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Eternally Electric: The Message in My Music
In her long-awaited debut, Debbie Gibson reflects on the lessons she learned in her years as a young pop pioneer and on her hard-earned journey to embrace her authentic self, allowing her to lead the healthy, engaged—and electric!—life she does today.
Debbie Gibson was just sixteen when she released her multi-platinum debut album Out of the Blue and recorded “Foolish Beat” in 1988, making her the youngest person to ever write, produce, and perform a Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper.
A child actress who became the original pop princess, Debbie had full creative control over her music and, when that no longer aligned with a transitioning arts scene, she went on to star in Broadway’s Les Misérables, Beauty and the Beast, and Cabaret, as well as in the London production of Grease. Yet, for all the accolades and achievements, her success came at a high price.
Anxiety, depression, financial struggles, illness—Debbie writes candidly about these and other challenges, and how she ultimately redesigned her life to overcome them. This is the story of her not only surviving, but thriving: returning to her musical roots, releasing new albums, going back out on tour, and living the best version of her authentic self to remain…Eternally Electric!
Debbie Gibson was just sixteen when she released her multi-platinum debut album Out of the Blue and recorded “Foolish Beat” in 1988, making her the youngest person to ever write, produce, and perform a Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper.
A child actress who became the original pop princess, Debbie had full creative control over her music and, when that no longer aligned with a transitioning arts scene, she went on to star in Broadway’s Les Misérables, Beauty and the Beast, and Cabaret, as well as in the London production of Grease. Yet, for all the accolades and achievements, her success came at a high price.
Anxiety, depression, financial struggles, illness—Debbie writes candidly about these and other challenges, and how she ultimately redesigned her life to overcome them. This is the story of her not only surviving, but thriving: returning to her musical roots, releasing new albums, going back out on tour, and living the best version of her authentic self to remain…Eternally Electric!
320 pages, Hardcover
Published September 9, 2025
93 people are currently reading
654 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
November 14, 2025
Oh man, teenage me LOVED Debbie Gibson, when Only in my Dreams was released my friends and I would take turns calling our local radio station nonstop, they eventually begged us to stop calling. Hahahah. I almost didn’t pick this book up; I didn’t want to read that my beloved Debbie had been secretly doing drugs or tearing up hotel rooms, living some messed up life. But, curiosity got the better of me….and thankfully Deborah mostly kept it together through life. This one is definitely for the fans, so mileage will vary, but I loved it.
September 19, 2025
I’ve been a proud DebHead since my “electric youth” when I was first attracted to Debbie’s genuinely ordinary image and the positive messages in her music. In her memoir, the 80s pop phenom details all the ups and downs of her career and life, how she paved the way for this generation’s pop girlies and how she made music history—still the youngest female artist to write, perform and produce a number one single and the second youngest as she did it again a year later. If you’re a pop music lover, don’t miss a “foolish beat” and read her inspiring, resilient and eternally electric story.
October 4, 2025
Debbie Gibson (b. 1970) is an American entertainer; 2025's Eternally Electric (written with Richard Buskin) is a memoir of her life so far.
I read an eclectic variety of memoirs, so my only familiarity with Debbie Gibson was that she was an '80s teen singer, alongside the likes of Tiffany (who is apparently distinct from Tiffany Amber Thiessen), New Kids on the Block, and Robin Sparkles (who is apparently a parody character, mostly based off of Alanis Morissette but with elements of Debbie Gibson). However, as Gibson explains in her memoir, she's never stopped performing, whether as a singer, stage actor, or film actor, since her '80s debut.
I listened to the audiobook version in which Gibson performed by speaking excitedly, laughing frequently, and bursting into song exuberantly; it was a bit much for my taste, though maybe fans will appreciate this. As a memoir, this wasn't my cup of tea either, as there's little distillation, reflection, or evidence of maturation here. With a few exceptions, Gibson seems squarely in her own head and comfortably settled with how she's always viewed the world from her teen years onward, and focused on telling her readers all about every significant event in her public (and many events in her personal) life.
My statistics:
Book 302 for 2025
Book 2228 cumulatively
I read an eclectic variety of memoirs, so my only familiarity with Debbie Gibson was that she was an '80s teen singer, alongside the likes of Tiffany (who is apparently distinct from Tiffany Amber Thiessen), New Kids on the Block, and Robin Sparkles (who is apparently a parody character, mostly based off of Alanis Morissette but with elements of Debbie Gibson). However, as Gibson explains in her memoir, she's never stopped performing, whether as a singer, stage actor, or film actor, since her '80s debut.
