March is Women’s History Month, and Books Forward wanted to celebrate some of the badass women we work with and some of their favorite books penned by female authors. If you’re looking for some more incredible book recommendations to add to your overflowing TBR (same), then look no further!
Dawn, @noladawnreads, she/her
Hey y’all, I’m Dawn, a lifetime New Orleans resident with three grown kids and three adorable cats. I’m a queer, disabled, and retired librarian, iced coffee addict, and I don’t remember ever not reading. I read from all genres, but my faves are thriller, memoir, and romance, and I love to read diverse stories. I’ve been a part of the Bookstagram community for 2 years and love the connections I’ve made there.
Bright Eyes by Bridey Thelen-Heidel was my favorite memoir that I read last year. I connected with it on so many levels, and Bridey told her traumatic story in a beautiful way. I try to read at least one memoir a month, and Bright Eyes stood out among the others. If you have triggers, please check the CW.
Leelynn, @sometimesleelynnreads, she/they
Hi everyone! My name is Leelynn, and I have been book blogging and bookstagramming for almost 10 years now. I am a mixed, queer, disabled lover of books, born and raised in Hawaii. I advocate for people with disabilities professionally and personally, inspired by my mom and grandfather. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Contemporary Romance, and Historical Fiction, but I’m open to trying new-to-me authors if I find the plot interesting.
A book that I highly recommend is Yin Yang Love Song by Lauren Kung Jessen. This story about generational trauma and learning how to change the narrative of your life hit so close to home in ways that I wasn’t expecting. Not only is this a story of love, family, and change, but it’s a reminder that we don’t need to allow others to dictate how we want to be seen in the world.
Diane, @booksandbiewers, she/her
My name is Diane, and I live near Niagara Falls, NY. I have a daughter and 3 dogs that keep me busy. I’m a lifelong reader with a passion for photography and traveling.
There are so many wonderful books out there, but if I had to choose one, I’d choose More or Less Maddy by Lisa Genova. The reason being is the research and heart the author puts into her writing. More or Less Maddy gives the reader an insight into Bipolar Disorder and the effects it has on the person diagnosed. Mental health rep in literature has an important role in our understanding of underrepresented groups.
Ashley Hasty, @hastybooklist, she/her
Ashley is a Chicago-based book lover, blogger, and storyteller who shares her passion for literature on HastyBookList.com. She enjoys diving into historical fiction, contemporary romance, and thought-provoking memoirs while curating unique book recommendations for her readers. When she’s not reading, she’s capturing everyday moments through photography, exploring her city with her son, or crafting nostalgic and literary-themed blog posts. Whether planning the perfect book club experience, reminiscing about decades past, or envisioning a new creative project, Ashley brings warmth, curiosity, and a love of storytelling to everything she does.
Renée Rosen’s Let’s Call Her Barbie is a dazzling behind-the-scenes look at the creation of an icon, following Ruth Handler and her team as they revolutionize the toy industry with a doll that would inspire generations. Set against the backdrop of the 1950s and beyond, this novel explores ambition, innovation, and the personal sacrifices behind Barbie’s meteoric rise. Perfect for fans of historical fiction and untold stories of trailblazing women, this is a must-read for anyone fascinated by the cultural impact of Barbie.
Yamini, @procaffeinate_withbooks, she/her
Art, Books, and Coffee are the ABCs of my life. I am usually found revolving like a planet in the periphery of these. Though I started my journey as a middle-grade reader, I now enjoy books in all kinds of genres – with a coffee on the side – and if it has beautiful artwork inside, even better!
I’d recommend Little Women by Louisa May Alcott because it teaches us to be brave under any circumstances and not lose hope.
Loren, @lokiisreading, she/her
Hello, my name is Loren, and I’m a librarian in Florida as well as an MLIS graduate student! I’ve been a bookstagrammer for two years, and I created my bookish space online to connect with other readers and share my love of stories. When I’m not working or doing schoolwork, I enjoy reading fantasy, manga, and YA books, though I’m always down to explore new genres!
The book I recommend is Skin & Bones by Renée Watson. Renée’s writing made me feel so seen as a woman. I couldn’t even write a proper review because this story just sat and settled within me. Have you ever read a book that completely speaks to you? It’s like as you’re reading, you’re having a conversation with the words on the pages? Not every part is for you, but you accept bits and pieces as you’re reading? This is one of those books, and I highly recommend it.
Lisa, @lisabythebook, she/her
Hello, my name is Lisa. I love reading all genres, especially romance, fantasy, and thrillers. Besides reading and collecting books, I love mixed-media art!
