11 Inspiring Female Coming of Age Stories

From Jane Austen to Roxane Gay, these inspiring stories prove that you are never too old to find yourself.

By Cailey Hall | Updated Jan 27, 2020 | Published Mar 4, 2016

woman reading a book on a bench

I capture the castle, a female coming of age book by dodie smith

I Capture the Castle

By Dodie Smith

I capture the castle, a female coming of age book by dodie smith

My Brilliant Friend

My Brilliant Friend

By Elena Ferrante

My Brilliant Friend

Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre

By Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre

aurora leigh, a female coming of age story by elizabeth barrett-browning

Aurora Leigh

By Elizabeth Barrett-Browning

aurora leigh, a female coming of age story by elizabeth barrett-browning

bad feminist by roxane gay, a nonfiction female coming of age book

Bad Feminist

By Roxane Gay

bad feminist by roxane gay, a nonfiction female coming of age book

Yes! I also want to get The Reader newsletter features book recommendations and giveaways.

Northanger Abbey

Northanger Abbey

By Jane Austen

Northanger Abbey

Evelina

Evelina

By Fanny Burney

Evelina

like water for chocolate, a female coming of age story by laura esquivel

Like Water for Chocolate

By Laura Esquivel

like water for chocolate, a female coming of age story by laura esquivel

to kill a mockingbird by harper lee, an iconic 1960s book

To Kill a Mockingbird

By Harper Lee

to kill a mockingbird by harper lee, an iconic 1960s book

How I Grew

How I Grew

By Mary McCarthy

How I Grew

Little Women

Little Women

By Louisa May Alcott

Little Women

Yes! I also want to get The Reader newsletter features book recommendations and giveaways.

literary fiction

Coming of Age Books