How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
What it is: A memoir intertwined with essays about everything from fashion to abortion.
Why you should read it: Say whatever you want about Caitlin Moran but she's fearless. She will tell you her opinion, regardless of how controversial it might be, and do it with wit and intelligence. Even though I don't agree with everything she had to say in this book, I loved that it made me think about so many different issues.
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Girl Up by Laura Bates
What it is: An Illustrated guide containing everything about being a young woman.
Why you should read it: This is a fantastic guide that feels like your best friend is giving you advice. Laura Bates is HILARIOUS and she touches some delicate subjects without sugar coating anything. This is the book that I wish I could've had when I was a teenager and, even though I read it in my late twenties, I still got a lot out of it.
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Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape by Peggy Orenstein
What it is: A study about girls and sex, which includes interviews with a number of young women.
Why you should read it: Even though this book is bright pink and it's called Girls & Sex, this would make an excellent gift to any young man. I say this because many of the stories are centered around sexism and the difficulties women face today. While women can get a lot out of it, imagine if a guy reads this before he starts dating. I think it would make all the difference.
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Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed
What it is: A collection of inspirational quotes.
Why you should read it: I don't know about you but I love quotes. I love to be able to find inspiration or to draw wisdom from a sentence or two. I usually end up finding the best ones out of the blue but this book contains so many gorgeous ones.
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