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Books - Perfect Bound, Self-publishing Posted by Ann O'Brien on 03/05/2025

Looking to write women’s nonfiction books? Women have always been avid readers. They buy books, borrow books, and talk about them with their friends. They form and join book clubs. Women’s nonfiction books offer advice on life, relationships, and spiritual connection. Others teach women to cook, decorate, or learn new crafts. If you want to write women’s nonfiction books, you’re entering a lively and lucrative market.

There’s a Big Market for Women’s Nonfiction Books

Here are some interesting statistics about women and book buying:

• Women make 64% of all book purchases.
• More than 10% of women read 30 or more books a year—compared to 5% of men.
• Women are more likely than men to have read a book in the past year.
• Over 4 million new books are published every year.
• The most popular women’s nonfiction books are memoir, religion/spirituality, and self-help.

As you can see, women make up a large part of the massive book-buying public. Women’s nonfiction books are sure to find buyers ready to be inspired and engaged.

What Should You Write About?

There are many topics under the women’s nonfiction category. While some may be more popular than others, don’t think you have to choose a subcategory just because it’s currently hot. For one thing, you can’t predict when or if trends in publishing will change. Second, if you force yourself to write about something you don’t really care about, the writing process will be a drag.

Finally, when you write a nonfiction book—unlike a fiction book—your background and expertise matter. Readers don’t want to read a nonfiction book by someone with no relevant experience in the subject. The same is true of women’s nonfiction books.

Popular Subcategories of Women’s Nonfiction Books

What’s the bottom line? When choosing a topic to write about, it’s smart to choose something that fits your experience. You’ll enjoy the writing experience more, and your enthusiasm will show through in your writing.

Here are some popular women’s nonfiction books categories that women are snapping up online, in bookstores, and at the library. You are sure to find your niche among them.

Spiritual and Religious Women’s Nonfiction Books

This is a huge category that includes faith-based writers and those who outline a more spiritual, enlightened lifestyle. Here are some top current sellers in this category of women’s nonfiction books.

• The Awakened Way: Making the Shift to a Divinely Guided Life by Suzanne Geisman. In this book, teacher Suzanne Giesemann lays out a path blending ancient wisdom, modern psychology, and practical steps to help us shift to living more spiritually.
• Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott. In this collection of essays, top-selling fiction and memoir writer Lamott shares the ways love in all its forms can transform us. Lamott became a Christian relatively late in life, and she puts her trademark humor into every story.
• Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided by Times by Gregory Boyle. Boyle is a Jesuit priest who works to help rehabilitate gang members in Los Angeles. In this book, he invites readers to share his message of togetherness and spiritual strength.

Biography

Women enjoy reading biographies. They want to know all the details about their favorite authors, artists, politicians, and other noteworthy people. A well-written biography offers a glimpse of history and reveals intriguing information about the book’s subject. Here are some top biographies.

• King: A Life by Jonathan Eig. This biography of Martin Luther King won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize and was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Critic Circles Award. This is an example of a book that breaks new ground while covering a well-known subject.
• Traces of Enayat by Iman Mersal, translated by Robin Moger. This book traces the author’s attempt to piece together the life story of Egyptian writer Enayal al-Zayyat, who took her own life at 27.

Career Success

Men aren’t the only ones who read business books. Women in the workplace also turn to experts for guidance on getting ahead and making the most of their opportunities. Here are some current top sellers among nonfiction books for women.

• I Wish I’d Known This: 6 Career-Accelerating Secrets for Women Leaders by Brenda Wensil and Kathryn Heath. This book helps women uncover what the authors call the “six blind spots” that keep women from achieving their full potential at work.
• Career Forward: Strategies from Women Who’ve Made It by Grace Puma and Christiana Smith Shi. Written by two women who became leaders at large multinational companies, this guide offers insight and advice on getting the most from your career journey.

Homemaking

Whether you’re a pro like Martha Stewart—the original domestic goddess—or someone with a basement full of your own canned produce, you may have something to say about creating a cleaner, better functioning, or a more beautiful home. These women’s nonfiction books offer practical advice on decorating, cooking, gardening, and creating a warm, cozy home.

• Gather at Home: Over 100 Simple Recipes, DIYs, and Inspiration for a Year of Occasions by Monika Hibbs. This large, beautifully illustrated book offers dozens of recipes, crafts, and projects to help make every gathering special.
• The Perfect Room: Timeless Designs for Intentional Living by Marie Flanagan. In this guide, readers learn how to get the perfect balance of form and function in every room. She also offers tips for choosing the right colors and textiles.

Memoir

Memoirs can be big sellers, especially if they’re written by celebrities.

• In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face-to-Face with the Idea of an Afterlife by Sebastian Junger. The award-winning journalist and best-selling author of The Perfect Storm shares an account of a sudden, nearly fatal illness he faced. The author, previously an atheist, began to question his own strictly rational approach to life and death.
• Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten. The much-beloved chef, store owner, and star of the Barefoot Contessa TV show shares the intimate story of her life.
• What I Ate in One Year (and Related Thoughts) by Stanley Tucci. The actor—known for his roles in The Hunger Games, The Devil Wears Prada, and countless others—offers his thoughts on food, family, and life by reflecting on all his meals over a year.

Memoir is a difficult subcategory—as you can see, these authors are already celebrities or well-known, successful authors already. If you’re an unknown writer, your memoir may be a tough sell.

Marriage and Relationships

Relationships are important to women. They are always eager to buy books that help them foster better relationships with their loved ones. Here are some recent women’s nonfiction books that are getting a lot of attention.

• Embrace, Empower, Evolve: A Practical Guide to Embracing Change, Empowering Growth, and Evolving into Your True Self by Kendra Cooke. If you feel disconnected from the life and love you want, this book will help you achieve your dreams.
• Feeling Seen: Reconnecting in a Disconnected World by Jody Carrington. A psychologist gives us simple tips for reconnecting with others by taking small, simple steps that help others feel seen.
• The Love Prescription: Seven Days to More Intimacy, Connection, and Joy by John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman. The relationship experts offer an easy-to-do prescription for transforming your marriage in just one week.

Best Publishing Options for Women’s Nonfiction Books

• Traditional publishing with a large publishing house: With a traditional publisher, you won’t have to worry about marketing, promotion, or production costs. In exchange for this, the publisher gets most of the royalties. Traditional publishing is highly competitive, and the chance of rejection is high.
• Traditional publishing with a small, independent publisher: A small publisher may not have the big budget of a commercial company, but they often have personalized service and a stronger interest in first-time writers.
• Independent self-publishing: This allows you total artistic, marketing, design, and editorial control. You also get all your royalties. However, you must cover all the costs of producing and marketing your book.
• Hybrid publishing: An emerging type of publishing, this is also known as author-assisted publishing or partnership publishing. In this arrangement, the publisher and author share the costs of printing and promotion. The publisher still controls the book design and promotion. In exchange, the author gets higher royalties than with a traditional publisher.

Find Success with Nonfiction Books for Women

Women are avid readers and book buyers. They appreciate books that speak directly to their concerns and interests. If you want to write women’s nonfiction books, any of these categories will be an excellent choice. When you’re ready to publish your book, contact the experts at Dazzle Printing.