“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.
"I like good strong words that mean something..." —Louisa May Alcott
The iconic feminist praises Alice Walker's ability to move readers.
Enter by December 16 for your chance to score four books about unsung heroines from history!
Understand the story like never before with an excerpt from Margaret Landon’s novel.
Powerful wisdom from the author of The Color Purple.
A woman’s guide to feminism in the new decade.
Women did more than break their way into science fiction and fantasy—they helped define it.
Who knew a short story could stir up so much rage?
Behind every great man is a great woman.
There's something for everyone in this list!
Revel in the resilience of women with these historical fiction novels.
If we could do it all over again, we'd make time for these stories.
This one's for all the Mr. Darcy lovers out there.
Get ready for more sharp humor and touching family stories.
Note: This giveaway has ended.
100 years after her birth, we celebrate the impact of the novelist and philosopher.
If you loved Donna Tartt's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, we know what you should read next.
By Olivia Mason
Where or When explores the joys—and consequences—of rekindling a decades-old romance.
Get your thrills from across the Atlantic.
Lose yourself in these addictive series.