At times funny, but also raw and vulnerable, Rated X is Maitland's memoir documenting her authentic journey from mainstream actress to porn star. After acting roles stopped coming in, Maitland shifted to doing cosplay appearances, then posting semi-nude pictures on Snapchat and Instagram. After starting an adult Patreon account, where she dabbled in more risque pictures and videos, she eventually transitioned to professional pornography.

Maitland pulls no punches when writing about her career evolution. After being typecast and unable to be seen as anything more than an ABC/Disney star, she forged her own path with no apologies and that's what I liked most about her story. She is open and honest about everything, from her acting career to exploring her own sexuality to not letting what others thought stop her from finding her own happiness. There is also a lot of body and sex positivity as well as bucking what is considered traditional porn from a male gaze and turning it into something that empowers women.

To state the obvious, this book contains explicit content so it will not be for everyone. I found it to be a fascinating narrative about how, as the tagline states, porn liberated Maitland from Hollywood and gave her career a new and unexpected boost.

This book was so good! I had no idea what Maitland was up to in the years since Boy Meets World, or that she was one of the sisters in White Chicks - without the red hair I didn't recognize her. She's had an incredible life and a great journey and I applaud her for living her life and voicing her truth and doing what she wants and standing up to the haters. She's awesome and this book was fantastic. 4.5 stars rounded up and I hope she writes more.

3 out of 5 stars. It was ok.

While it was interesting to learn where Maitland Ward had disappeared to after Boy Meets World, I wasn't fully drawn into this book. I admit, we need to be more accepting of certain lifestyles, and sex shouldn't be as taboo as it is.... but I think she paints the world with rose colored glasses a bit. Just because some porn is done legally, it doesn't mean that everything everywhere is and we shouldn't listen to the stories of the dark side of the industry.

Maitland Ward illustrates the difference between mainstream Hollywood and the more stigmatized porn industry in unexpected ways. It’s a riveting look from someone who has had a foot in both. It’s unapologetic and hopeful and an intriguing look at the path of a former Disney star.

As a teenager I was a boy meets world fan, so of course when I seen this book I had to read it. It felt like watching one of those episodes of "Where are they Now". but way better. Maitland tells a thought-provoking story that was empowering as well as sad at times.

The way Hollywood just chews up and spits out actors/actresses is really upsetting. Maitland finds herself and her confidence in the porn industry and this book really focuses on how porn gets a bad reputation. When in actuality it is empowering for some women and a job just like anyone else's.

I highly recommend this book to readers who want a honest and down to earth perspective of Hollywood and the porn industry.

Maitland Ward has been through it all in Hollywood. Soap Operas, Disney sit-coms, Blockbuster movies and now, breaking down barriers in the world of porn.
Maitland makes this book very interesting. Bringing together her thoughts on sex, the taboo of female sexuality and reclaiming your power through sex and being proud of your body/sexuality was refreshing to read.
It felt a little rough around the edges, but I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt that the finished edition will be a bit cleaner. Not in content, because I felt this did a good job of balancing the details of her work/sexuality without making her life sound like an erotic novel.

Shocking, entertaining, and not for the faint hearted.

Her Hollywood career flagged after being typecast by a family-friendly role. After continued rejection and yet seemingly on the cusp of a career revival, she started wearing revealing dresses to press nights, tipping off the paps and revelling in the attention it brought, all against the advice of agents as her career started to go down a different path…

I enjoyed the way in which she wrote about being a teen girl growing up and becoming a young actress on a number one show. She writes about things most people would shy away and nothing seemed to get past her. I found reading about her life interesting and thought she created a colourful picture and I enjoyed her brutally honest insight on things.

She talks about her own personal take on feminist values and how it relates to nudity and sex work. It was an interesting perspective although I didn’t always agree with all that was said. Some parts felt contrived and hyper sexual as though playing up to fans or an audience who may read her book. Other parts felt a little self absorbed. However, there were moments of vulnerability and raw honesty underneath the armour of humour and shocking language. I found some of it absolutely hilarious, like spit your tea out, who has for the balls to write this type of stuff. It was pretty brave and outrageous.

