Hayden Panettiere to Launch New Memoir This Spring
Hayden Panettiere is opening up about her life and career in a new memoir set for release this spring.
On Jan. 22, the actress, 36, revealed the cover of her upcoming book, This Is Me: A Reckoning, in an Instagram post. The memoir will be published by Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.
“Some stories are only yours to tell,” Panettiere wrote in the caption announcing the project.
Panettiere has spent most of her life in the public eye, beginning her career as a child actor. Early appearances in films such as Remember the Titans and on soap operas including One Life to Live paved the way for her breakout roles on NBC’s Heroes, the Scream film franchise, and ABC’s Nashville.
According to the book’s synopsis, that carefully curated exterior masked the growing pressures of fame. As paparazzi culture intensified and public scrutiny increased, Panettiere struggled under the weight of constant attention.
“In an era of relentless paparazzi with an appetite for celebrity breakdowns, naysayers were certain this young starlet would crash and burn,” the synopsis reads. “Not one to disappoint, she did.”
The memoir promises a deeply personal account of Panettiere’s experiences, tracing her journey through success, trauma, and recovery. “She’s played the part of a misfit hero, a superstar, a survivor, a cheerleader and an all-American fresh face,” the synopsis continues. “In This Is Me, Hayden stars in her most heart-wrenching and unforgettable role yet: herself.”
Panettiere first hinted at the project in 2024, when it was working under the title Scream and Break Free: Addiction, Trauma, and How the Cheerleader Saved Herself.
Speaking about the memoir at the time, she said readers could expect an emotional but hopeful experience. “You may laugh a little, cry a little, but most importantly, you’ll hopefully finish it feeling inspired,” she told PEOPLE. “I’ve grown so much from my experiences.”
This Is Me: A Reckoning is scheduled for publication on May 12 and is currently available for preorder wherever books are sold.