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realistic balance between Alva's frivolity and meaningful growth and explores her important role in the women The detail of the time Fowler manages to capture in A Well-Behaved Woman is truly wonderful, both in the surroundings and the rigid views of the period about women, marriage, sex, politics, public and private Alva Vanderbilt emerges a strong feminist, but at times before she rises from the ashes, her thoughts between what feels frivolous and what is Ava's meaningful growth, including her important role in the women

includes nods to Outlander and The Last of the Mohicans, considers the trials and adventures of a feminist woman But she's determined to follow her own path--and her strong-willed decisions fly in the face of rigid society's expectations concerning women, slavery, and appropriate marriage prospects. Elizabeth is a feminist in a time in which independence and freedom are not encouraged in a woman. She finds clever ways to assert her strong will by working within and around the confines of the law

figure whose existence the Catholic church has officially denied for a thousand years: Joan, a young woman I'm fascinated by stories in which a woman poses as a man in order to achieve freedoms otherwise not offers fascinating, grim, brutal details of life in the Dark Ages to bring the story of the brilliant, strong-willed

Click here for my full review of Starter Villain. 03 Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See Lisa See Lady Tan's Circle of Women was my first book club read of 2024, and wow, does this one start off with Click here for my full review of Lady Tan's Circle of Women. 04 Lone Women by Victor LaValle LaValle Victor LaValle's Lone Women begins in 1915 with a determined young woman, Adelaide Henry, covering her But everyone's about to find out how disruptive a whip-smart, open-minded, and strong-willed young woman

I loved the 1700s wintry Maine setting and the convictions of the historical fiction novel's strong midwife I loved the details of life in the time period, as well as the unassuming women who show their true strength I love a story about a woman in the medical profession during an era when this was not the norm, and In Lawhon's story, Martha is also a strong-willed feminist who is set on fighting for the rights of the largely powerless women in her orbit.

with the sisters' complicated relationships and with the link Harrow draws between witching and the women's The women must decide whether to ignore what's occurred and move on, or to try and harness and master the spells they've been taught--and those they've picked up from women and stories and whispers along hate feels in her chest: the bitter, futile hatred of the weak for the powerful, the small for the strong I adored how Harrow intermingled the women's suffrage movement with the reemergence of witching and women's

who invents an alternate identity of Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet Women; I'm reading Less Is 01 A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas I'm listening to Sherry Thomas's A Study in Scarlet Women age in which women have little choice and even less voice. Charlotte is strong-willed and an irresistible character so far. The two women become linked through coded messages and a shared urgency to save the lives of those in

, The Fragile Threads of Power; and I'm listening to Lone Women, Victor LaValle's Western, which so far features strong female characters and a gothic undercurrent. Victor LaValle's Lone Women begins in 1915 with a determined young woman, Adelaide Henry, covering her She's set on becoming a homesteader in Montana, one of the "lone women" taking the government up on its I'm listening to Lone Women as an audiobook.

Bohjalian's newest book, Hour of the Witch, published earlier this month, takes place in 1662 Boston, where strong-willed women like main protagonist young Mary Deerfield--especially if they have not yet borne children--are Bohjalian traces infuriating injustices perpetuated against the female characters--who like the real-life women Bohjalian's protagonist Mary straddles the line between meek and mild helpmeet and spirited, strong woman every step of the way--even as I had to resort to deep breathing to read about all she endured as a woman

But the male characters are largely disappointments to the women, who wish they had actually earned the confidence they often exude; wish they were reliable and emotionally strong; and wish the men allowed The women frequently see the clear way but are usually powerless to effect change, so the men's missteps

Girl, Woman, Other is a set of twelve interconnected stories about Black British women and their friendships The women in Evaristo's novel are concerned with sexuality, autonomy, race, artistic expression, tradition There's a layer of magical realism that's interspersed but coming on strong at the end, which makes the women and girls the authorities haven't been able to find. She travels the country tracking lost women, moving into communities with little more than a change of

Blackgoose offers a fascinating, layered story about a strong-willed, whip-smart young Indigenous woman And everyone's about to find out how disruptive a whip-smart, open-minded, and strong-willed young woman

