From red carpets to royal roles, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is known for commanding the spotlight. But when she’s not making waves onscreen, she’s curled up with books that are just as bold, emotional, and complex as she is. Her 2025 reading list reflects a woman deeply rooted in identity, strength, healing, and unapologetic storytelling.
Whether she’s reading about mythological queens or writing her own story, Priyanka’s picks are powerful reminders that literature is one of the fiercest ways we claim our voice. If you’re looking for reads that stir your soul, embrace vulnerability, and ignite feminine power, you’ll want to start here.
Amnesty by Aravind Adiga
Category: Literary Fiction, Immigration, Moral Dilemmas
What It’s About
Amnesty follows Danny, an undocumented Sri Lankan immigrant living in Sydney, who finds himself entangled in a moral crisis after discovering a murder tied to his former employer.
The novel unfolds in a single day, as Danny wrestles with whether to report what he knows—risking deportation—or stay silent. It’s a sharp, urgent, and often darkly funny reflection on morality, identity, and the invisible lives of migrants.
Why You Should Read It
This is fiction with real-world weight. Adiga tackles immigration and legality not as distant policies, but as intensely personal, life-altering questions. His storytelling is fast-paced, layered with irony, and emotionally charged.
You’ll leave the book with your perspective cracked open—and that’s the mark of powerful literature.
Priyanka’s Take
Priyanka has praised Adiga’s tone and storytelling, saying:
“He’s so clever in his writing, and he’s humorous and sarcastic and dark, but at the same time has a very fast-paced sense of storytelling… This book makes you think about refugees around the world, their lives and their choices.”
Clearly, Amnesty resonated with her as a story that brings the unseen into focus. It fits right into her bookshelf of books that hold space for complexity and compassion.
Get Book: Amnesty by Aravind Adiga!Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed
Category: Memoir, Self-Help, Advice Column
What It’s About
This stunning collection of real-life advice columns—originally written under the pseudonym “Sugar”—is part memoir, part love letter to the messy human experience. Cheryl Strayed brings tenderness, wisdom, and raw honesty to readers’ questions about heartbreak, grief, shame, love, and everything in between.
Each letter-response feels like a gentle gut-punch—compassionate yet unflinching, poetic yet practical. Strayed doesn’t offer one-size-fits-all advice; she offers truth-telling rooted in empathy and lived experience.
Why You Should Read It
Think of this book as a warm hug and a wake-up call rolled into one. It’s for the nights when you’re spiraling and need someone to remind you that your story still matters. It’ll break your heart and then quietly show you how to stitch it back together.
Whether you’re healing, rebuilding, or just holding on, Tiny Beautiful Things delivers the kind of soul food that lingers long after the last page.
Priyanka’s Take
Though Priyanka hasn’t commented directly on this title, its themes of resilience, emotional depth, and inner strength mirror the advice she often shares with her audience—especially young women navigating chaos with courage. This is the book you turn to when you want honesty, not sugarcoating.
Image Source- BBC NEWS
Get Book: Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed!Unfinished by Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Category: Memoir, Celebrity Autobiography, Identity & Purpose
What It’s About
In Unfinished, Priyanka opens the door to her life—on her terms. From her childhood in India to becoming a global star, this memoir offers more than name drops or glamorous snapshots. It’s a vulnerable, reflective journey through the struggles of navigating culture, ambition, grief, and fame.
She shares stories of moving between continents, working her way through the pageant world, dealing with rejection in Hollywood, and honoring the memory of her father—a grounding force in her life. It’s as much about transformation as it is about self-definition.
Why You Should Read It
If you’ve ever felt pulled between worlds, dreamed big while carrying your roots, or fought to define yourself beyond labels, Unfinished will speak directly to you. It’s raw, inspiring, and surprisingly down-to-earth.
Chopra’s narrative proves that even global icons wrestle with insecurity, heartbreak, and imposter syndrome—but what sets them apart is the courage to keep evolving.
Priyanka’s Take
Naturally, this is her own story. But what makes Unfinished so resonant is Priyanka’s decision to write it while still living the middle chapters.
She’s said,
Get Book: Unfinished by Priyanka Chopra Jonas!“This book is not about a finished journey. It’s about the unfinished moments that have shaped who I am today.” It’s not a “look what I’ve achieved” memoir—it’s “here’s how I survived and what I’m still learning.”
