Book Review: The Lamb by Lucy Rose ‘The Lamb’ by Lucy Rose was published in 2025. It is Rose’s debut novel and explores the idea of love through the lens of cannibalism thematically. This book can be rather grotesque, and while, in my opinion, this gruesome description could have been used more consistently throughout theContinueContinue reading
Tag Archives: feministfiction
Book Review: Butter by Asako Yuzuki Version 1.0.0 Butter by Asako Yuzuki was originally published in 2017, in Japanese, it was translated by Polly Barton, and published in the UK in 2024, where it won Waterstones Book Of The Year, and is the company’s Book Of The Month for May 2025. The story follows Rika,ContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Queen B by Juno Dawson ‘Queen B’ by Juno Dawson was released in 2024. It is a prequel novella which predates the events of Dawson’s ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’ series, which is due to conclude with the final book, ‘Human Rites’ due to come out in 2025. This book was a surprise toContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Break-Up Artist by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely ‘The Break-Up Artist’ by Erin Clark and Laura Lovely was an audible original novella, and is only available to listen to with an Audible subscription. It tells a compelling story of grief, jealousy, miscommunications, imposter syndrome and all the nuanced issues with falling inContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Medea by Rosie Hewlett ‘Medea’ by Rosie Hewlett was released in 2024. It tells the story of Medea, the tragic heroine who married Jason of the Argonauts, killed her brother and then subsequently murdered both of the sons she had with Jason to punish him for leaving her. She is often seen asContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Love Flushed by Evie Mitchell ‘Love Flushed’ is the second book of Evie Mitchell’s ‘All Acess’ series, and was released in 2021. It is preceded by ‘Knot My Type’, which I reviewed previously, and will be followed by ‘Darn Knit All’, which, unfortunately, doesn’t yet have a release date. You can read myContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Under The Rainbow by Celia Laskey ‘Under The Rainbow’ was released in 2020, it was the author, Celia Laskey’s debut novel. The book offers a lot of insight into the change that can come when a LGBTQ+ organisation comes to reform the most homophobic town in the United States, Big Burr, Kansas. IContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Cock Down The Block by Amy Award ‘The Cock Down The Block’ by Amy Award was released in 2023, it is a short, immersive romcom with a plus-sized female lead, and is available to read with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, as is the sequel, ‘The Weiner Across The Way’. It is theContinueContinue reading
‘Fresh’ by Margot Wood was released in 2021 and follows the story of Elliot McHugh as she begins the next stage of life: Freshman Year at Emerson College. Before she left Cincinnati for Boston, having lived with her seemingly perfect sister, Izzy, who is studying medicine, and her younger sister, Remy, who has an eclectic obsession with dryer sheets, Elliot was betrayed by the people she held closest to her. Her ex-boyfriend cheated on her for months, and her three best friends knew and didn’t tell her. Vulnerable, alone, and seeking fun, sex, and freedom, Elliot is ready for a new adventure.
Book Review: The Situationship by Taylor-Dior Rumble ‘The Situationship’ by Taylor-Dior Rumble was published in 2023. It’s an empowering story of navigating the corporate world and the realm of dating apps. It is Rumble’s first novel. The story follows Tia, a woman in her twenties living at home with her family in London. She’s strugglingContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy ‘Zora Books Her Happy Ever After’ by Taj McCoy was released in 2023. It was her second novel, and is available to read via Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service. The story follows Zora, a small-business and home owner, who runs a bookstore. After an authorContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann The Romantic Agenda by Claire Kann was released in 2022 and tells a poignant story of love, self-acceptance, heartbreak, and empowerment. We follow Joy, a black woman in her thirties who looks like she has her shit together. She is beautiful, confident and has a successful career,ContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Fair Rosaline by Natasha Solomons ‘Fair Rosaline’ is a historical fiction novel inspired by the events of the Shakespearian classic, Romeo and Juliet. The book, by Natasha Solomons was released in 2023 and was her ninth release. Her name may be familiar because she’s the author behind ‘I, Mona Lisa’. This is theContinueContinue reading
Book Review: The Shite Before Christmas by Serena Terry ‘The Shite Before Christmas’ is a hilarious story by Serena Terry that was released in 2022. The book follows a family in the lead-up to Christmas, detailing the mundane and ridiculous events that happen in a household with young kids. Although I doubt that I amContinueContinue reading
‘Lessons In Chemistry’ by Bonnie Garmus was released in 2022. It was her debut novel, and received great acclaim due to its frank nature, and upfront depictions of sexual violence and misogyny. It wasn’t a book I would have necessarily bought, but I was swayed by BookTok, which praised the novel, and decided it was worth a punt.
