Today marks International Women’s Day, so what better way to celebrate the achievements of women than by picking up one of these new books all about female empowerment? I’ve included 10 must-reads either out now or coming out later this spring that span a range of genres—from fiction to essays to historical anthology—so there’s sure to be something for every reader. Get inspired by the words of these female historians, essayists, and novelists, be prepared to be challenged to think in new ways, and to ask new questions about gender, identity, and women’s issues.
Happy reading, and happy International Women’s Day!
The Women’s Suffrage Movement
edited by Sally Roesch Wagner with a foreword by Gloria Steinem
In this comprehensive book, two hundred years’ worth of historical texts tell the story of how women got the vote in America. With an intersectional twist, this book is not your grandmother’s white-women-only anthology. Instead, it includes diverse voices that were often left out, such as Native American and African American women. It is edited by author and historian Sally Roesch Wagner and includes a foreword by the one and only Gloria Steinem.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
The League of Extraordinarily Funny Women: 50 Trailblazers of Comedy
by Sheila Moeschen
You’ll have to wait till April for this one, but I guarantee it’ll be worth it. From mid-century belle Lucille Ball to today’s Tina Fey, Ellen DeGeneres, and Mindy Kaling, this illustrated hardcover glossy celebrates women who forged new ground in the world of comedy, proving that women can do comedy too.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
The Water Cure
by Sophie Mackintosh
For those of you seeking a fiction title for your feminism fix, here is a novel that is on the must-read lists of so many publications I’ve lost count. Deemed a “gripping, sinister fable” by Margaret Atwood, Sophie Mackintosh’s debut releasetells the story of three sisters raised on an isolated island. Doing what dystopic novels do best, it acts as a mirror and forces readers to recognize unpleasant realities in their own time and society.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
Soccerwomen: The Icons, Rebels, Stars, and Trailblazers Who Transformed the Beautiful Game
by Gemma Clarke
Get ready for the FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer by brushing up on your knowledge of the athletes, advocates, and activists who pioneered women’s soccer. Women’s soccer has come a long way since the first recorded female match took place three hundred years ago in the Scottish Highlands, and this book includes inspiring, original interviews with 50 current and former players and coaches to show you just how far we’ve come. It’ll hit bookstores next month, so be sure to add it to your preorder list now.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
Feminism for the 99%
by Cinzia Arruzza, Tithi Bhattacharya, and Nancy Fraser
Three of the International Women’s Strike US have joined forces to write this new manifesto on issues not usually included in feminist discussions but that undoubtedly make an impact on real women’s lives, such as border policing, affordable housing, healthcare, climate change, etc. They argue that making sure the 1% of women are represented at the top of society is not enough: feminism needs to be for the 99%. If this description isn’t convincing enough for you, the book was listed as one of Vogue’s most anticipated books of 2019, so with that stamp of approval you know it’ll be good.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
Bossed Up: A Grown Woman’s Guide to Getting Your Sh*t Together
by Emilie Aries
This new boss lady bible has tips on being assertive (without being a bully), beating burnout, breaking out of the martyrdom mindset, and more. For anyone starting their own business, working for another business, or just living a life that involves planning, prioritizing, and ticking off items from a to do list in a timely fashion, this book is for you.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
Women Warriors: An Unexpected History
by Pamela D. Toler
Contrary to popular belief, women before the late 20thcentury did not just stay home and embroider. (Although there’s nothing wrong with a good embroidery session, if I may say so myself.) Throughout history, women have played a part in politics, busied themselves with business, and indeed, went to war. This book charts the unexpected history of women warriors, from the well-known medieval figures like Joan of Arc to lesser-known ladies like the Trung sisters who drove the Chinese out of Vietnam in 40 AD, and Juana Azurduy de Padilla, who fought off the colonizers in Latin America in the 1800s.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
You Know You Want This: “Cat Person” and Other Stories
by Kristen Roupenian
Short stories are the perfect way to indulge in a fictional escape without committing to a full-length novel. And the best part? Once you finish a story there’s another one right after. This debut collection from Kristen Roupenian explores gender, sex, and power, and features a bizarre mix of tales that make you laugh and cringe, and leave you feeling both inspired and deeply uncomfortable.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
The Priory of the Orange Tree
by Samantha Shannon
Warning: this book is 848 pages long. Yes, you read that right. That is two regular books-worth of words. But this new epic (and I mean that in the traditional sense, meaning: long) fantasy novel is being hailed as the feminist answer to Game of Thrones and promises to be worth the time investment. It has queens, pirates, dragons, and all the drama, heroism, and romance you can hope for.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
The Source of Self-Regard
by Toni Morrison
From the renowned Nobel Prizie-winning author Toni Mirron comes a new collection of essays, speeches, and meditations that explore female empowerment, race, art, the foreigner, and countless other thought-provoking topics. This is one title that should be on everyone’s spring reading list.
Buy it here: Amazon / Indigo
