25 Of The Best Feminist Books To Read Ahead Of International Women's Day
From 'We Should All Be Feminists' to 'She Said', these are the feminist books you need to read ahead of International Women's Day.
We believe feminist books are the perfect read every month, but what better time to widen your collection than during Women's History Month in particular? The month of March – as well as International Women's Day on March 8 specifically – celebrates and highlights the contributions of women in years gone by and how they have shaped the society we live in now. Spoiler alert: things would be very different if it wasn't for some incredible women.
Whether you're looking to brush up on your history knowledge, delve into the past and find out everything you need to know about the first stages and women of the feminist movement or you're looking to read about some modern day heroes, we have the book for you.
From Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists, that draws on her own personal experience to eloquently discuss feminism in the 21st century, to Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey's She Said which tells the gripping story of how their Harvey Weinstein investigation broke and came to being printed, we've put together a list of our favourite feminists books we know you'll enjoy.
We hope you enjoy our pick of the best feminist books and that for every gift you buy, you'll get a copy for yourself too.
Like Love: Essays and Conversations by Maggie Nelson
WH Smith - £18.40
Inspired by over twenty years’ worth of her work, writer Maggie Nelson has compiled a collection of profiles, reviews, remembrances, tributes and critical essays, as well as several conversations with friends and idols, that speak to feminist and queer issues, love and friendship and everything in between. Whether you're looking for a book to gift a feminist you love, or are just looking for some inspiration of your own, Nelson's latest book is as worthy of praise as her other seminal works.
Notes to Self by Emilie Pine
Amazon - £7.69
Emilie Pine’s astonishing debut collection, Notes to Self, brings together six essays reflecting on vital aspects of life as a woman today. The essays are so beautifully written you will want to share with whoever is near you as soon as you've finished it. Author Pine shares the story of her life including her father's alcoholism, a teenage eating disorder, depression and infertility. If that sounds gloomy, don't be put off. There's heartwarming joy in Pine's writing, too.
The Sun And Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
Amazon - £9.89
It began as an Instagram series and quickly became a bestselling book – and now, the author of milk and honey brings us a second collection of long-awaited poetry.
If you’re a fan of Rupi Kaur’s poetry (who isn’t?) her second doesn’t disappoint. the sun and her flowers is a journey of wilting, falling, rooting, rising and blooming.
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
Amazon - £8.95
In this 1929 essay, based on the legendary lecture she gave at Cambridge University, Virginia Woolf explores what it means for women to have access to education, money, space and time – which she argues are the tenets for female freedom not just to write, but to live too.
She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey
Amazon - £8.99
Two years after their seminal Harvey Weinstein story broke, the New York Times journalists released their book She Said. It tells the gripping story of how the piece came to being printed, including how celebrities like Lena Dunham and Gwyneth Paltrow helped the cause.
The second half focuses on Christine Blasey Ford's testament against Brett Kavanaugh, and the final scene is a fascinating look into what happens when women come forward and tell stories of abuse. She Said has since been made into a film of the same name, starring Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan – but we recommend tackling the book first.
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Amazon - £12.99
Adapted from her much-admired TEDx talk of the same name - the best selling author of Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie draws on her own personal experience to eloquently discuss feminism in the 21st Century.
Adichie's exploration of what it means to be a woman today is observant and witty and shines a light on blatant discrimination all women face. If you need a reminder why we should all be feminists, read this.
Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
Amazon - £10.63
American writer Rebecca Solnit's has been writing about 'mansplaining' since before the term was even coined. Her collection of essays discussing the insidious nature of patriarchal culture has since become a touchstone of modern Feminism that has influenced everyone from Beyoncé to the most radical activists.
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai
Amazon - £6.33
Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right for an education. She almost paid the ultimate price when she was shot on the bus on her way from school. Few thought she would survive but her recovery has taken her on an extraordinary and life-changing journey.
Winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize and female education activist, Malala Yousafzai tells stories from her father, people in history and most importantly, her own.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Amazon - £8.34
This seminal work remains one of the most important explorations of the intersectionality between race and feminism to date. Angelou’s novel follows the life of a young girl living in Arkensaw as she battles against discrimination to find her own voice. Essential reading.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Amazon - £10.30
Sisters Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth - the 'little' women - continue to inspire and be talked about a century and a half after they were created by Louisa May Alcott. Readers have related to, seen themselves in, sympathised with and adored each character.
The sisters' stories and relationships have remained relevant through time, so much so the 2019 film featuring Florence Pugh and Saoirse Ronan was the seventh film adaptation of the novel.
Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates
Amazon - £8.26
After experiencing a series of sexist incidents, Bates began a project called 'Everyday Sexism', a website where people could share their experiences of discrimination to sexual assault and rape. The project went viral and had soon received over 100,000 testimonies.