I enjoyed this book, but I hated Frances’ character, I think that made it easier to relate to the other character’s opinions of her. Her narration, which started off witty and wistful quickly became snippy and snide as she came to terms with the emotions she felt. I didn’t like being in her head, she was quick to try and reassure herself that she was above other people because she and Bobbi were so astute and theoretical and critical of the world around them.
‘Lady MacBethad’ by Isabelle Schuler was published in 2023 and tells the story of Gruoch, or Groa, to those who knew her closely. A direct descendant of Pagan king, King Coinneach, Groa is imbued with ambitions of greatness, far beyond her station. This book blends fiction, the classic Shakespearian character, and the historical details of the figure that inspired her together, through a distinctly feminist perspective.
‘Medusa’ is a novella by Jessie Burton that was published by Bloomsbury in 2021. It follows the story of mythological figure, Medusa, and offers a take on her encounter with Perseus, one of the demigod sons of Zeus.
Book Review: Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison ‘Such Sharp Teeth’ by Rachel Harrison was published in 2022. It was her fourth novel. This is a piece of powerful, feminist literature within the horror genre. It is a moving, emotional story of bodily autonomy, trauma. The book follows sisters, Aurora or Rory as she’s betterContinueContinue reading
Book Review: Clytemnestra by Costanza Casati ‘Clytemnestra’ by Constanza Casati was released in 2023. It was her debut novel. The story, follows Clytemnestra, known as Agamemnon’s wife and Helen of Troy’s sister. Having absolutely eaten up the trend of mythological retellings, I was elated to get my hands on this book. I loved reading manyContinueContinue reading
‘Diary of a Void’ is a feminist novel by Emi Yagi, which was published in 2022. It follows the life of Ms Shibata, the only woman in her office, who is subconsciously obligated to do menial tasks for her male colleagues such as make coffees, prepare snacks that clients have gifted the firm and clear meeting rooms of the coffee cups left behind by her colleagues.
‘One To Watch’ was a novel by Kate Stayman-London and was released in 2020. It follows Beatrice, known as Bea, a plus sized fashion blogger and influencer on her thirties *gasp*, who has been unlucky in love.
‘The Women of Troy’ by Pat Barker was released in 2021. Although it can be read as a standalone novel, the events of the story follow almost directly from her book ‘The Silence Of The Girls’, which I’ve reviewed previously.
‘Kaikeyi’ was Vaishnavi Patel’s debut novel and was published in 2022. It was recommended to me whilst browsing online for other mythology related books. Despite knowing nothing about the original source material, Ramayana, I was excited to read it.
‘Circe’ is Madeline Miller’s second novel, and was released in 2019, it follows the immortal life of the nymph, Circe, daughter of Helios, one of the few Titans who sided with Zeus in wartimes. The book begins in her childhood, lingering significantly on a meeting with Prometheus upon the declaration of his punishment for giving mortals fire to wield as their own. While Helios and his people observe the spectacle of the fury, Alecto, whipping Prometheus, the event eventually loses its gravitas, and thus the interest of the people. All Helios’ courts, except Circe, leave him.
‘The Shadow Cabinet’ by Juno Dawson was released in May 2023, and was a highly-anticipated sequel to the sensational ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’. I was worried that ‘The Shadow Cabinet’ may suffer the infamous second book slump that affects many series’, where the second merely exists as a segway from Point A to Point B – but I had nothing to fear!
Book Review: Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’ is a novel by Juno Dawson, which follows an ensemble cast of middle aged witches living in the UK. These witches are, or were once, affiliated with the nation’s primary coven for witches: Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, (shortened to HMRC) and servedContinueContinue reading
‘Juniper and Thorn’ was Ava Reid’s second novel and was published in 2022. It is a dark fantasy which leans into gothic traditions. The novel follows the story of Marlinchen, the youngest of three sisters living under her father, the last wizard of Oblya’s roof.
‘Ghosts’ by Dolly Alderton was her second novel and was published in 2020. It followed the story of Nina, a thirty two year old single woman living in London and coming to terms with her friends entering the next stage of their lives, getting married and having children while she remains single.
‘The Silence of the Girls’ by Pat Barker was published in 2018 and retells events that take place during the siege of Troy from the perspective of Briseis, one of Achilles’ war prizes and former Queen of Lyrnessus. Breisis tells the story of her enslavement throughout the years of war on her land.
Lifesaving For Beginners’ is Josie Lloyd’s 2022 novel. It is a split-narrative, told in the first person and following the stories of several women who bond over wild swimming in the sea on the coast of Brighton.
Imogen L. Smiley 