A star-studded collection of essays from acclaimed and bestselling authors and celebrities that illuminates the lasting power of desire and longing, and celebrates our initiation into the euphoria, pain, and mystery that is our first celebrity crush.

You never forget your first crush . . .

CRUSH brings together stories of heartbreak, humiliation, and hilarity from a roster of popular luminaries, including James Franco, Carrie Fisher, Stephen King, Roxane Gay, Jodi Picoult, Emily Gould, and Hanna Rosin, who share intimate memories of that first intense taste of love. Here are funny, whimsical, sometimes cringe-worthy tales of falling head over heels for River Phoenix, Mary Tyler Moore, Howard Cosell, Jared Leto, and a host of other pop culture icons.

A few contributors channeled their devotion into obsessively writing embarrassing fan letters. Some taped pics in school lockers. Others decorated their bedroom walls with posters. For tweenaged Karin Tanabe, it was discovering bad boy Andy Garcia—playing the gun-loving mobster Vincent Corleone in The Godfather III. Barbara Graham unsuccessfully staked out an apartment on Park Avenue for a glimpse of her blue-eyed soulmate, Paul Newman. There was only one puppy for six-year-old Jodi Picoult—Donny Osmond—while Jamie Brisick’s pre-teen addiction was Speed Racer.

Swoon-worthy and unforgettable, the essays in CRUSH will leave you laughing, make you cry, and keep you enthralled—just like your first celebrity crush.

This anthology explores the cringey, hilarious, and unforgettable moments of first love:

Star-Studded Anthology: Essays from literary and Hollywood heavyweights like Stephen King, Carrie Fisher, James Franco, and Roxane Gay.
Celebrity Memoirs: Intimate, funny, and deeply relatable stories of awkward first loves and unrequited affection for the stars on our bedroom walls.
Unrequited Love: From six-year-old Jodi Picoult running away to be with Donny Osmond to Barbara Graham staking out Paul Newman’s apartment.
Unexpected Role Models: Discover how a crush isn’t just about love, but about finding the person you want to become—from Speed Racer to Mick Jagger.