Hello, bookish friends! Today’s post is a list of 13 books you might want to read to honor Women’s History Month. I tried to pick books from different genres, so that there were plenty of options.*
*This post contains affiliate links. If you make purchases after using these links, I will earn a percentage of your purchase without any further cost to you.
March is considered Women’s History Month here in the United States. It’s meant to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women in this country. So this whole list looks to do the same - acknowledge and celebrate women in literature (and the women who write about them). These books appear in no particular order - I think they’re all great, and would recommend any and all of them (although, as always, be aware of any trigger warnings and use your best judgment in determining whether these books are right for you).
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. Will I ever stop talking about this book? Probably not. Do I adore this book? Yes, absolutely. For my full thoughts on this book, see here. But for purposes of this book, know that this novel follows a brilliant PhD student as she deals with grief, mental health issues (especially those of her mother), and struggles with her religious background.
Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Dr. Emily Nagoski. LET’S NORMALIZE WOMEN ENJOYING SEX. I love this book because it approaches female sexuality from a scientific and empathetic perspective, that recognizes the diverse ways in which women have and enjoy sex. I also appreciate that this book recognizes that it specifically discusses matters as they relate to cisgendered women, which serves to both acknowledge trans women and nonbinary folks and to recognize that the sexual health of those populations may differ from the anecdotes and studies referenced in this book.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. In high school, I wrote an essay about why Jane Austen is a hero. And I stand by that assessment. The era in which Jane Austen wrote was one where women had limited options for life and for advancement. And each of her novels explores how the women in her novels explore those boundaries and advocate for themselves in the oppressive systems in which they find themselves.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This young adult novel should be a must-read for everyone. It addresses issues of police brutality and racism in contemporary America, all from the perspective of a Black teenage girl who witnessed the murder of a childhood friend by the police.
Digital Black Feminism by Dr. Catherine Knight Steele. My full thoughts on this book can be found here, but I can think of no better book to explore the contributions of Black women in particular, than this book that traces Black women’s use of technology historically and in their current activist work. I received a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review (link above).
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters. Trans women are women. Full stop. And Peters was the first trans women to be nominated for the Women’s Prize, for a novel that explores the challenges faced by trans folk and the struggles women, both cis and trans, face in contemporary society.
The Collected Schizophrenias by Esme Weijun Wang. Wang’s collection of essays explores her history of mental health diagnoses, and the challenges she faced tied to her family and her life. This book not only presents a study in gender, but also a study in mental health.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hilbert. I’ll be totally honest with you - romance is not my favorite genre (although when I need an absolute comfort read, I will turn to a good ol’ cowboy romance), but I do enjoy the genre from time to time, and Take a Hint, Dani Brown is definitely gold standard when it comes to smart, funny, romance heroines. Throw in some great bisexual representation, and you have the recipe for a fun, cute, witty romance.
A Good GIrl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson. Mystery? Smart female protagonist? Count. Me. In. There is one aspect of this book I didn’t like (DM for details - I don’t really want to include spoilers here), but overall, I enjoyed this YA mystery that follows protagonist Pip as she seeks to solve the mystery of an old murder for her senior project at school.
American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson. Wilkinson’s debut novel is a gritty, literary thriller that follows FBI agent turned spy Marie Miller as she aids in the American effort to ultimately bring down Sankura, the leader of Burkina Faso.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo. Full disclosure - I haven’t finished this literary masterpiece yet, but that is not at all commentary on the novel and 100% the state of mind I was in when I started it. (Pro tip - don’t start books you know you want to love on the day you find out the qualifying exam for the career you’ve been preparing for for years is delayed because of a global pandemic that is also keeping you from your friends, family, and support system. It kinda kills the vibe of an otherwise great book.) But a novel that follows the intertwining fates of numerous women and fems has to be on a list honoring women.
Staying Dead by Laura Anne Gilman. My full review of this book can be found here. Generally speaking, I don’t read much fantasy or much romance. So obviously one of my favorite series of all time combines the two. This series, beginning with Staying Dead follows Wren Valere, general bad ass who begrudgingly fights evil and lives in New York City (my dream city, for sure).
A Whore’s Manifesto: An Anthology of Writing and Artwork by Sex Workers edited by Kay Kassirer. This is a short volume, but it features essays, poetry, and artwork by sex workers (as the title suggests). It humanizes the folks who work in this profession (who are often dehumanized in many other spaces) and provides information about their lives.
What are your favorite books written by women and about women? Share below!
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