All of us have different go-to genres that suit different moods. Classics for pensive times, sci-fi for adventure, and romance to act as the perfect distraction from life or its various screw-ups. But when it comes to one of the best genres that is an all-cure for every mood? Funny memoirs. Or, more specifically, funny memoirs written which contain that feminine wit. As with any good memoir, you may find a dash of heartbreak, and a pinch of struggle, while sad yet relatable tales of sexism, racism, and mental health may tag along the lines. You’ll find these hilarious memoirs to be the best books for women by women.
11 Funny Memoirs by Women That May Be Just What You Need
Let’s take a look at some hilarious books written by women to make you laugh out loud:
1. It’s All Absolutely Fine by Ruby Elliot
It’s All Absolutely Fine is an honest (maybe too honest, but we’re not complaining) and unapologetic description of Elliot’s daily existence. Everything is fine, except for when it’s not, which is all the time. The book covers everything from mood swings, anxiety, and body dysmorphia to existential conversations with Elliot’s dogs.
2. How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
Women are inspiring change in everything from politics to the economy, but being a woman in the modern world is still challenging. This memoir by Caitlin Moran addresses the nagging questions that many women have, such as whether Brazilians and Botox are acceptable and how to respond if someone asks whether you’re going to have children. Truly one of the best female memoirs available online.
3. Love, Nina by Nina Stibbe
This memoir by Nina Stibbe accounts for her time spent caring for Mary Kay Wilmers’ children while she edited the London Review of Books. This memoir describes how Stibbe struggles to adjust to her duties and her daily life, and how she is just like a fish out of water who is also suffering from the trauma of relocation.
4. You Can’t Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson
In You Can’t Touch My Hair, Robinson expresses her opinions on everything from pop culture to race to gender, making this book a relatable yet funny autobiography. She turns serious situations into comedic gold, including the politics of hair and some questionable(?) advice for her fellow female readers to be the future female president.
5. I Hate Everyone…Starting with Me by Joan Rivers
One of the best comedy books by women, this memoir portrays River’s own unique style of describing unjust moments in her life where she was baffled by open sexism and gender inequality. You may find yourself mentally nodding your head as you flip through the pages of this one.
6. Bossypants by Tina Fey
I think it’s fair to rank Bossypants among the funniest books written. Whether she’s talking about her first period, the time her cruise ship almost capsized (which is amazing how she can make that funny), or the ridiculous beauty standards in the entertainment industry, Tina Fey can make anything amusing.
7. The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
If “awkwardly relatable” was a book, it’d be this one. I’m not kidding. Issa Rae excels in writing about awkward, hilarious and relatable experiences in her life. Rae shares anecdotes from her life as an introvert, her humiliation after being ghosted on a date, or accidentally catfishing someone.
8. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling is known as one of the most famous women of color in the entertainment industry, and for good reason too. This memoir is one of them. She is wickedly brilliant, humorous, and full of encouragement for everyone at the beginning of their profession. Openly into ultra-feminism, which has been bashed by the culture for too long (cough Mean Girls cough), Kaling’s anecdotes are truly relatable.
9. Self-Inflicted Wounds by Aisha Tyler
Since Aisha Tyler is a comedy legend, no one should be surprised by how frank and outrageously humorous her memoir is. The biggest screw-up can be made into a humorous anecdote by Tyler and her readers appreciate that about her. Everyone should give this book a try if they want to laugh out loud.
10. Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher. She is funny and witty. And she has a lot to say about what it was like growing up famous and then getting the role of the most recognisable princess in the galaxy. Her memoir openly discusses her growing up in her family dynamic and her ongoing battles with drugs and mental illness. Fisher is intelligent, gutsy, and just plain comedic-gold.
11. All White People Are Racist (Well 75-80% Of Them Are) by Some White Woman From L.A.
Written from the perspective and experiences of a white woman, this book acts as a memoir that perfectly describes the horror of how racism is so common in White culture, especially in L.A., and how no one bats an eye about it. If you’re the overly sensitive type, this may not be the book for you. But if you have a sense of humor, love some good Hollywood bashing, anti-pedophilia talks, and have respect for these real-life issues, I recommend giving this hilarious memoir by a hilarious and heartwarming debut author a try.