Uptown Girl

Uptown Girl, A Memoir by Christie Brinkley with Sarah Toland (2025) 401 pages

Christie Brinkley's life story, from the rough start she had with an abusive father, to her move to Paris after high school and her eventual modeling career, marriages, and children, is compelling. The amount of traveling she does for work—as well as for recreation—is extraordinary. I did not expect to like learning about the modeling industry, but I did enjoy it from her insider's point of view.

Regarding her romantic life, I would say that she made better choices when she was younger (Jean-Francois Allaux and Billy Joel) than she did later (Richard Taubman and Peter Cook), but I'd also say that trauma leads one to make choices that one might not otherwise consider. As a Billy Joel fan, I was especially interested in how they met and in getting her view on their relationship. (When things were good, they were very good.) In spite of their marriage eventually ending, they are still good friends.

The memoir's 16-page glossy section is filled with her drawings and iconic photos.