Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Girl

Pro wrestler Quin, who performs as Becky Lynch, delivers an endearing debut memoir about her life and athletic career. Born in Ireland in 1987, Quin began wrestling professionally in 2002 under the name Rebecca Knox, and concentrated initially on playing the role of the “heel,” or villain. She joined WWE in 2013, a time in the organization when women “couldn’t punch, couldn’t throw uppercuts, and were encouraged to pull hair and slap each other.” She was a key figure in the move away from such sexist limitations, first making a splash in 2018 when she impulsively slapped champion Charlotte Flair in the face during a match she was scheduled to lose. Though she lost anyway, the Becky Lynch persona was born in that moment: “The one who... was never the best, or the strongest, or the most naturally gifted, but who had heart and fire and fight. They knew what it was like to be passed over for that promotion or not asked to that dance.” Quin was a hit with audiences, and she went on to become the first woman to win WrestleMania. She grounds her accomplishments with candid discussions of body image issues, her unglamorous pre-wrestling days as an Aer Lingus flight attendant, and moments when she acted like a “jerk,” being petulant at work or an “asshole” on social media. Such honesty sets her account apart from other professional athlete memoirs. Even non–wrestling fans are likely to enjoy this. Agent: Mel Berger, WME. (Mar.)