Every March, Women’s History Month gives us a reason to pause and celebrate the women who shaped our world — the ones who made headlines and the ones history nearly forgot. And for me, one of the best ways to honor that is through books. Whether you are looking for sweeping historical fiction, eye-opening nonfiction, or a beloved classic you somehow have not gotten to yet, women’s history month books have a way of reminding us just how extraordinary women have always been.
This list is a collection of 15 books about women that I love, have read, and think deserve a spot on your TBR. From Tehran to Brooklyn, from Bletchley Park to the beaches of Normandy, these stories span decades and continents — yet they all have one thing in common: women at the center, refusing to be erased.
15 Powerful Books About Women to Add to Your TBR This Women’s History Month
A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum
Description
A Woman Is No Man follows three generations of Palestinian-American women navigating silence, tradition, and the fight for self-determination in Brooklyn. Through the stories of Isra, her mother-in-law Fareeda, and her daughter Deya, Etaf Rum crafts a searing portrait of what it means to exist in the space between two worlds — and what it costs to find your own voice.
My Review
- Genre: Literary Fiction
- Whew. I cannot recommend this book enough. And for full disclosure, it left me wrecked at the end. I would definitely say that this book is in my all-time favorite reads.
Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner
Description
Set in a beloved London bookshop in 1950, Bloomsbury Girls follows three women — each with their own ambitions, heartbreaks, and quiet rebellions — as they navigate a postwar world that wasn’t built for them. Natalie Jenner writes with warmth and wit, weaving literary history and female friendship into a story that feels like curling up with a favorite book.
My Review
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- This book was so fun for me! Historical fiction is one of my go-to genres for a quick read, and despite the length of this one, it was a relatively quick read.
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul
Description
A dazzling debut, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? spans decades of Hollywood history through the story of a Black woman who passed as white to survive — and thrive — in an industry that would have otherwise erased her. Crystal Smith Paul weaves a multigenerational saga of secrets, sacrifice, and the things we bury to protect the people we love.
My Review
- Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery
- I absolutely loved this book! I was thinking it was going to give Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes, which was a book I devoured, too. This one was an amazing storyline. I’m a born & raised North Carolinian and was surprised to see historical connections throughout the storyline. It is an important novel, with important pieces of US History represented a historical fiction novel. I definitely recommend reading it.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Description
It’s the 1960s, and chemist Elizabeth Zott is not like other women — at least, that’s what everyone keeps telling her. When she ends up hosting a cooking show, she turns it into something no one expected: a rallying cry. Lessons in Chemistry is sharp, funny, and quietly radical — a love letter to women who refused to be put in their place.
My Review
- Genre: Historical Fiction / Humor
- I absolutely adored this book! Elizabeth Zott is a feminist icon and I could not love her character more if I tried. I really appreciated the storyline and the dry humor.
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
Description
Beginning in 1950s Tehran and spanning seven decades, The Lion Women of Tehran traces the friendship between Ellie and Homa — two girls from different worlds whose bond is tested by class, revolution, and betrayal. Marjan Kamali writes with extraordinary tenderness about what it means to be a woman in a country that keeps changing the rules.
My Review
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- This book had been on my TBR for a while, and after hearing a friend talk about it, I decided it was time to pick it up. This year (2025) has really proven to me that books find us at the right time. I absolutely love this book — it is a moving story that starts in the 1950s and ends in 2022. It weaves the story of friendship (and betrayal), really hard topics, political activism, feminism, and classism. It moved a tad slow for me at first, though I flew through the end. It has been a while I have stayed up late to finish a book, and I am really glad I did. The audacity of hope. It’s one helluva drug.
Maame by Jessica George
Description
Maame is the story of Maddie, a young Ghanaian-British woman who has spent her twenties caring for her father while her dreams wait patiently on the sideline. When she finally gets a taste of independence, she has to figure out who she is — not as a daughter, not as a caretaker, but as herself. Jessica George writes with humor, heart, and an honesty that is deeply refreshing.
My Review
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- I just adored this book. I kept rooting for Maddie and felt protective over her from her mother and brother. Her evolvement through the story kept the story going–I really flew through this. Highly recommend this heartwarming story!
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Description
Set in Nazi-occupied France during World War II, The Nightingale follows two sisters whose courage takes very different forms. Vianne tries to survive quietly; Isabelle burns to fight. Kristin Hannah’s masterwork is a breathtaking tribute to the women whose names history forgot — and a reminder that bravery doesn’t always look the way we expect.
My Review
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- This book was such an important story, and it was one of the books that got me back into reading.
