As much as I love a good romance or fantasy book here and there, I find myself giving the most 5-star reviews to memoirs and contemporary fiction novels with a strong female presence.
Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton
I want to be BURIED with this book. I adore Paris Hilton, and this book was such a good reflection on her upbringing and passions. She talks about growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, the troubled teen industry and her love for nightlife. I would recommend listening to this book on Audible because it is narrated by Paris, which makes the experience of listening feel much more personal.
My Body by Emily Ratajkowski
This book is a series of essays in which Emily Ratajkowski talks about her experience as a model and her reflections on her own body. She discusses what it feels like to be objectified for just your body, and the line between consent and abuse. I found the end to be extremely heartwarming because she discusses her pregnancy and the transition her body took into becoming a mom, highlighting how beautiful the process was for her.
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau
Mary Jane is a historical fiction piece about a 14-year-old girl’s babysitting job taking place in the 70s. Sounds kind of boring, right? Well, I could not put this book down. Mary Jane grew up in a conservative and traditional style home, in which the women cooked and cleaned, and the men went to work. Mary Jane takes up a summer nannying job and shortly realizes the family is the opposite of hers; liberals that discuss sex and mental health. Throughout the book, you see Mary Jane’s mindset on what she thought she knew take a complete 180 and look into a whole new world of possibilities for herself.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
The Glass Castle is a memoir about Jeannette Walls’ unique upbringing centered around her dysfunctional family. If you have read “Educated” by Tara Westover, you would love this book. I found myself not being able to put this book down, and her sibling dynamic is very heartwarming. Walls has quite the success story despite the odds being put against her.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
This is another memoir centered around the Stanford SA case. Miller talks about the process of going through a brutal trial and her healing journey. Miller wrote this book to reclaim her voice and tell the story from her perspective, which has been skewed and dragged out many times in the media and court.
