Recs if you like Sorrow and Bliss...

recs from @leahsfigtree and @emmareadstoomuch on substack + personal recs

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

If you’ve ever made eye contact with a mirror and said “this is a mess” but also “i’m kinda iconic for this,” congrats, this list is for you.

The ladies on these covers just need a damn break.

A list of books I have come across when looking for books that fit this theme. Please leave a comment if there is something I should add.

"Weird girl literature" featuring themes around pregnancy or motherhood

💜 yarnandbooks

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

Every book longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction since it was founded in 1996, under its current title and previous sponsored titles of 'Orange' and 'Baileys' Prize for Fiction. I want to hear your percentage overlap in the comments!

With a big scoop of melancholy!

List formerly known as weird girl elders. "Weird girl literature" books with characters that are over 30.

💜 yarnandbooks

messy, problematic women whom you might have an affinity towards if you also feel like an unlikable character sometimes

"Weird girl lit" featuring protagonists that are over 40

💜 yarnandbooks

2019-2026

books on mental health that alleviate judgment and encourage empathy, sometimes with humor, sometimes with an allegorical plot, and mostly with immersive, insightful storytelling.

[Love and Deepspace]

Broody, tragic, and morally complex; Zayne's books explore loyalty and sacrifice, often steeped in gothic, melancholic, or atmospheric tones.

💌 updated monthly.