The singer-actor opens up about addiction, suicidal ideation, online hate, and the fallout of dating in the public eye in his most vulnerable project yet.

Joshua Bassett is telling his story in full. The singer-actor&rsquo;s upcoming memoir,&nbsp;Rookie: My Public, Private, and Secret Life, promises an unfiltered look into the darkest chapters of his life, from navigating fame at a young age to battling addiction and severe mental health struggles behind closed doors.
Described as a memoir in verse, the book acts as both a personal confession and a hopeful roadmap for anyone struggling to find themselves under pressure. Bassett writes candidly about experiencing suicidal ideation, depression, and coping mechanisms that nearly cost him his life, including ketamine use during one of his lowest periods. &ldquo;The only way out of fear is to face it again and again until it loses its grip,&rdquo; reads one of the book&rsquo;s central reflections.
The memoir also revisits the intense scrutiny Bassett faced in 2021 following the release of "Driver's License" by Olivia Rodrigo. At the time, online speculation surrounding the song&rsquo;s lyrics and Bassett&rsquo;s rumored relationship history spiraled into relentless internet discourse, with the actor revealing he received severe online hate and even death threats. Years later, Bassett appears ready to unpack what that experience actually felt like from his perspective.
Fans were especially sent into a frenzy after Bassett teased the memoir on TikTok, joking that anyone who has dealt with &ldquo;suicidal ideation, addiction ... dating international popstar(s)&rdquo; should read the book &mdash; a comment many interpreted as a reference to both Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter, who were heavily linked to the headline-making love triangle narrative that dominated pop culture conversation at the time.
Still, Rookie appears to be less about celebrity gossip and more about survival. Bassett frames the memoir as a &ldquo;love letter to the rookie in all of us,&rdquo; exploring the uncomfortable in-between stage of growing up, making mistakes publicly, and learning how to keep going anyway. &ldquo;I keep waiting for the sea to settle when I need to learn how to surf,&rdquo; he writes.

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Joshua Bassett Gets Candid About Fame, Addiction, and Dating Pop Stars in New Memoir

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Joshua Bassett Gets Candid About Fame, Addiction, and Dating Pop Stars in New Memoir

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