Memoirs and Autobiographies are always the catagory with the most new entries every year. The reason is not just because people love to talk about themselves but because there is a strong market for it and people love to read them. They give us a glimpse into lives we would otherwise never experience, lives of celebrities, lives of victims, lives of inspiring people. In this post we look at the 23 best memoirs and autobiographies published in 2025
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The 23 best memoirs and autobiographies released in 2025
Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, by Margaret Atwood
Published in November 2025 by Doubleday
In her acclaimed memoir, Margaret Atwood traces her journey from a nomadic childhood in the Canadian wilderness to her life as a world-renowned author. She reveals the personal inspirations behind her most iconic novels, offering a witty and generous look at the connection between her lived experiences and her art.
The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, by Shari Franke
Published in January 2025 by Gallery Books
In this Goodreads Choice Award-winning memoir, Shari Franke exposes the hidden abuse and cultish influence behind her family’s viral YouTube channel, 8 Passengers. She recounts her harrowing journey from a life of performative perfection to the eventual arrest of her mother, ultimately sharing her path toward healing and freedom.
Finding My Way, by Malala Yousafzai
Published in October 2025 by Atria Books
A vulnerable memoir by Malala Yousafzai that moves beyond her public persona to share the relatable struggles of young adulthood, from navigating college life to finding her first love. She offers an intimate look at her journey of self-discovery, proving that true resilience lies in the courage to be humanly imperfect while taking charge of one’s own destiny.
My Next Breath, by Jeremy Renner
Published in April 2025 by Flatiron Books
In this gripping New York Times bestseller, Jeremy Renner recounts his harrowing recovery after a near-fatal snowplow accident on New Year’s Day 2023. Beyond the headlines, he offers a blistering and vulnerable reflection on the inner strength required to endure unimaginable physical trauma and find a renewed sense of purpose.
The Uncool: A Memoir, by Cameron Crowe
Published in October 2025 by Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
In his joyful memoir, legendary filmmaker Cameron Crowe recounts his teenage years as a Rolling Stone journalist touring with icons like Led Zeppelin and David Bowie. He offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the 1970s rock scene and the family dynamics that inspired his most beloved films, including Almost Famous.
Heartbreaker, by Mike Campbell, with Ari Surdoval
Published in March 2025 by Da Capo
This #1 bestselling memoir by Mike Campbell recounts his journey from a hardscrabble Florida childhood to his legendary career as lead guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He provides an unpretentious, behind-the-scenes look at his fifty-year creative partnership with Petty, exploring the grit and luck required to create some of rock’s most timeless music.
107 Days, by Kamala Harris
Published in September 2025 by Simon & Schuster
Kamala Harris provides an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes account of her historic 107-day sprint for the presidency following Joe Biden’s 2024 withdrawal. She details the intense pressure of campaign strategy and debate prep, offering a candid reflection on resilience and leadership during one of the most consequential races in American history.
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism, by Sarah Wynn-Williams
Published in March 2025 by Flatiron Books
In this explosive #1 bestseller, Sarah Wynn-Williams offers a searing insider account of the corporate culture and moral failings within Facebook’s leadership. She juxtaposes the absurdity of the global elite with the chilling reality of how a few careless people influenced world events, providing a definitive look at the consequences of unfettered tech power.
Vagabond: A Memoir, by Tim Curry
Published in October 2025 by Grand Central Publishing
Tim Curry reflects on a legendary career that redefined the character actor, from the campy brilliance of The Rocky Horror Picture Show to the chilling depths of Pennywise. He shares candid stories of his nomadic upbringing and his resilient pivot to voice acting after a life-altering stroke, celebrating five decades of artistic transformation.
Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, by Alyson Stoner
Published in August 2025 by St. Martin’s Press
In this bestseller, Alyson Stoner deconstructs the “toddler to trainwreck pipeline,” sharing their harrowing journey as a child star navigating eating disorders, religious trauma, and industry exploitation. Stoner offers a galvanizing roadmap for healing from generational trauma and advocates for systemic reform, proving that one can find true autonomy even after a childhood spent in the Hollywood fishbowl.
Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind, by Nate Bargatze
Published in May 2025 by Grand Central Publishing
Nate Bargatze brings his signature everyman humor to the page, sharing self-deprecating stories about life as a self-proclaimed non-genius. From his “dented skull” origin story to the absurdities of marriage and Southern life, Bargatze offers a hilarious, low-stakes collection of essays that prioritizes big laughs over deep thinking.
Raising Hare: A Memoir, by Chloe Dalton
Published in March 2025 by Pantheon
Chloe Dalton recounts the transformative experience of rescuing a newborn leveret while living in the English countryside. The memoir explores the delicate balance of freedom and trust as Dalton navigates an unlikely, long-term bond with the wild hare, offering a profound meditation on our connection to the natural world.
Awake: A Memoir, by Jen Hatmaker
Published in September 2025 by Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
In Awake, beloved author Jen Hatmaker delivers a raw and surprisingly funny account of her world collapsing. After discovering her husband’s infidelity, Hatmaker chronicles her journey from a “divorced wreck” to a woman standing in her own power. This memoir is a midlife renaissance that challenges cultural myths and religious expectations.
