6 Remarkable biographies and true stories you’ll be thinking about long after the final page

Read This Next with Emily Darlow

Some books entertain you for a weekend, while others stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. The latest crop of biographies and true stories is filled with extraordinary people, remarkable resilience and fascinating lives, offering everything from deeply personal memoirs to inspiring tales of courage, service and determination. Whether you’re looking for an emotional read, an uplifting story or a glimpse into lives vastly different from your own, these six new releases deserve a place on your reading list.

You With the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate
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Beloved actor Christina Applegate has spent decades making audiences laugh, but in this deeply personal memoir she shares the far more difficult moments that have shaped her life. From growing up in Hollywood to navigating fame, motherhood and her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, Applegate writes with the same sharp wit and honesty that made her a household name. Candidly reflecting on everything from body image and mental health to family, career and finding strength through adversity, this is an intimate portrait of resilience from someone who has faced more than most people ever see.

Verdict: Honest, funny and deeply moving, this is a memoir that reminds us strength often comes with vulnerability.

I Wrote My Own Eulogy by Bradley Dryburgh
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Living with cystic fibrosis since childhood, Bradley Dryburgh has spent much of his life confronting mortality head-on. At just 26, he wrote his own eulogy, an experience that transformed the way he approached life. Rather than dwelling on what he might lose, Dryburgh shares the lessons he’s learned about purpose, gratitude and making the most of every day. Honest, uplifting and deeply reflective, this memoir encourages readers to focus on living well, no matter what challenges they face.

Verdict: A powerful reminder to appreciate life’s ordinary moments before they become extraordinary memories.

War Dog by Jamie Williams
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Jamie Williams has lived a life few could imagine. From serving in the French Foreign Legion to fighting alongside Kurdish forces against ISIS, his journey has taken him through war zones, addiction, imprisonment and intense public scrutiny. In War Dog, Williams recounts the events that shaped him with unflinching honesty, exploring trauma, redemption and the search for purpose after conflict. It’s a confronting but compelling memoir that reveals the human cost of war long after the fighting ends.

Verdict: A raw and gripping memoir that offers an unfiltered look at war, survival and the long road to redemption.

School for Life by Annabelle Chauncy
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When Annabelle Chauncy left a successful corporate career to establish schools for children living in poverty in rural Cambodia, she had little idea how dramatically it would change her own life. School for Life tells the inspiring story of building an education charity from the ground up, overcoming setbacks and witnessing the life-changing power of opportunity. It’s an uplifting memoir that celebrates determination, compassion and the belief that one person really can make a difference.

Verdict: Inspirational without feeling sentimental, this is a feel-good story about creating lasting change.

Long Journey Home by Katrina Kittel
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When Katrina Kittel discovers her late father’s old Globite suitcase filled with faded photographs, postcards and wartime memorabilia, she begins piecing together the remarkable story he rarely spoke about. Captured at El Alamein and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp in northern Italy, Colin Booth was among thousands of Allied soldiers who escaped after Italy’s 1943 armistice. Drawing on years of research, Kittel traces his perilous journey across war-torn Italy as he evades German forces and searches for safety in neutral Switzerland. Rich in historical detail and deeply personal, Long Journey Homeshines a light on a little-known chapter of Australia’s wartime history.

Verdict: A fascinating blend of history and family discovery that honours the courage and resilience of a generation often reluctant to tell their stories.

On My Own Terms by Adam Reynolds
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Dual rugby league premiership player Adam Reynolds reflects on the highs and lows of professional football, leadership, family and life beyond the game in this candid memoir. Rather than simply revisiting famous matches, Reynolds offers an honest look at the pressures that come with elite sport, the decisions that shaped his career and the values that have guided him both on and off the field. Football fans will enjoy the behind-the-scenes insights, while even readers with little interest in the game will appreciate the universal themes of perseverance, resilience and staying true to yourself.

Verdict: More than just a sporting memoir, this is an honest account of resilience, leadership and life beyond football.

Whether you’re fascinated by famous lives, inspired by people overcoming incredible odds or simply love true stories that leave a lasting impression, these six books prove that real life can be every bit as compelling as fiction. They celebrate courage in many forms, reminding us that some of the most extraordinary stories are the ones that have truly been lived.