4 stars. Who wasn't obsessed with ANTM growing up? I absolutely loved the peak behind the curtain here. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was fun. I didn't watch season 9 of ANTM, so I was not aware of the contestants on this show, I just wanted to read a memoir by a contestant. This is mostly a play-by-play of season 9 from the perspective of one contestant, and it honestly doesn't go too deep into it. There's a few behind the scenes things, but not too much. An entertaining read, but not anything ground breaking.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah Hartstone was a contestant on Americas Next Top Model who fell between a standard model and plus size. In her book she discusses how she ended up on the show and her experience on the show and the aftermath. It was interesting to get a peak into the behind the scenes of reality tv. Sarah is a fantastic writer who tells her story in an engaging and honest way and still manages to display the humor and absurdity of the situations she finds herself in.

I used to love America’s Next Top Model when I was in my early twenties. It is truly bizarre how it didn’t even faze me the way the production and the judges treated the young contestants. The poor ladies were exposed to so much ugliness and emotional abuse during the entire run of the show. Sarah Hartshorne appeared on Cycle 9 of the hit show. She was the “plus-size model” who was eliminated in the middle of the season. Even though I liked the author’s candid commentary on the traumas and tribulations she endured during her time in the house/competition, I can’t really say I liked this book as a whole. The writing style was not very good, I know the author is not a professional writer, but I just didn’t think her thought process flowed well. I just couldn’t dive fully into her background with the controversial show. It’s a fun book but not very memorable.

Sarah Hartshorne’s memoir is a poignant blend of nostalgia and heartbreak, shedding light on the uncomfortable truths behind a show many of us grew up watching. Revisiting America’s Next Top Model Cycle 9 while reading her account was a jarring experience—I found myself so outraged by her treatment that I couldn’t bring myself to watch beyond her elimination.

Hartshorne holds back zero punches in exposing the deep-seated misogyny and fatphobia within both the modeling industry and the show itself, despite Tyra Banks and her team’s public image as advocates for diversity. Her sharp wit and engaging narrative style bring levity to otherwise unsettling material, making the memoir both thought-provoking and unexpectedly humorous.

For those familiar with the show, I highly recommend re-watching Cycle 9 alongside the book. Many chapters align closely with specific episodes, adding depth and context to what unfolds on screen.

I was an avid ANTM watcher during my post-secondary years - I’m not surprised by basically any of the backstory here! Still this is a well written dive into a cultural phenomenon, as well as into reality TV and its impact in general, and how popular culture shapes beauty standards. If you aren’t an ANTM model fan it might not be your forte but I enjoyed it.

“Thank you, Pay me.”
I used to devour trash tv and reality tv like was job. I was obsessed with ANTM. I watched every cycle so when I saw this book, I immediately had to jump on it and check it out.

When watching the show, I was so naive to everything. I couldn’t even fathom how terrible of an environment it was there. But as I got older and more news came out it wasn’t shocking how these women were treated.

It also still blows my mind that Sarah was considered a plus size model back then. This of course is why women have body issues.

I enjoyed this book and a peek into Sarah’s life on the show. I can’t imagine what these girls went through and how they were treated. It certainly was as life changing and I’m sure for most not for the best. While some good has come to contestants on the show, it was such a toxic environment. I’m sure Tyra’s intention was not to be all bad at first, but shame on her for putting these girls through what they did, not compensating them, and for some much other controversy.

If you were a fan of the show this a must read. Now I can’t get theme song out of my head.

As a fan of the show when I was younger, this was a fun read. The writing was not my favorite but definitely had some insightful moments.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

This book honestly had me screaming pretty much the whole way through it. And that’s not because it was a bad book. It’s because the way these people were treated just makes me lose it.

I remember watching the first cycle of America’s next top model live when I was in college. From there, I watched them all. Then, a couple years back, I did a full rewatch of every single cycle. I’m not naive to the falsities of reality television, but good God.

This is certainly a must read for anyone who watched the show. The only reason I gave it a four out of five was because things tended to get repetitive. But the cool thing about reading this after watching the show is you can picture everything. The house, the photo shoots, everything. I loved that.

But again, the way the girls were treated really pissed me off. Our author is plus sized, so the producers were CONSTANTLY egging here on in interviews to make her feel bad about it. Anyone who has watched the show knows they do this to everyone. Totally playing on insecurities. It’s like if anyone has a bad work environment. You know the feeling.

I grew up watching full cycles of ANTM reruns in one sitting and had no idea how badly I needed a this book until I stumbled upon it. The behind-the-scenes details of the show would be interesting enough for anyone who enjoyed ANTM or reality TV in general, but it's even more compelling, and usually horrifying, to hear about the experiences of a "plus-size" (and queer!) contestant.

This memoir wasn't life-changing but it was a fast read with an engaging voice and delivered exactly what I wanted based on the premise and description - so 4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Did I devour this book? Yes.
When I saw this title from a contestant in America’s Next Top Model, it was immediately added to my list. I loved that show like many of those my age did and I still like to go back and rewatch, even though the things I know now make it controversial. I’m so glad that all these former contestants are sharing their stories. I love a juicy memoir and this one didn’t disappoint! Sarah is also a good storyteller and very entertaining. I need a book from every contestant stat! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for early access to this one.

You Wanna Be on Top? completely pulled me in. I went in expecting behind-the-scenes gossip and fun reality TV stories, and while it definitely delivered on the drama, what really surprised me was how thoughtful, funny, and vulnerable Sarah Hartshorne is. This is so much more than a Top Model tell-all. It's about body image, exploitation, identity, and the long tail of reality TV fame, all told with incredible self-awareness.