Letters from a Father to His Daughter by Jawaharlal Nehru
Category: Nonfiction, History, Politics, Parenting
What It’s About
Written in 1928 by Jawaharlal Nehru—India’s first Prime Minister—this collection of 30 letters was addressed to his ten-year-old daughter, Indira Gandhi (who would later become India’s first female Prime Minister). Each letter unpacks the story of civilization, science, and global history, not with political overtones, but with a father’s love and a teacher’s curiosity.
Nehru gently guides young Indira through subjects like evolution, nature, ancient civilizations, and the workings of the world—all in a tone that’s thoughtful, nurturing, and remarkably progressive for its time.
Why You Should Read It
This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a model for raising informed, compassionate leaders. The letters are readable and wise, perfect for adults and young readers alike. You’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for how ideas, empathy, and knowledge are passed from one generation to the next.
It’s a reminder that education doesn’t always come from textbooks—but from conversations that matter.
Priyanka’s Take
Priyanka has a deep personal connection to this book. She’s said:
“It’s basically 30 essays that [Nehru] has written to his daughter telling her about the world and how the world was formed, shaping her worldview. And I remember as a young kid, I was so fascinated to read all of that.”
The book touched her not just as a reader, but as a daughter shaped by a powerful bond with her own father. It’s no surprise this one made her list—it’s thoughtful, tender, and unapologetically intellectual—just like Priyanka herself.
Get Book: Letters from a Father to His Daughter by Jawaharlal Nehru!Becoming by Michelle Obama
Category: Memoir, Feminism, Personal Growth
What It’s About
Part coming-of-age story, part behind-the-scenes chronicle of White House life, Becoming traces Michelle Obama’s evolution from the South Side of Chicago to the global stage as First Lady of the United States.
It’s a deeply human look at ambition, marriage, motherhood, and the pressures of being a Black woman in the public eye. With candid honesty, Michelle details her internal battles, career pivots, and hard-won confidence in a system not built for her success.
Why You Should Read It
Because it’s a masterclass in grace, grit, and grounded leadership. Michelle Obama doesn’t sugarcoat her story. She shows how resilience, values, and community can shape a life of meaning. If you’ve ever struggled to find your place in the world or questioned if you’re “enough,” Becoming will speak to your soul.
It’s not just inspiring—it’s transformational.
Priyanka’s Take
Priyanka gushed over the book’s emotional power, saying:
“The storytelling is extremely vivid, which I love. It’s about how she becomes the woman that she is… It feels like a Cinderella story, but she gives that perspective of the hardships, trials and tribulations that she had to go through.”
It’s clear that Priyanka sees Michelle’s journey not just as aspirational—but relatable. Two powerhouse women from vastly different backgrounds, both rewriting what success looks like.
Get Book: Becoming by Michelle Obama!Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Category: Historical Fiction, Generational Saga, African Diaspora
What It’s About
Homegoing begins with two half-sisters in 18th-century Ghana—Effia, who is married off to a British colonizer, and Esi, who is sold into slavery and shipped to America. The story then spans over 300 years, tracing the lives of their descendants across continents, capturing the enduring legacy of slavery, colonialism, trauma, and resilience.
Each chapter introduces a new character in the lineage, yet all are woven together by shared blood, inherited pain, and a search for identity.
Why You Should Read It
Gyasi’s debut is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s one of those rare books that not only teaches you history—but makes you feel it. It forces you to reckon with the systems that shaped our world while spotlighting the people who survived, adapted, and found moments of love amid devastation.
It’s epic in scope, intimate in detail, and impossible to forget.
Priyanka’s Take
This novel deeply resonated with Priyanka, who reflected:
“It has a commentary on family, it has a commentary on the slave trade and what that did. It has a commentary on being a Black woman in America today… And it really makes you think about life and the privileges that come along with it. What is destined for you and what are the choices you make that change your destiny.”
Her words speak to the novel’s emotional and philosophical power—it’s not just about ancestry, it’s about agency. Homegoing is the kind of book that leaves you quiet for a while, sitting with all it just unearthed.
Get Book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi!Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Category: Children’s Literature, Animal Rights, Coming-of-Age
What It’s About
Told from the perspective of a horse, Black Beauty is a timeless classic about empathy, kindness, and the cruelty of injustice. The novel follows the life of a black stallion who, after being raised in comfort, is sold into a string of increasingly harsh environments—witnessing the best and worst of human behavior.
Though originally written as a plea for humane treatment of animals, the story endures as a metaphor for how we treat those without a voice.
Why You Should Read It
This isn’t just a childhood favorite—it’s an emotional education. It teaches readers young and old about dignity, compassion, and survival through hardship.
