Books are places of wonder, each one holding a new lifetime that the reader gets to experience. Infinite possibilities can be found in books, so it becomes disappointing when the industry is mainly dominated by men, leaving those stories made by women to the backburner. That doesn’t mean that female authors don’t exist, far from it, some women have created some of the most incredible and iconic books ever put to shelf. That being said, these are my recommendations if you are looking to add more female authors to your TBR.
Mary Shelley
If you’re looking for a classic author whose work stands the test of time, look no further than Mary Shelley. Mary Shelley is the author of Frankenstein and one of the pillars of science fiction and horror. Her career took off at 21 with the publishing of Frankenstein in 1818, and she kept writing ever since. This author loves themes of mortality and humanity and what is to be human through the lens of sci-fi. A few of her other books that stick with these themes are The Last Man (1826), Mathilda (1959), and The Mortal Immortal (1833). Definitely an author to visit if you’re interested in sci-fi and stories that ask the questions about humanity that we’re afraid to.
Jane Austin
Another author who was the pillar of her genre was Jane Austin. Jane Austin is responsible for some of the most iconic romances in the reading world and the creator of some of the most well-known tropes in all of romance. Pride and Prejudice (1813) was the story to boost the popularity of enemies to lovers and set its place in the genre. It is my belief that Emma (1815) and Sense and Sensibility (1811) helped pave the way for the love triangles and books with several romances happening at the same time. The romance genre would not be what it is today without Jane Austin’s beautiful stories. So, if you’re a fan of romance, give her books a read.
Donna Tartt
Moving to more modern books, the staple author in dark academia and drama is Donna Tartt. Donna Tartt’s biggest book, The Secret History (1992), is a dark drama about a group of college students who get tangled up in a murder and try to cover it up. While I have not read The Little Friend (2002), I have read The Goldfinch (2013), and I could not recommend it enough. One of my favorite books, The Goldfinch, is about a teenager who must navigate his new world without his mom. The only memory of hers he has is a stolen painting of a goldfinch. If you want stories with twists and turns that speak to finding hope in darkness, read Donna Tartt.
Leigh Bardugo
Leigh Bardugo is my personal favorite of the fantasy genre for her Grishaverse books. She has created an incredible world expanding over 3 book series. It starts with the Shadow and Bone Books (2012-2014), then to the Six of Crows duology (2015-2016), and finally the King of Scars duology (2019-2021). If you want to get into or back into fantasy, look no further than the incredible world building and characters of her Grishaverse books. Personally, I believe that the Six of Crows duology is the best of all of the Grishaverse books. So, if you only want to pick up one book, start with Six of Crows. She has recently published books in new universes, such as The Familiar (2024), but they’re still on my TBR. If you are looking for magic, found family, and incredible characters, give Leigh Bardugo a read.
Hiromu Arakawa
Finally, I need to recommend one of the most infamous manga ever. Full Metal Alchemist, written by Hiromu Arakawa, has become a staple of any anime or manga recommendation list. It’s a fantasy story about Edward Elric, a metal alchemist, who is searching the kingdom for a way to help his brother, Alphonse, who is trapped in a suit of armor from magic gone wrong. It’s got incredible world building, plot twists, and an extraordinary story. If you are looking to get into anime or manga, there is no better place to start than with Hiromu Arakawa.
Stories are their own worlds and lifetimes, but they are also a peek into the minds of the writers who wrote them. Women’s minds are beautiful and when they put pen to paper, they create a world and story just as beautiful. So, find a book on your shelf written by a woman and take a peek into her mind and the world she created.
We hope you enjoyed this article, for more book recommendations, check out this review of Dolly Alderton’s newest book.
