Is it just my imagination, or are most bookstores swamped full of women’s faces on books? These covers tend to show female faces turned away from the camera, or maybe even completely out of sight. But even at first glance, you can guess that the theme is targeted toward women.
Women’s fiction is a legitimate genre in the publishing industry. Strangely, it doesn’t have a corresponding “men’s fiction,” which adds to the question of sexism: Why do women’s stories and problems get clumped into one genre, while men’s stories fall under the likes of “literary fiction” or “classics”?
Let’s take a closer look at what constitutes women’s fiction in the first place.
What Is Women’s Fiction?
Women’s fiction has traditionally focused on the emotional journey of the protagonist—almost always female—and her relationships. Sometimes these books can include varying levels of romance, but it is not a prerequisite, and may even be only a little side story. This means that women’s fiction does not automatically equate to the romance genre.
In fact, one major difference is that romance novels tend to wrap up nicely in a happily ever after, whereas women’s fiction can be more realistic—and painful—as it explores themes that are larger than the love story at hand. Although women’s fiction may have romantic plotlines that end well, it usually contains many other concerns that may take precedence over the love relationship.
The genre focuses on women’s stories and started off being written by women. However, it has since branched out to include male authors and even male protagonists. To illustrate, Nicholas Sparks is considered one of the masters in women’s fiction, and many of his books feature men as the main characters.
Looking back on its roots, women’s fiction possibly originated from authors using novels to teach women the way they were expected to behave.
For example, Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded, often cited as the first English novel, tells the story of a woman who keeps her virtue even amid advances from her rakish employer. Eventually, the man reforms and asks to marry her. Books like these were used as examples to show young ladies the power of virtue.
Generations since then, we are still reading novels that show women as epitomes of unconditional love and unparalleled support and strength. However, today’s women fiction also deals with contemporary issues, and acknowledges both the flaws and strengths of individual women as they face life’s challenges.
What Is the Difference Between Chick Lit and Women’s Fiction?
Perhaps one key distinction between chick lit and women’s fiction is that women’s fiction tends to deal with more serious issues, and in a deeper way.
Chick lit usually refers to more light-hearted storytelling, often mixing comedy and romance, and starring a female protagonist in her twenties or early thirties. The characters tend to work out problems relating to life and love, usually set in urban settings and emphasizing a consumer culture.
What Are the Characteristics of Women’s Fiction?
Women’s fiction typically revolves around the following themes:
- Home: This may include difficult topics like divorce and betrayal, while also exploring beautiful themes like trust and loyalty;
- Family: This includes real-life struggles like job loss, cancer, parent-child relationship struggles, sibling rivalry, among others;
- Community: This can encompass themes like friendship, sisterhood, loyalty, isolation, and many other topics.
Examples of Women’s Fiction
To get a more intimate feel of the genre, check out some of these most popular authors of women’s fiction, and see what themes are prevalent in a sample of their books:
1. Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
In Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult tells the story of a newborn baby who dies from a routine hospital procedure.
Everyone believes that it’s the nurse’s fault. But throughout the courtroom drama, the lawyer, the nurse, and even the child’s father discovers just how much that death has changed all of their lives.
2. Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
In this first book of her Practical Magic series, Hoffman explores the family saga of Maria Owens, the family matriarch accused of witchcraft.
Abandoned as a baby in the 1600s, Maria comes into the care of Hannah Owens, who teaches her the art of magic, plus her most important lesson about love.
3. Gathering Blossoms Under Fire: The Journals of Alice Walker by Alice Walker
This memoir features 50 years’ worth of Alice Walker’s journals, detailing her journey and growth as an activist for women’s rights and human rights, an artist, and an intellectual.
This gives us an intimate look into the feelings and thoughts of a woman who lived through the Civil Rights Movement and worked relentlessly for the Women’s Lib Movement.
4. The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg
In this novel, we follow Arthur Moses, a man who spends his days visiting his late wife in the cemetery. There he meets Maddy Harris, an 18-year-old introspective girl who goes to the cemetery to avoid her schoolmates.
They form an unlikely friendship, and add Arthur’s neighbor Lucille into their circle, bonding through hardships and heartache and starting anew together.
5. Rachel to the Rescue by Elinor Lipman
After sending an email that criticizes Donald Trump, Rachel Klein loses her job at the White House, and shortly after, she’s hit by a speeding car.
Who was driving that car? Why does someone send her flowers and hush money at the hospital? Despite the seemingly serious issues, Lipman mischievously turns this novel into a political satire that will have you in stitches!
Reading Women’s Fiction
Reading women’s fiction can be relaxing but also heart-wrenching and thought-provoking. Some of these books can help you process difficult emotions and thoughts, such as in the face of loss and challenging situations.
If you know anyone going through a difficult time, consider gifting them a women’s fiction novel or two. It may just inspire them as they find a character they can relate to, helping them move on with greater courage.
Did you find this post helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
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Yen Cabag is the Blog Writer of TCK Publishing. She is also a homeschooling mom, family coach, and speaker for the Charlotte Mason method, an educational philosophy that places great emphasis on classic literature and the masterpieces in art and music. She has also written several books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her passion is to see the next generation of children become lovers of reading and learning in the midst of short attention spans.
