✨Best autobiographies I've read this year✨

I am a big reader of autobiographies and memoirs. They usually make up the core of my reading every year. I'm always fascinated by people's lives and the lessons they've learned and what they went through all throughout life and the things that helped make them who they are today. All of these are easily a 10/10 for me. I'm also an empath and very emotional, so of course I cried reading these books. Highly recommend!

#memoir #autobiography #lemon8bookclub #lemon8diarychallenge #reading

2024/10/26 Edited to

... Read moreOkay, so I just have to dive a little deeper into one of the books that truly resonated with me this year, the one that I keep thinking about long after turning the last page: Maya Angelou’s 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.' As an empath, I’m always drawn to stories that explore the depths of human experience, and this autobiography wasn't just a book; it was a profound journey that moved me to tears, in the best possible way. The moment I saw the cover, with its evocative black bird silhouette against that warm orange and yellow background, I knew I was in for something special. And indeed, from the very first page, Maya Angelou’s voice was captivating. She recounts her early life with such honesty and poetic grace, detailing her experiences growing up in the American South during the 1930s and 40s. She bravely shares the challenges of racism, the pain of abandonment, and the traumatic events that shaped her formative years. What truly struck me was her incredible resilience and her journey to finding her own voice after a period of mutism. For me, reading 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' was an education in empathy. It’s one thing to read about historical injustices, but it’s another entirely to experience them through the eyes and heart of someone as articulate and profound as Maya Angelou. Her ability to translate complex emotions and societal struggles into such beautiful prose is simply extraordinary. I found myself highlighting passages constantly, absorbing her wisdom and marveling at her strength. It's a powerful testament to the human spirit's capacity to not just endure, but to overcome and create beauty even after experiencing immense hardship. This autobiography isn’t just a historical account; it’s a timeless narrative about identity, self-acceptance, and the power of literature to heal and transform. The foreword by Oprah Winfrey truly sets the stage, and you can feel why it's a book that has touched so many lives. It made me reflect deeply on my own life and the privilege of being able to learn from someone else’s journey. It’s a book that stays with you, prompting reflection on courage, dignity, and the profound impact of words. If you're searching for an autobiography that transcends genres and offers a truly transformative reading experience, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' is an absolute must-read. It stands tall among the other incredible memoirs I've devoured this year, including Michelle Obama’s 'The Light We Carry,' Tom Felton’s 'Beyond the Wand,' and Britney Spears’ 'The Woman In Me.' While each offers unique insights, Maya Angelou's work holds a special place for its literary artistry and enduring message of hope. It truly earned its 10/10 spot on my list, and I can't recommend it enough if you want a book that will make you feel deeply, think critically, and grow as a person.

Related posts

Books I Want To Read This Fall
Ahhh the weather is slowly changing and I’m trying to stockpile a good Fall TBR! 🍂🍁📚 -Rise of the Cinder Fae -The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel -Tales from the Dead of Night -Mrs. Sherlock Holmes -The Red Queen Series (I read the first one last year and it was so amazing!) -I’m a Therapi
Taylor

Taylor

611 likes

a duology that’s perfect to read this fall
I read only one or two fantasy books a year, and this is a spellbinding duology that I will always recommend. Set in a fictional island inspired by Scotland, this is a cozy story following a whole cast of characters trying to solve the mystery of all these missing girls. The fantasy themes are very
dakota bossard

dakota bossard

163 likes

A dark background with scattered red roses features the title "5 books I've read this year" and "DARK ROMANCE EDITION" in white text, along with the Lemon8 handle.
The book cover for "BAD APPLE SELENA" features a woman with long dark hair and tattoos from behind. Overlay text describes it as a bully romance where a girl infiltrates a private school.
The book cover for "PEN PAL" shows a shirtless, tattooed man with a beard and open shirt. Overlay text praises the writing and mysterious ending of this dark romance novel.
5 books I’ve read this year !!!!SPOILERS!!!
Definitely read the trigger warnings before reading but I love dark romance and any romance but dark is superior! #darkromancerecommendations #dark romance #darkromancereads🖤🖤🖤 #darkromanceaddict #newtolemon8
Bookclub02

Bookclub02

69 likes

A shelf filled with books, with a text overlay that reads 'Spiciest Books I've Read This year'. The image has a Lemon8 watermark.
A hand holds the book 'Things We Never Got Over' by Lucy Score, featuring a light blue cover with white daisies and dark blue text. It is labeled a 'NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'.
A hand holds the book 'Things We Hide From The Light' by Lucy Score, featuring a light pink cover with pink text and small white flowers. It is labeled a '#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'.
Spiciest Books I’ve Read This Year
Al right y’all, don’t come for me because I don’t read a ton of super spicy books. That won’t always be the case, but these are the spiciest books I’ve read so far this year. I know I have some others on my TBR that are a bit spicier than even these and I am excited to get to them! Things We Ne
Aurora Kretsch

