🍸 Book Review: Two Women Walk into a Bar by Cheryl Strayed (Kindle Edition, Amazon Original Stories)
A poignant, funny, and emotionally layered memoir about love, loss, and the complicated beauty of family—Cheryl Strayed delivers a short but powerful reflection on her relationship with her mother-in-law, Joan.
🧠 Overview
Published in January 2024, Two Women Walk into a Bar is a 31-page Kindle Original by Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things. This essay-style memoir is part of the Amazon Original Stories series and explores Strayed’s evolving relationship with her mother-in-law over two decades—from their awkward first meeting in a bar to the intimate final days of Joan’s life.
Strayed reflects on the emotional distance, misunderstandings, and moments of connection that shaped their bond, ultimately finding grace and healing in goodbye.
✨ Key Themes & Highlights
- 👩👩👦 Family complexity: Strayed doesn’t sugarcoat the tension between her and Joan, but she honors the love that grew between them
- 🛏️ End-of-life care: The story captures the emotional weight of caring for a loved one in their final days
- 💬 Humor and honesty: Strayed’s voice is candid and warm, balancing grief with wit and compassion
- 🧠 Reflection and growth: The essay explores how time and empathy can transform even the most difficult relationships
“They were not easy friends, but they found their way to loving each other regardless.” — Liralen liest review
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: 4.04/5 from over 21,000 ratings
- 📖 Readers praise the story’s emotional depth, relatable tone, and Strayed’s lyrical writing
- 🧾 Many found it a moving meditation on family, grief, and reconciliation
- 💬 “A lot of complication here, and a lot of compassion… I’d read a full novel about a character based on Joan.” — Liralen liest review
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At 31 pages, it’s a quick read—best approached as a memoir vignette
- 📚 Personal narrative: Focuses on emotional truth rather than plot or action
- 🧾 Best for memoir lovers: Especially resonant for fans of Strayed’s previous work or those navigating complex family dynamics
🏁 Final Verdict
Two Women Walk into a Bar is a tender and beautifully written memoir that captures the nuance of familial love and the grace found in final farewells. Cheryl Strayed’s storytelling is honest, heartfelt, and quietly powerful—perfect for readers who appreciate emotional depth and reflective prose.
