From Princess to Porn Star: A Real-Life Cinderella Story

Activist and adult performer Reign’s memoir upends the traditional Cinderella story by constructing an arc that moves from her affluent childhood disrupted by an “evil stepmother” to a happily-ever-after that includes her success in the porn industry. Written in an easy, conversational tone, the book humanizes sex workers in general. The author recalls getting $20,000 worth of cosmetic augmentations, experiencing a childhood split between the lives of her wildly different parents, and finding an escape through reality television. Although the book includes some critiques of misogyny, racism, and more, there are also blind spots that the author apparently doesn’t see about her own white, cisgender privilege. The author considered herself a disruptor of the Madonna-whore dichotomy when she took women’s studies college courses while also spending her weekends at the Playboy mansion. It’s more than a book about one porn star; Reign sheds light on sexual harassment and other problems within the industry and calls for increased advocacy.