Men Writing Women (pos)
There will be no one breasting boobily anywhere here.
Some criteria:
- women characters should be multidimensional with their own goals, agendas, and flaws
- the main character should be a woman, and there should be at least one other female character who is significant to the plot
- women characters’ role should not be defined solely by her relationship to a man
- author is a cis man
- one book per author
Let’s hold male authors to a higher standard because it is possible.
created by celinewyp
last updated May, 2026
Comments
"There will be no one breasting boobily anywhere here." 🤣🤣🤣 I almost spit out my smoothie when I just read this! I'm still cackling 😆 And I can attest that Jeff VanderMeer writes female characters very well and in a very intriguing way.
I live to serve.
I read Annihilation and didn't like it tbh. But I do agree the characters were interesting and I can't find anything to complain about them. I know that's the most lukewarm anyone can be and I don't mean to yuck anyone's yum but that's just my impression of the book.
thank god 🙏 i need books that don't mention a woman's boobs every five pages after the flamingo badge
oh big oof. i hope these are a good palate cleanser! though i think they're all quite heavy books.
well i'm gonna have to read master of djinn before the end of the month anyway so it'll work out!
I think I played myself with this book, because I expected too much from it? For now, nothing's blowing me away. I really appreciate that the characters are well-written, and the care given to creating the female characters is very clear. Other than that and the worldbuilding Idt I'll be praising it very much. We'll see.
But yes, a non cishet slop book for Rui!
yeah i heard some very similar things in other reviews rip. at least the main couple is sapphic tho
Yeah that's true. At least there's that going for it.
Ugh are all the books in the source books quest like that?
well tbf female fantasy wasn't. story of my life might escape that fate too but it remains to be seen. otherwise yes
Oh I fully thought Chain-Gang All-Stars was written by a woman!
I think that kind of serves as extra proof that the writing of women in it is good.
I’m also a little shook 💀
Legends and Lattes? I was hesitant to read it because it was written by a cis, straight man, but it was really good! And queer! Though it’s definitely lighter than what’s on this list 😂
I was wondering if it would fit! As I hadn't read it myself and couldn't find anyone to endorse it I hesitated over adding. But thank you for vouching for it! I'm looking forward to getting to it.
I would absolutely endorse it! So good! 😊
This entire series is utterly delightful. Travis Baldree does such a phenomenal job in the writing, and these books are a delight as audiobooks (which he also narrates).
I've heard so many good things!
Yes! I totally agree! His narration of the audiobooks is great! I have only read the first one, but I’ll get around to the others eventually! ☺️
i really loved it! such a cozy book!
Yessss genius list idea
Thank you! It was down to shock that a man wrote A Master of Djinn.
I was surprised too but I’m happy that this is a good example for men writing women
YES! It's a super good thing and I'm happy that it also inspired a list hehe.
Same!!!
Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett would fit!
Yesss another book to add to the list. It’s on my TBR too! Thank you!
obsessed with this list concept! came here to suggest the membranes but it's already on here 🥰
Maybe Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell? He's not a straight man (aro/ace) but I think it still fits your requirements!
I'm learning about so many books that I thought were written by women and apparently I've been wrong this whole time 😅
I'd like to throw Red Rabbit by Alex Grecian into the ring! It checks all the criteria and it's also an exceptional book
