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6 books by women you should read
In honor of Women's History Month, we asked booksellers across five local woman-owned bookstores share their favorite books by women.
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Dear readers,
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate and honor women’s contributions in American history – and there’s a lot to praise, especially when it comes to literature.
I’m excited to share a curated list of books written by women, handpicked by the passionate booksellers at women-owned bookstores throughout Greater Boston.
6 books by women to read this Women’s History Month
Women writers have always been at the heart of shaping literature, even when the world wasn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet for them. From the early writings of Phillis Wheatley and Emily Dickinson to the groundbreaking works by Toni Morrison and Louise Erdrich (my favorite author), women writers have consistently pushed boundaries.
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Their stories not only enrich our understanding of the world but also inspire generations of readers and writers alike.
Below, five Boston-area, women-owned bookstores recommend books to read this Women’s History Month.
“Women! In! Peril!” by Jessie Ren Marshall
“I LOVED this book so much! It has strong “Her Body and Other Parties” vibes, and I am a sucker for good short stories, especially the stories that stick with you, and leave you with all the feels (bad, good, and indifferent).” – Christina Pascucci-Ciampa, owner, All She Wrote Books
“The Queer Principles of Kit Webb” by Cat Sebastian
“I’m a romance girly through and through – always have been, likely always will be. It takes skill, charm, and a fair bit of talent to write a good one – and I mean a truly good one. And Cat Sebastian writes really, really good ones – one of the few writers on my insta-buy list. This one has aristocrats, reformed thieves, and hijinks galore. It’s smutty and funny, and sharp – qualities that, in my humblest opinion, are essential for any love story.” – Franchie Viaud, bookstore manager, JustBookish
“The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches” by Sangu Mandanna
“Mandanna’s ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’ isn’t just a cozy romance, it’s a heartwarming story about finding yourself and belonging among a found family. It’s a fitting read for Women’s History Month not just for its cast of amazing and strong women, but because it shows the power that women have when they truly come together … If ‘The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches’ has been sitting on your TBR, right now is the perfect time to finally get to it because Sangu Mandanna has her new book, ‘A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping,’ coming out on July 15th! It’s one of my most anticipated spring reads this year and I simply cannot wait to read it!” – Rae Diep, assistant manager, Lovestruck Books
“the magic my body becomes” by Jess Rizkallah
“Narrative had the honor of hosting Jess Rizkallah as a feature for the shop’s monthly open mic event in January and I’m still thinking about her reading and work. Her poetry is so incredibly powerful and explores so many different broad and specific aspects of being human, but also felt so relatable and evocative at the same time. This book thinks and feels through the layers and tangles of existing as a woman while navigating cultural identity and ancestral heritage.” – Mila Hossain, owner, Narrative
“I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I’m Trapped in a Rom-Com” by Kimberly Lemming
“The novel opens in the Kalahari desert, where grad student Dorothy Valentine spies on meerkats in the hopes of getting more research funding.
She’s just hung up on her mother after another conversation about why she doesn’t have a man…when a lion tries to eat her. But she’s rescued! By aliens! When it turns out her rescuers have an ulterior motive, Dorothy hops into an escape pod and crash-lands on a strange planet, with none other than the same hungry lion. Except now he can talk. And now he’s her wisecracking sidekick in a world filled with dinosaurs.
Kimberly Lemming has a strong, hilarious voice and takes you on a wild ride with her world-building. The descriptions of the planet place you right into Dorothy’s slippers (yes, that is a Wizard of Oz pun). Highly suggest reading while snacking on a delicious chocolate bar.” – Hannah Barrett, co-owner, Read My Lips Boston
“The Secret Summer Promise” by Keah Brown
“Keah Brown, the author, is the creator of the #DisabledAndCute hashtag, and ‘The Secret Summer Promise’ is her YA debut. This sweet friends-to-lovers romance is full of pop culture references, angst, and fun in the sun!
We follow Andrea, a Black teenager with cerebral palsy who’s just realized she’s bisexual. After recovering from major surgery, she’s got an epic summer bucket list and a tight-knit group of friends to help her achieve it. One secret item on her list? Get over a crush on her best friend Hailee. Along the way, a love triangle, family dynamics, friendship drama, and self-doubt — including internalized ableism — complicate things. You’ll be rooting for Andrea the whole way through. I recommend reading with a delicious ice cream cone in hand. Just don’t drip it on the pages!” – Lily Barrett, co-owner, Read My Lips Boston
✏️ Pencil these in
Take a break from the news at these joyful literary events happening near you:
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Side Quest Cozy Hour | Mar. 23
Spend your Sunday morning doing a cozy activity at Side Quest Books & Games. Bring your book, a solo role playing game, or your writing project!
Special Collections Open House: Women Who Shaped the BPL | Mar. 25
Some of the first collections to be donated to the Boston Public Library and its Special Collections were gifted by women. Take a peek at some books conserved by the first female conservator at the Central branch of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.
Roxane Gay at First Parish Church | Mar. 25
Harvard Book will host Roxane Gay for a discussion of her new book “The Portable Feminist Reader.” Cristela Guerra, a senior arts and culture reporter for WBUR, will moderate the conversation.
💡Answer me this
Last month’s trivia question was about adaptations, and if you guessed “All Quiet on the Western Front,” you were right!
Book Club reader Jane R. was the first to respond with the answer. For answering the question correctly, she received a few personalized book recs from me. She was looking for a political thriller “that isn’t the usual macho, Bourne/Bond/Reacher, the-ends-justify-the-means kind of stereotypical story,” and my top rec was “Infomocracy” by Malka Olde. It’s the first book in a cyberpunk political techno thriller series – I highly recommend it! Read on for our new trivia question.
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Which American writer famously said, “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own?” Hint: She is known for her intersectional feminist works such as “Sister Outsider.”
Email me your answer at [email protected]. The first reader who emails me with the correct answer to the trivia question below will get a personalized book recommendation from me or a local bookseller.
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