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From Girlhood to Womanhood
33
items Stories about the lives of girls and women, highlighting their compassion, intellect, resilience and strength. Perfect reads for March (Women's History Month & International Women's Day, March 8, 2026).
Sections
3
Literary & Historical
Romance
Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Literary & Historical
My God. So beautifully written it’s almost enchanting? Sula is a complex person, resulting in interesting dynamics and interactions she has with nearly everyone she meets. Her friendship with Nel being the most notable as their differences, once char...
Sula by Toni Morrison
Beautiful and heartbreaking, detailing the lives of people connected by lineage and separated by destiny, time and location. The author thoughtfully handles several heavy topics and real world issues faced by women for dynamic storytelling that also ...
The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole
Beautiful and utterly heartbreaking. This is truly an outstanding book. Endless stars.
Daughters of the Deer by Danielle Daniel
Phenomenal and absolutely devastating. A must read detailing the life of a pharmacy student who is battling between loyalty to her country and striving towards greater freedoms.
As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh
Chilling and poignant. Narrated by the author herself, a notable throat singer. The best way to consume this is with an immersive read. Tanya Tagaq incorporates her throat singing into the storytelling and formatting, creating a theatrical reading ex...
Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq
A beautifully complex story that dives into race, class, conformity, societal expectations and beauty standards through the eyes of a young girl named Pecola. The perspectives and lives of those close to her are also revealed as Pecola's story unfold...
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
One of the saddest coming of age stories you’ll ever read but so beautifully written. Poetic honestly. A historical fiction, 1950’s to be exact, about Betty, a half Cherokee girl who faces the vilest abuse and bigotry due to her mixed race. Betty fi...
Betty by Tiffany McDaniel
What a beautiful slice of speculative fiction and depiction of womanhood displayed even in the face of hopelessness and uncertainty. I recommend reading some background on the author. Her life story brought a deeper understanding and perspective to t...
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
This is one of my favorite reads of the year! What a enthralling way to capture the coming of age of an unconventional woman with a charming personality and love of chemistry. The story includes the perspective of both main and minor characters which...
Lessons in Chemistry: A Novel by Bonnie Garmus
Chilling and heartbreaking, but a necessary read. Trigger warning check.
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
A stunning portrayal of life, friendship and how the two impact one another. Five black women in their early twenties navigate the everchanging aspects of adulthood, each woman facing their own unique aspects like sisterhood, marriage and motherhood....
The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy
Romance
So sad and so beautifully written. Trigger warnings should be read before this one. It is pretty brutal to get through, especially in Part 1. A coming-of-age story and romance detailing the life of Caprice at different life stages. Part 1 is her at a...
fast by Millie Belizaire
This is a phenomenal book. The storytelling is wonderfully balanced, substantive, spicy and reflective. The full spectrum of emotions and all the feels a romance gives you cleverly woven into the storyline. This isn’t my first Kennedy Ryan book, I wa...
Before I Let Go (Skyland, #1) by Kennedy Ryan
When Audre is caught kissing her girlfriend, her mother sends her to America to live with her father. In America, Audre meets Mabel and they quickly learn they have a lot in common. The alternating POVs between Audre and Mabel are so beautifully and ...
The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus
A wonderfully layered coming of age story that dives into a myriad of topics like discovering sexual identity, evolving relationships and the effects of war and differing ideologies. Set in 1950’s Chinatown, San Francisco, the author incorporates Red...
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
This was a lovely romance about two former flames reuniting as seasoned writers. Almost instantly it becomes evident that they never truly parted, reminiscing through their own writings. Romantic with realistic themes (some heavy) and layered relatio...
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
A beautiful love story that blossoms during a time of difficulty for both of the main characters. Once again Abby Jimenez blends romance, trauma, mental health and humor together for a fun and realistic romance. Their lives are unraveling but they fi...
Yours Truly (Part of Your World, #2) by Abby Jimenez
This was such a fun and enjoyable read! Brought together by some pretty unconventional circumstances, Stella and Michael spark a romance filled with tenderness, patience and eventually understanding. I loved how vividly I could get a sense of everyon...
The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient, #1) by Helen Hoang
Figure skating, ambition, romance, competitive spirits and manipulation. I honestly felt like I was losing my mind reading this book in the best way. I was so invested in seeing this vicious cycle of determination through. The format is wonderful, al...
The Favorites: A Novel by Layne Fargo
Undeniable chemistry brings Kiki and Malakai back together in a second chance romance that explores how complex life events, experiences communication and reflection can shape and evolve relationship dynamics over time.
Sweet Heat by Lola Babalola
Amazing! Super relatable, cute and insightful. The romance was romancing and the plot was plotting! I also appreciated the various themes, especially the familial dynamics, beautifully woven into this love story.
Just for the Summer (Part of Your World, #3) by Abby Jimenez
Absolutely adorable. I loved the two main characters and their distinct personalities. Ada leaves her old life behind for a new start. This new start is filled with surprises where Ada grows as an individual while falling in love with Wyoming, Rebel ...
Swift and Saddled (Rebel Blue Ranch, #2) by Lyla Sage
Fantasy & Sci-Fi
Stellar! Such a unique way to tell a story. The world building is phenomenal and magically dystopian. The story is told from multiple viewpoints offering a more detailed storytelling approach where you can fully immerse yourself into the story. An in...
The Fifth Season (Broken Earth Series, #1) by N.K. Jemisin
I smiled so much throughout this book. It was such a fun read! Theatrical and immersive, a retired pirate sets sail again to uncover the mysteries of both past and present. I appreciated how this was told from the perspective of a middle aged woman a...
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
Exceptional! What a beautifully dynamic story. The story touches on family, a sense of duty, societal expectations, motherhood, politics, warring nations, combat and a fascinating magic system and fighting techniques. All setting the stage for a laye...
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang
This is a beautiful story about balance, power, strategy, motherhood and sacrifice. Intentional and engaging. Highly recommend!
Kaikeyi: A Novel by Vaishnavi Patel
A unique time travel sci-fi adventure with mysticism and covert operations. Hazel and Echo are sent back in time to change history and save the future from ecological disaster. Both Hazel and Echo experience side effects from their time travels to op...
The Forest on the Edge of Time by Jasmin Kirkbride
A beautifully complicated coming of age story, sometimes saddening but mostly hopeful and inspiring. The story of women who won’t be confined to gender roles and normalcies, embracing the beauty of change and being comfortable in one’s own skin (and ...
When Women Were Dragons: A Novel by Kelly Barnhill
This was so lovely! A gorgeously told story about magically interconnected timelines that serve as June’s portal to uncovering mysteries related to herself and the people around her. The journey is brilliantly layered with a peeled back type of unfol...
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
This was stunning! What a wonderful romantasy with an excellent balance of world building, intricate magic systems and romance. Rhya is saved by mercenary Commander Scythe. But when her savior turns captor, Rhya discovers a power within her. As their...
The Wind Weaver (The Reign of Remnants, #1) by Julie Johnson
An enchanting retelling. I love the way Madeline Miller writes. So much happens in this book and each layer is delicately uncovered in an intentional manner. Rich in plot without any unnecessary filler.
Circe by Madeline Miller
When Skipper and Carmen’s somewhat estranged sister, Nora, goes missing, they team up to find her. Set in a dystopian world riddled with ecological disasters, crumbling coastal cities, and pirate-ravaged waters. A world subtly run by powerful, misgui...
Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei
Odd but captivating. An old story retold through a unique lens. A historical science fiction set in nineteenth century Mexico highlighting the perils of scientific exploration and secrets. Beautifully eerie and thoughtfully told, every page was integ...
The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia