Patti Smith's Just Kids is a luminous memoir of her early years in New York City with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, capturing the artistic fervor and bohemian life of 1970s Manhattan. Through intimate portraits and shared dreams, Smith chronicles their struggles, triumphs, and the deep bond between two artists supporting each other through poverty and self-discovery. The memoir becomes a love letter to artistic community and a testament to how friendship can sustain us through our most uncertain years.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Smith writes about Mapplethorpe with such tenderness and honesty that readers feel the depth of their connection. This memoir reminds us that the people who shape us aren't always romantic partners, and that some friendships are more profound than any love story.

DETAILS: • Author: Patti Smith • Publisher: Ecco Press • Format: Paperback & Hardcover • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days