I listened to the audiobook version in which Gibson performed by speaking excitedly, laughing frequently, and bursting into song exuberantly; it was a bit much for my taste, though maybe fans will appreciate this. As a memoir, this wasn't my cup of tea either, as there's little distillation, reflection, or evidence of maturation here. With a few exceptions, Gibson seems squarely in her own head and comfortably settled with how she's always viewed the world from her teen years onward, and focused on telling her readers all about every significant event in her public (and many events in her personal) life.
My statistics:
Book 302 for 2025
Book 2228 cumulatively
October 16, 2025
I really wanted to like this book. I’ve never been a DG fan, but I think that was just where I fell on the pop culture timeline. Her prime was a little tiny bit before my time, but I didn’t dislike her music. I just wasn’t a big fan. I wanted this book to change that.
I don’t want to disparage anyone’s work, but other than a few decent quotes, it was just a big no from me. A lot of martyrdom, very little growth or maturation (she was basically perfect her entire life according to her), and nonsense about “The Boy” (who, according to the book, has children and family and his own tour and reasons to keep their relationship under wraps).
I know that there will be lots of people who don’t agree, but I got a very childish, entitled, shallowness from it - of course under the performative guise of gratitude and positivity due to how “rough” she’s had it. I’m not trying to minimize her health problems, but at our age, we’ve all had our struggles and what I read just didn’t seem as devastating as she painted it. It just didn’t ring authentic to me. 🤷♀️
I don’t want to disparage anyone’s work, but other than a few decent quotes, it was just a big no from me. A lot of martyrdom, very little growth or maturation (she was basically perfect her entire life according to her), and nonsense about “The Boy” (who, according to the book, has children and family and his own tour and reasons to keep their relationship under wraps).
I know that there will be lots of people who don’t agree, but I got a very childish, entitled, shallowness from it - of course under the performative guise of gratitude and positivity due to how “rough” she’s had it. I’m not trying to minimize her health problems, but at our age, we’ve all had our struggles and what I read just didn’t seem as devastating as she painted it. It just didn’t ring authentic to me. 🤷♀️
September 28, 2025
Yawn. Sorry. I love a good celebrity memoir but I just found this kinda boring.
Read
July 24, 2025Had to read this for work — lots of thoughts, but I feel for Debbie & the struggles she’s gone through + commend her for sharing with the world.
November 6, 2025
As a child of the 80s, I was just starting to come of age in the pop princess era. Back then, the biggest worry we had was if we were team Debbie or Team Tiffany (I was Switzerland, btw). While I loved Tiffany’s gritty voice and Could’ve Been is still one of my favorite songs ever, no one could deny how much of a powerhouse the then 16 year old Gibson, who not only sang, but played on and composed her own music, truly was.
I was ten when her debut album, Out of the Blue, came out. Although not that much older than me in the grand scheme of things, to kids, a few years feels like a big deal. At the same time, I was in awe of what someone who was so young had already achieved. While I never got to see her in concert, I did follow her career into the Electric Youth era and beyond and yes, I even had the perfume.
But time marches on and fame, which is often fleeting, came and went. Neither Tiffany or Debbie were able to maintain the early lead they had in the pop music landscape. Perhaps if they had come up in the era of social media, that would be different. After all, I have always firmly maintain that young singer/songwriters like Debbie walked so the likes of Taylor Swift could run and I will die on that hill.
So when I saw Gibson had written a memoir, my inner hair-sprayed bangs self squealed with glee. However, I am here to say the even as a fan, there isn’t much substance to the book. The audiobook has Gibson narrating her own story, but often annoyingly so with lots of laughing at her own jokes and random a cappella outbursts.
But there is also no “tell all” to be told. Gibson seemingly lived a chaste experience in the often cutthroat world of pop music. Everyone is her friend (especially the males, it seems), and she doesn’t have anything bad to say about her journey. While I’m happy she came out unscathed, this does not an interesting memoir make. Instead, in addition to the laughing and singing, we got some lukewarm insight into her romantic relationships, her dynamic with her mom-ager aka manager, and her personal struggles with late diagnosis Lyme’s Disease.
Although I’ll always have a soft spot for what her and her music meant to my formative years, I would imagine other fans would be equally disappointed in the lack of spark in Eternally Electric.
I was ten when her debut album, Out of the Blue, came out. Although not that much older than me in the grand scheme of things, to kids, a few years feels like a big deal. At the same time, I was in awe of what someone who was so young had already achieved. While I never got to see her in concert, I did follow her career into the Electric Youth era and beyond and yes, I even had the perfume.
But time marches on and fame, which is often fleeting, came and went. Neither Tiffany or Debbie were able to maintain the early lead they had in the pop music landscape. Perhaps if they had come up in the era of social media, that would be different. After all, I have always firmly maintain that young singer/songwriters like Debbie walked so the likes of Taylor Swift could run and I will die on that hill.