Aurora Kretsch

524 likes

The book cover for 'Dead Inside' by Chandler Morrison features a skeleton in a police uniform holding red flowers, surrounded by insects. A review snippet rates it 8/10, stating it's 'not for the faint of heart'.
The book cover for 'Cows' by Matthew Stokoe shows a close-up of a cow's face in a blueish tone. A handwritten note on the image rates it 4/10, saying 'was good until it wasn't'.
The book cover for 'Crank' by Ellen Hopkins features the title in large, stylized letters with the tagline 'Is the high worth the crash?'. A handwritten note rates it 9/10, expressing surprise it took so long to read.
Books I’ve read this year plus my next read
Just recently got into splatterpunk I know crank isn’t in the genre but I’m a big horror fan so I’m all about them🖤🩸 #gorebooks #horrorbookcommunity #horrorbooks #splatterpunk #spookybookhaul
Avalon Wauer

Avalon Wauer

524 likes

A stack of books on a bed with a Halloween-themed blanket, under string lights. Text overlay reads "COZY/ROMANCE BOOKS YOU SHOULD READ THIS FALL" with pumpkin, bat, ghost, and leaf emojis.
The book "Bride" by Ali Hazelwood, a paranormal romance about a vampire and werewolf, is shown on a Halloween-themed blanket. Keywords highlight "Vampire/werewolf" and "Arranged marriage."
The book "Love & Other Words" by Christina Lauren is displayed on a Halloween-themed blanket. Keywords describe it as a "Dual timeline," "Cozy cabin," and "Second chance romance."
Romance/Thriller Books to Read This Fall
Fall season is upon us! Here are some fall books that are great if you want something cozy, thrilling, or romantic. If any of these books stand out to you, I highly recommend you adding them to your fall tbr :) Genres: ROMANCE: - Bride: a paranormal romance with a werewolf and vampire.
Hannah Pilgrim

Hannah Pilgrim

306 likes

A hand with neon green nail polish gives a thumbs-up over a stack of books, including 'Queen of Shadows,' 'Project Hail Mary,' and 'The Poppy War.' The text 'mid year reading recap' is overlaid.
A grid of books read in January, including 'Crooked Kingdom,' 'Dark Matter,' 'The Silent Patient,' 'The Cruel Prince,' 'The Wicked King,' 'The Queen of Nothing,' 'Ruthless Vows,' 'A Court of Silver Flames,' 'Project Hail Mary,' and 'The Cloisters,' each with star ratings.
A grid of books read in February, featuring 'Sharp Objects,' 'The Writing Retreat,' and multiple books from the 'Throne of Glass' series by Sarah J. Maas, each with star ratings.
all 42 books i’ve read so far this year
I set a goal at the beginning of the year to read 50 books. Six months in and I’ve already read 42!! I have read so many FANTASTIC books this year. February and June are tied for my favorite reading months—February because hello, Throne of Glass!! I devoured that series in a little less than th
molly

molly

31 likes

Books I’ve Read In Dec 23
Iykyk, if you don’t you just gotta read them to find out. What’s stopping you? (Or you could just go into my small profile and look at my opinions of them. I post at least once or twice a week of book reviews).
Rachal Sullivan

Rachal Sullivan

3486 likes

horror books to read this summer!!
Christmas in July? ❌ Halloween in July?? ✔️ Creepy cults à la Midsommar? Spectacular. Paranormal entities hell bent on revenge?? Give me fourteen of them right now. Goosebumps short stories but for adults? TAKE MY MONEY!! I’m a sucker for a good scare any time of the year, but there’s someth
molly

molly

213 likes

A bookshelf filled with various books, featuring a large yellow text overlay that reads "25 BOOKS TO READ IN 2025." Decorative hearts and stars are scattered around the text.
A collage of nine book covers, including "Rebel Witch," "Magnolia Parks," "The Veiled Kingdom," "The Love Wager," "The Flatshare," "Booked for Murder," "You Between the Lines," "The Song of Achilles," and "The God of the Woods."
A collage of nine book covers, featuring "Nora Goes Off Script," "Nothing More to Tell," "The Paradise Problem," "Nocticadia," "The Poppy War," "A Little Life," "Darling Venom," "Quicksilver," and "Icebreaker."
25 books i want to read in 2025 🏹🎞️
my goal is to read 100 books this year. here is my list of 25 that i have on high priority to get to this year. some of these are my most anticipated releases, and some are those that have been on my tbr for a while. ⭐️ anticipated reads - rebel witch by kristen ciccarelli heartless hunter i
kalees reads

