I love to read memoirs and hear stories told by those who lived those words.

I tend to read memoirs by women. Not saying I don’t read men’s memoirs because I do. But, as someone that is, identifies, as woman, reading these memoirs connect to something deep and profound inside. I have read so many and could go one for days about what you should read.

Instead of listening off the well known memoirs, I’m sure many have already read (Eat, Pray, Love….I’m looking at you!) I wanted to highlight a few you might not be as familiar with.

I’m Glad My Mom Died – I honestly wasn’t familiar with Jennette Mccurdy. Her time on Nickelodean was after my “Nicktime”. I saw this book wandering around at Target and was first drawn to it because of the bright yellow cover. Then saw the title. I mean…Wow. The guts to name your book this…. I had to read it. If you didn’t grow up with a toxic parent you might think you won’t be able to relate. But trust me, you should read this book. Jeannette uses just the right amount of dark humor, honesty and vulnerability to truly make the reader feel what it is like to grow up with a toxic parent. Most people think having a toxic parent means you were beaten and abused. But the truth is there is so much more to this and the mental abuse you can endure sometimes isn’t even apparent to you until later in life. Jennette expresses the pain of loving someone so much and wanting nothing to do with them at the same time. The truth of this memoir shows how there is no black and white in life and how hard it is to navigate the gray.

Hold On, But Don’t Hold Still: Hope and Humor from My Seriously Flawed Life: I loved all the memes and videos by Kristina Kuzmic before I had any idea about her history. This raw and open memoir takes you back to growing up in Croatia and the journey to where she is now. She shares the struggle with her first marriage ending and being a single mother. Feeling desperate and like a failure. Her determination to be more and overcome the obstacles in her way. I always enjoyed watching her videos, but after this book I have a whole new love and respect for her.

Lucky: You might know the book Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, but have you read her memoir? I remember reading this book when I was about to head into my freshman year of college. When The memoir takes you through Alice’s traumatic experience of being raped and beaten. The story takes you through the aftermath and trail with the man she believed assaulted her. Alice chose to write this memoir to bring awareness to rape and as something for fellow survivors to not feel so alone.

Incase you have read those and want other option here are some of my favorites:

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Open Book by Jessica Simpson

I, Tina by Tina Turner

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Yes, Please by Amy Poehler

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Becoming by Michelle Obama

I could keep going, but I’ll leave you with this list for now!

What memoirs do you love? What’s missing from this list that we need to read??? Let me know!!!!