So when I saw Gibson had written a memoir, my inner hair-sprayed bangs self squealed with glee. However, I am here to say the even as a fan, there isn’t much substance to the book. The audiobook has Gibson narrating her own story, but often annoyingly so with lots of laughing at her own jokes and random a cappella outbursts.
But there is also no “tell all” to be told. Gibson seemingly lived a chaste experience in the often cutthroat world of pop music. Everyone is her friend (especially the males, it seems), and she doesn’t have anything bad to say about her journey. While I’m happy she came out unscathed, this does not an interesting memoir make. Instead, in addition to the laughing and singing, we got some lukewarm insight into her romantic relationships, her dynamic with her mom-ager aka manager, and her personal struggles with late diagnosis Lyme’s Disease.
Although I’ll always have a soft spot for what her and her music meant to my formative years, I would imagine other fans would be equally disappointed in the lack of spark in Eternally Electric.
September 13, 2025
Candid and nostalgic! I grew up listening to Debbie Gibson and Tiffany and my tape player had these two queens of 80s pop on repeat. Eternally Electric is a memoir that truly shined.
Gibson’s memoir Eternally Electric is an honest and empowering look at her rise to fame, her struggles behind the spotlight, and her ongoing journey of resilience and self-discovery. She blends pop-culture nostalgia with raw personal stories and shows how she learned to embrace authenticity, navigate setbacks, and stay “eternally electric.”
I appreciated how open and vulnerable Debbie Gibson was in sharing her journey, from the highs of teenage stardom to the struggles she faced with health, finances, and personal relationships. The mix of career highlights and behind-the-scenes truths gave the memoir both heart and depth, and her voice came through as authentic and optimistic. I also liked how she tied her story back to themes of resilience, creativity, and staying true to herself. This made it feel not just nostalgic but inspirational.
At times, some of the stories lingered a little longer than necessary, and a few sections leaned more into name-dropping than deeper reflection. I didn’t care for the detailed focus on her music nor the personal anecdotes that took center stage. Still, the honesty and emotional weight of her storytelling outweighed those minor drawbacks.
In the end, Eternally Electric was an inspiring and heartfelt memoir that highlighted Debbie Gibson’s resilience, authenticity, and the timeless spark that made her story so memorable—and I’d especially recommend it to anyone who grew up with her songs on repeat during their 80s childhood. “Who Loves You Baby” 🎶 (Audio)
Gibson’s memoir Eternally Electric is an honest and empowering look at her rise to fame, her struggles behind the spotlight, and her ongoing journey of resilience and self-discovery. She blends pop-culture nostalgia with raw personal stories and shows how she learned to embrace authenticity, navigate setbacks, and stay “eternally electric.”
I appreciated how open and vulnerable Debbie Gibson was in sharing her journey, from the highs of teenage stardom to the struggles she faced with health, finances, and personal relationships. The mix of career highlights and behind-the-scenes truths gave the memoir both heart and depth, and her voice came through as authentic and optimistic. I also liked how she tied her story back to themes of resilience, creativity, and staying true to herself. This made it feel not just nostalgic but inspirational.
At times, some of the stories lingered a little longer than necessary, and a few sections leaned more into name-dropping than deeper reflection. I didn’t care for the detailed focus on her music nor the personal anecdotes that took center stage. Still, the honesty and emotional weight of her storytelling outweighed those minor drawbacks.
In the end, Eternally Electric was an inspiring and heartfelt memoir that highlighted Debbie Gibson’s resilience, authenticity, and the timeless spark that made her story so memorable—and I’d especially recommend it to anyone who grew up with her songs on repeat during their 80s childhood. “Who Loves You Baby” 🎶 (Audio)
September 11, 2025
Her music has been the soundtrack of my life and this book revealed all the life that was happening behind the songs. No doubt, as a child of the 80s and longtime admirer of Deborah “Debbie” Gibson, I’m biased. This memoir was playful and honest and no where close the trend of a cookie cutter collections of stories made to feel like a Where Are They Now? special. Stories, anecdotes, memories, highlight and challenges are all shared with the same appreciation. There was no trace of bitterness over health issues, financial pressures or the loss of cherished mentos in a sensationalized , ill-fated reality show pitch. I found it candid and encouraging, showcasing a deep appreciation for her family, fans and each of the opportunities which have shaped her. I feel like I grew up with her and reading this book made me appreciate her on a different level.
