Summer is the season when many of us catch up on our reading. Although September is just around the corner, there’s still time to discover some of the best disability-themed books of 2025. Here are some you won’t want to miss.
“Hunchback”
By Saou Ichikawa, English translation by Polly Barton (Hogarth; March 18, 2025)
“Hunchback,” the debut novella by disabled author Saou Ichikawa, tells the story of a disabled woman who lives in a group home outside of Tokyo. The novella, which won the Akutagawa Prize, Japan’s most prestigious literary award, and is longlisted for the International Booker Prize, explores themes of sexuality, power, and loneliness, as it challenges widely-held stereotypes about disability.
“Unseen: How I Lost My Vision but Found My Voice”
By Molly Burke (Abrams Press, due out Sept. 23, 2025)
In her new memoir due out in September, disability advocate and YouTube influencer Molly Burke shares her first-hand experience of going blind. The memoir also deals with issues such as bullying, identity-building, resilience and empowerment in a society that frequently ignores the needs and even the existence of people with disabilities.
“Take Care: A Memoir of Love, Family & Never Giving Up”
By Lindsey Burrow (Penguin, February 27, 2025)
English rugby star Rob Burrow died of motor neuron disease in June 2024. “Take Care,” his wife Lindsey Burrow’s memoir about her late husband and his illness, was released in February 2025. The book, which contains a foreword by Prince William, is a deeply felt work that brings awareness to terminal illness, caregiving, familial love and the nature of grief.
“One Day at a Time”
By Jordan Ablett with Ellen Whinnett (HarperCollins, April 2, 2025)
Another memoir, “One Day at a Time,” chronicles the author’s journey mothering her son, who was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease. The book provides an honest look at what it’s like to care for a loved one with a serious illness and should be helpful to other families experiencing similar challenges.
“Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girl’s Guide to Life”
By Frances Ryan (Penguin, April 17, 2025)
Frances Ryan’s newest book combines advice, memoir and activism as it portrays the lives of disabled women in the United Kingdom. The book explores topics from dating and beauty to work and politics, while confronting stigma and celebrating disability culture.
“Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World”
By Jessica Slice (Beacon Press, April 15, 2025)
Jessica Slice’s new memoir explores the little-studied experience of being a disabled parent in a society that discriminates against them. The New Yorker calls this book, “A beautiful, transformative book about being a parent in a world that rejects frailty and weakness.”
