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women vs the void book recs
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items books that illuminate resilience, the search for identity, and the complexities of existence in a world that feels both expansive and isolating. through determination, courage, and the unyielding spirit of femininity in the face of uncertainty
isa and gala are best friends and ready for a summer of adventure when they meet in NYC. they have a place to stay, a few connections, and just a little bit of money. told through isa's diary as a documentation of youth, friendship, and risk
Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados
jacaranda is in LA and has an on-again, off-again relationship with a married man and glitters among the city’s pretty creatures, blithely drinking, unattached and unworried. yet she lacks a purpose―so at 28, jobless, she moves to new york to start a...
Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz
a con artist is stranded in long island after her rich boyfriend breaks up with her. she goes through various tricks to make ends meet before she crashes his labor day party to try and win him back
The Guest by Emma Cline
a millennial irish expat becomes entangled in a love triangle with a male banker and a female lawyer
Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan
esther is a college student who, despite winning an internship at a new york fashion magazine in 1953, begins to spirals out of control as she struggles with mental health, relationships, and societal expectations
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
follows three women, Natsu, Makiko, and Midoriko, as they confront their own uncertainties. the three women battle with their bodies, class, and each other. from breast-enhancement surgery to explores the options available for bringing a new life int...
Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami
follows an unnamed protagonist as she gradually escalates her use of prescription medications in an attempt to sleep for an entire year
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh
one of the greats <3 explores modern love, the pressures and debauchery of the wealthy, and the conflict between youth and age through 24-year-old Cleo and 45-year-old Frank, two broken people who find one another in a passionate and loving fling
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
about zauner growing up korean-american, losing her mother to cancer, and finding solace in food. a heartfelt exploration of grief, identity, and the power of cultural connection.
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
a woman arrives in florence and she finds an unexpected love. she can fix him—they can fix each other; she feels bound to him, body and soul, but soon they’re both cheating and lashing out, and she becomes more and more convinced he’s not merely a vi...
The Devil's Grip by Lina Wolff
so underrated <3 unnamed narrator remeets a choreographer from her past and begin an interesting relationship. coming-of-age story about lust, punishment, artistic drive, and desires that defy the hard-won boundaries of the self
Little Rabbit by Alyssa Songsiridej
yeong-hye is a young woman who lives an unremarkable life in korea. after violent and disturbing dreams about the death of animals, she stops eating meat—something that is almost unheard of in korean culture
The Vegetarian by Han Kang
will never stop recommending this <3 memoir of the story of a young woman lost in the throes of seeking love and growing up
Pregaming Grief by Danielle Chelosky
an aspiring writer casey strives to move from one phase of her life into the next amidst grief, joy, romance, and artistic fulfillment
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
greta is a transcriber for a sex therapist. she becomes infatuated with a patient she refers to as “big swiss.” when they eventually meet and become close, she is riddled with guilt but desperate to maintain the relationship.
Big Swiss by Jen Beagin
keiko is a social outcast who has never fit in with her family or at school. she finds peace and purpose working at a convenience store, where she learns the rules of social interaction and copies the mannerisms of her colleagues
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
a young black woman who gets involved with a middle-aged white man in an open marriage
Luster by Raven Leilani
in hollywood, las vegas, and the barren wastes of the mojave desert, it explores a woman and a society in crisis
Play It as It Lays by Joan Didion
tender, funny portrait of a young woman during a disorienting and pivotal year in college, where she learns the intricacies of language and love
The Idiot by Elif Batuman