October 11, 2025
I love Debbie Gibson and I wanted to love this book, but I just didn’t. It was a bit chaotic and repetitive. It did dive into her start and time on Broadway as well as her health issues. I’m not sure what I was looking for, but I wanted more.
November 9, 2025
Sooo full of herself it was painful reading. Every single thing it was like she pooped gold bricks. Come on. I loved her music and was excited for this but oh my was this a hard read. Blech.
September 20, 2025
Wow—the nostalgia! Rating a memoir is always tricky, because it’s someone’s personal story, told the way they wanted to share it. How can you really “rate” that? So unless there are major prose issues or something completely off the rails, I usually land on 5 stars. That said, there are memoirs I truly stand behind at that rating—and this is one of them.
I thought it was well constructed, touching on the different parts of her life that both fans and casual readers would want to know about. She kept it entertaining and engaging while still giving it that deeply personal feel. It tugged at the heartstrings as she shared the challenges she went through, but also highlighted the strength it took to come out the other side.
I’ll be honest, though—I picked up the audiobook because I love hearing memoirs narrated by the author and was excited to do an immersion read. But I had to switch to print. Why? The narration took me out of the story, especially when Gibson would ad-lib or add in this short, forced laugh—it happened a lot in the first few chapters. And when she sang the lyrics included in the book… let’s just say it ruined the nostalgia rather than adding to it. Thankfully, once I switched to the finished copy, I could fully sink into the story without distraction.
I highly recommend this memoir to fans and to anyone looking for a story of emotional survival. It also offers an inside look at the “business” and what it really takes for child performers to fight their way through—and make it out the other side.
I fortunate to receive a complimentary physical finished copy from Gallery Books, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
I thought it was well constructed, touching on the different parts of her life that both fans and casual readers would want to know about. She kept it entertaining and engaging while still giving it that deeply personal feel. It tugged at the heartstrings as she shared the challenges she went through, but also highlighted the strength it took to come out the other side.
I’ll be honest, though—I picked up the audiobook because I love hearing memoirs narrated by the author and was excited to do an immersion read. But I had to switch to print. Why? The narration took me out of the story, especially when Gibson would ad-lib or add in this short, forced laugh—it happened a lot in the first few chapters. And when she sang the lyrics included in the book… let’s just say it ruined the nostalgia rather than adding to it. Thankfully, once I switched to the finished copy, I could fully sink into the story without distraction.
I highly recommend this memoir to fans and to anyone looking for a story of emotional survival. It also offers an inside look at the “business” and what it really takes for child performers to fight their way through—and make it out the other side.
I fortunate to receive a complimentary physical finished copy from Gallery Books, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
October 27, 2025
Rounded up to 2.5 ⭐️. I'm a child of the 80s, but this memoir didn't work for me. I listened to the audiobook, but it may have been better if I had read it. Debbie (which no one in her personal life actually calls her) tossed in too many giggles at things that were funny only to herself, interjected acapella singing with way too much vibrato to sound good, and her /s/ sound distortions/lisp was distracting (I also didn't appreciate her negative comments re: her 2 speech therapy experiences, which she described - outdated, non-evidence based methods). She definitely is talented as an all around musician- singer, songwriter, mixer - which she started showing skills for at a young age. She attributed her success to talent and luck, but ignored the role privilege played in her early years. Money and time for private lessons, for parents to take her to auditions. Oh her dad knows someone with a recording studio. Her uncle loaned for family $ to buy a mixing board etc. I love a good memoir, but this isn't one of them.
October 10, 2025
Deborah, this book is extremely boring.
September 14, 2025
“I always chose hot pecan pie with chocolate ice cream, not vanilla, because I wanted all the rich, most decadent stuff in one dish. Kind of a metaphor for how I've lived my entire life.” Flirting the hat off of Michael Damion’s head, Debbie Gibson ‘resuscitated the porkpie hat from the jazz era” and created an iconic fashion statement of the 1980s, and her single Lost in Your Eyes “was the victory for the young, creative, female voice.” But “Legendary is the song title that sums up my life, not because I am legendary but because we are legendary…That is what being eternally electric is all about.”
“Take a roomful of wonderfully diverse people back in time while simultaneously inspiring them to move forward. I call this feeling newstalgic, as I don’t believe everything good was done in the past, but I do know we can harness all the feels from our youth, bring them into the present, and leave at the end of the night full of renewed vitality, having been moved to laugh, dance, cry, reflect, sing, and hang on to hope in a world that threatens to dim our shine. That message in my music that paints a visceral picture of reality is layered with ways you can flip the script to lean into joy every chance you get.”