If you like books about World War II and women spies, you might also like the books on my Greedy Reading Lists Six Great Stories about Brave Women During World War II and Six Books about Brave Female Spies Please click here for my full review of Good Material. 05 The Women by Kristin Hannah Hannah offers a The Women shines a light on the women who served pivotal roles in the Vietnam War--but whose existence I listened to The Women as an audiobook.

banter, and their in-progress stories as well as a new antagonist and a new potential hero who are both strong , fascinating young women. Meanwhile, two young women, a new antagonist and a new potential hero, trickle into the story until their

young women split by time; Hour of the Witch, Chris Bohjalian's historical thriller with rich details of life in 1662 Boston, strong female characters, and an infuriating witch trial; Who Is Maud Dixon? The author has created two independent, defiant, appealingly strong young women split by time (and, secondarily traces infuriating injustices perpetuated against the book's female characters--who, like the real-life women threatens to break her, but she persists in trying to find her voice and finding a voice for other women

I loved the futuristic space-mission capabilities, smart and strong all-woman crew, the mystery and suspicion

invincible--who has dropped out of sight and settled down to raise her young daughter alongside her strong-willed Amina soon finds herself entangled in a dangerous ocean quest to rescue a young woman, while fighting Bracken's story offered sassy banter that I loved, a great enemies-to-(not-quite)-lovers setup, a strong A friend's borrowed, rambling home becomes a refuge for unwed mothers and mothers-to-be, with the women on site treating Ursa as a goddess--and the children being horrifically neglected as the women enjoy

Shipstead has created two independent, defiant, appealingly strong young women split by time. Shipstead has created two independent, defiant, appealingly strong young women split by time (and, secondarily

Lepucki's strange, interesting time-travel novel centers around betrayal, broken hearts, second chances A friend's borrowed, rambling home becomes a refuge for unwed mothers and mothers-to-be, with the women on site treating Ursa as a goddess--and the children being horrifically neglected as the women enjoy Lepucki is also the author of the novels California, Woman Number 17, There's No Place Like Home, and

Odd or unwelcome events are ascribed to dark forces, and dangerous rumors begin to swirl around women The most socially powerless women--widows, unmarried women, and fatherless girls--are most exposed to Many of these women are appealingly headstrong and willful despite their treacherous situations. Rebecca despairs at her situation, yet she is a wonderfully defiant and strong character--her mother The women are all trapped in a system that's crushing for females.

Bridie is a strong female protagonist, and Things In Jars offers solid historical fiction details of Veronica to benefit from the author's own modern sensibilities in A Curious Beginning, but Veronica is a strong Abigail is clever, and her strong role in her partnership with the wonderfully odd Jackaby is satisfying Ji Lin speaks her mind and ruffles feathers even as she exploits assumptions about women, sexual attraction She doesn’t fit the mold of a typical woman from 1930s Malaysia nor that of the British colonists living

Tough women, secrets and smarts, and sneaky spying! Kate Quinn, the queen of historical fiction about women during wartime, recommends these titles that If you like stories about brave women during wartime, you might also like the books I listed on the Greedy Reading List Six Great Stories about Brave Women During World War II. I loved the strong female protagonists and seeing their fire and grit and growth.

invincible--who has dropped out of sight and settled down to raise her young daughter alongside her strong-willed Amina soon finds herself entangled in a dangerous ocean quest to rescue a young woman, while fighting “Men find it easier to believe they have been swindled by a witch than outwitted by a woman.” the help of certain trusted shipmates from long ago, and while Amina once thought of herself as a one-woman

Yet he is presented yet again as extremely desirable to beautiful women. The women who are of romantic interest in Cormoran's life are, as in prior books in the series, emotionally His main interest, Robin, is strong and savvy, yet even she is coping with trauma and the aftermath of

And at any rate, I loved the low-key thread of the premise that a strong middle-aged woman can find moments We All Want Impossible Things is heartbreaking and wonderfully strange, funny and full of love, and a

In Evil Eye, Etaf Rum (author of A Woman Is No Man) considers a small-town North Carolina artist, mother Her childhood trauma has a strong hold on her, and only when she begins to face it can she fully realize Etaf Rum is also the author of A Woman Is No Man.

