Recs if you like White Oleander...

Are you currently not crying to the point of vomiting, but you want to be? Need to conduct a science experiment to find out if you are in fact the ugliest crier in all of Pagebound? Well, do I have the list for you! Brought to you by the fine, very sad, folks of Pagebound! These books have been frequently suggested or upvoted in PB club posts about sad books! Suggestions in any genre, and extra tissues, are welcome!

Fiction & nonfiction books that explore the complexities and traumas of mother-child relationships or in which such relationships play a central role. While many books on this list are what I’d classify as including “mommy issues” there are others that are more about the different perspectives and nuances of the mother-child (often specifically mother-daughter) relationship. Some books center the child, some the mother, some both.

Suggestions are welcome.

If we are going to do Qwordy's the Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do 3.0 - we should probably get some Pagebound badges along the way! I'm specifically going to be adding books from Quests and readalongs that go past the July start date and match at least one of these title prompts: Periodic Table, Familial Terms, Rainbow of Words (also Joseph's coat), Numerical Titles, Titular Counting 5+, Pun in the Title, and First & Last Name in the Title. Recommendations welcome!

the warm, fragmented interiors of women navigating emotional turmoil, relational dysfunction, identity crises, and existential malaise. intense, immersive, atmospheric, and deeply felt. stories of mundanity and despair, but also of a different beauty, some subtler strength. let's wallow freely and without shame.

note: open to recs, but those focused on interiority rather than romance (e.g. not Normal People)

Just books I thought helped show the primal feminine rage we are all experiencing right now in the dumpster fire 🔥 of a planet

some book recs that involve the complexities of motherhood: the tough and tender, chaotic and beautiful, exhausting and full of purpose.

All sorts of stories about all sorts of women. Mostly litfic, some horror.

In honor of International Women’s Day here are books written by women, for women, about women. From rebellion to resilience, sisterhood to survival and family to friendships.

The list is a mix of books I’ve read and books that are on my TBR. I’ll be adding to the list as and when I read or find a book I think fits.

…fortunately and unfortunately

Books from before 2000 that fit the more modern genre/descriptor of "weird girl literature"

💜 yarnandbooks

Britta Bohler, an Austrian booktuber who solely posts on books written by women, made a list of 1001 books to read before you die written by only by female authors ,as a response to all the lists that were being released at the time by critically acclaimed sources and included in the list about 70-90% male authors. This is me slowly reading that list.

This reading list includes books that are often supplemented into curriculums of MFA in Creative Writing programs across the country.

inspired by and to assist with the Rainbow of Words prompt for version 3.0 of the Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever Do, pls find on this list books colours in the title.

With all it's highs and lows