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These 23 books by female authors should be on your reading list
Readers shared their favorite poetry, fiction, and nonfiction books by female writers.
In the literary world, women are coming out on top. They make up a growing share of published (and award-winning) authors, dominate bestseller lists, and are among the most consistent reader audiences. And all this in an industry that wasn’t always so friendly to female writers.
This Women’s History Month, Boston.com celebrated these trailblazing female writers by asking our readers to share their favorite books by women authors. They shared more than a dozen works from the 1920s to present day that moved, inspired, and entertained them.
Among the poetry, nonfiction, and fiction recommendations were writers like Jane Austen, Toni Morrison, Brit Bennett and more. Below you’ll find a list of 23 books written by women that you can read this month — or any day of the year.
Poetry
“We Are Mermaids” by Stephanie Burt
In Stephanie Burt’s new poetry collection, she writes about trans identity, fandom, and community with humor and insight. Polly T. from Jamaica Plain said the collection allows you to “embrace your inner selkie — shed your skin and be comfortable in your seal skin!”
Nonfiction
“Becoming” by Michelle Obama
“This book deeply resonates with me and I am sure it does with others as we delve into an inspiring memoir of a girl from the South Side of Chicago to “becoming” the first lady of the United States,” said Shreya S. from South Boston. “Michelle Obama states that there is power in allowing yourself to be heard and known which holds true for all women.”
“Seabiscuit: An American Legend” by Laura Hillenbrand
“The story of Seabiscuit is well known, but Hillenbrand dives in deep and saves that history for all of us to enjoy. It’s the story of unlikely winners — the underdog, the imperfect, the passed over, the grieving — who all come together in an unimaginable story to bring out the best in each other and win races and the country’s heart. It’s a story of never giving up. It’s one of my favorite books,” said Christine W. from Quincy.
“Straight on Till Morning: The Life of Beryl Markham” by Mary S. Lovell
“The biography of noted British aviator and explorer Beryl Markham, the first pilot to cross the Atlantic West to East. She lived in the “Out of Africa” world of Kenya and East Africa and her adventures are both compelling and sad. This is a book I love to re-read as you live her life and her tragedies,” said Betsey S. from Nantucket.
Fiction
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith
“‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’ is a poignant coming-of-age tale that beautifully captures the struggles and triumphs of a young girl growing up in early 20th-century Brooklyn,” said Dave G. from Andover.
“Barbara the Slut and Other People” by Lauren Holmes
“Candid and incredibly funny, Lauren Holmes writes like a master. She tackles the daily liar with a refreshingly light touch, a keen awareness of the mentality of lowlifes in our society. Her portrayal of a pathological liar doesn’t even bother to think whether others believe her fabrication is just perfect,” said Robyn from Hamilton.
“Beloved” by Toni Morrison
“This novel is most beautifully written and conveys both the personal and systemic tragedy of human enslavement. I once had a student tell me that while he had read numerous accounts of slavery and war in textbooks, nothing made him understand the abject suffering wrought by humans failing to acknowledge humanity,” said Elizabeth B. from Westford.
“Black Panther: World of Wakanda” by Roxane Gay
Novelist and essayist Roxane Gay is also the author of multiple official Black Panther comics. In the first comic of the series, two recruits of the Dora Milaje form a friendship and romance.
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“First of all, [Gay] is a wonderful person who I’ve been lucky enough to meet a few times. She’s kind and intelligent and reaches a wide audience with her rendition of Black Panther,” said Brett C. from Bay Village.
“Death Comes for the Archbishop” by Willa Cather
This classic novel follows a late 19th century Catholic bishop and a priest as they try to establish a diocese in New Mexico Territory. The book, published in 1927, has been named one of the best books of the 20th century by Time, Modern Library, and more. Reader Tatem L. described the writing as “beautiful.”
“Everyday Lies” by Tanya Anne Crosby
Tanya Anne Crosby is the bestselling author of more than two dozen books. This novel centers on Gillian Frazer, a woman who decides to restore to her grandmother’s ranch after facing a failed marriage, stalled career, and a loss of self. In the process, she learns more about her beloved grandmother and the community she was part of.