Debbie Gibson “is an indefatigable cat who always lands on her feet…I thrive when my feet are being held to the fire. That's my idea of a good time…the go-to girl…approachable in the light of day while giving my audience the diva onstage…Who I am when I strip away the musical performances and accomplishments is what counts…If I'm toned but a little soft and have that glow that comes with the endorphin high of working out and taking care of myself, mission accomplished.”
Stick-to-it-ness might be the greatest takeaway from the book. Not only is Eternally Electric a memoir, it is the milestone of a lifetime and the message in the music that Gibson has waited thirty-five years to proclaim. “It is mania and magic and there is meaning in the music and the connection, with newstalgic vibes and everyone reconnecting with the past while looking with newfound vitality to what lies ahead for all of us. Because the future is, after all…Eternally Electric!”
“Take a roomful of wonderfully diverse people back in time while simultaneously inspiring them to move forward. I call this feeling newstalgic, as I don’t believe everything good was done in the past, but I do know we can harness all the feels from our youth, bring them into the present, and leave at the end of the night full of renewed vitality, having been moved to laugh, dance, cry, reflect, sing, and hang on to hope in a world that threatens to dim our shine. That message in my music that paints a visceral picture of reality is layered with ways you can flip the script to lean into joy every chance you get.”
Debbie Gibson “is an indefatigable cat who always lands on her feet…I thrive when my feet are being held to the fire. That's my idea of a good time…the go-to girl…approachable in the light of day while giving my audience the diva onstage…Who I am when I strip away the musical performances and accomplishments is what counts…If I'm toned but a little soft and have that glow that comes with the endorphin high of working out and taking care of myself, mission accomplished.”
Stick-to-it-ness might be the greatest takeaway from the book. Not only is Eternally Electric a memoir, it is the milestone of a lifetime and the message in the music that Gibson has waited thirty-five years to proclaim. “It is mania and magic and there is meaning in the music and the connection, with newstalgic vibes and everyone reconnecting with the past while looking with newfound vitality to what lies ahead for all of us. Because the future is, after all…Eternally Electric!”
October 8, 2025
It’s so hard to rate memoirs. I don’t like giving them a star rating because it’s their story and who are we to judge.
If you were a Debhead or just a fan I def recommend giving this a read. Listening to it on Audio is fun. Lots of laughter, singing here and there!
It’s so interesting reading about pop stars pasts and their lives. Especially when they were popular when social media didn’t exist. I went into this one knowing all of Debbie’s songs, the smell of her Electric Youth perfume, but not a whole lot on her life.
Thank you Gallery Books for the gifted copy!
If you were a Debhead or just a fan I def recommend giving this a read. Listening to it on Audio is fun. Lots of laughter, singing here and there!
It’s so interesting reading about pop stars pasts and their lives. Especially when they were popular when social media didn’t exist. I went into this one knowing all of Debbie’s songs, the smell of her Electric Youth perfume, but not a whole lot on her life.
Thank you Gallery Books for the gifted copy!
September 25, 2025
When I saw that Debbie Gibson wrote a memoir I instantly purchased it with so much excitement to learn more about her. I listened to her first albums on repeat but didn’t really know where her career went after that. This book is so full of fun as well as honest and tender truths about who she is and what she has experienced. By the end of the book (I highly recommend you listen to her read the audiobook!), she has truly let you in and is speaking deeply from her heart. I loved learning more about her life. I would pause reading to watch videos of her musical theater performances (incredible!), rewatch her hit music videos and listen to her newer music that I hadn’t heard yet. I am now a bigger fan who will be more closely connected to where she goes from here- both her pursuit of creative endeavors and her joy, hopes and dreams!
September 11, 2025
This is what a memoir should be. it was fun, sad, and a little bit gosippy
October 30, 2025
I listened to Debbie Gibson's music when I was younger. I never realized how musical she was until listening to this book. She wrote her own songs and played her own instruments. It felt like she fell disappeared, and to me, she did, since she went on to perform on Broadway. I have a huge dislike for musicals and plays, including Disney movies and TV shows that randomly break out into a song. So the audio book was brutal for me to listen to with Debbie randomly breaking out into a song. I enjoyed hearing about her life and health struggles, but I could've done without the singing and giggling in the audio book.
December 21, 2025
I borrowed this book from the library and still want my money back. This is a masterclass in privileged victim mentality. Imagine being so disconnected from the reality of your fans that you think their main value is to sing your praises, and that you get to live the spoiled performer's life because your team needs you to make millions. "I was so tired I didn't think I could get out of bed, but I bravely went and produced a music video. And even though you idiots didn't give me an award for it, there's still time. And all those people who wronged me should apologize because you should have known I was better than you." Seriously, I listened to it in hopes of it having some redeeming ending, but I related more to OJ in the "If I Did It" book. Any relatedness I feel with how she talks about love and the absence of marriage in her life is now making me second guess my entire life because I hope people don't see me the way I read this book.
