10 Feminist Books Everyone Should Read This Women's History Month

As we start Women's History Month, there's no better time to explore and celebrate the literary contributions of remarkable women authors. This curated list takes you on a journey through diverse narratives, offering insights into love, resilience, cultural critique, and untold histories. Join us in embracing the powerful voices of women through the pages of these ten must-read books that resonate not only during Women's History Month but all year long.

1. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay's collection of insightful essays, Bad Feminist, takes readers on a journey through her evolution as a woman of colour, offering a witty and sharp critique of culture. With humor and depth, Gay explores the intersections of identity, culture, and feminism, urging us to reflect on our collective journey toward a more inclusive and equitable society.

2. Two Women Walk into a Bar by Cheryl Strayed

Cheryl Strayed, renowned for Wild and Tiny Beautiful Things, writes about love, family secrets, and reconciliation in a touching short memoir. Chronicling her complex relationship with her mother-in-law, Joan, Strayed explores the challenges, secrets, and sorrows that shaped their two-decade journey. This poignant narrative offers readers a glimpse into the power of connection and healing in the face of goodbye.

3. Madness: Race and Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum by Antonia Hylton

Antonia Hylton's Madness unravels the 93-year history of Crownsville Hospital, one of the last segregated asylums in America. With investigative research and intimate tales, Hylton explores the lives of Black families affected by mental health challenges, tracing the institution's evolution as a microcosm of America's struggles over slavery, racial integration, and civil rights. This captivating and heartbreaking meditation sheds light on the history of slavery in the current mental healthcare system.

4. The Selected Poems, 1968-1995 By Nikki Giovanni

The Selected Poems presents the powerful and sensual poetry of Nikki Giovanni, offering readers a testament to her life's work. From revolutionary verses to impactful reflections, Giovanni's poems span decades, reflecting the changes in her identity as a Black woman, lover, mother, teacher, and poet. This compilation is a poignant exploration of America's political and poetic landscape at the close of the twentieth century.

5. The Color Purple By Alice Walker

Alice Walker's The Color Purple stands as a powerful cultural touchstone, depicting the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia. Through the letters exchanged by sisters Celie and Nettie, Walker explores themes of loyalty, hope, and resilience. This classic broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, providing a compassionate portrayal of women's pain, companionship, growth, and bravery.

6. The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict

The Personal Librarian unravels the remarkable and little-known tale of Belle da Costa Greene, J. P. Morgan's personal librarian. Co-authored by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, this novel dives deep into Belle's journey as a powerful figure in the art and book world while concealing her true identity as the daughter of the first Black Harvard graduate. Belle's story unfolds as a testament to her intellect, style, and wit, set against the backdrop of a racist society.

7. We Should All Be Feminists By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's essay, We Should All Be Feminists, serves as a personal and eloquent manifesto for twenty-first-century feminism. Rooted in inclusion and awareness, Adichie sheds light on the discriminatory behaviors that marginalize women globally. With humor and clever prose, she explores the nuanced realities of sexual politics and issues a rallying cry for a more equitable world.

8. Only Say Good Things By Crystal Hefner

In Only Say Good Things, Crystal Hefner provides a raw and unflinching look at her experience in the Playboy mansion. Detailing the objectification and misogyny she faced, Crystal shares her journey to self-acceptance and her struggle to break free from the toxic culture. This candid memoir offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on Hugh Hefner's final days and reflects on the impact of external validation on one's identity.

9. The Palace of Illusions By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni 

In The Palace of Illusions, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni reimagines the Mahabharat through the perspective of Panchaali, the wife of the Pandavas brothers. This novel blends history and myth, offering a unique interpretation of an ancient tale. Panchaali's journey unfolds against a backdrop of war, exile, and civil unrest, providing a feminist redefinition of a world filled with warriors, gods, and fate.

10. The Inheritance of Loss By Kiran Desai

Kiran Desai's The Inheritance of Loss unfolds in the Himalayas, exploring the lives of an embittered judge and his orphaned granddaughter, Sai. The novel illuminates choices, colonialism, and the collision of tradition with the modern world. A masterful portrayal of joy, despair, and the consequences of colonialism on historical forces.

This diverse selection of books by women authors offers readers a rich tapestry of narratives, insights, and experiences. From personal memoirs to cultural commentaries, each work contributes to the ongoing dialogue on women's history, identity, and empowerment. Whether exploring historical asylums, challenging societal norms, or reinterpreting ancient myths, these authors invite readers to engage with stories that resonate long after Women's History Month has passed.