Forget the algorithmic recommendations and bestseller lists. The best book suggestions come from real conversations. You know, those moments when someone’s eyes light up and they say, “You have to read this!”
This International Women’s Day, I collected those moments — gathering book recommendations from the brilliant women in my network who know the true joy of a damn good read. The result is anything but a standard reading list. These are books that have made us laugh, cry, dream, and see the world just a little bit differently.
Some are recent discoveries, others are made to be reread, but all come together in a list as wonderfully diverse and unexpected as the women who shared their choices.
1. The Hustle Cure – Sophie Cliff
2. The Story of Art without Men – Katy Hessel
3. Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
4. The Book of Moods – Lauren Martin
5. The Pivot Year – Brianna Wiest
6. Enchantment – Katherine May
7. Brag Better – Meredith Fineman
8. Taking Liberties – Diana Norman
9. F*ck Being Humble – Stefanie Sword Williams
10. Fix the System, Not the Women – Laura Bates
11. Slug – Hollie McNish
12. A Poetic Odyssey of Proclamations – Peju Abuchi
13. Untamed – Glennon Doyle
14. The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
15. Real Self-Care – Pooja Lakshmin
16. Matrescence – Lucy Jones
17. A Discovery of Witches – Deborah Harkness
18. The Gifts of Imperfection – Brené Brown
19. Chill and Prosper – Denise Duffield-Thomas
20. The Multi-Hyphen Method – Emma Gannon
21. The Night Alphabet – Joelle Taylor
22. You Are a Badass – Jen Sincero
23. Invisible Women – Caroline Criado Pérez
24. In Order To Live – Yeonmi Park
25. The Measure – Nikki Erlick
Do you have any additions to the list of must-reads for 2025? Send an email and help me get closer to building my dream floor-to-ceiling-library with window nook and tea station.