Stories. 02 The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei I loved the futuristic space-mission capabilities, smart and strong all-woman crew, the mystery and suspicion, and most of all the character-driven storyline in Kitasei's returns in all of her feisty, unconventional, clever glory, despite the significant constraints on women A Study in Scarlet Women is the first book in Sherry Thomas's gender-flipped Sherlock Holmes mystery Veronica and Stoker; the allusions to each of their complicated pasts; their hilarious banter; and their strong-willed

She explores the necessity of being a strong woman in a male-dominated profession. And I do love hearing the stories of women in comedy.

Vera and Edith are such a complementary WWII partnership, and I loved spending time with these strong Germany during the war; their wonderfully brave, practical, creative routes to survival as single young women Abriel introduces another enormous shift that shakes things up enormously yet again for both young women Vera and Edith are such a complementary partnership, and I loved spending time with these strong young women.

gritty underbelly of post-World War I London through the points of view of Diamond Annie, head of an all-woman In post-World War I London, female lawlessness in the form of the Forty Elephants gang of women, an offshoot the Elephant and Castle men's gang, butts up against law enforcement, which only recently includes women When the two aspiring women's bids for victory clash, traditional female roles and power structures are

As he becomes involved with the family whose daughter and ward died, Captain Jim's endearingly strong mission as he tries to save those in need and avoid becoming emotionally entangled with a smart young woman and class, a deadly fear of scandal, and terrible mistreatment of those in lower castes, especially women

please see Razorblade Tears. 03 The Change by Kristen Miller The Change explores the power of menopausal women In Kristen Miller's novel The Change, set in Mattauk, Long Island, three women cope with various challenges The tone of The Change is largely campy, as middle-aged women heroines unite against the book's sometimes Good thing we’re extra strong. A woman he'd invited to their home. Vanessa.

I read Illuminations with a group of women over a period of months, and we were captivated by the details a River. 06 Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall Marshall's debut historical fiction centers around women's Looking for Jane is a story of women living in three timelines who are linked through decades by a mysterious letter--and by enormously important, recurring dilemmas for women through the ages: unexpected pregnancies parts of themselves away; she doesn't shy away from sharing the sometimes-tragic outcomes of pregnant women's

of her fellow female students have to put up with from young men who won't hear no and don't treat women She's known for getting into tussles with men trying to prey upon women. The women are becoming less afraid--but the young men who have behaved abominably and often criminally The college friends have strong bonds of loyalty; they sometimes behave impulsively; and they are appropriately to attacks by men, and the women's primary concern is keeping themselves and each other safe.

and as Veronica and Stoker follow clues they venture from a royal palace to an artists' refuge to a strange Veronica and Stoker; the allusions to each of their complicated pasts; their hilarious banter; and their strong-willed

Historical fiction set in the West also lends itself to stories of strong female characters in a time when the world around them didn't support women's abilities, independent thinking, or determination. Kate is a tough young woman posing as a male cowboy. Turner's story is inspired by her family's memoirs, and her Sarah Prine is a strong woman living on the Walk on Earth a Stranger tells the story of Lee, a young woman with a powerful secret: an ability to

Tough women, secrets and smarts, and sneaky spying! Kate Quinn, the queen of historical fiction about women who are spies, recently recommended these titles If you like stories about brave women during wartime, you might also like the books I listed on the recent Greedy Reading List Six Great Stories about Brave Women During World War II. I loved the strong female protagonists and seeing their fire and grit and growth.

Bridie is a strong female protagonist, and Things In Jars offers solid historical fiction details of Veronica to benefit from the author's own modern sensibilities in A Curious Beginning, but Veronica is a strong Abigail is clever, and her strong role in her partnership with the wonderfully odd Jackaby is satisfying Ji Lin speaks her mind and ruffles feathers even as she exploits assumptions about women, sexual attraction She doesn’t fit the mold of a typical woman from 1930s Malaysia nor that of the British colonists living

causality; and I'm listening to a stand-alone historical fiction novel that's also a sequel, The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson The Book Woman's Daughter is Kim Michele Richardson's stand-alone sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, a book I listened to as an audiobook and loved. Richardson writes about strong Kentuckians and their environment, and in The Book Woman's Daughter she Click here for my review of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.

