Margaret Atwood, Helen Garner, Arundhati Roy, and Anthony Hopkins are just a few of the memoirists who dominated 2025's literary landscape. While not all of them shied away from sharing their life stories, Margaret Atwood admitted that writing about herself seemed "dead boring" at first – but she persevered nonetheless.
Margaret Atwood's Book of Lives is an epic journey through her life and work, spanning over six hundred pages and replete with wisdom and wit. The author's ability to weave tales from everyday observation and personal anecdotes into profound self-examination makes this book a truly unforgettable read. Similarly, Helen Garner's How to End a Story is a chunky diary collection that showcases the author's piquant observations on life, work, and marriage.
Arundhati Roy's Mother Mary Comes to Me takes center stage as her mother stands out in the story. The God of Small Things author describes how her own mother – whose father was a violent drunkard – stood up for women's rights but turned cruel towards her daughter. This heart-wrenching tale reveals the complexities of Roy's relationship with her mother.
Anthony Hopkins' We Did OK, Kid is another standout, where the actor recounts his struggles with anxiety and addiction while digging deep into the issues surrounding fame. This book stands out as a thoughtful account of his storied life and career.
Tina Knowles' Matriarch takes an unusual take on motherhood, focusing on guiding two musical superstars – Beyoncé and Solange – to realize their creative dreams.
Other notable memoirs this year include:
* Kathy Burke's A Mind of My Own, which recounts the author's childhood growing up in a violent household but is full of humor.
* Patti Smith's Bread of Angels, which delves into her difficult childhood and personal struggles with illness and mortality.
* Lionel Richie's Truly, an inspiring account of his journey from Tuskegee, Alabama to becoming a chart-topping solo artist.
Bios of cultural icons have also made headlines this year, including Ron Chernow's Mark Twain, Andrew Graham-Dixon's Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found, Frances Wilson's Electric Spark about Scottish writer Muriel Spark, Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife by Francesca Wade, and Hanna Diamond's Josephine Baker's Secret War.
Lastly, authors like Ian Penman have opted for fresh approaches in their biographies, such as adopting an A-Z anthology to explore the life of French composer Eric Satie.
Margaret Atwood's Book of Lives is an epic journey through her life and work, spanning over six hundred pages and replete with wisdom and wit. The author's ability to weave tales from everyday observation and personal anecdotes into profound self-examination makes this book a truly unforgettable read. Similarly, Helen Garner's How to End a Story is a chunky diary collection that showcases the author's piquant observations on life, work, and marriage.
Arundhati Roy's Mother Mary Comes to Me takes center stage as her mother stands out in the story. The God of Small Things author describes how her own mother – whose father was a violent drunkard – stood up for women's rights but turned cruel towards her daughter. This heart-wrenching tale reveals the complexities of Roy's relationship with her mother.
Anthony Hopkins' We Did OK, Kid is another standout, where the actor recounts his struggles with anxiety and addiction while digging deep into the issues surrounding fame. This book stands out as a thoughtful account of his storied life and career.
Tina Knowles' Matriarch takes an unusual take on motherhood, focusing on guiding two musical superstars – Beyoncé and Solange – to realize their creative dreams.
Other notable memoirs this year include:
* Kathy Burke's A Mind of My Own, which recounts the author's childhood growing up in a violent household but is full of humor.
* Patti Smith's Bread of Angels, which delves into her difficult childhood and personal struggles with illness and mortality.
* Lionel Richie's Truly, an inspiring account of his journey from Tuskegee, Alabama to becoming a chart-topping solo artist.
Bios of cultural icons have also made headlines this year, including Ron Chernow's Mark Twain, Andrew Graham-Dixon's Vermeer: A Life Lost and Found, Frances Wilson's Electric Spark about Scottish writer Muriel Spark, Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife by Francesca Wade, and Hanna Diamond's Josephine Baker's Secret War.
Lastly, authors like Ian Penman have opted for fresh approaches in their biographies, such as adopting an A-Z anthology to explore the life of French composer Eric Satie.
You know what I always say - there's nothing like reading about someone's life and experiences to gain a new perspective 
. Margaret Atwood's book is giving me major "I need to write more" vibes, you feel? She goes from being a young writer to a Nobel Prize winner, it's wild 
. And Helen Garner's diary collection is so raw and honest - I love how she tackles life, work, and marriage in such a real way 
.
. And then there's Anthony Hopkins' We Did OK, Kid - I'm so intrigued by his journey with anxiety and addiction 
. Tina Knowles' Matriarch is another standout for me, who wouldn't want to read about guiding two superstars like Beyoncé and Solange? 
. What do you guys think - have any favorite reads this year so far? 
Margaret Atwood seemed so "dead boring" at first... but 6 hundred pages is a LOT of boring 
. Meanwhile, Helen Garner's diary collection sounds like my aunt's Instagram posts 
. Arundhati Roy's mom being a violent drunkard and a feminist? 
that's like the ultimate paradox! 
Margaret Atwood's Book of Lives is like a masterclass in storytelling, weaving tales from everyday life into profound self-reflection. And Helen Garner's How to End a Story is like sipping tea with a witty friend - so relatable and entertaining! 
It's like he's giving us all the tea on fame, anxiety, and addiction - no holds barred! 
. I mean, Anthony Hopkins' book is probably just going to be a glorified autobiography with some shallow stories about his anxiety and addiction. And what's the point of Tina Knowles' Matriarch? Just another attempt to make Beyoncé seem more relatable... 
.
.
. What I love about these memoirs is that they're all different, you know? Some are funny, some are sad, some are just straight-up fascinating... it's like getting a glimpse into the lives of people we admire or might not even know much about 
.
. Margaret Atwood's book is like a masterclass in storytelling, and Helen Garner's chunky diary collection is giving me all the feels 
.
. What's your take on this year's memoirs? 
! The sheer breadth of talent on display is truly remarkable. What strikes me most about this year's crop is their willingness to confront the complexities of life, often with a healthy dose of vulnerability and candor. Margaret Atwood's decision to tackle her own life story head-on, despite initial reservations, is particularly noteworthy 
. It's also impressive to see how Anthony Hopkins has used his platform to shed light on mental health issues and addiction – an oft-stigmatized topic 
.
and that arundhati roy memoir is giving me all the feels too... i mean, her mom sounds like a total complex mess 
but at the same time, roy is so brave for sharing that part of her story 
it's like he's talking straight to your soul about anxiety and fame... i need a copy of that book stat 
. I'm also intrigued by Arundhati Roy's take on her relationship with her mom in Mother Mary Comes to Me... it sounds really emotional and thought-provoking 
. And have you seen the bios of cultural icons? Ron Chernow's Mark Twain is supposed to be amazing 
...
. But what I love most is how these authors aren't afraid to get vulnerable and share their struggles – it's like they're saying "okay, we've all been there" 
it's crazy how our mothers can shape us in such profound ways, you know? and can we talk about Tina Knowles' Matriarch for a sec?