Being a female entrepreneur is hard, whether you’re on a solo journey or with a partner. It’s challenging, takes a great amount of time and focus and is hard for people to understand if they aren’t on the same path. Lucky for us, there are some fabulous and inspiring books by women who have already navigated the path for us, offering advice and real life insights into their journey.

Here’s our pick of the 5 books every female entrepreneur needs to read.

Australia’s 50 Influential Women By Jo Burston

This book is great for established or budding female entrepreneurs. Fifty of Australia’s leading women entrepreneurs share deeply personal stories about the challenges and opportunities they have experienced while starting and growing their businesses. Entrepreneurs featured include Megan Quinn, the co-founder of Net-A-Porter, Jodie Fox, the founder of Shoes of Prey, and Jan Owen, the CEO of Foundation for Young Australians.

Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead, by Sheryl Sandberg

This is an iconic book that changed the workplace conversation around women, so it had to make the list. This book continues the conversation around how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment, and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women both in the workplace and at home.

Ready To Soar by Naomi Simson

This is a great book if you’re looking to start a business. It will teach you how to go into your new venture with eyes wide open and how to take your idea and turn it into a reality. Naomi shows you how to avoid the pitfalls that many start-up businesses make, formulate your ideas, make plans and develop your individual roadmap for success.

Girl Code: Unlocking the Secrets to Success, Sanity, and Happiness for the Female Entrepreneur by Cara Alwill Leyba

Girl Code is a roadmap for female entrepreneurs and teaches us how to build confidence in ourselves and the power of connection. “Something dynamic happens when women genuinely show up for each other. When we lose the facades, cut the bullsh*t, and truly have each other’s backs. When we stop pretending everything is perfect, and show the messy, beautiful parts of ourselves and our work—which all look awfully similar. When we talk about our fears, our missteps, and our breakdowns. And most importantly, when we share our celebrations, our breakthroughs, and our solutions.”

Daring and Disruptive – Lisa Messenger

Lisa Messenger is the vibrant, game-changing founder and CEO of Collective Hub. Daring and Disruptive is an insightful and soulful account of the entrepreneur’s roller-coaster ride for those who want to make the impossible possible and the ordinary extraordinary. This book will help you dig deep, stay on purpose, back yourself, be true to your ideas, and ensure that if you’re thrown to the wolves, you’ll have the strength to come out leading the pack.

These reads will keep you motivated and inspired and help you on the path to being the female entrepreneur you want to be!