Read: Six Books for Female Empowerment

See, the world is falling apart.

When I flip through my newsfeed in the morning I'm hit with: terrorism, #BlackLivesMatter, and Donald Trump as the potential leader of the free world. It starts my day with a heavy heart, and a desire to stay under the covers. And yet, despite the serious world issues going on, yesterday, my feed was polluted with a Kardashian and Taylor Swift war? Lord save us all.

If you need a break from the gossip, below are six books written by strong, powerful, bold women to inspire you to tell your story, stand up for what you believe in, and never stay silent on the real issues that matter.

Even if that's taking down the queen of pop in a Snapchat feud. (just kidding - no bullying allowed).

Enjoy! x

1. The MOST of Nora Ephron - Journalist, playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, and director Nora Ephron was a voice for all women, never afraid to speak her mind with a twist of humour on what it takes to love, divorce, eat, age, and be friends with men. This book is a collection of her work - from her novel Heartburn, to the screenplay for When Harry Met Sally (my fave). She's an icon in a turtleneck, and I can't make a list of great women without including her.

2. Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman - Lindy West's collection of essays will make you spit your red wine out from laughing, while shaking your head at the outrageous standards women are held up to. West holds no bars when it comes to talking about her relationship with her body (she's not afraid to use the word fat), online and cyber bullying, and how you don't have to be perfect to have a voice.

3. We Should All Be Feminists - The word feminist is either charged with confusion or confidence. Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, (you may know her from Beyonce's song Flawless) wrote this essay, which was also adapted into a TEDx talk, and now a mini book. It's a quick, but important read on what it means to be a feminist in the 21st century. Buy it for your daughter, son, niece, nephew, best friend, or parent. It doesn't matter your age or gender; we should ALL be feminists.

4. Miracles Now: 108 Life-Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow, and Finding Your True Purpose - I've read a few of Gabrielle Bernstein's books, and her focus is always on turning inward to solve problems outward. It may sound hokey, but through meditation, and listening to your inner guide Bernstein has created a culture around calm. This book, more of a crash course, provides mini snippets and techniques to battle stress, fear, bitterness all through meditation.

5. Not that Kind of Girl - Love or loathe her, Lena Dunham has done more for women than the twelve Disney princesses I grew up worshipping. Not That Kind of Girl is her memoir and collection of essays that range in topic from losing her virginity, to battling anxiety, and how navigating life as a woman, or a young woman is never a one path fits all - but through it, she found a way to create her own narrative with gumption.

6. Year of Yes - Shonda Rhimes is a BOSS. You may know her as the writer, creator, producer and owner of Shondaland, which includes television shows that stream on your screen like Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and Private Practice (RIP). According to Google, she is also worth $60 million, and yet, during all this success, Rhimes was....miserable. The Year of Yes, is her memoir of how she pushed herself to say yes, to things she always said no to. The book is funny, heartfelt, and a wake-up call for anyone who has been sleepwalking through life.