Best Memoirs Written by Women (2026): 5 Compared

Her own story, her own voice, and the best memoirs written by women span every life. We compared five memoirs by author fit, publisher and length, using only what each Amazon listing states. Every figure below comes from the listings, not from our own reading.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Phases	9.8/10	Buy
2	The Glass Castle	9.7/10	Buy
3	Every 9 Minutes	9.7/10	Buy
4	In Order to Live	9.7/10	Buy
5	The Woman Warrior	9.7/10	Buy

1

Phases

Brandy·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A memoir by a woman, 384 pages, published March 31, 2026.

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Pros

• 384 pages; the longest here
• 2026 edition; Hanover Square
• Memoir by a woman

Cons

• Sales claims in the description are the publisher's
• 2026; very new
• Music; narrow

2

The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A memoir by a woman, 288 pages, published January 17, 2006.

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Pros

• 288 pages; Scribner
• 2006 edition; reprint
• Memoir by a woman

Cons

• Sales claims in the description are the publisher's
• 2006; older
• Family; heavy

3

Every 9 Minutes

Christina Vitagliano·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A memoir by a woman, 375 pages, published June 25, 2022.

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Pros

• 375 pages; 2022 edition
• Memoir by a woman
• Survivor story

Cons

• Abuse; heavy themes
• 2022; self-published
• 375 pages; long

4

In Order to Live

Yeonmi Park·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A memoir by a woman, 288 pages, published September 27, 2016.

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Pros

• 288 pages; Penguin
• 2016 edition; reprint
• Memoir by a woman

Cons

• 2016; older
• North Korea; heavy
• 288 pages

5

The Woman Warrior

Maxine Hong Kingston·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A memoir by a woman, 209 pages, published April 23, 1989.

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Pros

• 209 pages; Vintage
• 1989 edition; reissue
• Memoir by a woman

Cons

• 1989; older
• 209 pages; short
• Mythology; dense

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More picks to compare

• The Light Beyond the ShadowsSuits readers wanting survivor stories, 237 pages.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specs as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs author fit, publisher, value and reading guidance. No reading ages from customers are stated here. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best memoirs written by women

Topic

Topics run from family (Walls) to freedom (Park). Browse history biography books for more.

Length

Page counts run from 209 (Kingston) to 384 (Brandy). Our memoirs worth reading list covers more.

Era

Publications run from 1989 (Kingston) to 2026 (Brandy). Our NYT memoirs list covers more.

Before you buy

• Check the author.
• Compare the 209 to 384 page counts.
• Sales claims in the descriptions are the publisher’s; treat as marketing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the longest?

Phases, at 384 pages.

Which is the shortest?

The Woman Warrior, at 209 pages.

Which is about North Korea?

In Order to Live.

Which is the newest?

Phases, 2026.

Still deciding? Our top pickPhases

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Related lists

See every history biography list and all nonfiction lists.

More lists: memoirs worth reading, NYT memoirs and memoirs for young women.