by Julie Mae Cohen — Bad Men is sharp and fast and clever and very funny. You’ll love it. (Maybe less so if you’re a scumbag who hurts women.)
Black Thorn
by Sarah Hilary — A tense and claustrophobic mystery. An incisive look into family life and loyalties, ambition, criminal negligence, toxic greed and cover-up.
Lioness
by Emily Perkins — Therese questions herself and her life, and feels the urge to break out, smash everything and live more authentically. Who doesn’t, right?
Tell Me What I Am
by Una Mannion — Portrays coercive control and domestic violence. Highlights the difficulties facing victims’ families and the lack of legal support.
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies
by Alison Goodman — When the days are dull and lifeless, you need The Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies. Thrilling, moving, clever.
Such Sharp Teeth
by Rachel Harrison — Rage, trauma, resilience and transformation. Women finding strength and learning to face the world without (or with less) fear.
Cuckoo in the Nest
by Fran Hill — A quiet domestic drama set in 1970s Britain. Moving and well written. A wealth of domestic detail plunges the reader into the era.
Fyneshade
by Kate Griffin — A taut and dark gothic tale. Marta is sent to be a governess at Fyneshade, where she expects to find a rich man to marry.
Whether Violent or Natural
by Natasha Calder — A good premise (a world where antibiotics don’t work anymore) marred by overblown prose, lack of clarity and weirdness (not good-weird).
The Memory of Animals
by Claire Fuller — A group of young people are trapped in hospital during a pandemic that wipes through the population, leaving just them, alone and isolated.
Breakwater
by Marijke Schermer — A moving, painful exploration of traumatic memories of sexual violence. Beautifully written (and translated) in stark, precise prose.
Weyward
by Emilia Hart — Three women, three time periods, and always the same old shit of male coercion and violence. An absorbing, immersive story.
Looking for a good book? 5 tips for readers.
5 tips to help you find books you’ll love!
The Other Half
by Charlotte Vassell — Witty and well written satirical crime novel about contemporary London socialites.
The Social Distance Between Us
by Darren McGarvey — Well written essay on the disparities between the ruling class and the people affected by their decisions. UK-focused, but relevant anywhere.
The Silence Project
by Carole Hailey — A gripping feminist novel of ideas about cults, power politics, female empowerment and utilitarianism: does the end really justify the means?
How We End
by LM Juniper — UK-based zombie apocalypse. Exciting, action-packed story with a group of interesting characters, and fun twists on the genre.
Shade of Violet
by Jackie West — A bit of low fantasy, a bit of crime mystery, a lot of entertaining characters and dialogue. A fun, light – but also well written novel.
Darling
by India Knight — A clever and up-to-date retelling of the classic The Pursuit of Love. It’s an absolute joy. Vivid, hilarious dialogue, wonderful characters.
The Darlings of the Asylum
by Noel O’Reilly — Gripping and exciting gothic novel. A wayward young woman is locked up in a Victorian asylum. Why? What happened? And how can she get out?