December 3, 2025
2.5 stars. Debbie Gibson was my first ever cassette tape (or was it Tiffany) so I’m not going to be overly critical. I will say that I’m happy the audiobook is finished so I don’t have to hear the constant giggling/laughing every other sentence or the random bursting into song. At almost 10 hours listening time, I feel like I don’t know much more about her life as I did going in.
October 11, 2025
I loved it! I’ve been a big fan since I was like 10. I’ve followed her career and have been able to see her both in the production of Joseph, and on stage. It was really neat to hear the back story to her life.
November 15, 2025
Eternally Electric: The Message in My Music by Debbie Gibson. My childhood self was loving every minute of diving into how Debbie Gibson made herself an icon. I bought this at a book talk and had such high hopes. The book itself has so many memorable moments about how Debbie became a Guinness World Record holder, with her Mom behind her no matter how high her dreams were. The writing was only 3 stars, it seemed like a scattering of facts instead of a flowing story. The book did not dive into anything too deep. Overall it was fun to remind myself of the music and what it meant to me in my tween years. I would say pick this one up if your a fan, but have low expectations for anything other than the headlines of her career.
P.S. you WILL be singing for a week after if Debbie was your girl oh so long ago.
P.S. you WILL be singing for a week after if Debbie was your girl oh so long ago.
November 29, 2025
I received this book in August as a late birthday gift. It was fresh off the press and signed by Debbie Gibson herself, and included an authentication certificate. Knowing I was a huge fan as a teen and a book lover, this was the perfect gift from my brother Anthony.
I enjoyed the flashbacks to her hits, which I was obsessed with especially her first album, Out Of The Blue. I learned a lot about her life that I never knew like her extensive musical theater career as well as her health issues.
It took me a hot minute to read, but not because it was boring. This is my first and only autobiography read this year.
I enjoyed the flashbacks to her hits, which I was obsessed with especially her first album, Out Of The Blue. I learned a lot about her life that I never knew like her extensive musical theater career as well as her health issues.
It took me a hot minute to read, but not because it was boring. This is my first and only autobiography read this year.
January 1, 2026
2.5 stars
November 24, 2025
Listen to her tell her life story in her own voice if you are a DG fan. It’s raw and emotional. She’s very down to earth & honest. You feel like it’s you & her having coffee, catching up on what she’s been up to.
September 25, 2025
3.5 stars - Recommend
So much of the music in the late 80s was by young pop stars like Debbie Gibson, boy bands, or other dance-centric acts.
I did not realize the depth and breadth of Debbie's talents. She is a talented singer, pianist, actress, theatre performer, and commercial actress. She has been performing for a very long time with her mother, Diane, as her momager. Having your parent as your manager is a whole set of issues, which Debbie discusses in the memoir. However, I believe that parents should not be managing their kids' careers, nor financially benefiting.
If you are a "DebHead", liked late 80s music, or want to read Debbie's story, then this is the book for you!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: https://tinyurl.com/ywzmkwh2
So much of the music in the late 80s was by young pop stars like Debbie Gibson, boy bands, or other dance-centric acts.
I did not realize the depth and breadth of Debbie's talents. She is a talented singer, pianist, actress, theatre performer, and commercial actress. She has been performing for a very long time with her mother, Diane, as her momager. Having your parent as your manager is a whole set of issues, which Debbie discusses in the memoir. However, I believe that parents should not be managing their kids' careers, nor financially benefiting.
If you are a "DebHead", liked late 80s music, or want to read Debbie's story, then this is the book for you!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea: https://tinyurl.com/ywzmkwh2
September 29, 2025
*3.5 Stars*
Eternally Electric: The Message in my Music was a very candid biography by Debbie Gibson on her life growing up as a pop superstar. I have a really difficult time evaluating books like this, so I will mention that my rating focuses on organization, readability, and pacing of the book, not what the artist chooses to reveal or not reveal in their book as that is their choice. Pretty much any girl who grew up in the 80's would be familiar with both Debbie Gibson and Tiffany as these two women were huge role models for young girls during this time period when young pop singers weren't really a thing.
The memoir focuses on Debbie's rise to fame as a young artist in a cut-throat business, her struggles when her albums didn't perform as well as hoped, her venture into Broadway, her personal struggles with her health including anxiety and panic attacks as well as exhaustion, and her resilience as she re-discovers her love for writing and composing music. At its heart, its a book about self-discovery and perseverance and hope.
