If you enjoy reading books by Cheryl Strayed then you might also like the following authors:
Elizabeth Gilbert writes stories that deeply explore personal growth and self-discovery. Her book “Eat, Pray, Love” follows her journey after a tough divorce. She travels to Italy, India, and Indonesia, each place offering her a chance to rebuild.
From indulging in Italian food to seeking inner peace in an ashram, Gilbert takes readers through an adventure filled with emotion and transformation. Fans of Cheryl Strayed, who enjoy heartfelt and reflective narratives, might connect with her powerful storytelling.
Anne Lamott is known for her warm and honest approach to life’s struggles. Her book “Traveling Mercies” is a blend of personal essays about finding grace in unexpected places. She shares stories about her faith, moments of doubt, and challenges as a single mother.
One piece recounts her battle with addiction and the small, almost unnoticed ways hope started to return to her life. Lamott writes with a blend of humor and raw storytelling that makes you feel like you’re having a heartfelt conversation.
Glennon Doyle is the author of books that explore personal transformation and self-discovery with honesty and emotion. Her book “Untamed” shares her journey of breaking free from societal expectations to live a life that feels true.
She reflects on her marriage, motherhood, and her decision to embrace her love for soccer star Abby Wambach. Through vivid anecdotes, she shows how she learned to trust her inner voice and step into her own power.
Fans of Cheryl Strayed might appreciate how Doyle brings raw and relatable stories to the page.
Brené Brown is an author and researcher who explores human connection, vulnerability, and courage. Her book “Daring Greatly” focuses on how embracing vulnerability can transform relationships and lead to a more meaningful life.
She shares stories and research that show how letting go of the fear of judgment can help people develop deeper and more authentic connections.
One memorable part discusses how parents can model courage for their children without needing to be perfect, showing how vulnerability is a strength rather than a weakness.
Mary Karr is a memoirist known for her raw and honest storytelling. Her book “The Liars’ Club” is about her tumultuous childhood in a small Texas town. She writes about her eccentric parents, her father’s tall tales, and her mother’s struggles with mental health.
The book captures the chaos and love of her family life without shying away from its darker moments. It’s straightforward and heartfelt, and her sharp humor balances the heavier parts of her story.
Fans of Cheryl Strayed might enjoy how Karr opens up her world with such frankness.
Joan Didion was an exceptional writer known for her sharp observations and thoughtful prose. Her book “The Year of Magical Thinking” is a deeply personal memoir that reflects on the loss of her husband, John Gregory Dunne, and the illness of their daughter.
In this raw and honest account, Didion captures the way grief can alter reality and unsettle the routines of daily life. She recalls specific moments, memories, and interactions that reveal her struggles to understand what has happened while holding onto the past.
Readers are drawn into her world, feeling the weight of her loss and the need to make sense of it.
Jeannette Walls writes powerful memoirs that draw on her own experiences, creating stories that feel raw and genuine.
Her most-known book, “The Glass Castle,” recounts her unconventional childhood in a family that moved constantly, driven by her father’s dreams and struggles with drinking.
The book shares moments like her father promising to build the family a glass castle, a fantastical dream home, while they lived in poverty. Walls captures both the hardships and the deep bonds within her family, making readers feel connected to her journey.
Fans of Cheryl Strayed’s honesty in “Wild” may find Walls’ work equally moving.
Sue Monk Kidd is an author whose work captures heartfelt stories that explore personal growth and deep human connections. One of her most loved books, “The Secret Life of Bees,” takes place in 1964 South Carolina.
It follows Lily, a 14-year-old girl who runs away from her troubled home and ends up staying with three unconventional sisters keeping bees. Their home becomes a safe haven for Lily as she uncovers truths about her mother’s past.
The book weaves a tale of healing, family, and finding where you belong. It has rich characters and a strong emotional pull, making it easy to lose yourself in the story.
Maggie Nelson is a thoughtful and deeply personal writer who blends memoir and reflection on art, love, and identity. Her book “The Argonauts” is a unique mix of personal stories and philosophical insights.
It focuses on her relationship with her partner Harry Dodge, who is genderfluid, and explores topics like family, queer identity, and the shifting nature of language.
The narrative feels close and intimate, as Nelson shares moments from her life, like navigating pregnancy and questions about what it means to parent in unconventional ways. It’s a book that feels raw and honest, while also deeply thoughtful about life’s complexities.
Rebecca Solnit is a writer known for blending personal stories with social commentary. Her book “The Faraway Nearby” weaves together tales from her own life, like caring for her aging mother and her journeys to Iceland, with reflections on myths, memory, and connection.
It explores how stories shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. If you enjoy books that mix introspection with broader themes, this might be one to check out.
Tara Westover is the author of the memoir “Educated.” In this book, she tells the story of growing up in rural Idaho in a strict and isolated household. Her family avoided modern medicine and formal schooling.
Tara worked in her father’s junkyard and lived according to her parents’ rigid beliefs.
The memoir traces her journey as she steps into a classroom for the first time at 17 and eventually earns a PhD. Along the way, she faces difficult choices about family loyalty and self-determination. It’s a raw and deeply personal exploration of transformation and resilience.
Pico Iyer is a writer who explores themes of travel, self-discovery, and finding meaning in unfamiliar places. In his book “The Art of Stillness,” he reflects on the power of slowing down in a fast-moving world.
He shares insights from his own experiences and from figures like Leonard Cohen, who chose a quiet monastic life for years. Iyer paints a picture of how stepping away from constant busyness can reveal what truly matters.
The book invites you to consider why sometimes the best journey might be sitting still.
Barbara Kingsolver is an author who writes about human connections, nature, and resilience. Her book “The Bean Trees” tells the story of a young woman named Taylor Greer, who leaves her small Kentucky town to start a new life out West.
Along the way, she ends up taking care of a child who changes her life in unexpected ways. The story explores friendship, family, and finding a sense of home in unlikely places.
Wendy C. Ortiz is a memoirist known for her raw and intimate storytelling. Her book, “Excavation,” is a powerful exploration of her teenage years, when she became involved in an illegal and secret relationship with a much older teacher.
Ortiz reflects on those years with an unflinching honesty, capturing the confusion, desire, and manipulation that shaped her adolescence. The book doesn’t shy away from the complexities of memory and the fallout of such a relationship.
Ortiz weaves her past and present, sharing how the experience shaped her and lingered into her adult life. Fans of Cheryl Strayed might appreciate Ortiz’s ability to reflect deeply on complicated relationships and personal truths.
Louise Erdrich is a writer known for her deep connection to Native American culture and themes of family and community. One of her standout books, “Love Medicine,” weaves together the lives of two Native American families over several decades.
The book explores love, loss, and resilience through characters who feel incredibly real. Moments of heartbreak and humor pop up as the families intertwine, dealing with struggles and unexpected connections.
Fans of emotionally rich stories with complex relationships might find her work unforgettable.