Sarah writes candidly about her experience on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 9, where she was labeled the “plus-size” contestant at a size 8. That alone speaks volumes. She pulls back the curtain on how the show edited contestants into characters, how producers manipulated emotions and situations, and how little support was offered once the cameras stopped rolling. The “makeover” episode, where she was given platinum blonde hair she hated, felt like a turning point — a moment where she lost agency over her own image, and it clearly stuck with her.

One of the most powerful parts of the book is when she reflects on the aftermath. She shares how being on the show triggered disordered eating, self-doubt, and years of trying to live up to an impossible version of herself. She’s open about her struggles with mental health and how it took a long time to reclaim her own narrative. I also loved her insights on the modeling industry as a whole and the way she ties in feminist commentary without ever sounding preachy.

There are plenty of moments that made me laugh too. Sarah’s humor is sharp, and her tone is refreshingly honest. Even when she’s talking about painful things, her voice feels grounded and real. You can tell this was written by someone who has done the work to reflect and heal.

The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is that the timeline occasionally felt jumpy. A few parts moved quickly or skipped over details I wanted more of, especially toward the end. I would have loved to see even more of her life post-show and how she found her way into writing, comedy, and activism.

If you’re a fan of Top Model, this is a must-read. But even if you’ve never seen an episode, this memoir stands on its own. It’s for anyone who’s ever struggled to fit in, questioned the version of themselves they present to the world, or wondered what really happens behind the curtain of so-called “reality” TV.

I was a fan of Top Model growing up so I was so excited to be able to read this memoir. I loved the details Sarah shared about her experience on the show and some personal experiences outside of the show. It was an interesting look into a seemingly inspirational show that was in reality toxic and cult-like.

As I got older, I've realized how problematic reality TV can be and it's good that people like Sarah are able to share their stories.

As a former viewer of the show, I was very excited to read this. I enjoyed Sarah's voice, and found it to be very personable and casual. She reflects well on the experience and the complications and trauma of being on reality TV.
She wrote so much about the NDA early on, that I would have loved to see her come back to it at the end. I want to know more.

Were you a fan of America’s Next Top Model? Did you wonder how the models felt when the judges were so harsh about their looks and abilities? If so, You Wanna Be on Top? is a must read because behind-the-scenes it was so much worse.

Girls treated like cattle, shoved into hot windowless rooms for hours or even weeks at a time. Told when to eat, sleep, and even when to go to the bathroom. Cameras everywhere but no talking aloud except when cameras were filming, which they did for up to 17 hours per day. Is this torture, reality television, or perhaps both combined?

The worst part for the author, who finished eighth in cycle 9, was that they weren’t paid. For the entire months long cycle. Even after elimination, the models were kept in isolation to be used as decoys for the paparazzi. Still, for no pay.

While You Wanna Be on Top? is about America’s Next Top Model, its methods could apply to almost any reality competition. Treating the contestants like set pieces. Manipulating their discussions to mold them into any character the producers want, from villain to hero. And, of course, not paying them for their time unless they win. It is hard not to wonder about what goes on behind-the-scenes at modern shows like Love Island, Big Brother, and The Bachelor. I can’t wait for similar memoirs about those shows to appear.

I highly recommend reading You Wanna Be on Top? if you watch any reality television. It is an eye-opening memoir that just confirms that sleazy feeling given off occasionally by even the best of these shows. 5 stars and a favorite!

Thanks to NetGalley and Crown for providing me with an advanced review copy.

Sarah Hartshorne’s You Wanna Be On Top? is a sharp, compulsively readable memoir that cuts through the glitter and grit of early 2000s reality TV. Revisiting her time on Cycle 9 of America’s Next Top Model, Hartshorne exposes how young, often underprivileged women were manipulated for quick cash and viewer entertainment.

Fast-paced and unflinching, the book reveals how production relied on tactics like emotional isolation and manufactured conflict. Hartshorne strengthens her critique by comparing these methods to researched and proven cult manipulation techniques, showing they weren’t accidental but calculated.

This memoir challenges nostalgia with urgency. It’s incisive, damning, and deeply necessary.

4.5⭐️ If you’re a fan of ANTM and watched the early seasons, this will make you so nostalgic. I loved how detail Sarah was in this memoir while talking about her experience on the show and some personal experiences outside of the show. It felt vulnerable and honest. As a fan of the show, I can appreciate how camp and entertaining it was, but I also recognize how problematic it was and I’m not an ANTM apologist. I’m glad some light was shed on this.

You Wanna Be on Top? By Sarah Hartshorne

I vividly remember grabbing lunch at a dining hall, going back to my dorm room, and watching America’s Next Top Model on my laptop. So when I saw an ANTM book, I immediately requested it.

This memoir was interesting and full of behind-the-scenes information about ANTM. I found the author to be very respectful of other girls and the show in general. It wasn’t scathing, but it felt even-handed when pointing out the flaws and culture created by this show. She did liken this experience to being in a cult, and perhaps it was just me, but I felt a little confused by this argument although I understood her points and logic.

I found the author’s voice to be authentic and real. The writing was tight and conversational. Fans of behind-the-scenes memoirs, books about reality tv shows, and books that can be read in one sitting will enjoy this one.

I love reality TV, and I especially loved America’s Next Top Model. I have been waiting for a juicy behind the scenes look at ANTM for a long time, and this one is worth the wait. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for reality TV, so when I saw this book, I was so interested. I have heard things over the years that were negative about this show, but I would never have guessed it was this bad! The way these women were treated was so disgusting and inhumane at times. I am so glad I read this book and I can’t even watch this show anymore. The author did an amazing job on this book! So worth the read if you like reality tv and/or watched ANTM.