As a kid, I definitely didn't realize how much freedom Debbie Gibson was given when making her first couple of albums. As a song-writer, producer, and artist for the albums, she certainly had a lot of creative control over them and it was a shame the music company didn't allow her the same freedom later in her career as she had certainly proven she had what it took to be successful. This is the time period when you would have to sit by the radio to record songs if you weren't able to purchase the tapes, and MTV and Much Music were just getting off the ground, so it was a different time period. You had to wait for gossip about your stars in your favourite magazines and we didn't know as much about the stars as we do today.
I always appreciate how open people are in their biographies and how willing they are to share their struggles with others as I am not sure I could do the same. Debbie Gibson was quite frank when sharing her difficulties with her personal relationships, her financial struggles, and the struggles with her health. I have three autoimmune diseases, so I understand how difficult it would have been when she was trying to get a diagnosis for Lyme's Disease and wondering what was going on with her and how frustrating that would have been. When you don't know what is happening, having a diagnosis is almost a relief in comparison, even if it's not what you want. I also wonder how much having her mother as a manager created additional pressure to keep going, and going, and going, as she mentions in passing a couple of times how she is responsible for their lifestyles and their salaries, so was this too much pressure for her? While she talks highly about her mother, there are some things that make me question if her mother was the best person to be her manager.
With all that being said, I did feel like the book was somewhat gossipy at times and sometimes reverted to name-dropping instead of explaining. It's not that the gossipy thing is bad as it was interesting, but a little more clarification on certain events rather than the gossip would have been nice. I did enjoy the personal anecdotes and having been a fan of NKOTB, it was interesting to hear what they have been up to these past couple of years. I also really enjoyed learning about Debbie Gibson's time on Broadway as I didn't really know a lot about that so I found it fascinating.
Eternally Electric was a book that took me back to the 80s and my high school years, and I found it nostalgic and inspiring. Her authenticity and resilience really struck a chord with me and I enjoyed reading about her life and the experiences she had as a singer, producer, composer. And boy, is she one talented lady!!! Even if you weren't a fan, I would still recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book that is inspiring and heartfelt.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Eternally Electric: The Message in my Music was a very candid biography by Debbie Gibson on her life growing up as a pop superstar. I have a really difficult time evaluating books like this, so I will mention that my rating focuses on organization, readability, and pacing of the book, not what the artist chooses to reveal or not reveal in their book as that is their choice. Pretty much any girl who grew up in the 80's would be familiar with both Debbie Gibson and Tiffany as these two women were huge role models for young girls during this time period when young pop singers weren't really a thing.
The memoir focuses on Debbie's rise to fame as a young artist in a cut-throat business, her struggles when her albums didn't perform as well as hoped, her venture into Broadway, her personal struggles with her health including anxiety and panic attacks as well as exhaustion, and her resilience as she re-discovers her love for writing and composing music. At its heart, its a book about self-discovery and perseverance and hope.
As a kid, I definitely didn't realize how much freedom Debbie Gibson was given when making her first couple of albums. As a song-writer, producer, and artist for the albums, she certainly had a lot of creative control over them and it was a shame the music company didn't allow her the same freedom later in her career as she had certainly proven she had what it took to be successful. This is the time period when you would have to sit by the radio to record songs if you weren't able to purchase the tapes, and MTV and Much Music were just getting off the ground, so it was a different time period. You had to wait for gossip about your stars in your favourite magazines and we didn't know as much about the stars as we do today.
I always appreciate how open people are in their biographies and how willing they are to share their struggles with others as I am not sure I could do the same. Debbie Gibson was quite frank when sharing her difficulties with her personal relationships, her financial struggles, and the struggles with her health. I have three autoimmune diseases, so I understand how difficult it would have been when she was trying to get a diagnosis for Lyme's Disease and wondering what was going on with her and how frustrating that would have been. When you don't know what is happening, having a diagnosis is almost a relief in comparison, even if it's not what you want. I also wonder how much having her mother as a manager created additional pressure to keep going, and going, and going, as she mentions in passing a couple of times how she is responsible for their lifestyles and their salaries, so was this too much pressure for her? While she talks highly about her mother, there are some things that make me question if her mother was the best person to be her manager.
With all that being said, I did feel like the book was somewhat gossipy at times and sometimes reverted to name-dropping instead of explaining. It's not that the gossipy thing is bad as it was interesting, but a little more clarification on certain events rather than the gossip would have been nice. I did enjoy the personal anecdotes and having been a fan of NKOTB, it was interesting to hear what they have been up to these past couple of years. I also really enjoyed learning about Debbie Gibson's time on Broadway as I didn't really know a lot about that so I found it fascinating.
