Hello everyone,
It was International Women’s Day on Sunday and at work, I used my love of books to create a set of posters with my female author recommendations for different genres. It was an extremely fun project, and a great opportunity to incorporate my love of books into my day job!
I made six posters, all with five authors representing a particular genre. Most of them were favourite authors of mine, with some in particular that I highlighted for having written standout female characters. All of them are authors whose books I have written at least once and have reviewed on this site.
Here are all my female author recommendations for International Women’s Day, and the profiles I have written for them. I hope you might find a new favourite author somewhere in this list!
Gothic Fiction and Horror
Laura Purcell
Laura Purcell has written six spooky Gothic horror novels which are notable for their foreboding atmosphere, paranormal elements, and smart concepts. The Silent Companions (2017) established her as a major voice in the genre and she has gone on to write similarly memorable books such as The Corset (2018) and The Whispering Muse (2023).
Alix E. Harrow
A former academic, Alix E. Harrow burst on to the literary scene with the thoroughly original fantasy escapade The Ten Thousand Doors Of January (2019) before publishing a stunning feminist Gothic novel, The Once And Future Witches (2020). Her more recent books Starling House (2023) and The Everlasting (2025) have also been bestsellers.
Bridget Collins
Bridget Collins is a bestselling author renowned for her the abstract worlds in which she sets her novels, full of atmosphere, hints of magic, and dark academia. She published The Binding in 2019, a story where people’s memories are locked away in books. Her follow-ups The Betrayals (2021), The Silence Factory (2024) and The Naked Light (2025) are just as intellectually challenging.
Susan Stokes-Chapman
With an eloquent, classically inspired writing style, Susan Stokes-Chapman has published two bestselling Gothic historical novels. Pandora (2022) told the story of a woman who uncovers the story of an ancient Greek pithos, while The Shadow Key (2024) is a gripping, atmospheric tale set in North Wales. She released a seasonal short story collection, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, in 2025.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Originally from Mexico, Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a highly versatile author who has published bestselling novels in a variety of genres, from the fantasy of The Gods Of Jade And Shadow (2019) to the more science fiction inspired The Daughter Of Doctor Moreau (2022). However, her most well-known book is Mexican Gothic (2020), winner of many awards.
Historical Fiction and Myth
Jessie Burton
Jessie Burton has written four bestselling novels and a novella which all have compelling female characters at their heart. Her beguiling debut novel The Miniaturist (2014) won multiple awards and was adapted for a BBC television series. A sequel, The House Of Fortune was published in 2022, and she has also written the standalone books The Muse (2016) and The Confession (2021).
Stacey Halls
Stacey Halls combines a beautiful writing style with character-driven stories of women – both real and imagined. Her debut The Familiars (2019) was set at the time of the Pendle witch trials in Lancashire, while her follow-ups The Foundling (2020), Mrs England (2021), and The Household (2024) all take inspiration from fascinating chapters of history.
June Hur
June Hur sets her young adult mystery novels during the Joseon period in Korea. Each containing strong, spirited female protagonists, a running theme throughout her work is deep familial connections, most notably two estranged sisters who come together in The Forest Of Stolen Girls (2021). Her 2022 book Red Palace won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Young Adult Novel.
Jennifer Saint
A former English teacher, Jennifer Saint writes richly descriptive, feminist retellings of characters in Greek mythology. Beginning with her outstanding debut Ariadne (2021), she has amplified female voices within the mythology and become one of the leading authors in an increasingly popular genre. Her subsequent books are Elektra (2022), Atalanta (2023), and Hera (2024).
Frances Quinn
Frances Quinn has written three standout historical novels featuring characters who defy the odds and the expectations of others. After her successful debut The Smallest Man (2020) came That Bonesetter Woman (2022), about a woman who overcomes societal prejudices to thrive in her dream job. Quinn’s latest book The Lost Passenger was released in 2025.
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Chloe Gong
My favourite author! Chloe Gong was still an undergraduate when she wrote her remarkable sci-fi historical fantasy debut These Violent Delights (2020), a retelling of Shakepeare’s Romeo & Juliet set in 1920s Shanghai. This was the first of two bestselling duologies in her Secret Shanghai series. Immortal Longings (2023) was the first of an epic fantasy duology before she released the cyberpunk novel Coldwire in 2025.
Sue Lynn Tan
Sue Lynn Tan bases her stories around ancient Chinese mythology, weaving together fantasy worlds with a stunningly lyrical yet down-to-earth writing style. Her thrilling debut Daughter Of The Moon Goddess (2022) introduced readers to Xingyin, an outstanding female protagonist. She has also published the more romance-inspired fantasies Immortal (2024) and Never Ever After (2025).
Katherine Arden
Katherine Arden is author of the Winternight Trilogy, a folklore-inspired fantasy series that began with The Bear And The Nightingale (2017). With surely one of the best female protagonists in modern fantasy, this evocative trilogy received considerable acclaim. She has since written the spooky middle grade series Small Spaces and historical fantasy novel The Warm Hands Of Ghosts (2024).
Adalyn Grace
With a writing style perfect for Gothic fantasy, California-born Adalyn Grace released her first book All The Stars And Teeth in 2020, but has become best known for Belladonna (2022). This was first in a series that is full of imaginative settings, mystery, and romantic tension all named after poisonous plants – the most recent being Holly (2025).