This was a great book and I would recommend it to anyone. It just goes to show you that happiness can be found in any profession. Hollywood and child, teen stardom can have it's toll on some people and this is a great read about that

Interesting story of Maitland Ward's personal journey as an actress. I am familiar with some of her early work, such as Boy Meets World, but not with her work as she crossed over into porn. I have read different articles about her crossover, and also her success at returning to Hollywood, which is mostly unheard of in the past. The book gives her perspective and struggles as she grapples with her own self image, the roles that are available for her to read for, the stereotypes of Hollywood as well as non-Hollywood individuals. It is a story of finding and valuing one's true self, and being comfortable with what you find. It is much more than a book about working in Hollywood and/or working in Porn. The lessons learned and explored within the book are relevant to all people in all walks of life and professions.

I do need to point out the the candor of the author is at times graphic. There is plenty of frank discussion of sex and anatomy.

I appreciate Atria and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Mrs. Ward is not your average television star. From child actor to adult film star Mrs. Ward has transitioned from daytime actress and child star to adult film star. This is that tale.

And for your next scintillating read give a gander to Maitland Ward’s new memoir #Rated X which is. For those of you not familiar with Ms.Ward, she’s an actress who was a member of the ensemble teen cast of the 90’s sitcom hit Boy Meets World which was produced by an entertainment conglomerate I’ll leave unnamed but in an earlier life was responsible for The Mickey Mouse Club. Let’s just say Boy Meets World was a far cry from Annette meets Cubby. After a seven year run the show is canceled and Maitland finds herself mired in Hollywood bull…. and without steady work. As the world turns one thing leads to another and she gradually morphs into an adult film star and her career takes off. By her account the people she works with in the porn industry to be more real than the ones she dealt with in the “legit” show biz. To borrow one of my favorite Franny And Zooey quotes' “ Give me an honest con man any day”. No doubt about it, #Rated X is outrageous and will offend some readers but for those of you who can handle graphic adult material you’ll find this riches to rags to riches saga the story of an aggressive woman who is very comfortable with her own sexuality. Four stars.

This was a really fun look into the porn industry, and how Maitland Ward really found herself by going into it. I liked the various stories, it was a fun book. Not perfectly written, but enjoyable.

I love reading memoirs from people living "taboo" lives. Porn stars are especially fun as they generally enjoy working in a field that privately gets so much attention, but publicly is shamed. Reading one from someone I watched on Disney as a kid was especially interesting. We've all heard the stories of how Disney treats their actors/actresses and this was a good first-hand account of that. It makes me happy that Maitland was able to escape their grasp and find a future doing something she genuinely enjoys.

This might not be considered to be my usual fare here but when I saw the opportunity to review this book, I jumped at it. As a child of the 80s and a teen of the 90s Boy Meets World holds a place in my heart. Seeing Maitland Ward in her cosplay and then later in other attire held a place elsewhere. I was curious how a star from my youth had this career change. In her own words, Ward details every bit of the journey in this upcoming book. Some celebrity works are terribly written or it is far too obvious someone else did the actual work. This book was written by a woman who holds nothing back. I wonder if her experience being naked on film allows her to also be naked in text as well. Maitland is raw, open, honest, funny, smart, and throughout the entire book engrossing. Hollywood is fake, porn is real, and she is as real as it gets. 

For those of you who may not know, Maitland Ward joined the cast of Boy Meets World in later seasons as Rachel McGuire. I honestly saw her as the beautiful girl next door who has a sense of humor and confidence. After reading this book, I think that’s what Maitland would have wanted as well but instead her character became a way to add some sex to an ABC TGIF show without making the other girls on the show change anything. After the show, Ward never saw the same success and became frustrated. She started to get attention from dressing far too cute in public and, where I rediscovered her, some stunning cosplay. Things started gradually from there. Maitland joined Patreon so fans could see more photos of her and a fortune was made. A little less clothing, a little more sex, and the adult world comes calling. Thanks to her experiences in Hollywood, Maitland was able to pull any adult film she was in out of the shadows and into the light of respectability. She brought plot, sets, and glamor back. Along the way she finds more honesty in porn compared to the facade that is Hollywood. 