Eternally Electric was a book that took me back to the 80s and my high school years, and I found it nostalgic and inspiring. Her authenticity and resilience really struck a chord with me and I enjoyed reading about her life and the experiences she had as a singer, producer, composer. And boy, is she one talented lady!!! Even if you weren't a fan, I would still recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book that is inspiring and heartfelt.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
October 5, 2025
I am not sure what to make of this memoir; it was different than many I have read, in that in certain sections DG is very vulnerable and she tells it like it is, often at what could be the expense of people she names directly. I wonder what people thought when they saw themselves called out. She was candid about her financial and love struggles.
Obviously, DG is a very talented artist. She writes her own music, is a singer/dancer/actor, and she is attractive. She’s overcome a lot, and she always remains positive. The health journey in particular speaks to her resilience.
At the same time, there were areas that didn’t work. The Boy references all over make her seem to be a lovestruck teen— and she’s had a lot of life experience in relationships to have grown from. It’s both refreshing in her openness and also kind of cringe-y. She gives credit to a ton of people, which is great, but there is so much name dropping going on. She comes across as confident, but almost with a very heightened sense of self: referring to herself constantly as a pioneer, breaking ground, etc. And it’s strange, because it’s all true, but most people, especially the younger generation, have no idea who she is.
Some parts of the writing were lovely. Other parts didn’t quite hit. Many times she talks about something that she laughs about while writing, but they didn’t seem very funny. She often says something like “but let me take you back there” which interrupts the flow of the narrative. She spent lot of time at the start talking about how innocent she was while dating, and how her boyfriends stayed in different rooms… then she mentions a number of boyfriends…. then she goes back to Brian Bloom (I think) who she did “boyfriend /girlfriend “things with— the timeline didn’t make sense. Then she openly discusses a number of relationships but drops one in the end about a guy she dated who she refused to write about- why? Just curious.
I also thought it odd that the book starts with her dad having nine lives, but then her dad pretty much disappears for the duration of the book. Obviously, a large part of the work is about her mom (again, kudos for her honesty there), but there was a part about 3/4 in where she drops that Kris Jenner and she discussed what had happened to her mom… but we (the readers) didn’t know at that point (about her mom’s death). There wasn’t a lot of mention of her family, which surprised me— what happened to her Uncle Carl?— but she seems to have a lot of friends.
My takeaway, though, was that she is a fighter, and optimist, and a talent. I love how she reinvents herself to stay relevant and involved. I feel for the loss of her mom, and I thought her candor was unique. How often do you see someone genuinely happy for others and admitting they need help, or sharing their problems openly? I’ve always liked her, and I wish her the best going forward. I’m glad I read this.
Obviously, DG is a very talented artist. She writes her own music, is a singer/dancer/actor, and she is attractive. She’s overcome a lot, and she always remains positive. The health journey in particular speaks to her resilience.
At the same time, there were areas that didn’t work. The Boy references all over make her seem to be a lovestruck teen— and she’s had a lot of life experience in relationships to have grown from. It’s both refreshing in her openness and also kind of cringe-y. She gives credit to a ton of people, which is great, but there is so much name dropping going on. She comes across as confident, but almost with a very heightened sense of self: referring to herself constantly as a pioneer, breaking ground, etc. And it’s strange, because it’s all true, but most people, especially the younger generation, have no idea who she is.
Some parts of the writing were lovely. Other parts didn’t quite hit. Many times she talks about something that she laughs about while writing, but they didn’t seem very funny. She often says something like “but let me take you back there” which interrupts the flow of the narrative. She spent lot of time at the start talking about how innocent she was while dating, and how her boyfriends stayed in different rooms… then she mentions a number of boyfriends…. then she goes back to Brian Bloom (I think) who she did “boyfriend /girlfriend “things with— the timeline didn’t make sense. Then she openly discusses a number of relationships but drops one in the end about a guy she dated who she refused to write about- why? Just curious.
I also thought it odd that the book starts with her dad having nine lives, but then her dad pretty much disappears for the duration of the book. Obviously, a large part of the work is about her mom (again, kudos for her honesty there), but there was a part about 3/4 in where she drops that Kris Jenner and she discussed what had happened to her mom… but we (the readers) didn’t know at that point (about her mom’s death). There wasn’t a lot of mention of her family, which surprised me— what happened to her Uncle Carl?— but she seems to have a lot of friends.
My takeaway, though, was that she is a fighter, and optimist, and a talent. I love how she reinvents herself to stay relevant and involved. I feel for the loss of her mom, and I thought her candor was unique. How often do you see someone genuinely happy for others and admitting they need help, or sharing their problems openly? I’ve always liked her, and I wish her the best going forward. I’m glad I read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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