We're Celebrating Women's History Month With These 29 Good Reads
In my circle of friends, Women's History Month is every month, but we're celebrating a little louder than usual for the current 30-day period. Nothing feels more important than looking back and thinking about how far we've come and how beautiful it is to always have something to celebrate. Reading more about women, gender, and sexuality is always a good idea.
I'm constantly looking for an excuse to make more time to read, so I'm using this special event as a reason to pick up a great read from the collection below. Written by women for women, the below great reads capture the female experience while navigating gender identity, social constructs, and the relationships that we have with women in our lives and with ourselves. You won't regret adding one (or a few) of them to your bookshelves.
Follow the true story of three distinct women and their sexual experiences after journalist Lisa Taddeo spent eight years following their lives. The results of the interviews reveal many unfortunate circumstances and astonishingly intimate details about their lives that are quite relatable.
I've never read a book so fast. The second I got through the first chapter of this memoir, I canceled my weekend plans and tore through every page. Emily Ratajkowski reveals the dark side of life in the limelight in this "tell it how it is" book that explores both the positive and the negative experiences in her life.
A page-turner that quickly passed through my entire circle of friends and family, The Girl in the Mirror is a book that I insist you read. While the tale itself speaks of twin sisters, I found a greater theme to be competitiveness and comparisons between women. The plot twist at the end is so worth picking it up.
If picking up a book can be a struggle for you, don't worry—I have a suggestion. Whenever I'm feeling down, I love to pick up a Cleo Wade book, and this is her absolute best. You'll find a combination of poems and short stories meant to uplift you no matter your situation.
Career women, listen up. Elaine Welteroth is no gatekeeper. In her memoir, she tells the story of how she went from intern to editor in chief and everything she learned along the way. This book is sure to make you smile.
Female friendships and the role of women in society are explored in this lighthearted novel about two best friends who grow up together but live polar-opposite childhoods and adulthoods. This book poses important questions about the choices women make when building their lives. There is a bit of both the leading ladies in all of us.
We've all seen the movie, but have you read the book? It's an equally thrilling tale about how you can start your new beginnings at any stage of life. Relive everyone's favorite journey by taking a look at the OG.
A book that looks beautiful on a coffee table and is actually worth a read always wins me over. Funmi Fetto takes her beauty-editor experience from years spent at British Vogue to help women of color find the right products for them. An amazing gift.
You've probably seen this book during your frequent Pinterest scrolls, and after it popped up for me several times, I ordered it. I love having a book around that I can dip in and out of when I need it, and that's exactly what this good read does. Pop into any chapter, and you'll learn something.
The book that everyone is talking about right now happens to be Sally Rooney's Conversations With Friends. Friendship and love meet at the cornerstone of this intriguing novel that follows a woman navigating both.
You might know Patti Smith from the fact that she frequents the '90s grunge Spotify playlists, but she's also an author. This gripping memoir details her relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe. What a roller coaster.
Any feminist would love to have a quick read of this novel, one of the original feminist manifestos. French philosopher Simone De Beauvoir details the history of how women are treated. She bravely wrote this during the 1940s, confronting society and asking for change.
I love a good memoir, so here's yet another one that you'll certainly enjoy. Dolly Alderton takes you through her teens and 20s, letting you know everything she learned about love along the way.
Self-help books don't usually come in this aggressively, but Tara Schuster does not play around. She turned her life around thanks to a few rituals, and she'll help you get yours together too.
Emily Nagoski simplifies female sexuality with a psychological breakdown of how it all works. She'll transform your sex life by sharing an explanation of how men differ from women, and you can use it to your advantage.
People haven't stopped talking about this book since it was released. Former First Lady Michelle Obama tells her story from growing up in an urban jungle to living in the White House.
This page-turning novel presents a glimpse into how the racial experience differs across America. Two twins live completely different lives after growing up in a rural Southern Black community, one now living in the same town they grew up in, and the other passing as white in California.
Aren't we all? Roxanne Gay dives into the experience of a woman trying to navigate the state of sexism in today's world by telling her own story. This one is quite relatable.
This is a must-read during Women's History Month. Ruth Bader Ginsberg details her experience working in the Supreme Court as a woman. Her story is so inspiring.
The fashion industry is a mystery to many, but Caroline Vazzana tells it all in her memoir, from laugh-out-loud moments including sneaking into fashion shows as an intern to quite literally making it in Manhattan. You won't be able to put this one down.
When a TEDx talk is so good that it leads to a book, you know you have to pick it up. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie redefines feminism in the context of the 21st century. Sharing her own experiences makes this story so compelling.
If you haven't read it lately (or have never read it), you have to pick up this book once again. Especially in the context of many issues we're experiencing in today's world, it always serves as a necessary reminder of history.
Another great novel that tells the tale of two women from completely different walks of life. Alix's babysitter, Emira, encounters a racist experience, and when the media coverage brings Alix's past to light, things get complicated.
Henrietta Lacks was a poor Southern tobacco farmer, yet she somehow became one of the most influential women in history. Her cells were taken without her knowledge and used to create the polio vaccine and discover treatments for cancer, viruses, and more. Rebecca Skloot finds out the story behind Lacks's family and the woman who went unknown for so long.
This heartbreaking tale describes an 11-year-old Black girl's dream to fit in. She prays endlessly for blue eyes so she will be considered beautiful in the context of America's beauty standards.
We've all been there. Rebecca Solnit is the originator of the term mansplaining. She breaks down many of the difficult experiences women face from rape culture to sex scandals. This book will make you feel seen if you've struggled with sexism in the past.
If you loved Eat, Pray, Love, this might be the book for you. Cheryl Strayed tells the story of the 1100-mile solo hike that she took to find herself. After losing her mother and first marriage, she took a leap of faith—but in this case, it was more of a hike.
This story is most commonly seen on the stage. Eve Ensler created a series of monologues documenting the female experience. The Vagina Monologues ended up inspiring the creation of V-Day, a grassroots movement to end violence against women and girls.
This book speaks with 40 different amazing women who have been influential in history. Whether they be politicians, musicians, or environmentalists, their voices are heard through this book. You'll hear from everyone from Jane Fonda to Yoko Ono as they each answer the same 10 questions.
Up Next: I Read Over 100 Books in a Year Without Giving Up Netflix—Here's How I Did It
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.
Sierra Mayhew was always destined to work in fashion, but she didn't know it at first. Growing up with no choice but to wear a rotation of school uniforms and activewear, her love for fashion really blossomed when she moved away for college and was able to finally define her very own personal style. Shortly thereafter, she interned at Elle magazine and instantly knew that editorial was for her. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, she worked for ShopBazaar, contributing regularly to Bazaar.com, and finally made her way to Who What Wear, where she is an associate editor. When she’s not working, you can catch her always trying to catch a flight, trying the latest fitness craze in New York City, or exploring luxury vintage boutiques.
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