Bates' book of the same name highlights the discrimination women experience in day-to-day life in a bold, intelligent and thought-provoking way.
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Amazon - £9.19
As Saturday Night Live’s first ever female head writer, Tina Fey’s Bossypants is laugh-out-loud funny and we wouldn't expect anything less from the Mean Girls writer.
The autobiographical comedy book is candid and self-deprecating and contains the level of honesty we love to hear and read. We follow Fey's dreams, which include being chased through the airport by her school gym teacher to her dream of becoming a comedian on TV. She also addresses her trolls with utter wit.
It's OK To Not Feel Blue by Scarlett Curtis
Amazon - £8.27
Following on from her hit book Feminists Don't Wear Pink (and other lies) comes author Scarlett Curtis's second book. This collection includes more than 70 people's personal accounts of what it's like to live with mental health issues, including stories from Sam Smith, Adam Kay and Emilia Clarke.
One of our favourites is Emma Thompson writing about her 'ironically undramatic' depression and her tips on overcoming 'low spirits' including 'Keep reasonably busy' and 'Do not under any circumstances compare yourself to anyone else'.
Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
Amazon - £8.49
One of the most talked-about books of 2020, Three Women is the masterpiece by Lisa Taddeo, who spent eight years living with three different women across America and exploring their relationships with sexuality and desire.
The book, which Taddeo called an 'updating of Gay Talese's Thy Neighbour's Wife, but from a female perspective', is an amazing feat of journalism and storytelling. The writing is so vivid that at times it reads like fiction. It's no surprise, then, that the screen rights have already been snapped up in a furious bidding war. Read it first before the film comes out!
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Amazon - £8.80
Joint winner of the 2019 Man Booker Prize, this book masterfully tells the sprawling stories of a group of black British women over the past 100 years living in the UK, from Newcastle to Cornwall.
The characters, which include Amma a lesbian socialist playwright and Carole a high-flyer with a dark secret, are all so beautifully written you won't want their stories to end before you move on to the next.
Gutsy Women by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton
Amazon - £8.26
The former U.S. First Lady, senator, and secretary of state, Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea have teamed up to tell their favourite stories of courage and resilience.
From historian Mary Beard to the author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, women who have impacted history and made a difference are included in this tome. The mother-daughter duo provide an inspiring read and a celebration of women's bravery in the face of adversity. Just what we need!
Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay
Amazon - £10.55
'Pink is my favourite colour. I used to say my favourite colour was black to be cool, but it is pink - all shades of pink. If I have an accessory, it is probably pink.' In this series of essays Roxanna Gay takes us through her evolution as a woman of colour while commenting on feminism in today's world.
Can you be a feminist and also like pink? Bad Feminist explores being a feminist whilst also loving things that go against society's ideology of what feminism is. A must-read.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Amazon - £12.99
We waited nearly 30 years for the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale so when it finally arrived the hype was, understandably, considerable. The joint winner of the 2019 Man Booker Prize, the story picks up 15 years after the final Handmaid's scene in which Offred rides off in the back of a van.
The Testaments is narrated by three characters: Aunt Lydia (who you'll recognise from The Handmaid's Tale TV series), Agnes who lives in Gilead, and Daisy, a young woman living in Canada. This book was a classic even before it came out.
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Amazon - £6.95
A classic known for its dark and razor-sharp portrayal of 1950s society, The Bell Jar follows the story of Esther Greenwood who begins an internship at a New York fashion magazine and is seemingly at the beginning of her future.
But Esther's life begins to spirals out of control as she grapples with difficult relationships and a society which refuses to take women's aspirations seriously. It's a classic for a reason.
Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Amazon - £8.95
For years she was known to the world as Emily Doe, the victim in a sexual abuse case that went viral after her impact statement was posted (anonymously) on Buzzfeed.
But in this incredibly brave and gut-wrenching memoir Miller comes forward with her real name, describing her experience of sexual assault and how she built her life back up afterwards. If you read the impact statement, you will know that this won't be 'light' reading but it will confront you with important questions about how cases of sexual abuse and rape are dealt with.
Amy Brewster is ELLE UK's Social Media Manager, handling everything from fashion week Insta-polls through to celebrity Q&As.
Naomi May is a seasoned culture journalist and editor with over ten years’ worth of experience in shaping stories and building digital communities. After graduating with a First Class Honours from City University's prestigious Journalism course, Naomi joined the Evening Standard, where she worked across both the newspaper and website. She is now the Digital Editor at ELLE Magazine and has written features for the likes of The Guardian, Vogue, Vice and Refinery29, among many others. Naomi is also the host of the ELLE Collective book club.
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