Biography expert recommends most-anticipated memoirs to look out for summer 2023

From heartfelt confessions, recalling moments of love and loss to activism – below are the top upcoming memoirs to be released this year

Undoubtedly, this year already has proven to be an epic year for the memoir – filling the shelves and breaking record-sale figures. Observing how this has, in turn, inspired a new wave of memoirists, StoryTerrace, the nation’s leading memoir-writing service, notes a more than 200% increase in projects submitted since 2019. Dissecting what exactly it is that hooks us to the life stories of others, Rutger Bruining, CEO/founder of StoryTerrace, has carefully selected the most-anticipated memoirs to get your hands on this summer. 

From works written by activists to stories of love and loss, Bruining comments on how amidst the chaos of contemporary society, the modern-day memoir holds significance to encourage us to reflect on our own lives and the lessons learned. 

Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong

Alice Wong, the disability activist and educator, outlines her life journey. From attending her dream college but later dropped out due to her struggle to access Covid-19 vaccines as a high-risk individual. Alice Wong uncovers her rage on living in an ableist world as well as the joy and delight of the Lunar New Year. 

Bruining comments: “Memoirs hold immense power in shaping our collective understanding of human experiences, and it is vital to amplify the voices of disabled authors within this literary landscape. Their unique perspectives offer invaluable insights, shedding light on the intricate tapestry of life with disabilities. Through their memoirs, disabled authors challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and ignite empathy in readers’ hearts. 

“By sharing their triumphs, struggles, and aspirations, they paint a vivid picture of resilience, determination, and the extraordinary capacity of the human spirit. Disabled authors enrich our literary world, allowing us to glimpse into their vibrant narratives and discover the profound beauty that lies in embracing our differences.”

Roc Lit 101 Shine Bright by Daniel Smith

This memoir follows the stories of the black women who shaped American pop music such as Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. Discussing criticism and cultural history, this memoir also depicts the singers that came after and portrays these extraordinary artists’ struggles and triumphs. 

“The power of memoirs lies in their ability to bridge the gaps between cultures, expanding our horizons and fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse world we inhabit. By listening to memoirs from different cultures, we open ourselves to a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and perspectives that we may have never encountered otherwise.”

Lost & Found by Kathryn Schultz

Kathryn Schultz depicts her life after grieving the loss of her father and finding the love of her life. This memoir depicts love and loss in combination with psychological, philosophical and scientific insight. Although this memoir establishes that there cannot be love without loss, it does celebrate the act of discovery from finding what we’ve island to lucking into lasting love. 

“Writing stories of loss takes a lot of courage and involves digging up memories that so many have fought to block out. Through the assistance of an empathetic ghostwriter, who offers a neutral stance, the writer and client are able to work together to effectively communicate how that period in time affected them. As a result, some even find resolution through writing their story. What is more, hearing and reading others’ stories of grief are important to help others going through a similar process.”

Ancestor Trouble by Maud Newton

This memoir follows Maud Newton’s search for answers from her ancestors and her hunger to give her life meaning. This memoir is a story of discovering who we are, where we came from and what our personal histories tell us about our past. Newton explores the cultural, scientific and spiritual dimensions of ancestry, arguing the transformational power of grappling with our inheritances. 

“We know from our research the value of learning about family history. Unfortunately, 56% of the public say that they have missed the opportunity to learn about their priceless family history as the person who knows the most about it is no longer around. Memoirs lend a crucial portal to the past, filling in gaps about our history that might be originally forgotten.”

Because Our Fathers Lied by Craig McNamara

This memoir is the ideal memoir to read this summer if you are interested in war stories and follows the story of a conflicted son’s retelling of his father’s life, mixed with love and rage. This story of estrangement from the Vietnam war also follows the son’s own story of disappointment and disillusionment leading him to become a walnut farmer in South America. This is a story of intergenerational conflict and moral identity. 

“Reading memoirs like this one helps to shed new light on thoughts and feelings we never thought we initially had as well as establish our emotions. At StoryTerrace we think stories like this are crucial to raise awareness on the benefits of truthful and emotional stories on mental health.”

Rutger Bruining, CEO and founder of StoryTerrace, the most trusted biography-writing service, is available to comment on all five biographies. 

About StoryTerrace

StoryTerrace’s mission is to ensure that every life story is captured and passed on in a meaningful way. Its award-winning memoir writing service takes care of the whole process – matching clients with one of over 750 professional writers, interviewing, photo gathering, editing, designing, and printing their very own book. Books are on average 100 pages long, meaning that everyone can have their life story – or those of their loved ones – documented in a professionally curated biography or series of memoirs. 

Powered by its proprietary technology platform, StoryTerrace continues to scale globally and has sold over 3,500 packages to date since it was founded in 2014. The company was a winner on BBC Dragons’ Den in 2020 and has gained traction in the likes of Sky News, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, Forbes, and CBS News.