Maitland is an absolute game changer for the porn industry. A talent that defines before and after. Not since the 90s when Vivid girls hosted shows on the E! Network and had billboards, has there been a mainstream adult star of this level. Throughout the book she shows an honesty for her body and her body of work that stands against the mainstream output. While the “reputable” world would have her diet, call her fat, gaslight, manipulate, and exploit. Her new career turns out to be more wholesome. Support, honesty, and a team working towards a united goal instead of egos in trailers. 

After reading this book I think those who wouldn’t seek out porn (or admit to it) will have to give Maitland her deserved respect. Ironic that TGIF had so many messages for us but left a big one out. One that Ward is now teaching. As long as everyone is legal and consenting and having fun - do what you want. Maybe not everyone is as adventurous, but no one has to be. The lesson within this book is to have the confidence to find what you enjoy. Whether that be for work or pleasure. If it doesn’t hurt anyone, don’t feel guilty about what brings you pleasure. There are far too many people out there trying to yuk your yum to waste time worrying about them. I hope Maitland continues to innovate and lead her industry for many years to come.

I discovered Maitland’s work when she appeared on Boy Meets World, which was one of my family’s favorite shows. While I have never seen any of her work on Deeper or Vixen, I have enjoyed her work on Boy Meets World and White Chicks. I enjoyed reading this book and learning about her journey in Hollywood and beyond.

Loved the part referring to Jack and Jennifer (Days of Our Lives) having sex for the first time. This reminded me about how excited my friend and I were about that happening and how we had rushed home from the library that day so we would not miss it. I was a huge Days of Our Lives fan.

Well written, easy to read. Full of passion and honesty. This has to be one of the best books I have read all year.

I would recommend it to any fan from any of Maitland’s work.

This was a very interesting behind the curtain so to speak about this woman's life. I wasn't the reader that was supposed to cover this one but I am glad that I ended up with it because man was this eye opening. If you are looking to get out of your comfort zone and you want to check something out that in an interesting category. I would definitely get your hands on this one.

This was great getting to know Ms. Ward through this book, it was a fantastic memoir and I appreciated that Ms. Ward was able to tell her story. I really felt for Ms. Ward's journey though Hollywood, the book shows that how bad typecasting can be, I'm glad she was able to follow a dream. It was a really well done memoir that has a hopeful message and I appreciated that.

If you have a vagina - You will love this book

If you've struggled with sexuality and intimacy - You will love this book

If you've ever wondered about the porn industry - You will love this book

If you're a fan of celebrity gossip - You will love this book

If you have a brain - You will love this book

Basically - I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone.

With phrases like "I didn't wear panties the night my life changed" - this book cements itself as a fun read. And then, with Ward's thoughtful takes on individual agency, sexuality, and intimacy, it also cements itself as a meaningful perspective on the possibility of female empowerment in the porn industry.

One million thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a fantastic read!

3.5 stars.

I normally don't like "when I was young" stories in a memoir. However, I made an exception with this one because Ward did a great job of giving us just enough information to understand what he youth was like.

Surprisingly, there are very few stories of her time on Boy Meets World. I am always annoyed by artists who write memoirs but don't bother to tell us much about their experiences with that TV show, band, etc. Let's get real, this book (and other memoirs) would not even be written if it was not for Boy Meets World as we would have no idea who Maitland was. Sure, she has so many more layers to her life, but what INITIALLY attracts the reader, for the most part, is what they are most known for.

In Ward's case, she basically has two careers - actress and porn star, but ultimately, I am willing to bet that many of the people who will buy this book are doing so because of her connection to Boy Meets World - whether she likes it or not, so why not embrace it and tell us stories about being on the show = its almost like she is afraid to go there, which is too bad.

As for the second career, she does a very good job of describing for us, what its like to work in the industry and how it makes her feel as a person. From the very beginning of this book, we are privy to the fact that Ward is constantly trying new things in the hopes of gaining a better understanding of what makes her tick. It is a thread that runs through the book and is quite interesting.

The writing is down to earth and very honest. If you have issues with overtly sexual content, then I would recommend you not read this book.

For those of us who are okay with it, I find this the most interesting and honest part of her story.

I really enjoyed this book. It is the story of Maitland from being on a soap opera to being in adult films. The book is written extremely well and flows well. I appreciated her honesty and found myself a bigger fan after reading this book!