This was strange and interesting. Strange things begin happening to Cassie and Izzy when Cassie takes possession of the book, and soon In post-World War I London, female lawlessness in the form of the Forty Elephants gang of women, an offshoot the Elephant and Castle men's gang, butts up against law enforcement, which only recently includes women When the two aspiring women's bids for victory clash, traditional female roles and power structures are

Then Bridget falls for a fellow "sporting woman," and when the Buffalo Queen is threatened, she must Bridget is strong and no-nonsense yet also inexperienced and far from worldly.

Blakemore's story about witch hunts in 1643 England and the young women who aimed to thwart them; and With plenty of youthful explorations of sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll, plus young women striving to strike Odd events are ascribed to dark forces, and dangerous rumors begin to swirl around the women on the outskirts Can the headstrong young women save their society from the arrogant men and their unchecked power? Then something really strange happens.

But she's determined to follow her own path--and her strong-willed decisions fly in the face of rigid society's expectations concerning women, slavery, and appropriate marriage prospects.

with the sisters' complicated relationships and with the link Harrow draws between witching and the women's I adored how Harrow intermingled the women's suffrage movement with the reemergence of witching and women's or dialogue distracted me from what felt like the heart of the story (the Eastwoods' helping other women 02 The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden This is the third and final book in Katherine Arden's strong reading the Wicked Witch of the West story turned on its head as Maguire traced the origins of Elphaba, a strong-willed

exposes age-old power mismatches; offers young characters agency; explores systemic violence against women It's about the infuriating, often tragic power mismatches between men and women, white and Black people Meanwhile our main protagonist is a middle-aged woman appealingly muddling along at times, doing her particularly powerful and heartbreaking in their copiousness--and in highlighting the brutality against women Lists include cases summarized in the vein of "It was the one where [insert specific circumstances of a woman's

, Other by Bernardine Evaristo Evaristo offers a set of twelve interconnected stories about Black women The twelve women in Girl, Woman, Other --each of whom gets a chapter to tell her story, which is often loyalty, and how each of these factors shape their past, present, and future identities as Black British women interconnected friendships, partnerships, loves, struggles, successes, and the ways in which these twelve women's her grandparents lived and where she was born, here offers stories spanning forty years, featuring women

The women realize they may know too much about where the bodies are buried--literally--to be allowed I loved the women's complicated bonds, their crafty planning, their fights for justice, and their ability returns in all of her feisty, unconventional, clever glory, despite the significant constraints on women A Study in Scarlet Women is the first book in Sherry Thomas's gender-flipped Sherlock Holmes mystery It's about the infuriating, often tragic power mismatches between men and women, white and Black people

, Opal cuts a striking figure, and I loved witnessing her growth from a young, vibrant, unsure, but strong-willed icon of fashion, an outspoken speaker of uncomfortable truths about race and gender, and a determined woman story's early, painful tragedy, she shies away from facing difficult realities for a time before standing strong

about the unrealistic body images of the stars of Main Squeeze (a reality TV show in which a single woman comments from petty characters or online trolls, and her self-esteem flags briefly at times, but she is strong , resilient, and appealingly her own woman, not reliant on men for her self-worth. fully into the romance, fashion, and reality television ups and downs--while allowing room for the strong young woman's emotional growth, stumbles, and her creation of a new version of a happy ending.

your alley, you might also like the books on the Greedy Reading List Six Great Stories about Brave Women in A Well-Behaved Woman, both in the surroundings and the rigid views of the period about women, marriage between what feels frivolous and what is Ava's meaningful growth, including her important role in the women Meanwhile, privileged Charlotte has her own secrets, and when both women's true situations begin to be (especially black women) in that time who were without men to protect them.