Elizabeth Lim
Elizabeth Lim also uses Chinese mythology as an inspiration for her books, creating stories that are in equal parts whimsical and deeply emotional. She has written three duologies, starting with Spin The Dawn (2019), with Six Crimson Cranes (2021) and its sequel The Dragon’s Promise (2022) especially beloved by readers.
Mystery and Thriller
Gillian McAllister
Gillian McAllister has set herself apart in the domestic and legal thriller genre by using innovative concepts that deviate from the usual formula. Her ‘sliding doors’ style novel Anything You Do Say (2017) was the second of many UK bestsellers, but it was the incredibly unique Wrong Place Wrong Time (2022) which earned her global success.
Lisa Jewell
One of the most prolific and enduringly popular authors of the past 30 years, Lisa Jewell was a contemporary fiction author before rising to greater success with domestic mysteries and thrillers. A bestseller in the UK and overseas, her most recent highlights include None Of This Is True (2023) and Don’t Let Him In (2025), while her books are also very popular in audio.
Holly Jackson
Holly Jackson’s debut mystery A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder (2019) is one of the most popular young adult novels in the last 10 years, and was adapted for the BBC in 2024. It was the first of a bestselling trilogy, and she has since released the standalones Five Survive (2023), The Reappearance Of Rachel Price (2024), and Not Quite Dead Yet (2025).
Janice Hallett
Janice Hallett has been described as ‘Agatha Christie for the modern age’ for her incredibly popular mysteries. Told in multimedia, they challenge the reader to put all the clues together before the characters do, a task that requires exceptional attention to detail. Her award-winning debut The Appeal (2021) has been followed by similarly clever mysteries such as The Twyford Code (2022) and The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels (2023).
Clare Mackintosh
A former police officer, Clare Mackintosh’s debut crime thriller I Let You Go (2016 and set in Bristol!), with its extraordinary plot twist, was an instant bestseller and made her one of the UK’s leading writers in the genre. She has since written four further standalone novels and is author of DC Ffion Morgan crime series, set in the Welsh borders.
Young Adult
Leigh Bardugo
One of the most successful young adult writers of the 21st century to date, Leigh Bardugo is creator of the Grishaverse, a fantasy world which began with the Shadow And Bone trilogy (2012-2014) and received huge popularity with the Six Of Crows duology (2015-2016). Highly skilled at world building and character development, Bardugo has also written three fantasy novels aimed at older readers.
Roshani Chokshi
Roshani Chokshi is the author of The Gilded Wolves trilogy, a set of historical fantasy novels where a diverse group of loveable characters navigate the world of art history, solving puzzles along the way. Her standalone Gothic fantasy The Last Tale Of The Flower Bride was released in 2023.
Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas is responsible for one of the most popular and groundbreaking young adult books of all time. The Hate U Give (2017) won multiple awards, was made into a major film, and remains a highly relevant read in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement. A prequel, Concrete Rose was published in 2021 after her standalone On The Come Up (2019).
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
One of the most prolific young adult authors currently, University of Oklahoma lecturer Jennifer Lynn Barnes writes fun, fast-paced mysteries. Her series The Naturals made her a popular author in the genre, but she received greater success with The Inheritance Games (2020), a puzzle-filled mystery that has iconic characters and has spawned two sequels and further spin-offs.
Elizabeth Acevedo
Elizabeth Acevedo is the trailblazing author of three bestselling young adult novels. Her debut The Poet X (2018) was written almost entirely in poetic verse and won multiple awards. With The Fire On High (2019) and 2020’s Clap When You Land – also written in verse – further enhanced her reputation as an author who celebrates Latin American culture.
Contemporary and Literary Fiction
Maggie O’Farrell
Maggie O’Farrell is currently one of the foremost authors of literary fiction, having won multiple awards and nominations for her work. Hamnet (2020) sold over two million copies and won the Women’s Prize for Fiction before being adapted into a highly successful film in 2026. She has received further recognition for novels such as Instructions For A Heatwave (2013) and The Marriage Portrait (2022).
Oyinkan Braithwaite
Oyinkan Braithwaite has made a major impact in the literary world with her two genre-busting novels, published seven years apart. Her unique and much-discussed debut My Sister, The Serial Killer (2018) was nominated for numerous awards and made the Booker Prize longlist. In 2025 she released Cursed Daughters, a extraordinary and bittersweet story with a moving portrayal of Nigerian culture.
Taylor Jenkins Reid
One of the most popular authors among mainstream contemporary readers, Taylor Jenkins Reid is exceptional at creating fictional characters and making them feel real, authentic, and multi-layered. The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo (2018) was a global bestseller and she achieved similar success with Daisy Jones And The Six (2020) Her most recent novel Atmosphere is a story of two pioneering female astronauts.
Celeste Ng
Celeste Ng writes meaningful novels that explore complex family dynamics alongside historic social issues, beginning with Everything I Never Told You (2014). Her follow-up Little Fires Everywhere (2017) was a bestseller and was adapted for television. Her most recent release was Our Missing Hearts (2022).
Katy Hays
An adjunct art history professor, Katy Hays’ debut novel The Cloisters (2022) was extremely compelling, telling the story of a student who receives an academic placement at a New York museum. More recently, she has published The Vipers (2025), a mystery surrounding a family conspiracy that is set in Capri, Italy.
Let’s Chat
Do you have any female authors you would like to highlight or recommend for International Women’s Day? Let me know in the comments!
Happy reading :)
Stephen Reads Books 