10 of the best memoirs to read in 2023
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2023 has brought us both new and familiar voices to look forward to reading this year. With so many highly anticipated memoirs already available to readers this year, such as Prince Harry’s “Spare” and Elliot Page’s “Pageboy: A Memoir,” there are plenty of new stories to discover.
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Whether you are looking to get behind-the-scenes details from your favorite actors, like in Henry Winkler’s witty and honest memoir, “Being Henry: The Fonz… and Beyond,” or looking to discover a new voice, like Nicole Chung’s groundbreaking “A Living Memory,” there’s a memoir for you. Having so many new and upcoming releases, it’s hard to know which ones to pick up first. We’ve gathered the top 10 must-read memoirs we look forward to picking up this year.
1. ‘Pageboy: A Memoir’ by Elliot Page
“Pageboy: A Memoir” is an intimate exploration of Academy Award-nominated actor Elliot Page’s life off-screen. Most know Page from his starring roles in “Juno” and “Umbrella Academy”; however, in his memoir, Page gives readers insight into his complicated relationship with acting and the struggle he faced between his passion and his identity as a trans person. Readers are invited to witness Page’s journey of self-discovery and his experience being truly seen. “Pageboy” was released on June 6, 2023.
2. ‘Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond’ by Henry Winkler
From the admired actor who played our favorite characters in “Happy Days,” “Arrested Development,” and “Barry,” Henry Winkler brings us a witty and charming memoir that introduces readers to the actor behind the scenes. “Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond” follows the highs and lows of Winkler’s career and how he navigated it all with severe dyslexia. This humorous and meaningful memoir will give readers a better understanding of who Winkler is outside of his iconic roles. “Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond” will be released on October 31, 2023.
3. ‘If You Would Have Told Me: A Memoir’ by John Stamos
From becoming a teenage heartthrob overnight to touring with the world-renowned band The Beach Boys to finally starring in the cherished T.V. show “Full House,” John Stamos has lived a life that leaves even himself in wonderment. “If You Would Have Told Me” is a memoir that brings readers on the journey of Stamos’ career as an actor and his adventure into fatherhood. “If You Would Have Told Me” will be released on October 24, 2023, but you can preorder it today.
4. ‘Spare’ by Prince Harry The Duke of Sussex
While the world mourned the loss of Princess Diana, Prince Harry and Prince William grappled with the personal struggle of losing their mother. In his recent memoir, Prince Harry reflects on his childhood memories of grief, his time in the British Army, and his life as a father and husband. “Spare” is a story of loss, love, and wisdom told in intimate detail. Released on January 10, 2023, “Spare” is available today.
5. ‘Love Pamela: A Memoir of Prose, Poetry, and Truth’ by Pamela Anderson
In “Love Pamela,” Pamela Anderson breaks the mold of the celebrity memoir genre by including a collection of prose and poetry to depict her life in a raw and honest light. Anderson goes beyond her “Playboy” playmate years, introducing readers to the young girl who grew up tucked away in a small house on Vancouver Island. Pamela Anderson takes hold of her own narrative, showing readers who she is beyond the persona displayed in the media. “Love Pamela: A Memoir of Prose, Poetry, and Truth” was released on January 31, 2023, and is available for purchase today.
6. ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart: A Memoir’ by Beth Nguyen
From award winning author Beth Nguyen, “Owner of a Lonely Heart” tells a coming-of-age story about Nguyen’s complex relationship with her mother. When she was eight months old, Nguyen and her family fled Saigon for America, leaving her mother behind. It wasn’t until Nguyen turned 19 that she was reunited with her mother. Told through the lens of a daughter-mother relationship, “Owner of a Lonely Heart” is a powerful exploration of what it means to belong. “Owner of a Lonely Heart: A Memoir” is available for preorder and will be released on July 4, 2023.
7. ‘Life on Delay: Making Peace with a Stutter’ by John Hendrickson
John Hendrickson’s new memoir follows up on the compelling 2019 article about both his and President Joe Biden’s stutter Hendrickson wrote for The Atlantic. “Life on Delay: Making Peace with a Stutter” is a memoir that delves deep into the experience of living with a stutter. Hendrickson touches on topics like bullying, substance abuse, depression, isolation and other daily struggles he faces. “Life on Delay: Making Peace with a Stutter” was released on January 17, 2023, and is available for purchase.
8. ‘Sink: A Memoir’ by Joseph Earl Thomas
Through a series of vignettes, “Sink” delves into Joseph Earl Thomas’ childhood, filled with family members struggling with addictions, violence and hunger. In his gritty and unforgettable memoir, Thomas revisits lessons of toxic masculinity with newfound clarity and recognizes the cycle of violence in his environment. Yet through it all, Thomas found his escape in fantasy and geek culture. Joseph Earl Thomas’ memoir is available for purchase and was released on February 21, 2023.
9. ‘A Living Remedy: A Memoir’ by Nicole Chung
Nicole Chung’s memoir, “A Living Remedy,” shares her story as a transracial adoptee losing her parents to a lack of access to healthcare. When her mother is diagnosed with cancer, and COVID-19 prevents Chung from returning home from college, the distance between her two lives becomes apparent. Chung’s memoir encompasses the stark reality of many middle-class families surviving in America, living paycheck to paycheck without the security of dependable healthcare. Nicole Chung’s memoir was released on April 4, 2023, and is available for purchase.
10. ‘Leg: The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It’ by: Greg Marshall
“Leg: The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It” is a witty memoir about Greg Marshall’s life with cerebral palsy. Having been told by his parents that he always had “tight tendons,” Marshall discovered his diagnosis later in life. Marshall presents readers with an insightful story of identity and complex family dynamics. “Leg: The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It” was released on June 13, 2023, and is available for purchase.
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