For a long time in literary history, books with female protagonists were rare, and when found, often pertained to romance (and the lead character’s relationship to a man).
Thankfully, we now have a much more diverse canon of books with female leads who speak their minds, embark on daring adventures, and live life on their terms.
Books with Strong Female Leads
Here are 12 books that feature strong female protagonists who have overcome difficult circumstances and left a lasting mark on recent literature.
1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Known by locals as the “Marsh Girl,” rumors have long surrounded Kya Clark, who lives by herself in the marsh.
Sensitive and intelligent, Kya is not what they say, but when a young man is found dead, everyone in town turns a suspicious eye to Kya.
2. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Set during World War II in Nazi-occupied France, The Nightingale follows Vianne and Isabelle, two sisters who are separated by their years, ideals, and circumstances.
Despite their differences, they’ll each fight in their own ways for survival, love, and freedom. If you enjoy this book, you can check out more books by Kristin Hannah.
3. Time’s a Thief by B.G. Firmani
In the gritty New York City of the mid-eighties, Francesca “Chess” Varani is a freshman at Barnard from a blue collar family.
She grows up quickly, navigating toxic friendships, painful love affairs, and tough decisions that change her future. As the years pass, she reflects on the choices she’s made, as well as those she didn’t.
4. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan quartet features not one, but two strong female leads in Elena Greco and Raffaella “Lila” Cerullo.
The series’ four books span nearly six decades in the lives of these two friends, starting from their childhood and watching as they become women, wives, mothers, and leaders, all while maintaining a complex and often conflicted friendship.
5. I Let You Fall by Sara Downing
After falling and suffering a traumatic head injury, London art teacher Eve Chapman finds herself trapped in a coma. No matter how hard she tries, she can’t get her family and friends to see or hear her.
But then Eve meets Luca Diaz, a handsome lawyer who’s also comatose and actually can see her. He takes Eve under his wing and shows her how to use her new abilities to help others.
As the weeks pass, Eve fights to get back to her body and to Nathan, the man she loves. But as she spends more and more time with Luca, she begins to wonder if her old life is worth going back to at all.
6. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman
Seven-year-old Elsa is different. Her 77-year-old grandmother is crazy—but also Elsa’s best, and only, friend.
By day, her grandmother fires paintball guns at strangers, amid other shenanigans, while at night, Elsa escapes through her grandmother’s stories to the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas.
When her grandmother dies and leaves behind a series of letters apologizing to people she’s wronged, Elsa’s greatest adventure begins.
7. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Eleanor is socially awkward, doesn’t seem to have a filter, and hasn’t cut her hair in years. But she’s quite content with her carefully scheduled life of dodging social interactions, consuming frozen pizza and vodka, and talking to her mother for hours on the phone.
That all changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond save Sammy, an elderly man who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become friends and help each other out of their isolation, while Raymond’s big heart pushes Eleanor to repair her own.
8. Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
Jende and Neni Jonga immigrate from Cameroon to Harlem in search of a better life for themselves and their six-year-old son.
In the fall of 2007, Jende lands a job as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a senior executive at Lehman Brothers.
Their luck continues when Clark’s wife, Cindy, even offers Neni temporary work at their summer home in the Hamptons. With these opportunities, it looks like Jende and Neni can finally gain a foothold in America and step toward a brighter future.
But Jende and Neni notice cracks in their employers’ façades, which conceal troubling secrets behind power and privilege.
9. Lola by Melissa Scrivner Love
This thriller follows our titular protagonist, Lola, who lives in South Central Los Angeles and is involved with the Crenshaw Six, a small but powerful gang.
Constantly underestimated, Lola plays the role of submissive girlfriend, even though she’s much smarter, tougher, and more ruthless than most men.
As the gang faces deep trouble, Lola will become a leader in a man’s world, and using her skills, quick thinking, and leadership, she’ll soon be their only hope for survival.
10. Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan
Sisters Nora and Theresa Flynn leave their quaint village in Ireland at just 21 and 17, respectively, and journey to America.
Nora is the responsible sister, shy and engaged to a man she’s not sure she loves. Theresa, on the other hand, is thrilled by their new life in Boston, from the fashionable dresses to the lively dance halls.
When Theresa becomes pregnant, Nora hatches a plan that will change both of their lives forever. Fifty years later, a death will reunite the now estranged sisters and force them to confront the choices they made many decades ago.
11. One Great Lie by Deb Caletti
When Charlotte wins a scholarship to attend a writing workshop in Venice with the charismatic and brilliant Luca Bruni, it’s a dream come true.
Writing is Charlotte’s passion, and getting to learn from one of her favorite writers in the magical sinking city of Venice also offers her a chance to investigate a long-time family mystery about a Venetian poet deep in their lineage, who might be the real author of a very famous poem.
Luca’s villa on the eerie island of La Calamita is extravagant, and Venice itself is beautiful, charming, and seductive—as is Luca Bruni.
As Luca’s behavior grows increasingly unnerving, Charlotte begins to unearth the long-lost work of Isabella, along with some secrets about the past and present.
12. Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid
After moving back to Los Angeles, Hannah Martin joins her best friend Gabby for a night out. While at a bar, Hannah runs into her high school boyfriend, Ethan, and faces a choice: will she return home with Gabby, or accept Ethan’s offer for a ride?
From here, the book follows two concurrent storylines, as Hannah lives out the consequences of each decision. In each case, Hannah believes she’s found her soul mate, but the book still raises questions about how much of life is determined by chance.
What Is the Female Lead Character Called?
A female lead character is often referred to as the heroine, the female version of the hero.
However, protagonist is gender neutral and works for both female and male lead characters.
Powerful Leading Ladies
Books with strong female leads not only make interesting reads, but they also serve as inspiration to generations of female readers who want to read about characters they can relate to.
As such, it’s important to remember that strong doesn’t mean perfect. Rather than creating flawless Mary Sues who do everything right, writers should seek to create well-developed characters with real flaws and realistic challenges. This is what makes powerful female leads relatable, unique, and timeless all at once.
Do you have a favorite book with a strong female lead? Tell us about it in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 12 Female Literary Characters Who Are More Than Damsels in Distress
- Women’s Fiction: Definition and Examples
- Writing Women: How to Write Better Female Characters
- 12 Funny Books for Women: Riotously Relatable Fiction and Nonfiction
As a blog writer for TCK Publishing, Kaelyn loves crafting fun and helpful content for writers, readers, and creative minds alike. She has a degree in International Affairs with a minor in Italian Studies, but her true passion has always been writing. Working remotely allows her to do even more of the things she loves, like traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.
