Chick lit is both a genre and pop culture phenomenon that started in the 90s. “Chick” is a slang term for “woman,” while “lit” is short for “literature.”
The genre involves a woman-centered narrative that deals with different aspects of womanhood and the prejudices that come with it. In that sense, they’re stories that are more about the audience than the plot. The authors, who are predominantly female, write about the realities that women often face.
Best Chick Lit Books
Chick lit books are the sort of “feel-good” stories that usually involve quirky and likable characters, obstacles to overcome for a happy ending, and a bit of romance to spice things up.
We’ve rounded up the best chick lit books to help you get started in your reading. Check them out below!
1. Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
This is the book that essentially started the chick lit movement. It follows the adventures of the titular character, who attempts to lose weight, quit smoking, and find true love. Every woman has been her at some point.
2. The One That Got Away by Bethany Chase
What if the one that got away came back? This is the situation Sarina finds herself in when her old flame moves back to town and hires her to renovate his home. She tries to be professional, but every interaction just reminds her why she was drawn to him in the first place.
3. In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner
Sisters Maggie and Rose share a love for footwear and the fact that they wear the same shoe size. But their similarities end there. Maggie’s drop-dead gorgeous but can’t hold a decent job, while Rose is a high-powered attorney struggling with her romantic relationships—and they’re both secretly envious of each other’s lives.
4. Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
Fourteen-year-old Audrey is constantly battling her anxiety, but she’s making slow and steady progress to recovery. Things start to look even better when she finally meets a guy who “gets” her and sees past her mental burdens.
5. It’s About Love by Steve Camden
Luke and Leia (they were both born to Star Wars fans) are from different ends of town with no connection but the origins of their names and being enrolled in the same course.
One major way they differ from their namesakes is that they’re not siblings, so it’s perfectly fine when a budding romance slowly starts building between them.
6. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
Single mom Amy is an overworked librarian in desperate need of a break. She rarely has any time for herself, so when her guilt-ridden ex-husband returns and offers to take care of the kids for a while, she accepts. Now it’s time to let down her hair and enjoy some long overdue fun.
7. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Becky Bloomwood writes for a finance magazine called Successful Savings, but is ironically in immense debt, and all because of her uncontrollable shopping sprees. Now the debtors are knocking, and she needs to cut back on the spending. But can she?
8. Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Rachel White is the ultimate good girl. Ever since grade school, she’s let her best friend Darcy shine, never trying to step into the limelight. But things drastically change when she ends up in bed with Darcy’s fiancé. Worse, it seems they’ve got feelings for each other.
9. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman detest each other. It doesn’t help that they’re polar opposites playing passive-aggressive mind games every day as they work across from each other.
A possible promotion brings their competition to a head, but the tension seems to be going in the opposite direction. Maybe they don’t really hate each other after all… or is this yet another game?
10. Beach Read by Emily Henry
Augustus Everett and January Andrews write different stories. He’s into literary fiction, and she’s into romance. But something they do have in common are their severe cases of writer’s block.
Now neighbors for the next three months, they decide to escape their creative ruts by swapping genres. But they never did say anything about falling in love with each other, did they?
11. The Upside of Falling Down by Rebekah Crane
Clementine Haas is the lone survivor of a plane crash that’s also left her amnesiac. She’s desperate to learn who she really is, and enlists the help of a blue-eyed Irish stranger. But discovering her identity becomes harder as she learns more about who she wants to be.
12. If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
Laurie is left devastated when her boyfriend of over a decade suddenly ends their relationship. Even worse is that they work in the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Now she’s single, but dating in the age of Tinder’s just too appalling.
So she sets up a plan with the office playboy to pretend to be a couple and make everyone else jealous. But faking love’s not so easy when it’s slowly becoming real!
13. The Authenticity Project Clare Pooley
Jullian Jessop is a 79-year-old eccentric artist who leaves behind a journal in his local cafe. Written in it is the question: “Everybody lies about their lives. What would happen if you shared the truth?”
This kicks off a domino effect of people writing down the deepest truths about their lives, which brings total strangers into unexpected friendships.
14. The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
It’s been two years since her fiancé’s death, and Sloan’s still trying to get her life back on track. But one lost pup’s about to change everything: with a new pet by her side, things are finally looking up.
When her dog’s actual owner reaches out, Sloan’s not giving up without a fight. What if he doesn’t love her dog as much as she does? Texts turn into long calls, and both are feeling one hell of a connection. But there’s no telling what will happen when they finally meet in person.
15. Regretting You by Colleen Hoover
Morgan Grant doesn’t want her daughter following in her footsteps, and Clara doesn’t want to be boring like her mother. In fact, the two find it difficult to even coexist.
The only person who can bring them together is Chris, father of this chaotic household and the family anchor. But when he’s involved in a tragic accident, mother and daughter have to learn how to work together as a family.
Is the Term Chick Lit Sexist?
There is a vocal community of writers and readers who find the term troublesome for various reasons. A few say it’s sexist; others say it fails to describe what the genre really is.
Some female writers avoid being associated with the genre for several reasons. There’s a wide misconception that any female-written works are automatically chick lit, and the genre itself is often considered low and unsophisticated. Writer Beryl Bainbridge deemed the genre “shallow,” and editor Elizabeth Merrick calls its stories narrow and unoriginal.
Then there’s the negative connotation of the word “chick” itself. Though it’s gained a more positive meaning, it was once used to describe a woman who is pretty but empty-headed. Accordingly, chick lit stories and the people who read them are seen as vapid and boring.
Some people have tried rechristening the genre, with terms like “light women’s fiction,” “funny women’s fiction,” or simple “romance comedy.” But these have never really caught on as much as chick lit.
Despite all these, opinions are still polarized. Fans praise it as often as its detractors criticize it. Chick lit authors Jennifer Weiner and Jenny Colgan are vocal defenders of the genre, with Weiner blaming the genre’s problems on a cultural mindset that devalues any woman’s works.
Both sides have arguments that have merit and must be considered in deciding the genre’s future. Thankfully, we’re seeing a more inclusive change of thinking in today’s societies. Including more voices in this discussion and considering more insights can lead us to a clearer answer.
Reading Chick Lit Books
One of the greatest pleasures in life is getting lost in a good book, especially when you’re on holiday. Light-hearted reads also make great companions for road trips, flights, or a little R&R time on the beach.
I’ve only read a few chick lit books, but I’ve found them good and light-hearted reads for when I’m on vacation or just looking for a feel-good story.
And even though I’m a guy, there’s still much to enjoy about chick lit. You might even learn a thing or two about women when you read them. After all, the majority of these books are written by women, so you’ll broaden your own perspective.
Have you read any chick lit books? Share your reading experience in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 19 Great Books About Strong Women
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- Writing Women: How to Write Better Female Characters
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
