Recently, I have been trying to get back into reading after not reading much for a very long time. I am always searching lists of best new books or up-and-coming authors. If you are in a similar situation with reading, this list is for you! I am mostly into science fiction and thrillers, but there is definitely something for everyone on this list. Inspired by Women’s History Month, here are my top five books (in no particular order) by female authors:
This book spins a dark, existential tale about a relationship between a mother and a very violent son, which, unfortunately, has all too much prevalence in today’s world. Shriver’s writing is hauntingly beautiful with lines so horrific that are written so wonderfully and leave you not knowing what to feel. She poses questions about what it means to love unconditionally, the place of violence in society, and what it means to be a parent. It is a slower moving book and takes a little longer to get through because of the content (breaks suggested!), but it is well worth the read.
“Strange Fits of Passion” tells the story of a woman fleeing an abusive relationship with her daughter. Although this story has its dark moments, I really enjoyed the concept of independence and learning to live on your own as a woman after leaving a relationship which Shreve emphasizes. However, this is also a great thriller novel told through a series of interviews after a fateful night many years after the main character escapes. Shreve does not shy away from the horrors of an abusive relationship. But she also allows the reader to develop a greater understanding of what abusive relationships can be like. Shreve puts the reader in the main character’s shoes providing an overview of her entire marriage including all the good, bad and the ugly.
Celeste Ng is an incredible author having written other popular books, such as “Little Fires Everywhere.” However, “Everything I Never Told You” is my favorite book of hers and one of my favorites of all time. The story follows a tumultuous family rocked by a huge loss and details everything that led up to that event. I read this book over five years ago and still think about it every once and a while. It is an incredibly written raw story that tends to resonate deeply with any reader who picks it up. If there is one book you read off this list, let it be this one!
This is a more popular book and perhaps a more predictable one to land on this list, but it is just as good as everyone says it is. The story follows a man looking for his missing wife, and insanity ensues. Easily one of the best books I have ever read and one of the best book-to-movie adaptations I have ever seen, but the book is, in my opinion, still better. Despite how truly crazy this story gets, it remains relatable. This is the epitome of a female rage book. I highly recommend reading this book if you like true crime, mystery and thriller genres.
To leave this rather dark reading list on a sweeter note, I recommend “Eleanor and Park” by Rainbow Rowell. If you’re looking for a great love story with a little more substance than those recommended on TikTok, look no further! This book is sweet and retains elements of the innocent love that the two characters, Eleanor and Park, share while diving into deeper topics about body image, race, class and much more. This is the ultimate feel-good, pick-me-up story that you might need in between reading the other recommendations on this list.
Happy reading and Happy Women’s History Month!