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore
Description
In the early twentieth century, young women were hired to paint watch dials with radium-laced paint — and told it was perfectly safe. The Radium Girls is the extraordinary true story of the workers who fought back against the corporations that poisoned them, and in doing so, changed labor law in America forever. Kate Moore’s reporting is meticulous and her subjects are unforgettable.
My Review
- Genre: Narrative Nonfiction
- This is one of those non-fiction books that I listened to on audio book and is such an important topic, especially during this time of watching consumer protections get removed.
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
Description
Three women. One unbreakable code. The Rose Code brings to life the female codebreakers of Bletchley Park during World War II — brilliant, underestimated women who helped turn the tide of the war and were sworn to secrecy for decades afterward. Kate Quinn delivers a propulsive, richly researched thriller that honors a history long overdue for its spotlight.
My Review
- Genre: Historical Fiction / Thriller
- I truly cannot recommend this book enough. I waffled between a 4.75 only because of the length and how long it took me to plow through; however, I loved going down rabbit holes researching various topics from the book. It is a heartbreaking, heartwarming, and amazing story about the war effort in England.
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry
Description
When a children’s book surfaces in a London shop, rare book dealer Hazel discovers it contains details of a world only she and her sister knew — a world Flora described before she vanished during World War II. The Secret Book of Flora Lea is a beautifully layered novel about grief, memory, and the stories we tell to survive the ones we can’t.
My Review
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- I absolutely adored this book and did not want to put it down! It’s beautiful historical fiction written across 1940 and 1960 in Britain. The story has some elements of mystery and chills to it, with a happy ending for all involved. It is a truly delightful book and I am sad that it has ended. Definitely add to your TBR!
Stories from Suffragette City by M.J. Rose & Fiona Davis (eds.)
Description
Set against the backdrop of the 1913 Women’s Suffrage Parade in Washington, D.C., this anthology gathers stories from some of today’s best historical fiction writers — each centering a woman fighting for her right to be heard. Stories from Suffragette City is a mosaic of voices that reminds us the right to vote was hard-won and fiercely defended.
My Review
Genre: Historical Fiction / Anthology
- I read this book ahead of the 2024 election and it was so good. So damn good. The stories weave together nicely and while the book is historical fiction, there are many historical accuracies with characters in the stories. A must-read.
Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Description
Inspired by a true and devastating chapter in American history, Take My Hand follows Civil, a young Black nurse in 1970s Alabama who discovers that two of her patients — girls, barely teenagers — have been forcibly sterilized by a government program. The novel is a fierce, compassionate reckoning with medical racism and the cost of speaking up when institutions want you to stay quiet.
My Review
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- This book was such an important read that is loosely based on a true story of forced sterilization of young, poor, Black women in the South. The story is heartbreaking and one that is important to recognize is still occurring in instances. The only reason I did not rate this 4.75 is because I would have liked a little more about Anne and Civil’s decision.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Description
First published in 1937, Their Eyes Were Watching God remains one of the most powerful novels ever written about Black womanhood, identity, and self-discovery. Janie Crawford’s journey — through marriage, loss, and liberation — is told in Zora Neale Hurston’s incomparable lyrical voice. If you have not read it, Women’s History Month is the perfect time.
My Review
- Genre: Classic Literature
- A truly beautiful classic and timely.
When Women Ran Fifth Avenue by Julie Satow
Description
The story of New York’s great department stores is, at its heart, the story of the women who built them. When Women Ran Fifth Avenue uncovers the hidden history of the female executives, buyers, and innovators who shaped American retail — and consumer culture — while the men in the boardrooms took the credit. Fascinating, infuriating, and long overdue.
My Review
- Genre: Narrative Nonfiction
- Y’all know that I love New York City, so this book is absolutely fascinating
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Description
Frankie McGrath enlists as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, believing she is going to serve her country. What she doesn’t expect is how thoroughly her country will forget her when she comes home. The Women is Kristin Hannah at her most powerful — a long-overdue tribute to the women veterans of Vietnam whose service was overlooked for far too long.
My Review
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- No one does historical fiction like Kristin Hannah. Despite the length of this novel, I could not put it down. It is a truly emotional read and I will be thinking about this book for a while. It has a lot to offer, too — history, grief, friendships, action, thrills, and a salacious romance. I truly cannot recommend this enough. It is such an important story line and it was done so, so well.
Final Thoughts
Women’s history should not be something we celebrate in only in March — it is something that impacts us all year long. I hope this list gives you at least one new book to add to your TBR, or nudges you to finally pick up one that has been sitting on your shelf.
If you read any of these, I would love to hear what you think — drop your favorites in the comments below! And if you want to follow along with what I am reading throughout the year, I share monthly recaps and reading reflections over on my Substack. It is one of my favorite places on the internet right now, and I would love to see you there. You can find more of my reading round-ups like this here.
