Best Women Author Recommendations

“The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”

—Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey, 1818

Historically, women (and people of color) have been sorely underrepresented on many reading lists. To help change that, we're highlighting women authors who more than deserve your attention. 

Discover classic women authors who flew under the radar with male pen names, and re-discover those who broke the mold and dominated their genres (hello, Agatha Christie!) or invented new ones (see: the history of Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein). 

You can also browse books by Black women, by early Irish female writers, or even books by royal women. For more modern and global women’s fiction, we suggest books that pass the Bechdel test, books by Elena Ferrante, and even books by women crime writers. Regardless of what you’re looking for,  all of the recommendations below will add some much-needed feminine perspective to your reading list.

4af56302c502-birdillustration.png

[CLOSED] GIVEAWAY: The Rules of Magic, by Alice Hoffman

Enter for a chance to win the spellbinding prequel to "Practical Magic."

A Bunny's Tale: Gloria Steinem's Shocking Exposé That Challenged Hugh Hefner's Playboy Empire

In “Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions” the journalist shares lessons from her brief stint as a Playboy bunny.

Pride and Prejudice Gets a Modern Makeover in ABC’s Eligible

The TV network has announced its upcoming adaptation of Curtis Sittenfeld’s New York Times bestseller.

J.K. Rowling's Bestselling Mystery Series Hits the Small Screen in the U.K. This Month

Fans of "The Thin Man" and classic whodunits—mark your calendars for August 27th.

Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace is Coming to Netflix!

The bestselling historical novel will make its small screen debut this November.

A Wrinkle in Time Trailer is a Visual Feast

Watch the first trailer for the upcoming adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s time travel classic.

PBS' Little Women Adaptation Gets Big Names and Fresh Faces

Angela Lansbury, among others, is set to star in the 2018 adaptation from PBS Masterpiece.

Behold the Dreamers is Oprah's Latest Book Club Pick 

“It’s got everything that’s grabbing the headlines in America right now.”

Adult Books for Fans of A Wrinkle in Time

Charlotte Jones Voiklis and Lena Roy discuss their grandmother's incredible adult novels.

New Covers for Alice Walker Books

Because beautiful books deserve beautiful covers

Pearl Buck’s Historical Fiction Novels

Forbidden love. Feminism. East vs. West. Welcome to the World of Pearl S. Buck.

Marge Piercy’s “Barbie Doll,” Almost 50 Years Later

Author Marge Piercy reflects on the changed state of women's lives since her poem was published in 1971.

The Best Books Like To Kill a Mockingbird

25 recommended reads for fans of Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

Remembering Newbery Award-Winner Nancy Willard

In memory of the beloved author, we share a poem from her collection Swimming Lessons

Who Wrote It: Anne Sexton or Sylvia Plath?

Take our quiz to test your knowledge of the famous poets' work.

How Ruth Gruber Helped 1000 European Refugees Find Asylum in America

In Haven, the award-winning journalist recounts her incredible—and controversial—involvement in the rescue of thousands of Jews.

Alice Walker Tells Readers: "Don’t Despair"

"Do we turn on others, or toward others? Do we share our awakening, or only our despair?"

10 Authors Like Louise Penny

Because you need something to hold you over until her next book.

13 Books Like The Girl on the Train

Question everything—especially your own assumptions.