For animal lovers, justice-seekers, or anyone who remembers being moved by stories at a young age, Black Beauty still gallops straight to the heart.
Priyanka’s Take
Priyanka has called this one of her most memorable childhood reads:
“It’s the story of this black stallion horse, which is raised by a very loving owner and then gets sold into a workforce. As an animal lover, I remember being really, really moved by this book as a kid.”
It’s no surprise she holds onto this one—it shaped her early awareness of justice, empathy, and advocacy, all traits that still echo in her work today.
Get Book: Black Beauty by Anna Sewell!Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Category: Nature Writing, Indigenous Wisdom, Environmental Science
What It’s About
Written by botanist and Potawatomi Nation member Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass weaves together science, spirituality, and Indigenous knowledge into an exploration of humanity’s relationship with nature.
Through essays that blend memoir, ecology, and storytelling, Kimmerer asks us to reconsider not what we can take from the Earth, but what we can give back. It’s a book that feels like a prayer and a protest at once.
Why You Should Read It
It’s rare to find a book that changes how you look at the world—but this one does. Braiding Sweetgrass is lush, lyrical, and deeply rooted in reverence for the Earth. It offers a vision of sustainability that begins with humility and gratitude.
Perfect for readers seeking healing, meaning, or a deeper sense of connection to the land.
Priyanka’s Take
While Priyanka hasn’t spoken at length about this title, its inclusion reflects her growing advocacy for environmental justice and spiritual alignment.
As someone who’s been vocal about respecting ancient traditions and rethinking modern excess, Braiding Sweetgrass aligns beautifully with her worldview: grounded, thoughtful, and guided by more than just science.
Image Source: YAHOO NEWS
Get Book: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer!Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Category: Poetry, Feminism, Trauma & Healing
What It’s About
Rupi Kaur’s debut poetry collection is a raw, minimalist exploration of love, heartbreak, healing, femininity, and survival. Divided into four parts—the hurting, the loving, the breaking, the healing—it’s a journey of self through the lens of a young woman navigating trauma, desire, and empowerment.
Each page delivers a sharp, emotional punch in just a few words, paired with simple line drawings that feel like intimate whispers or urgent screams.
Why You Should Read It
This isn’t your high school poetry unit. Kaur’s writing is direct, emotional, and unfiltered. Milk and Honey is the kind of book you read in one sitting—but carry with you for weeks.
It’s especially empowering for anyone reclaiming their voice after silence, or looking for words that make sense of messy feelings and beautiful pain.
Priyanka’s Take
Priyanka has long expressed admiration for Rupi Kaur’s work, once saying,
Get Book: Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur!“her poems are like mirrors—simple but powerful reflections of what so many women carry.” She’s referenced Kaur’s poems on social media, especially those tied to strength, womanhood, and healing after heartbreak.
The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Category: Mythological Fiction, Feminist Reimaginings, Indian Literature
What It’s About
This stunning retelling of the Indian epic Mahabharata is told from the perspective of Draupadi, the fire-born princess and wife to five Pandava brothers. Through her eyes, we get a rich, emotional, and often heartbreaking view of the events that shaped ancient India—from palace politics to war to divine intervention.
But what makes this version different is the lens. Draupadi isn’t just a mythic figure—she’s a woman with agency, anger, love, ambition, and voice, wrestling with patriarchy, fate, and family.
Why You Should Read It
If you’re drawn to strong, complex female protagonists and stories that challenge traditional narratives, The Palace of Illusions is a must-read. It blends the grandeur of mythology with the intimacy of personal struggle, making the ancient feel vividly modern.
It’s also a fierce reclaiming of a woman’s space in a story that, for centuries, has centered men.
Priyanka’s Take
Priyanka has praised The Palace of Illusions as one of her favorite books, calling it “a beautifully written homage to women in mythology who were always there—but rarely heard.”
Image Source: HARPER’S BAZAAR
It’s no surprise that she’s reportedly expressed interest in bringing it to the screen. Draupadi’s fiery strength clearly mirrors Priyanka’s own: bold, brilliant, and unafraid to question the script.
Get Book: The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni!Final Thoughts
Priyanka Chopra’s 2025 reading list is a powerful reflection of her values—bold, introspective, and deeply rooted in purpose. These books aren’t just stories she enjoyed; they’re windows into the questions she’s asking, the identities she honors, and the wisdom she carries forward.
Whether exploring identity, heritage, healing, or ambition, her bookshelf invites us to read not just for escape—but for connection, growth, and impact.
