and organized ‘We Are the World,’ and this book taught me that a career isn’t built, it’s relationships. I’ve gone back to it through every pivot.”
“The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk
“This book gave me a map for understanding what growing up famous actually did to me, and how to start fixing it by naming it.”
“Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury
“Bradbury described wall-sized screens numbing people into compliance, in 1953. He just didn’t know we’d fit them in our pockets.”