“Fresh Water for Flowers” by Valérie Perrin
“‘Fresh Water for Flowers’ reminds us that hope lives. The reader is drawn right into the story and the beautiful language used by the author in telling the story makes me wish I could read French!” Celeste H. from Boston said.
“Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell
Maggie O’Farrell’s novel draws on the little-known story behind Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” by focusing on the playwright’s wife. Four years before Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, their eleven-year-old son, Hamnet died of bubonic plague, leaving the mother grief stricken. The novel imagines how the two fell in love and how the loss of a child marked their relationship.
“Lark and Termite” by Jayne Anne Phillips
“I like page-turners as much as anyone, but sometimes it’s nice to read something ambitious and challenging that requires you to meet it halfway. This is a good example of a complex book that requires your full attention, but pays great dividends in return. The way Phillips delves into the psyche of severely handicapped Termite is simply brilliant. Those sections are not a dense stream of consciousness like Faulkner, so much as just an insightful narrative that defies linear storytelling. The fact that they make complete sense in context of the rest of the story is amazing, and helps to cement Phillips as one of our greatest living writers (woman or otherwise),” said Peter from North Shore.
“Mornings in Jenin” by Susan Abulhawa
“Shines a light on an intentionally obscured people from the age-old perspective of humans trying to live and love, in a beautiful prose. I could almost smell the blossoms and feel the olive trees while watching the hauntingly beautiful and tragic story unfold,” said Ayesha from Newton.
“Party of Two” by Jasmine Guillory
Romance fans will love “Party of Two,” the fifth in a series of linked novels from prolific writer Jasmine Guillory. Olivia Monroe meets rising star senator Max Powell, they fall for each other quickly, but it’s not until they go public with their relationship that the cracks begin to show. S.E. Powell from South End described this book as “a page turner.”
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“It was really hard to not continue reading through the night,” they said.
“Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
“This book is a timeless story that is filled with flawed characters who are very realistically portrayed. It’s a great example of kindness and dignity overcoming the barriers people create that blind them to the truth that is right in front of their eyes,” one reader said.
“The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison
“Heart-breaking, beautifully written and a powerful story on how societal pressures can completely destroy innocence,” said Sean E. from Natick.
“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
“The Color Purple is a timeless favorite. Even with all the new productions, the simple way letters tell a story to remind us that hope lives makes it a masterpiece in literature,” said Celeste H. from Boston.
“The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan
This beloved classic follows four Chinese women and their daughters living as new immigrants in San Francisco. The book examines the sometimes complicated relationship between mother and daughter, and the bonds that form between women.
“The Mandelbaum Gate” by Muriel Spark
In this 1965 novel, a young woman journeys through Jerusalem in the midst of conflict to meet with her archeologist fiance in Jordan. To make the journey, she travels with British diplomat Freddy Hamilton, despite the objections of those around her.
“The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri is one of the few writers to win a Pulitzer Prize in fiction for a short story collection. In this reader-recommended novel, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli settle together in Cambridge, Massachusetts after an arranged marriage in Calcutta, India. The book, which follows their journey to becoming American, was called “very real and poignant,” by JP from Needham.
“The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett
“It’s too hard to pick a favorite, but this is one of my favorite books of the last 10 years. It’s a family saga that explores the themes of identity and race. The characters are complex and interesting and are from a variety of walks of life — lots of representation here on a lot of different fronts. Ultimately, just a very well-written story,” said Susanne D. from Jamaica Plain.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
“The book immortalizes those that stand for higher principles in the face of a discomforting environment. Atticus Finch is revered for the stand that he takes for what’s right, even though it is inconvenient to do so. There’s an immeasurable amount of fortitude that one can take away from this novel. The best of us aspire to be Atticus, even though it may prove difficult in extreme circumstances. The childhood innocence of looking at complex structures such as racism and injustice pull people closer to their basic humanity. This book will stand the test of time as a testament to the human spirit!” Riley A. Topsfield said.
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Some responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
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