Unfinished

December 1, 2020
An internationally famous actor, singer, and producer takes stock of her life. The daughter of army physicians, Chopra Jonas grew up on military bases throughout India. "Reinvention, adjusting and acclimatizing to new environments, overcoming fear of new places by opening up to possibility--these are some of the principles by which I have lived my life," she writes. One of the most traumatic tests of her adaptability occurred when she was sent to boarding school at the age of 7; she writes about how she felt abandoned, lonely, and afraid. However, the independence she developed served her well later: In 1995, she embarked on her "first trip abroad," to visit relatives in Iowa. She decided to stay in the U.S. for high school, where she reveled in the freedom of American teenage culture, but she returned to India after a few years. Although Chopra Jonas aspired to become an aeronautical engineer, her life changed dramatically when her mother submitted her photos to a Miss India World contest. To her astonishment, she won the title and went on to become Miss World in 2000. Movie offers followed: For almost a decade, she made four films per year, working long days and devoting herself to learning how to act and how to navigate the patriarchal Bollywood industry. Making the transition to American movies was challenging both professionally and emotionally, and she was shocked when she received racist hate mail and tweets. Nevertheless, her career in the U.S. took off when she was offered the lead role in the series Quantico. The author recounts her depression after her father's death, her whirlwind romance with Nick Jonas, and her humanitarian work as a global ambassador for UNICEF and as an advocate for children and girls. She is committed, she writes, "to get the attention of people and direct it to conditions or situations that cry out for change." A lively memoir from a hardworking entertainer.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 15, 2020
Actor and producer Chopra Jonas' memoir captures the excitement of an Indian teenager launched into fame and moving rapidly from a national to an international stage. She writes of growing up in a fairly typical Indian middle-class home with professional aspirations common in her milieu. Her winning a beauty pageant, which her mom and brother signed her up for, changed the course of her life, leading to unusual opportunities and challenges. In tracing her career milestones as a Bollywood actor and then as the first Indian-born lead in an American TV series, Quantico, Chopra Jonas weaves in her personal struggles and family tragedies, thus revealing the depth behind her self-assurance and resilience. Her fans will be thrilled to learn the details of her success and her romance with singer and actor Nick Jonas, culminating in a glamorous wedding in Rajasthan in 2018. At 38, she sees this moment as a time of reflection, and, true to her commitment as a global ambassador for UNICEF, Chopra Jonas spotlights such issues such as girls' education and the conditions of children in refugee camps around the world. Women in Focus: The 19th in 2020

COPYRIGHT(2020) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 22, 2021

Chopra Jonas, an actress, producer, and former pageant winner, brings her childhood and personal life into focus with this surprisingly relatable memoir. In describing her childhood in India, as the daughter of physicians, she tells of her comfort at times, and also her feelings of unease--moving a lot and adjusting to being far from family, dealing with bullies, and encountering racism. The author's writing is lighthearted and engaging, making it easy to get to know and identify with her, even when her story goes into her journey as an international celebrity, as she won beauty pageants and found strength and resilience in the face of criticism. She has constant acknowledgments for people who helped her achieve a goal or learn a lesson throughout life, and even offers sincere insights that have helped her learn and grow. Reading about her courtship with and wedding to Nick Jonas is delightfully charming and full of sweet romance and, for some fans, that may be reason enough to pick up the book. VERDICT This is a wonderful memoir of self-discovery for anyone interested in Chopra Jonas as a person, or those who just enjoy the connection to the Jonas Brothers.--Amanda Ray, Iowa City P.L.

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.