Gavin Newsom's Memoir Outshined by Wife of Jelly Roll on Amazon Bestseller List

BunnieXO's 'Stripped Down' tops Newsom's 'Young Man in a Hurry' on Amazon's memoir chart

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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California Governor Gavin Newsom's highly promoted memoir 'Young Man in a Hurry' debuted at #45 on Amazon's overall bestseller list, behind the memoir 'Stripped Down' by BunnieXO, the wife of musician Jelly Roll. BunnieXO's book topped the memoir category, while Newsom's fared better at #5 in the political memoir category.

Why it matters

This unexpected bestseller performance highlights the power of celebrity influence in the publishing world, as well as the challenges even high-profile political figures can face in cutting through the noise and capturing public attention with their memoirs.

The details

BunnieXO's memoir 'Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic' was released on February 17 and quickly rose to the top of Amazon's bestselling books list, outpacing Newsom's 'Young Man in a Hurry.' The California governor had been on a promotional tour for his book, making appearances in Nashville, Atlanta, and Rock Hill, South Carolina. He also offered free copies of the book in exchange for donations to his political action committee.

  • BunnieXO's memoir 'Stripped Down' was released on February 17, 2026.
  • As of February 25, 2026, BunnieXO's book was #1 on Amazon's bestselling memoir list, while Newsom's book was #5.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The current Governor of California who recently published a memoir titled 'Young Man in a Hurry.'

BunnieXO

The wife of musician Jelly Roll who recently published a memoir titled 'Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic' that topped the Amazon bestseller list.

Jelly Roll

A popular musician and the husband of BunnieXO.

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What they’re saying

“Stripped Down details my modern-day rag-to-riches story that took me from the trailer parks of Vegas to the mansions of Nashville.”

— BunnieXO (Book description)

What’s next

Newsom is expected to continue promoting his memoir as he considers a potential White House bid, while BunnieXO's book is likely to remain a top seller in the memoir category.

The takeaway

This unexpected bestseller performance by BunnieXO's memoir over Newsom's politically-charged book highlights the power of celebrity influence in the publishing world, where even high-profile political figures can struggle to capture public attention amidst the crowded marketplace of memoirs and biographies.