It’s time to start making summer reading lists and I’m craving stories about women.
A couple weeks ago I wrote about how most women and girls were raised on stories about men, for men, in “They force fed us stories about men. Now we listen to Taylor Swift.” And readers and commenters agreed that we have been loving stories, art, and music by women that center the female experience.
So what female-forward stories and books have given you life lately? What is in your reading stack for this summer ?
To get us started, reader @bridcro suggested these from her female-forward recent faves: Monsters by Claire Dederer, In the Dream House by Carmen Marie Machado, Dyscalculia by Camongne Felix, Lessons for Survival by Emily Raboteau.
I’m also wondering how many of us have read it need to revisit Sylvia Plath!
I was introduced to practically zero feminist texts until I was in grad school and found it SO exciting, but it’s been years and I’m surprised how many people were never assigned it or got the chance.
Thanks for sharing these!! Also hugely recommend the very long but devastating Plath bio Red Comet by Heather Clark. I’m still thinking about it, a year after reading.
All Fours, Miranda July is my current read. Also Dear Edna Sloane by Amy Shearn is on my list along with American Woman (about First Ladies) by Katie Rogers. And Hacks on Max is so good.
Well, anything Nora Roberts really. There’s a few dude-centric, but they are always evolved men that treat the women in the story with kindness and respect.
📚 Glow In The Fcking Dark - Tara Schuster
📚Extraordinary Women in History - Leah Gail
📚When Women Ruled the World - Kara Cooney
📚 The Middle Finger Project - Ash Ambirge
📚 Witch Please - Ann Aguirre
📚 Love on the Brain - Ali Hazelwood
📚 Not the Witch You Wed - April Asher
I’ve collected a bunch of women centric books for my Rebel Soul Sisterhood community.
Thx for this great list!! And one of my very best friends is a book editor who has edited many big romance authors and points out that it is the original genre for and about women !
I don’t even know all of them but you can find her @shaunalinka on Instagram where she highlights her authors and titles, and I know she works w Debbie Macomber!
i have a book rec newsletter and its almost all books written by women and/or female protagonists... not even really on purpose just because that is what I gravitate towards. I hope this summer everyone is reading "Margo's got money troubles" and "I hope this finds you well". Superb writing and character driven stories that are funny, smart as hell and contain a full spectrum of emotion.
- Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor & also her Binti series are very badass. Even if you aren't a sci-fi person (I didn't consider myself to be) they are feminist reimaginings from an African perspective.
- Circe by Madeline Miller is fabulous
- Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth lesser is a good accessible dive into this whole topic of who is the story teller and from what perspective stories have historically been told.
- Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes is a classic. She reads her own books and she's great to listen to.
To get us started, reader @bridcro suggested these from her female-forward recent faves: Monsters by Claire Dederer, In the Dream House by Carmen Marie Machado, Dyscalculia by Camongne Felix, Lessons for Survival by Emily Raboteau.
Monsters is top of my list rn!
I’m also wondering how many of us have read it need to revisit Sylvia Plath!
I was introduced to practically zero feminist texts until I was in grad school and found it SO exciting, but it’s been years and I’m surprised how many people were never assigned it or got the chance.
Thanks for sharing these!! Also hugely recommend the very long but devastating Plath bio Red Comet by Heather Clark. I’m still thinking about it, a year after reading.
Sounds wonderful and maybe a great partner read with The Bell Jar...
I'm visiting, not revisiting, Sylvia Plath...The Bell Jar. Can't wait to read it.
Yes! I have been wondering how many of us need to read this for the first time or re-read.
I feel reading this w a group of women would fill a hole in my education and my heart!
All Fours, Miranda July is my current read. Also Dear Edna Sloane by Amy Shearn is on my list along with American Woman (about First Ladies) by Katie Rogers. And Hacks on Max is so good.
dear edna sloane is terrific!
Hacks is the best!
Yes! All Fours is also on my list and so is @amyshearn!
Yellowface by R Khuang!
TY I’ve had several people mention this one!
📚 Nora Roberts new “Becoming” series.
Well, anything Nora Roberts really. There’s a few dude-centric, but they are always evolved men that treat the women in the story with kindness and respect.
📚 Glow In The Fcking Dark - Tara Schuster
📚Extraordinary Women in History - Leah Gail
📚When Women Ruled the World - Kara Cooney
📚 The Middle Finger Project - Ash Ambirge
📚 Witch Please - Ann Aguirre
📚 Love on the Brain - Ali Hazelwood
📚 Not the Witch You Wed - April Asher
I’ve collected a bunch of women centric books for my Rebel Soul Sisterhood community.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2SHIUB3RH7JSP?ref_=wl_share
Thx for this great list!! And one of my very best friends is a book editor who has edited many big romance authors and points out that it is the original genre for and about women !
Ooooooooo!!! Please list all of them! 🥰😁
I don’t even know all of them but you can find her @shaunalinka on Instagram where she highlights her authors and titles, and I know she works w Debbie Macomber!
Also My Work by Olga Raven was recommended to me. I have a post on my Substack on my favorite reads in motherhood. Will share here
Ooh thx I have not heard of this one!
The Island of Sea Women - Lisa See
The Book of Longings - Sue Monk Kidd
The Invention of Wings - Sue Monk Kidd
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (classic!)
The Hiding Place - Corrie ten Boom
When Women Ruled The World - Kara Cooney
Invisible Women - Caroline Criado Pérez
The Moment of Lift - Melinda Gates
The Girl With The Louding Voice - Abi Daré
I Am Malala - Malala Yousafzai
Recents-
Desert Chrome by Kathryn Wilder
Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
Mist by Louise M Hewett
The Serpent and the Goddess by Mary Condren
Weyward by Emilia Hart
Next up-
Salt Houses by Hala Alyan
These are some good ones that I have not heard of! Good mix of fiction and non, too. Thank you!
Kate Quinn’s books, especially Diamond Eye and The Huntress. And The House on Mango Street. And Tiny Beautiful Things.
The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza: this was a great read. Super fun. Quick and the perfect pool or vacation read.
This is what I want for summer!
It is the absolute perfect summer book!
I’ve just read Prima Facie by Suzie Miller ( based on her one woman play )
I consider it a must read!!
Oooh thank you, I had not heard of this one!
i have a book rec newsletter and its almost all books written by women and/or female protagonists... not even really on purpose just because that is what I gravitate towards. I hope this summer everyone is reading "Margo's got money troubles" and "I hope this finds you well". Superb writing and character driven stories that are funny, smart as hell and contain a full spectrum of emotion.
Oohhh thx so much for this, and did you add your newsletter?
ooops! https://therollingladder.substack.com/
Thx love the name :)
thanks!
- Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor & also her Binti series are very badass. Even if you aren't a sci-fi person (I didn't consider myself to be) they are feminist reimaginings from an African perspective.
- Circe by Madeline Miller is fabulous
- Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth lesser is a good accessible dive into this whole topic of who is the story teller and from what perspective stories have historically been told.
- Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes is a classic. She reads her own books and she's great to listen to.
oh cassandra speaks looks incredible! thanks for the heads up
Circe is on my list, and I have not heard of this first one and it sounds amazing. Thanks for these!!
https://cindyditiberio.substack.com/p/book-report
Love the last two as well! Have not read the first two, thx for recs 😀