Maitland Ward’s Book Rated X’ Awarded Kirkus Star for Excellence

June 6, 2022
KELLI ROBERTS

Maitland Ward’s highly-anticipated new personal memoir, Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood (out September 6), has earned an esteemed ‘Kirkus Star’ from Kirkus Reviews – a rare commendation from the literary tastemaker, as fewer than 10% of all books “of exceptional merit” receive one.

The Atria Books/Simon & Schuster behind-the-scenes tell-all won raves from Kirkus as “an exceptional narrative that champions the discovery of freedom in sexuality”, praising Ward as “clear and engaging in her frank discussions of sex and womanhood” and “generous and insightful in her reflections on finding a larger sense of self, as well as finding true friends in an often superficial industry.”

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be recognized by Kirkus… it is a huge deal in the literary community to receive a star and I’m shocked that they are recognizing me,” said Ward. “I can’t wait for fans to finally get their hands on the book, and genuinely hope they enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It was truly a labor of love.”

Maitland Ward’s Rated X story takes readers on an exhilarating 256-page thrill ride, detailing the ups & downs of a life well-lived: growing up in Los Angeles, finding early success as a TV star in The Bold and the Beautiful and Boy Meets World, her auspicious arrival into the adult film business in 2019 and her emergence as an award-winning talent – and a powerful force – that has since changed the face of the industry and forever broken barriers as an actress and artist.

The buzz on Rated X kicked off with the official cover announcement in December, when pre-orders for the book – available in hardcover, Kindle, Audible Audiobook, and audio CD – quickly topped Amazon’s pre-sale lists.