Rebecca Lucy Taylor, the real name of Self Esteem, never stops. After wrapping up her Prioritise Pleasure era, she made her West End debut as Sally Bowles in Cabaret. After that, it was straight onto the next record. Though for A Complicated Woman, she went all out creatively and debuted it on the West End before its release. She’s also released a book of the same name, which is making it into an array of End of Year lists for all the right reasons.
A Complicated Woman resists the conventions of a traditional memoir, opting instead for a fragmented and intimate structure made up of iPhone notes, lyrics, journal entries and reflections on womanhood in the 21st century. This format immediately sets the tone: rather than presenting a neatly packaged life story, Rebecca invites the reader into something far more personal and unfiltered, where thoughts exist as they were captured, without hindsight or polish.
At its core, the book is raw, intimate and deeply vulnerable. Rebecca writes with a striking lack of self-censorship, allowing her thoughts to exist exactly as they are, messy and unresolved. There’s something undeniably brave in laying your inner world bare; these are not polished reflections, but honest glimpses of a woman navigating relationships, abuse, self-worth, creativity, and the suffocating pressures on young women today.
What makes A Complicated Woman so powerful is its emotional range. Some pages are so relatable they land with a sudden chill, confronting the reader with thoughts they may recognise all too well. Others are infused with the sharp humour and wit that have become synonymous with Rebecca’s voice. This balance prevents the book from feeling heavy-handed; instead, it mirrors real life, where pain and laughter often exist side by side.
For those familiar with Self Esteem’s music, the book offers insight into Rebecca’s creative process. Certain notes and lyrics are recognisable as ideas that have since been shaped into songs, while others remain unfinished, almost provisional. These incomplete fragments feel intentional, highlighting the ongoing nature of creative work and personal growth. They suggest an artist who is constantly in motion, never fully resolved, and uninterested in presenting a final version of herself.
A Complicated Woman captures Rebecca’s restless creativity and emotional honesty, proving that her brilliance extends far beyond music.
