This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating all things feminine and fabulous, and that includes the age-old talent for putting pen to paper. In these top six inspiring reads, written by activists, actresses, lawyers and more, you’ll find honest real-life accounts, stories of transformation and air-punch worthy triumphs. When you’re finished, don’t forget to pass the book on to a friend and spread the ‘we are women’ love…
ALSO SEE: International Women’s Day: Women Who Inspire Us
1. Roar by Cecelia Ahern
You’ll love this collection of short stories from the British author known for breaking our hearts with the novel P.S I Love You. In this compilation, Cecelia explores everything from stage fright to envy in the most delightful and unexpected ways. It’s brilliant.
2. The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
In the book that Trevor Noah is calling ‘a beautiful and concise mission statement,’ philanthropist Melinda Gates says that no one should be excluded, all lives have equal value and gender equality is the lever that lifts everything. A powerful read looking at women’s rights to earn an income, divorce a husband, access contraceptives and more. It’s a call to arms, ladies.
ALSO SEE: 4 Of The Best Real-Life Reads
3. This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Philipps
The actress, known for her roles in Dawson’s Creek and Cougar Town, shares her journey on the road to fame. In her usual style, she writes with heartfelt honesty as she tackles a life filled with passion, grief, hardship and – most importantly – laughter.
4. The Accident by Gail Schimmel
Written from four characters points of view, and touching on topics like trauma and denial, this novel lives up to its five-star rating on Good Reads. It’s also the first time the author attempted to write sex scenes – with great success, if we say so ourselves.
ALSO SEE: 5 Ways To Make Married Sex More Fun
5. We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai
The young girl (now 21) who left us in awe of her bravery and determination, becoming the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize winner. Here, she writes about adjusting to her new life as an international activist – despite never being able to return to her home in Pakistan – and shares stories of other incredible girls she met on her journeys. A remarkable read.
6. The Good Girl’s Guide to Being a D*ck by Alexandra Reinwarth
Often in life, we hold onto things we should be letting go of, whether it’s a toxic relationship, a negative self-image, or the stress over what others may think of us. Bottling up these emotions can cause more harm than good and Alexandra’s guide to letting go of negative thoughts to embrace your own needs is great if you’re looking to wipe the slate clean.
ALSO SEE: 5 self-help reads to help you get back on track
By Features Editor Stephanie van der Plank
