9 Memoirs by Women Who Have Overcome Hardship

	Title	Author(s)	Description
1.	Hopefully Ever After	Linda Barrett	Living with breast cancer
2.	My Story	Elizabeth A. Smart & Chris Stewart	Looking back on being abducted as a teenager
3.	Blackout	Sarah Hepola	Exploring the cost of alcoholism
4.	The House On An Irish Hillside	Felicity Hayes-McCoy	Returning to rural Ireland after years away
5.	The Secrets of My Life	Caitlyn Jenner	Being a transgender celebrity
6.	Dog Medicine	Julie Barton	One woman's battle with depression and the dog who saved her
7.	Beyond Belief	Lisa Pulitzer & Jenna Miscavige Hill	Escaping the church of Scientology
8.	Girl in the Woods	Aspen Matis	Overcoming emotional devastation after being sexually assaulted
9.	Imagine Wanting Only This	Kristen Radtke	A college student grapples with grief and self-discovery

Inspiring Quotes From Successful Women

Quote	Source
"A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman."	Melinda Gates
"I believe that it is as much a right and duty for women to do something with their lives as for men and we are not going to be satisfied with such frivolous parts as you give us."	Louisa May Alcott
"One's feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into actions which bring results."	Florence Nightingale
"If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!"	Sojourner Truth
"It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you. Always."	Oprah Winfrey

Perseverance: The Art of Hardship

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In Depth

Suffering is an inevitable part of the human condition. Regardless of era or culture, everyone's life story includes some degree of facing difficulty and enduring it. That is why reading about people who have overcome tragedy is a powerful way of reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles. There is so much to gain from stories that depict hope, faith, and courage in the midst of trials. So take a look at our compilation of some of the most honest and raw memoirs by women who have overcome different forms of hardship. In no particular order, here is our list of nine.

At #1 is "Hopefully Ever After," which tells the story of Linda Barrett's two-time battle against breast cancer. Having been first diagnosed in 2001, Barrett once again struggled with the disease nine years later when her body was free from the effects of chemotherapy. She narrates the sickness' impact on her family and herself, and describes the risky medical procedures that affected her physically and emotionally. Her tale also depicts a healthy marriage, as she recounts her husband's full support and unwavering love throughout the painful journey.

What we have at #2 is "My Story." After being abducted by a religious fanatic in the middle of the night, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart was repeatedly raped, starved, chained, drugged, and threatened. Written with Chris Stewart, the narrative chronicles nine months of abuse and torture, and details disturbing scenarios that made her live in constant fear. As a devout Mormon, she also presents how her stoic faith sustained her sanity, maintained her hope and courage, and gave her the strength to face her abductors in their court trials.

As a devout Mormon, she also presents how her stoic faith sustained her sanity, maintained her hope and courage, and gave her the strength to face her abductors in their court trials.

At #3, we have "Blackout," a heartwarming and humorous memoir about Sarah Hepola's struggle with alcoholism. Having learned to drink at an early age, Hepola fell in love with alcohol and relied on it for confidence, intimacy, and creativity. She narrates the days when she would drink until passing out, and details incidents where she would wake up lying next to a stranger in bed, unable to recall the events that had happened the night before. She also recounts how she was able to find the road to sobriety, and gives us revealing insights about personal transformation.

Coming in at #4 is "The House On An Irish Hillside." Written by Felicity Hayes-McCoy, the narrative delves into the author's transition from living in the busy city of London, to creating new memories on the Dingle Peninsula in Ireland. She captures the contrast between her two lifestyles as she and her husband learned to balance work and play in a home they remodeled in a remote part of the country. With details about Irish folklore, the book weaves the place's rich history with McCoy's beautiful experience with the landscape, language, and people.

At #5 is "The Secrets of My Life." Caitlyn Jenner gives us a sincere, honest account about accepting her true self and coming out as a transgender woman. Widely known as a former Olympian and father of the famous Kardashian family, Jenner recounts her journey pre-transition, as she shares what it's like to live in gender dysphoria and confusion. She narrates her intimate struggles within her three marriages, and how her desperation to reveal her true identity led to family estrangement and isolation.

She narrates her intimate struggles within her three marriages, and how her desperation to reveal her true identity led to family estrangement and isolation.

Next up, at #6 is "Dog Medicine," a tear-jerking memoir by Julie Barton about how her relationship with her dog saved her life. Having been severely depressed, Barton gives us an in-depth look into a suicidal mind, and captures the agonizing pain that goes with it. She narrates how her decision to adopt a Golden Retriever puppy, whom she named "Bunker," paved the way for recovery and forgiveness. Her deeply-moving narrative explores the unconditional love pets give their humans in a way that will surely resonate with animal lovers.

At #7 is "Beyond Belief." Jenna Miscavige Hill sheds light on what life is like inside the Church of Scientology. As the niece of the religion's leader, Hill was raised in a facility where children rarely see their parents, and every aspect of their lives is tightly controlled. She was taught to believe that rhis was for the church's greater good. She unveils the sect's oppressive and alienating culture, and details its obscure rituals and harsh punishments. She also narrates how she found the courage to leave the organization, risking everything and everyone she had ever known and loved.

At #8 is "Girl in the Woods," a beautifully-written memoir about survival, self-discovery, and finding strength through hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail. After being raped in college, nineteen-year-old Aspen Matis was disappointed by the reaction of her parents, who discouraged her from speaking of the incident. She then set out on a five-month trek, chronicling her journey through healing, while confronting her feelings of confusion and humiliation. The book describes how new love helped her conquer emotional devastation and transformed her viewpoint in life.

After being raped in college, nineteen-year-old Aspen Matis was disappointed by the reaction of her parents, who discouraged her from speaking of the incident.

Finally, at #9 is "Imagine Wanting Only This." Kristen Radtke's graphic memoir revolves around the nature of decay. After the death of her beloved uncle due to genetic heart disease, Radtke journeyed to different places in the world to search for abandoned structures, and confront her grief and fear. Through her black and white drawings, the book delves into existential and quarter-life crisis, while capturing the beauty she found within ruins. Featuring her break-up with her ex-fiance, the narrative also relates these explorations to her personal relationships.