As someone who loves books, I don’t give recommendations lightly. While I do read quite a few books, I realized a lot of the books I was being asked to read were written by male authors. While it’s all fine and good, as a female writer myself, I like to read works where females are behind the scenes, creating worlds and inspiring people. Whether the book is a romance, sci-fi, or fantasy, there are a lot of crazy amazing female authors. Here are some books you should check out this March in honor of women’s history month.
- Want: Cindy Pon
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This book is one I just finished, and it is the first of a duology. The book discusses topics of class separation, pollution, and the importance of standing up for people who don’t have a voice. While it does have a bit of a slow start, the story progresses at a moderate pace and explains the intricacies of the society that the main character Jason Zhou lives in. The story also takes place in Taipei, which breaks aways for the YA trope of taking place in the US (and specifically of taking place in a major US City, a.k.a. New York).
- City of Bones: Cassandra Clare
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A little older, but one of my favorite books and a definite must read if you are looking for a romance with twists, turns, and demons. This story follows Clarissa (Clary) and her discovery of her true self. The series (tiled: The Mortal Instruments series) has five books following City of Bones, and Cassandra Clare has released two complete series after this that take place in the same shadowhunter universe. Not only that, but she is currently working on a third spin-off series, and has a variety of other standalone books that follow noteworthy other characters like my personal favorite warlock: Magnus Bane (also, if you think I’m not naming my next cat Magnus, you’re wrong).
- Matched: Ally Condie
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Another older series, but still worth the read. This trilogy follows main character Cassia, who is participating in a special matching ceremony dictated by the dystopian society she lives in. In the society, 17-year-olds are matched with their soulmate through an intricate algorithm to ensure perfect partnerships. In the series, Cassia faces a difficult choice after finding out who her match is, and the day that she was so excited for suddenly becomes a nightmare.
- If I Stay: Gayle Forman
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This book is another great read, though different from the others. This still falls under YA, but is a realistic story, rather than the fantasies that I’ve already mentioned. This story follows main character Mia through a difficult choice that she needs to make after watching her comatose body being dragged from the car-wreck that killed her family. Mia must piece together the facts of her life forgotten by the crash, and decide whether she wants to live, or join the rest of her family in death.
- Hush, Hush: Becca Fitzpatrick
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Another YA novel that has been around for a while, but an interesting read if you are a lover of fantasy or the show Lucifer. This book starts a four book series in which Nora, the main character, must decide if she trusts new-boy-in-town Patch. As Nora gets closer to the truth, she isn’t sure if she wants to fall in love with him, or run the other way. Also, rumor has it that a Hush, Hush movie is in the works.
While this list can’t begin to cover the massive amounts of books that exist by female writers, these are books that I have personally read and recommend. No matter what books you decide to read, on this list or otherwise, reading is a great thing! There are so many adventures to be had, waiting for you on the shelf. Supporting female writers and their art is just as important as reading in general, whether they are writing about romance, science fiction, or a memoir. This women’s history month, make it a point to pick up some books by female writers, to celebrate the worlds they have created and the work they have put into making something for you to enjoy.