Future Boy: Back to the Future and My Journey Through the Space-Time Continuum, by Michael J. Fox, Nelle Fortenberry
Published in October 2025 by Flatiron Books
In Future Boy, Michael J. Fox reveals the incredible true story of balancing two career-defining roles at the exact same time. During an intense period in 1985, he filmed the hit sitcom Family Ties by day and the cinematic classic Back to the Future by night. This memoir captures the exhaustion and exhilaration of his relentless schedule, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood history. Featuring new interviews with cast and crew, it is a heartfelt tribute to the creative grit that brought Marty McFly to life.
Memorial Days, by Geraldine Brooks
Published in January 2025 by Viking
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks explores the profound “geography of grief” following the sudden death of her husband, Tony Horwitz. After decades spent together as foreign correspondents and partners, Brooks found herself submerged in the logistical chaos of loss rather than the space to mourn. To find peace, she retreated to a remote Australian island to reflect on cultural rituals and her own thirty-year love story. The result is a heartrending yet beautiful memoir that serves as a lifeline for anyone navigating the quiet, shattered landscape of outliving a loved one.
The Tell: A Memoir, by Amy Griffin
Published in March 2025 by The Dial Press
In The Tell, Amy Griffin explores the high cost of maintaining a “perfect” facade while running from buried childhood trauma. After her daughter pointed out her emotional absence, Griffin embarked on a journey through psychedelic therapy and the judicial system to recover repressed memories. The memoir interrogates the female pursuit of perfectionism and the liberation that comes from radical truth-telling. It is a powerful, Oprah-approved narrative about the healing that begins when we finally stop running and face our secrets.
We Did Ok, Kid: A Memoir, by Anthony Hopkins
Published in October 2025 by Simon & Schuster
Academy Award winner Sir Anthony Hopkins offers a raw, vulnerable look at his life behind the curtain. From a failed student in a tough Welsh steel town to a stage and screen icon, Hopkins recounts the pivotal moments that shaped his sixty-year career. He speaks candidly about his battle with alcoholism, his nearly fifty years of sobriety, and the personal costs of his early struggles. This memoir combines behind-the-scenes stories of roles like Hannibal Lecter with a deeply moving reflection on family legacy and mortality.
All the Way to the River, by Elizabeth Gilbert
Published in September 2025 by Riverhead Books
Elizabeth Gilbert returns to nonfiction to chronicle her complex, transformative relationship with her late partner, Rayya. This harrowing and healing memoir explores how their deep bond was complicated by shared patterns of addiction and self-destruction. Gilbert examines the thin line between a beautiful love story and a devastating nightmare, ultimately finding a path to liberation through heartbreak.
Mother Mary Comes to Me, by Arundhati Roy
Published in September 2025 by Scribner
Arundhati Roy delivers a soaring and intimate account of her life shaped by her formidable mother, Mary Roy. Following her mother’s death in 2022, the Booker Prize-winning author explores the “shelter and storm” of their relationship—one she famously fled at eighteen to preserve her own love and independence. The memoir traces Roy’s journey from her childhood in Kerala to her rise as a global literary icon.
Matriarch: A Memoir, by Tina Knowles
Published in April 2025 by One World
In Matriarch, Tina Knowles delivers a powerful, multigenerational saga that traces her journey from Galveston, Texas, to becoming a global cultural icon. This instant bestseller explores the “world-changing power of Black motherhood” and the resilience required to navigate both heartbreak and massive success. Knowles shares intimate wisdom passed down through generations, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the audacity and creativity that defined her family’s legacy.
Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America, by Beth Macy
Published in October 7 by Penguin Press
Beth Macy combines personal memoir with sharp reportage to investigate the transformation of her Ohio hometown over forty years. Returning to Urbana to care for her dying mother, the former “paper girl” discovers a community fractured by economic decline, mental health crises, and political conspiracy. Macy grapples with the painful reality of seeing childhood friends and ex-partners embrace divisive rhetoric, yet she refuses to look away.
Things in Nature Merely Grow, by Yiyun Li
Published in May 2025 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Yiyun Li offers a profound, defiant work of “radical acceptance” following the tragic loss of her two sons to suicide. Eschewing traditional narratives of mourning, Li turns to philosophy, gardening, and music to navigate a reality where time has collapsed into a singular “now.” She rejects the idea that her children are “gone,” instead using language to insist on their eternal presence. This memoir is a stark, intellectual, and courageous testament to a mother’s indomitable spirit in the face of unspeakable grief.
Nobody’s Girl, by Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Published in October 2025 by Knopf
In Nobody’s Girl, the late Virginia Roberts Giuffre provides the definitive, unsparing account of her life and her battle against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Published posthumously at her request, the memoir details her childhood, her escape from a global trafficking ring at age nineteen, and her path to becoming a fierce advocate for survivors. Giuffre exposes the systemic corruption that protected her abusers while chronicling her own courageous journey toward justice. It is a harrowing yet essential narrative of fortitude, preserving the voice of a woman who refused to remain a victim.
Thanks for Reading! We hope you’ve found your next read in our list of best memoirs and autobiographies of 2025. If you’re still looking for something you could also check out our list of best memoirs and autobiographies from 2024. Please share this post if you found it helpful.
