Long Valley Native, Paula Abdul Superfan, Writes Memoir

LONG VALLEY, NJ — When Megan Roche first transferred to Long Valley Middle School, she couldn't shake the "new kid vibes" and felt as though she didn't belong. Little did she know that soon, a certain "American Idol" judge would change the way she looked at the world.

Award-winning journalist and Long Valley native Roche has released her new memoir— "Forever Her Girl: The Stories and Experiences of a Major Fangirl." The book not only serves as a recollection of super-fan experiences with pop icon Paula Abdul, but also as an ode to all fangirls.

Roche's enamoration with Abdul began when she was 13 years old, around the time that "American Idol" had a firm grip on pop culture across the country.

What immediately grasped Roche about Abdul was the fact that she, a Grammy-award-winning triple threat with a wildly successful pop career, still made an effort to be kind to contestants.

"She had every right on that show to be like 'No, you're absolutely terrible, you suck, you should not be doing this,'" Roche told Patch. "But she always chose being kind over everything. And at that age, I was so struck by that... That left a really important mark on me, I think, growing up."

Roche said that growing up, while dealing with bullying, seeing someone as talented and successful as Abdul still be kind and empathetic was exactly what she needed.

"That was when I realized that people can be kind, and I was just kind of in a situation that wasn't kind," she continued.

Soon after, Roche became a major Abdul fan, joining fan sites, communities, writing fan fiction, and more.

It was when she was 15 that a fellow superfan invited Roche to New York City, where Abdul was hosting a jewelry showcase. After weeks of pestering her parents to take her, they eventually agreed, and the meeting became "a very emotional experience" for Roche.

"I cried pretty much the entire time, just because I couldn't believe I was in the same vicinity as this person that had such an impact on my life," she says.

Roche was even featured on a Bravo reality show about Abdul, where she got to meet her and introduce herself. That prompted a long-standing relationship between her and Abdul.

Fast-forward to COVID, following many concerts, meet-and-greets, and photo ops with Abdul, Roche decided to put her story on paper.

"It was a split-second decision, and I just started typing things out. And the next thing I knew, I was at the computer every single day writing chapter, after chapter, after chapter," Roche told Patch. "It became a passion project, and I loved every second of it... It was something that I loved to write about."

Roche says she finished "Forever Her Girl" in three to four weeks.

Through a self-publishing company, Roche had her memoir printed. She then sent the books, unprompted, to several of her fellow Abdul fangirls, who were immediately hooked.

"People really loved it," Roche said. "It kind of just took on a life of its own."

But perhaps Roche's most important reader was Abdul herself, who received a Roche-signed copy when Roche attended a meet-and-greet after COVID. (Abdul also signed a copy for Roche.)

Roughly a year after the book swap, the two met again, and Abdul told Roche the memoir was "one of the most beautiful things I've ever read about myself."

"I remember her saying something to the effect that, in the industry she is in, a lot of times what you read about yourself is not flattering... It's more of an attack," Roche said. "She said being able to read something about herself that is not salacious or starting rumors was really special to her."

Roche said she cried for a good 20 to 30 minutes after hearing such high praise from her idol.

"I was definitely in shock... Hearing her say it was something that she really treasured... It's one of the nicest and probably most special compliments I've ever gotten on something I've written," Roche. "If it wasn't for her, and what I found in her when I was a 13-year-old, I don't necessarily think I'd be in the position that I am today."

Roche says the memoir isn't just for Abdul fans, but for anyone who may feel isolated, may have a niche interest, or need to feel like they're not alone.

"I want people to read it and realize it's okay to be interested in things that make you happy, and if it makes you happy, you truly can't go wrong," Roche says. "Whoever doesn't understand it, they don't need to."

Those who want a copy of "Forever Our Girl" can reach out to Roche through her website here and request a copy.