The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
This novel is based on the life of Esther Greenwood, a college student who aspires to become a poet. She is selected for an internship as a guest editor of Ladies’ Day magazine in New York City, but her experience is unfulfilling as she struggles with her identity and societal norms.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Louisa Clark is very much quirky and known to move from one job to the next, to help her family make ends meet. After losing her most recent job, she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor, a paralyzed young man who was in an accident two years earlier. Louisa strives to make him realize that life is worth living and as they grow in their relationship, their hearts and minds change.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
It is narrated by Offred, a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, which is a dystopian/futuristic adaptation of the United States after a totalitarian regime, “the Sons of Jacob” gain control. Due to heavy pollution and radiation, most women are unable to conceive. As one of the few fertile women in Gilead, Offred is forced to become a handmaid for a couple who cannot conceive.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This truly iconic romantic novel is based on the clash between marrying for money and marrying for love. None of Mr. Bennet’s five daughters can inherit his property, so they are influenced into seeking reliability in convenient marriages. Elizabeth Bennet, the main character, struggles with society’s expectations and norms relating to marriage and avoids Mr. Darcy’s advances and proposals. Eventually, she acknowledges that she does love him and marries him.