kalees reads

563 likes

Graduating soon? You might want to read this! 🎓
A well-crafted resume highlights your skills, experiences, and achievements, showcasing your readiness for the professional world. It helps you stand out in a competitive job market, opens doors to internships and job interviews, and demonstrates your commitment to personal and professional growth.
teal.days

teal.days

286 likes

Books I plan to read this last quarter of the year
as I searched through the books in my room, I am ready for this next quarter, the last quarter of 2024, so let me make sure I am book fed. These are books I’ve started and never finished, so I plan to finish these books before the end of the year, by - Reading daily - Taking notes on importa
odeevibez

odeevibez

134 likes

A person with curly hair, wearing a dark top, bracelets, and necklaces, looks at the camera. Overlay text reads 'How I'm pulling myself out of the funk (1 year depression aftermath)' with a lotus emoji, and 'Read caption!' with flower drawings. The image is from Lemon8 by @digitalshawtyyy.
Read caption! (TW: Depression)
This isn’t something that I usually discuss especially on the internet. But I’ve seen how supportive and small this community is. If this can help even one person, then I don’t mind sharing! Disclaimer: I’m not a mental health professional (in this specific area). This is just what has worked for m
Nai 🌸

Nai 🌸

668 likes

A hand holds a smartphone displaying the e-book cover for 'Take a Hike' by Mimi Grace, featuring a diverse couple. The screen has 'Currently Reading' text, and the background is decorated with colorful flowers, aligning with a spring reading theme.
Spring Read 📚
📖: Take a Hike by Mimi Grace I just feel this book is the perfect vibe for spring! One of my goals this year is to diversify my reading. I mainly wanted to read more romance books with women of color and/or plus-sized leads. And I fee l like I'm on the right track! I've heard good t
Marnaysha 🇭🇹♡

Marnaysha 🇭🇹♡

90 likes

📚Some Books I’ve Read This Year📚
📚✨ Here’s some amazing books I’ve read this year! From thrillers to memoirs, each one had me hooked. If you’re into gripping stories, dark secrets, or quirky characters, these are must-reads! Have you read any of these? What should I add to my TBR next? 💭👇 #Lemon8Diary #BookLover #ReadingGoals
𖤓⏾Cheyenne𖤓⏾

𖤓⏾Cheyenne𖤓⏾

5 likes

Books by Black Authors I’ve Read in 2025 ✊🏾📚
I’ve been diving into some amazing reads by Black authors this year, and every single one has been 🔥! Highly recommend checking these out if you haven’t already. Which of these have you read? Let’s talk books! 👇🏾 🔮 Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury– 4/5 (Dark urban fantasy, loved the concept!)
Keanna Kris

Keanna Kris

623 likes

First Read of the Year!
Loved By You by Alexandrea LeChelle was my first read of the year. This is the author’s debut book and I’m excited to keep reading her work. I love a second chance romance and I liked how it intertwined therapy. Reading the snippet at the end looks like it could be an interconnected standalone seri
Jolivia ✨🌸📚✨

Jolivia ✨🌸📚✨

817 likes

A stack of thriller books, including 'The Housemaid' series, 'Never Lie', 'The Silent Patient', and 'Kill Joy', with text overlays 'My 2025 reads!' and 'Books I've Read So Far This Year'.
Four books from 'The Housemaid' series by Freida McFadden, including 'The Housemaid', 'The Housemaid Is Watching', 'The Housemaid's Secret', and 'The Housemaid's Wedding'.
The book 'The Locked Door' by Freida McFadden, featuring a red door on the cover and a discount sticker.
Books I’ve Read So FarThis Year 📚✂️⛓️‍💥
Thrillers, twists, and page-turners—here’s my take on these reads! 📖 The Housemaid Series – ⭐ 4.5 Kept me on the edge of my seat! I wish there were more books in this series. 🕵️‍♂️ Never Lie – ⭐ 5 My favorite book so far! The plot twist completely shocked me. Will definitely reread. 🚪 Yo
HaileyMarie

