Inside: There is nothing better than ending your day with a good book. Try one of these inspirational memoirs to help you unwind - you won't regret it!

You can’t seem to find a good book to snuggle up with before you get to bed? Look no further friend, because here are 11 inspiring memoirs that you will love. 

11 Memoirs To Help You Unwind Before Bed

1. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom

This is, probably hands down, my favorite book ever. Usually once I read a book I’m done with it. I don't re-read may books - but this one I have read about 4 times. This book has it all. It is inspiring, motivational, informative, heart wrenching, and a beautiful depiction of WWII and the goodness and love that was still evident through it all. If you have not read it, do yourself a favor and grab a copy. I can’t talk enough about this little book. In fact, I think it’s about time I read it again….

2. Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines

Yes, yes, I know Chip and Joanna are all the rage and I usually don’t like to be lumped in a fan group. But this book really did have an impact on me. It is inspiring to read about the risks they were willing to take and the way they both cheered each other on. This is another one that I have read twice. If you have a secret dream and are looking for the courage to pursue it, you must read this book. 

3. The Spark by Kristine Barnett

OK, I feel like this is getting repetitive because I’m gushing over all of these books...but here is another that had a big impact. But in a totally different aspect of life - motherhood. This is a beautiful story about a mama whose life looked vastly different than she ever imagined it would, and her struggle to understand how to live within that reality. It’s about understanding who our children are, rather than deciding who we want them to be. It’s about forgetting what people around us are thinking and seeing our kids without the haze of social norms. It’s about creativity, ingenuity, and confidence in mothering. It is beautiful, and has given me the courage to be more diligent in reminding myself to forget about what society thinks about my kids, and to look at them for who they are and how God made them to be. I could go on. It’s beautiful. 

4. Instant Mom by Nia Vardalos

Nia Vardalos (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding), writes about the struggle and beauty of adopting out of foster care in the United States. As you would expect, she makes a sometimes difficult topic funny and lighthearted, but she is genuine and heartfelt throughout. For moms who have fostered or adopted, for moms who have struggled with infertility, or for moms who have had babies birthed from their own bodies, this book is a good reminder that our journey to motherhood never looks the same and our stories are all so different. But we all have one thing in common: we love our babies and are doing our best to help them be who they are meant to be. 

5. Point of View by Elisabeth Hasselback

I needed this reminder - that it’s OK for there to be seasons in life. We can not have everything at once. And we should not have everything at once. Life is to be taken in pieces. Each piece looks a little different, but they all fit together into a grand design. God has something for us in each of those seasons, and we have to learn to see our life through His perspective - not our own. 

6. Sully by Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III

Sully is the story of the man who heroically landed a commercial airplane on the Hudson River in the middle of New York City. This story surprised me, in that it was less about the actual events of that day, and more about the years of practice, studying, persistence, and pursuing excellence that went into making Captain Sullenberger the type of man and pilot who could do what he did on January 15, 2009. But isn’t that how life really is? We make a big deal about the big moments, but really it is the small, seemingly insignificant choices that we make along the way that make the big moments possible.

7. Jackie's Girl by Kathy McKeon

This was a joy to read (pro tip: listen to the audiobook - author Kathy McKeon’s Irish accent is absolutely delightful). Written by the personal assistant of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, it is filled with bits and pieces of the personal life behind a very public figure (and the life of those who served her). McKeon writes with such care and geniality.

8. Through The Gates Of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot

This is the story of 5 missionaries who went deep into the jungles of Ecuador to share the love of Jesus, and were eventually murdered for the work they were doing. It is a story of faith, determination, resilience, hardship, and heartache. Though it won’t leave you feeling all the fuzzy good feelings, it will leave you inspired and filled with hope.

9. Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 Into a Billion Dollar Business by Barbara Corcoran

If you don’t know Barbara Corcoran, she has built a real estate empire in New York city and is also a star on the show Shark Tank. She came from pretty humble beginnings. And her grit and determination are what got her where she is. Her story inspires us to be confident in who we are, to be willing to take risks, and to push the boundaries of what is “normal”. I loved reading this one, and I think you will, too. 

So grab a book, get cozy, and relax with one of these 11 memoirs to help you unwind at bedtime.

I'm rooting for you,