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“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.
"What some may label ‘dark stories’ are usually the stories of people all around us." —Mary McGarry Morris
"I have no intention of being a footnote in someone else’s life.” —Martha Gellhorn, on her relationship with Ernest Hemingway
There’s more to discover outside of your favorite author’s six books.
“You are the storyteller of your own life, and you can create your own legend, or not.” —Isabel Allende.
It’s been said that much of her real life was just as tragic as the lives of the protagonists in her debut novel Flowers in the Attic.
The National Book Award Winner was known for her sharp writing.
Writing so rich makes us wish we could live in Barsetshire too.
Read about women who challenged the status quo.
Discover more popular romance and thriller authors.
These books bring you to the beach any time of year.
By Nicole Klett
The debonair sleuth charms everyone who comes his way—including generations of mystery readers.
By Olivia Mason
The controversial Christian author defied categorization.
The Pulitzer Prize winner captured the American South in her own way.
By Orrin Grey
The taboo subject of death becomes a reason to celebrate.
“You can't write well with only the nice parts of your character, and only about nice things. And I don't want even to try anymore. I want to use everything, including hate and envy and lust and fear.” ―Alison Lurie
By Orrin Grey
These works stand the test of time—even if you haven't heard of them all.
In this excerpt from Dear Rebel, Isadora Cerullo celebrates her body's strength.
We’ll help you choose which Hoffman book to read next!