“Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”

― Toni Morrison, “Beloved”

 

As March approaches, we prepare to celebrate Women's History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing and honoring the contributions of women throughout history. In 2023, we will continue to commemorate the accomplishments of women and inspire the next generation of trailblazers.

 

This year’s Women’s History Month theme, Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories, is particularly special to the women at Bookclubs because we work to uplift and celebrate women storytellers and readers all year round. Throughout March, we’ll honor women storytellers, past and present who have used their craft to reflect women’s experiences.

 

In addition to literature and storytelling, women have been and continue to be at the forefront of social justice movements, advocating for civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental protection. Women also make significant contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes.

 

Despite progress made, there is still much work to be done to achieve true gender equality. Women continue to face barriers in the workplace, in politics, and in their personal lives. As we celebrate Women's History Month in 2023, let us remember both the struggles and triumphs of the past, and push for gender equality, ensuring that women have equal access to opportunities, rights, and representation in all aspects of society.

 

Continue reading for this year’s curated Women Who Tell Our Stories reading list and women-centered book club recommendations. If you have a Bookclubs account, click on the book images below to add the books to your Books I Want to Read shelf, or to recommend them to one of your clubs. (If you don’t have a Bookclubs account yet, it’s easy and free to get started here)

 

 

Feminist Fiction and Women’s Rights reading recommendations and book club discussion guides for women by women across the world. 🙌🏽

 

• Becoming by Michelle Obama.
• Bad Feminist By Roxanne Gay
• Circe by Madeline Miller
• Down Below by Leonora Carrington
• Feminism Is for Everybody by bell hooks
• Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
• Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Know My Name by Chanel Miller
• Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
• The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
• The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
• Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
• Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
• Women Who Run With Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
• Wow, No Thank You by Samantha Irby

 

For more information about women in the literary arts, check out VIDA, an incredible non-profit and intersectional feminist literary organization.

 

 

Women Founded Presses, Publishers, and Literary Magazines:

 

• Feminist Press
• She Writes Press
• Forest Avenue Press
• Coffee House Press
• Shade Mountain Press
• Sourcebooks
• Hawthorne Books
• Zibby Books
• Fatal Flaw Literary Magazine
• Aster(ix) Literary Journal

 

Women Who Read: Public Book Clubs for Women

 

• Well Read Black Girl
• She Reads
• Nasty Women Book Club
• Classic and Contemporary Women Book Club
• LITerary Women 
• Story of Woman
• Lemon-Love Book Club
• Women Reading Women
• She-Wolves Book Club

 

Related Content

 

Diverse Author Reading Inspiration:

 

• Top books and publishers to read for International Women’s Day
• Irish Women Writers Not Named Sally Rooney
• Best Book Club Books of 2023
• How To Diversify Your Bookshelf
• Must Read Books By Black Authors
• 12 Debut Authors to Read With Your Book Club
• The Ultimate LGBTQ+ Pride Book List
• Book Recs Based On Your Zodiac Sign

 

 

Public book clubs focusing on books by diverse authors:

 

• Book clubs reading books by women 
• Book clubs reading books by BIPOC or other underrepresented authors
• Book clubs reading books by queer and LGBTQ+ authors

 

We’ll be highlighting women’s stories, voices, and book clubs all month long via our blog, social media, and newsletter so if you enjoyed this feature, subscribe to our blog and create a Bookclubs account to access more reading and club inspiration! Already have an account? Rate and review books that you've read, and recommend your favorites to friends.