Cheryl: My Story

In April 2012, it was reported that Cheryl had signed a deal with HarperCollins to release an autobiography in November of that year. Cheryl decided to write an autobiography to "set the record straight." Cheryl stated, "I'm sick of reading lies and I'm sick of reading misquotes. Enough was enough, it was time to put out my side of the story and the truth." The book was co-authored by Rachel Murphy, who has ghost-written a number of other Sunday Times Bestselling books. Cheryl revealed the autobiography's cover on Twitter on 3 October 2012, tweeting "It's REALLY here !!!! #Emotional." ==Synopsis==

The book's earliest chapters deal with Cheryl's childhood in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Cheryl discusses smoking cannabis as a teenager, watching friends become hooked on heroin when the drug flooded their estate and seeing her elder brother Andrew sent to prison. She reveals that Andrew and her sister Gillian learned that Cheryl's father Garry wasn't their real dad, causing both of them to turn to alcohol, drugs and crime in various capacities. Cheryl also writes about an infamous altercation with a nightclub washroom attendant in January 2003, which led her to be found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm later that year. Cheryl maintains in the autobiography that the woman hit her first. Cheryl discusses how Nadine Coyle living in the United States and attempting to launch a solo career took its toll in the group, culminating in the Out of Control Tour in 2009. Cheryl writes, "Having her manager actually on tour with us was crossing the line, and that’s when I knew that it was finally time for us to take a break." In the book, Cheryl "does not hold back when writing about other significant characters in her life, most notably former husband Ashley Cole and former boss Simon Cowell." She confesses to "shaking him, kicking and scratching his face." Cheryl turned to medical help to cope with the divorce, confessing to taking minor tranquilisers. Cheryl also discusses her battle with malaria, which she contracted during a 2010 trip to Tanzania with friend Derek Hough. During her bout with malaria, Cheryl sent four days in an intensive care unit and spent a further week of respite at the London clinic. She was close to needing lifelong dialysis. Cheryl: My Story also deals with Cheryl's distaste for invasive news media and paparazzi, citing a specific incident in which someone attempted to take a picture of her suffering from malaria in hospital. Cheryl's also recalls climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with bandmate Kimberley Walsh and other celebrities for Comic Relief, as well as her friendship with Dancing with the Stars dancer and choreographer Derek Hough. Cheryl described Hough as "one of the most kind and sensitive and gentlemanly men I have ever met," adding that he was by her side throughout her malaria battle and departure from The X Factor. ==Release==

Prior to the book's release, Cheryl: My Story was serialised exclusive by the British tabloid newspaper The Sun in the week preceding its publication. The book was originally published in hardcover by Harper on 11 October 2012 in the United Kingdom, preceding its paperback release on 11 April 2013. An E-book release of the autobiography was also made available. In addition to capitalizing on the Christmas market, the publication of Cheryl: My Story also accompanied the tenth-anniversary reunion of Girls Aloud. Cheryl held a book signing at the Corinthia Hotel London on 1 December 2012. The autobiography was also released by HarperCollins in select international markets. It received a Canadian release on 23 October 2012, followed by an Australian release on 1 November 2012. ==Reception==

Critical response Heat joked, "Forget Fifty Shades of Grey – this is the sensational page-turner everyone will be talking about." Michelle Davies of the Daily Express gave the autobiography four stars out of five. A source told the Sunday Mirror, "Ashley knew what the book was going to say as he had seen it beforehand. He sees this as a bit like his comeuppance. He knows what he did was wrong and he has apologised to Cheryl. They always spoke after the split and throughout the divorce. They want one another to be happy now." Waissel tweeted at Cheryl: "I thought you were better than this. Shame I trusted you. You live and learn." Some members of Cheryl's family accused her of cashing in with the book deal. Cheryl's nephew, her sister Gillian's son, has allegedly dealt with bullying at school following the release of the book. As of February 2013, the autobiography had sold 274,666 copies, generating £2.5 million in sales. ==References==