I highly recommend Ebony Gate, cowritten by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle. This urban fantasy series follows a badass female assassin tasked with protecting her city. Along with complex characters, an intricate magic system, and elaborate world-building, this book also features amazing AAPI rep and lore.
Angie Haddock, @readingourshelves, she/her
I’m a native northerner who now lives in the South, a working mom, and a proud Aries. In addition to reading, I love tea, chocolate, and yoga. I started writing book reviews as a “lockdown” hobby – and I haven’t stopped!
Science fiction is one of my longest-held loves, and it’s exciting to see more and more women and BIPOC writing in that sphere! With that said, I’m going to recommend Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. The time travel element and the existence of a colony on the moon make it sci-fi, but the connections between the characters make it worthwhile, and the writing itself is beautiful.
Asha, @girltalkhq, @ashadahya, she/her
I am an Emmy-nominated producer, writer, TEDx speaker, and storyteller. I have spent the last 18 years creating, producing, and hosting content for networks and organizations such as MTV, MSN.com, Disney, ABC, Nickelodeon, Fox, the ACLU, Supermajority, Snapchat, Nine Network Australia, and more. I am the founder of a daily feminist blog site called GirlTalkHQ.com and the author of Today’s Wonder Women: Everyday Superheroes Who Are Changing The World, featuring real-life inspirational stories of 50 women and girls. I produced an Emmy-nominated documentary about Autism awareness called “My Name is Siri”, directed and produced a short animated documentary about abortion storytelling called “Someone You Know”, and Executive Produced and co-hosted an 8-part audio series about Latin America’s Green Wave abortion rights movement called “Green Tide Rising”.
I’d recommend Solis by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher. This book is the sequel to their first book, Sanctuary, which tells a fictional story about a future America where an authoritarian government is in charge, tracking down immigrants and undocumented folks. They claim they are going to deport them, but instead, they are secretly sending them to detention and labor camps to mine materials, and they are treated as worthless beings. Told through the eyes of a young Latina named Vali and 3 other women whose stories become intertwined in “Solis”, reading this book in 2025 is feeling a little too close to home as opposed to fiction. Having worked with Paola Mendoza on Green Tide Rising and being very familiar with her activism work regarding abortion, immigration, and trans rights, this story comes not from a purely fictional point of view, but with a framework to show American readers especially that if we don’t speak up now, then the horrors that come in the future will be inevitable. Overall, it is an inspiring book that positions a young woman of color as a hero, not because of some superpower, wealth, or status, but because of her heart and determination to fight for a better world and the love she has for her family and community.
Kristy, @mommadocreads, she/her
I was born in New York to a military family and have moved around the U.S. for training and school, ending up in South Texas, which I love! I am a practicing OBGYN, mom to 2 little boys, and wife to another doc (making for a busy family life!). My favorite activities are gardening, reading, and trying to exercise when I can!
A recent amazing book by an amazing woman author was Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver! She has a gift for creating characters that draw you in and make you feel their story in a way that I haven’t experienced before!
Ana, @booksy.tx.ana, she/her
Hi. I’m Ana from big ol’ Texas, who’s been doing bookstagram for about 2 years now. I’ve always enjoyed reading, but I spent a lot of the past 12 years as a stay-at-home mom, focusing on my kids. So when I got back into reading more, making a bookstagram seemed like something fun to do. It’s something that was simply for me beyond being a mom and wife.
I would recommend Sunday Morning by Jewel E. Ann. It’s such a wonderful ’80s romance story with the quintessential bad boy. It absolutely steals your heart and attention the whole way through. It was my favorite read from last year out of all the books I read, over 200.
Lexi, @blackbookishbabe89, she/her
I’m Lexi, I’m an ESE teacher in Florida for grades 6-12. ESE is just a fancy way of saying I work and support neurodivergent students. I love reading diversely, especially books by People of Color. As one of my other bonus hobbies, I also love to play poker. I’m a big fan of the beach, but I do miss seasons.
My recommendation is The Love Stories of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Jeffers. This book is so important because it highlights Black history, especially the women who paved the way. It taught me so much about different people and parts of history.
A literary omnivore and influential Bookstagrammer, Layne applies her vivid creativity for every title we promote by deftly coordinating news coverage and events for authors, writing and editing diverse content for social media, and assisting with Books Forward’s social media engagement initiatives.
As a former special education teacher, Layne firmly believes in the importance of literature and accessibility. This unique point of view is an asset in her publicity efforts as she works to reach readers across various platforms and demographics.
Layne received her Bachelors of Arts in Creative Writing and Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and her Masters of Art in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. She lives in New Orleans with her loyal, but sadly illiterate cat, Macaroni.
