Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
By Gail Honeyman

From the very first sentence, Eleanor Oliphant will captivate you with her refreshing quirkiness and unsettling rawness. She’ll inspire you, repulse you, bewilder you, and ultimately gain your respect. One thing is certain: you’ll never forget her or this novel’s beautifully delivered message that a little kindness can go a long way.

All the Light We Cannot See
By Anthony Doerr

Anthony Doerr devoted 10 years of his life to developing this intricately woven and deeply moving tale of two young people whose paths cross as they try to survive World War II. His enchanting imagery and haunting prose will transport you to a harrowing time but somehow manage to leave you with a sense of hope. It’s easy to see why it won the Pulitzer Prize and remained on The New York Times Best Seller list for more than two-and-a-half years.

Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic
By Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

Have you ever described your child as “strong-willed”, “intense” or “difficult”? This bestselling parenting book will change your life. Not only will it guide you toward using constructive language to describe your child, it will help you to see their challenging traits in a positive light (spirited kids often grow up to great leaders!). The author also provides plenty of helpful strategies for dealing with challenging behaviors and power struggles.

Little Women
By Louisa May Alcott

The classic tale of four sisters struggling to survive the Civil War in New England is just as endearing today as it was when it was originally published 150 years ago. The fact that the author based the story on her life and was able to give up working as a domestic servant to support her sisters after the success of Little Women makes it even more significant.

The Perfect Mother
By Aimee Molloy

What would you do if your newborn was kidnapped? This addictive psychological thriller explores the lengths a desperate mother and her group of new mom friends will go to in order to find her abducted son. You won’t be able to put it down and you’ll be lining up for the movie starring Kerry Washington when it hits theaters.

The Diary of a Young Girl
By Anne Frank

While she hid from the Nazis with her family in an Amsterdam attic for two years, Anne Frank poured her heart and soul into the pages of her diary. Her candid musings, moments of anguish in the face of adversity and indomitable lust for life have been touching readers’ hearts for generations.

The Goldfinch
By Donna Tartt

Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel tells the story of a teenage boy who loses his mother and finds solace in a painting of a goldfinch. Although his life takes him to some very dark and destructive places, the painting anchors him and helps him navigate his difficult journey. Tartt’s enthralling way with words will captivate you.

Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir
By Frank McCourt

Another Pulitzer Prize winner, Frank McCourt’smemoir of a childhood spent living in abject poverty in the slums of Limerick, Ireland is filled with tragedy and despair, yet McCourt manages to inject it with humor and hope. You’ll have to remind yourself throughout that it isn’t a novel.

A Man Called Ove
By Fredrik Backman

To the outside world, Ove appears to be a cranky curmudgeon. But he’s mourning the loss of his wife and he just needs someone to break through his shell… which happens in the most unexpected and heartwarming ways. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry.

The Bell Jar
By Sylvia Plath

 

Sylvia Plath’s crowning achievement manages to be so real and raw because the main character’s descent into mental illness mirrors the author’s own breakdown. It’s not exactly a light read, but it’s worth the discomfort.

The Perfect Couple
By Elin Hilderbrand

If you’re searching for a thrilling holiday read, look no further than Elin Hilderbrand’s first murder mystery – a New York Times Best Seller. Elin maintains many of the familiar elements of her popular Nantucket-based novels, but with a nail-biting twist.

The Golden Notebook
By Doris Lessing

Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Doris Lessing tells the story of Anna, a writer who keeps four notebooks on different aspects of her life and tries to weave them all together into one golden notebook. Lessing intertwines feminist, political and mental-health themes in a unique and unforgettable narrative.

Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children
By Sarah Napthali

Using Buddhist principles as a guide, Sarah Napthali offers practical and refreshing strategies for coping with the challenges of motherhood and helps women reconnect with who they were before having children. She teaches moms how to control their anger, find inner calm and parent mindfully in a compassionate and humorous way without ever making them feel inadequate.

The Second Sex
By Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir’s masterwork The Second Sex is considered one of the most important feminist texts in history and is a must-read for all women, particularly mothers of girls. Despite being originally published in 1949, its core messages still resonate loudly today.

The Handmaid’s Tale
By Margaret Atwood

If you thought the TV series was gripping and harrowing, wait until you read the book. The dystopian tale of a totalitarian society in which fertile women are forced to bear children for the barren wives of the elite is one of Canadian novelist Margaret Atwood’s finest works.

All About Love: New Visions
By bell hooks

Author, feminist, social activist and visionary bell hooks believes that our notion of love is all wrong and that we need to redefine it as individuals and as a society. She argues that love should be viewed as a verb rather than a noun and that it’s more about what we do than how we feel. Her groundbreaking ideas will stay with you long after you finish reading.

Norwegian Wood
By Haruki Murakami

If you’ve never read Murakami before, you’re in for a treat. Norwegian Wood tells the story of a college student who’s torn between a tortured woman he loves and a seductive student he tries to resist. Much more than a love story, it’s a gentle introduction to Murakami’s unique style.

The Glass Castle
By Jeannette Walls

Given her nomadic upbringing at the hands of an alcoholic father and a distant mother, Jeannette Walls could’ve been forgiven for giving up on her hopes and dreams. But her steadfast determination to rise above her circumstances led her to graduate with honors from Barnard College and publish this unforgettable memoir.

Maxed Out: American Moms on the Brink
By Katrina Alcorn

Ever feel like you’re going to have a mental breakdown on the way to Target to buy diapers? Katrina Alcorn did and she’s here to tell us why “having it all” is nothing but a big, fat lie. She shares her all-too-relatable story and offers practical tips to help mothers regain some balance in their lives.

Mom & Me & Mom
By Maya Angelou

 

In her seventh autobiography, civil rights activist Maya Angelou explores her complex relationship with her mother. From her early feelings of abandonment to the rebuilding of their rapport, it’s a profoundly touching account of a tortuous mother-daughter relationship.