Abby Wambach Books in Order

How to Choose Your Starting Point

Abby Wambach’s bibliography is composed entirely of non-fiction works that range from deeply personal autobiographies to motivational leadership guidebooks. Because her books do not follow a narrative fiction continuity, readers can technically jump in anywhere. However, following a specific order will help you appreciate how her personal struggles on and off the soccer field directly shaped her modern advocacy and collective-leadership philosophy.

We recommend starting with her raw, unfiltered memoir, Forward, before moving on to her leadership manifesto, WOLFPACK. This pathway ensures you understand the personal vulnerabilities, failures, and triumphs that inspired her famous rules for leadership. If you are reading alongside younger audiences, you can swap the standard editions for her tailored Young Readers versions, which adapt these same core themes for a younger demographic.

Recommended Reading Path: Step-by-Step

For the most rewarding experience, read Abby Wambach's books in this sequence:

• Step 1: Forward: A Memoir (2016) – Start here to understand the person behind the athlete. This memoir covers her childhood as the youngest of seven siblings, her rise in international soccer, her battle with prescription drug and alcohol addiction, and her journey toward self-acceptance.
• Step 2: WOLFPACK (2019) – Move here next. Born out of her viral 2018 commencement speech at Barnard College, this book serves as a tactical guide for women to reclaim their power, support one another, and rewrite the rules of leadership.
• Step 3: We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions (2025) – Conclude with this co-authored guide. Written alongside her wife, Glennon Doyle, and Amanda Doyle, it synthesizes the wisdom from their popular podcast into a practical handbook for navigating life’s major challenges.

Complete Bibliography in Publication Order

For readers who prefer to read books exactly when they were released to see Wambach's voice evolve in real-time, here is the complete publication order of her works, including adaptations and co-authored titles:

1. Forward: A Memoir (September 2016)
2. Forward: My Story (Young Readers' Edition) (September 2016)
3. WOLFPACK: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game (April 2019)
4. WOLFPACK (Young Readers Edition) (October 2020)
5. We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions (Co-authored with Glennon Doyle and Amanda Doyle) (May 2025)

Deep Dive: Abby Wambach’s Books

Forward: A Memoir (2016)

Published shortly after her retirement from professional soccer, Forward is not a standard sports memoir focused solely on highlights and medals. Instead, Wambach delivers a vulnerable account of her struggles with identity, the pressure of maintaining a public persona, and her secret battles with substance abuse. The book serves as a foundation for all of her later work, showing readers that true strength begins with honesty and self-acceptance.

Forward: My Story (Young Readers' Edition) (2016)

Released simultaneously with her adult memoir, this edition is specifically adapted for middle-grade readers and young adults. It focuses heavily on themes of perseverance, handling pressure, sportsmanship, and staying true to oneself. It removes mature content regarding substance abuse and relationship struggles, focusing instead on her athletic journey and personal growth, making it an excellent resource for young athletes.

WOLFPACK (2019)

Wambach’s second book is a brief, high-impact guide inspired by her 2018 Barnard College commencement address. In it, she uses the metaphor of the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park—which healed the ecosystem from the ground up—to illustrate how women can transform society by uniting and leading together. She details eight "new rules" for women to live by, such as demanding what they deserve, turning failure into fuel, and actively supporting other women instead of competing against them.

WOLFPACK (Young Readers Edition) (2020)

This version adapts the empowering message of the original bestseller for young girls and teens. It provides age-appropriate anecdotes and activities designed to help younger readers identify their strengths, build supportive friend groups (their "packs"), and challenge gender stereotypes in school, sports, and social spaces.

We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions (2025)

Co-authored with Glennon Doyle and Amanda Doyle, this book represents a collaborative extension of Wambach's philosophy. Drawing from their hit podcast, the authors answer twenty of the most pressing questions sent in by their community. The book addresses topics like navigating boundaries, handling grief, embracing change, and finding joy amidst life’s difficulties, offering practical advice and personal anecdotes from all three authors.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into Abby Wambach's books, it is helpful to keep a few contextual points in mind:

• The Podcast Connection: Her 2025 book is deeply tied to the weekly podcast We Can Do Hard Things, hosted by Glennon Doyle. Listening to the show can provide excellent companion context, as Wambach is a regular co-host and frequently discusses the themes of boundaries and recovery found in her books.
• Crossover with Glennon Doyle's Works: If you enjoy Wambach’s books, her memoirs and philosophies heavily overlap with Glennon Doyle's bestsellers, particularly Untamed. Reading both authors gives a complete picture of their shared family life and individual paths to self-discovery.
• Standalone Nature: Every book is self-contained. You do not need to read Forward to understand Wolfpack, but doing so provides the emotional backstory of the woman who wrote those leadership rules.