HaileyMarie

348 likes

Every book I've readso far this year!
And I'm currently reading Colldie!! 🤗🤗 The Book Escape Book Nook #reading #booknerd #romance #hockeyromance #cowboyromance
𝐉𝐉 ❤︎︎

𝐉𝐉 ❤︎︎

29 likes

A title slide on a crumpled fabric background reads 'What I've read And What I'm Reading Worth the Hype,' accompanied by a yellow butterfly and a blue arrow pointing to the text.
The book cover for 'If He Had Been With Me' by Laura Nowlin, featuring heart-shaped lollipops, is displayed on a crumpled fabric background with a 5/5 rating and heart doodles, alongside a review.
The book cover for 'If Only I Had Told Her' by Laura Nowlin, featuring a red rose, is shown on a crumpled fabric background with a 5/5 rating, green leaves, and a blue butterfly doodle, with a review.
What I’ve read this year and what I’m reading 📖
These five books have captured my short attention span to the point I’ll read for hours! They can be found at any chain book store, department stores, and Amazon! What other books do you recommend? What books are you reading? 🩶If he had been with me 🩶If only I had told her 🩶Toxic (graphic w
🩶🪲

🩶🪲

26 likes

Other Books I’ve read this past year
Fledgling by Octavia Butler ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Anything Butler writes is smart and compelling. This book wasn’t my favorite from her but it was still really good and kept me on the edge of my seat. If you like creepy vampire cults this might be the novel for you. Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy
Karyss<3

Karyss<3

21 likes

4 must read book to make 2025 your best year yet
2024 was… a lot. 😮‍💨 But 2025? It’s about to be DIFFERENT. I’m talking more confidence, better decisions, bigger goals, and less overthinking. And honestly? Books like these help me get there. I love starting a new year with books that shift my mindset, challenge how I think, and give me that “w
Meredith Jao

Meredith Jao

417 likes

Six autobiographies/memoirs are displayed: 'Master of Me' by Keke Palmer, 'Inside Out' by Demi Moore, 'Soul Survivors' by Destiny's Child, 'Act Like You Got Some Sense' by Jamie Foxx, 'A Piece of Cake' by Cupcake Brown, and 'Unbothered' by Marion.
Six autobiographies/memoirs are displayed: 'I'm Glad My Mom Died' by Jennette McCurdy, 'Just As I Am' by Cicely Tyson, 'Worthy' by Jada Pinkett Smith, 'Heavy: An American Memoir' by Kiese Laymon, 'Leslie F*cking Jones' by Leslie Jones, and 'Rabbit' by Patricia Williams.
Six autobiographies/memoirs are displayed: 'E.A.R.L.' by DMX, 'Assata' by Assata Shakur, 'The Light We Carry' by Michelle Obama, 'Walking in My Joy' by Jenifer Lewis, 'Revelations' by Bevy Smith, and 'Red Lip Theology' by Candice Marie Benbow.
Autobiographies/ memoirs..
#books #bookrecommendations #booktok #Lemon8 #readersoflemon8 My collection..
Chareese

Chareese

51 likes

A bright green book cover titled "YOUR MONEY RATIOS" by Charles Farrell, J.D., LL.M., is shown. It features the subtitle "8 Simple Tools for Financial Security at Every Stage of Life" and an endorsement from The Wall Street Journal. A yellow starburst highlights a "Free ONLINE Retirement Calculator." The book has numerous colorful page markers.
I was hooked as soon as I read page 4 🪝
Your Money Ratios was one of the books on my backup TBR list. I have to be in the mood for self improvement books and since I love finance and simple formulas I just knew I would love this book 📚 I went in with high EXPECTATIONS and this book exceeded 👌🏾 I was hooked as soon as I read page 4. I
Jamie KP 📚

Jamie KP 📚

194 likes

Diary #3: grounding is my religion
In 2023, I set a goal to read one book each month. I made it to August and then failed to reach my goal, but one thing is for sure, I made it more than halfway there and read more books in a year than I had since I was a teenager. You. Must. Read. Reading grows critical thinking skills. You’ll chal
Jau 🤎

Jau 🤎

120 likes

Nonfiction I’ve Read So Far in 2024
my goal for the year is to read about 25% nonfiction :) #lemon8bookclub #sophinlaw
Lemon8er

Lemon8er

67 likes

Read The caption to know how I did it .
We know that during the holidays, we tend to eat a little more than usual, so starting the year with a detox is perfect. What I did was drink green juices, something I’ve been doing since 2021, along with 3 days of eating only fruits. Honestly, I loved it because I was able to get rid of all that b
GisseleDonovan

GisseleDonovan

364 likes

See more