Emily Ratajkowski sells 'Mother F*cker' in seven-figure deal
Emily Ratajkowski has sold her next book, Mother F*cker, to Penguin Press for seven figures after a 12-way publisher bidding war, according to Deadline and Page Six. The memoir builds on her viral New York magazine essay about compulsive dating as a newly single mother after her 2022 divorce.
The deal marks Ratajkowski’s return to publishing after her 2021 New York Times bestseller My Body. Penguin Press acquired North American rights at auction, insiders told trade outlets. A release date has not been announced.
Key Takeaways
- Ratajkowski’s memoir Mother F*cker sold to Penguin Press for a reported seven-figure sum after a 12-way bidding war.
- The book expands on a viral The Cut essay about dating, sex, and identity after her split from Sebastian Bear-McClard.
- She shares her son, Sylvester Apollo Bear, 5, with her ex-husband and describes a period of compulsive post-divorce dating in New York City.
- Ratajkowski teased the project on Instagram before confirming the deal in a July post reading, book no 2 here we go.
- The essay does not name romantic partners, but Page Six notes the full book may fuel intense public speculation.
What Is Emily Ratajkowski’s New Book About?
Mother F*cker is framed as an examination of modern female identity through Ratajkowski’s efforts as a newly single mother dating in New York City. Deadline reports the project follows the model and actress as she explores what constitutes a good life for a woman after marriage.
In the June essay published on The Cut, Ratajkowski wrote that after becoming a single mom, she began compulsively dating to figure out what kind of woman she wanted to be. She described her marriage to film producer Bear-McClard as having become sexless before their 2022 separation.
The Daily Beast notes the memoir includes candid anecdotes from that period, including encounters she labels a heavily self-medicated Son of a Billionaire with questionable politics, several Italians, and multiple DJs. For legal reasons, she wrote in the essay, the full list would not be published there.
Why Did Publishers Bid So Aggressively?
Page Six exclusively reported that the spicy subject matter, combined with Ratajkowski’s literary track record and massive social reach, drove intense competition. Twelve publishers reportedly entered the auction before Penguin Press prevailed.
Ratajkowski promoted the essay to her Instagram audience, which Page Six put at nearly 28 million followers, with a post urging readers to discover what she learned about power, men, sex, and herself. The piece quickly went viral, helping convert online buzz into a major book deal.
The seven-figure price tag signals strong publisher confidence that readers want frank, first-person storytelling about divorce, motherhood, and reinvention from a celebrity author who already proved her commercial pull with My Body.
What Happens Next for Ratajkowski?
Ratajkowski, 35, announced the upcoming book to followers on June 12, according to The Daily Beast. She later confirmed the Penguin Press deal in a July 9 Instagram post.
While the essay avoided naming names, Page Six reports the finished memoir could spark an epic guessing game, noting she was allegedly linked during her single period to figures including Brad Pitt, Pete Davidson, Eric Andre, Harry Styles, Shaboozey, and Austin Butler. Those connections were not confirmed in her published writing.
Deadline also notes Ratajkowski has an Apple TV series in development with author Stephanie Danler, with Lena Dunham executive producing, centered on female identity and modern motherhood. For more offbeat celebrity headlines, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man coverage.