Reading memoirs makes us feel more connected to people through their struggles, upbringings, and successes. Below are five of our recent favorites.
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears ($32.99, shop here)
Britney Spears’ memoir, The Woman in Me, is a brave and inspiring story about the pop music icon’s journey to self-discovery, told with remarkable honesty and humor. Spears narrates her rise to fame, struggles with mental health, conservatorship, and regaining her freedom. She also writes about the enduring power of music and the importance of women telling their own stories on their own terms.
Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief by Hilarie Burton Morgan ($29.99, shop here)
Hilarie Burton Morgan is known for starring in shows such as One Tree Hill, White Collar, and Lethal Weapon, but there’s so much more to her. Her memoir, Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief, is a collection of essays and magical practices that explore the enchantment inside us all.
While You Were Out: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence by Meg Kissinger ($30, shop here)
Award-winning journalist Meg Kissinger’s memoir, While You Were Out, recounts her family’s struggles with mental illness and addiction, exploring the consequences of shame, the havoc of flawed policy, and the hope of new treatments. Kissinger and her siblings faced a hellish reality behind closed doors, with their mother needing to be hospitalized for anxiety and depression, their father’s history of violence, and several siblings with bipolar disorder and depression.
Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere by Maria Bamford ($28.99, shop here)
Comedian Maria Bamford’s memoir, Sure, I’ll Join Your Cult, chronicles her pursuit to belong, sharing her struggles with mental illness, eating disorders, debt, and search for solace in myriad support groups and belief systems. Bamford’s writing is brutally honest and insightful. With candor, humor, and insight, she gives us a unique perspective on what it means to belong.
If You Would Have Told Me: A Memoir by John Stamos ($29.99, shop here)
Gen X, millennials and even some Gen Z’ers may know John Stamos from his roles on Full House, ER, and General Hospital, but he is so much more. In his memoir, If You Would Have Told Me, we get a candid insight into his experience in Hollywood, fame, failures, love, friendship, and his journey to fatherhood. Despite the ups and downs of his career and personal life, Stamos never loses his sense of wonder.
Do you have a favorite memoir? Share it with us in the comments below!