Six empowering books by women

Woman reading at table surrounded by bookshelves

It’s no secret that reading a good book can be a deeply healing experience. Picking up the right book at the right time can feel like a warm hug from a supportive friend. While there are lots of useful self-help books out there, sometimes you need a fun, positive read to leave you feeling empowered and ready to take on whatever life throws at you.

With that in mind, we rounded up six lighthearted and encouraging books by women to keep you company.

For motherly advice:

Letter To My Daughter

Maya Angelou didn’t have a daughter, but she had countless pearls of wisdom to share. This book is her solution to that problem. It’s a collection of short anecdotes, bits of advice, and other thoughts she passes on to you, as though you were her own daughter.

For your coffee table:

Kate Spade New York: She: Muses, Visionaries and Madcap Heroines

Created by the fashion brand Kate Spade, this ultra-glam and feminine coffee table book celebrates the power of strong women, from Dolly Parton to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to Miss Piggy! It’s great for thumbing through with your holiday guests for a quick boost of empowerment, style, and inspiration.

For crushing all your goals:

You Are A Badass

Success Coach Jen Cicero’s uplifting You Are A Badass isn’t your standard self-help book. It delivers humor, wisdom, and a handy guide to breaking down your self-sabotaging beliefs so you can create a life you love and live it like the badass you are.

For realizing you are enough

I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Making the Journey from “What Will People Think?” to “I Am Enough”

This book from Dr. Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW, explains why it’s important to embrace your imperfections rather than struggle with the pressure to be flawless. Brown’s work will show you that “imperfect” does not mean “inadequate” and that you are indeed enough.

For a portable pep talk

Personal Pep Talk

If you’d rather have a quick dose of inspiration than a long read, Personal Pep Talk is there for you. Created by Seattle teacher Stacy Davison, Personal Pep Talk is a brightly colored and beautifully illustrated deck of cards, each with its own mini motivational message to boost your spirits during the day. The deck also includes a few blank cards to write your own messages and a few temporary tattoos so you can keep the positivity flowing all day.

For some creative self-love

Start Where You Are: A Journal for Self-Exploration

Sometimes you need something a little more hands-on. For those creative moments, try this colorful journal full of introspective writing prompts, feel-good quotes, and beautiful illustrations by author/artist Meera Lee Patel. It’s a fun way to de-stress, and many reviewers say they learned something valuable about themselves in the process. It’s a win-win.