Pandora Sykes
Rachel, Again by Marian Keyes
“‘Rachel's Holiday’ is an iconic piece of women's fiction (I hate the term ‘chick lit’) and ‘Rachel, Again’ is even better in my opinion. It's funny, original, tender and moving, and unapologetically Irish. I LOVE Marian Keyes, basically.”
The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan Frida
“I'm a bit nervous of anything dystopian, but 'The School for Good Mothers' feels almost believable, which makes it all the more terrifying. Frida is sent away to the school after she leaves her young daughter, Harriet, home alone. Will she complete the training, in order to return to Harriet? It's clever and deftly written and destined to be a feminist classic.”
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley-Heller
“This debut, about a woman named Elle who is holidaying in Cape Cod and deciding whether to leave her devoted husband for her (equally devoted) childhood best friend, packs such a punch. What I love the most about it is that it demands that you set your judgement aside in order to unpack intergenerational trauma and family history. It's a fierce book – provocative and literary – and I loved it.”
The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
“Like a cross between Kiley Reid's 'Such A Fun Age' and Jordan Peele's 'Get Out' but entirely fresh. It's a sinister and whip-smart satire about a young woman called Nella who works in an all-white publishing house in New York. When another Black woman joins her floor, she's delighted – but it turns out she should be very, very afraid. Weaves clever ideas about patriarchy, publishing, the sisterhood and Black beauty.
Strong Female Lead: Lessons from Women in Power by Arwa Mahdawi
“This isn't just another self-help book about leaning in, rather a global look at women (most of whom I had never heard of) who are ruling in innovative, progressive ways. It's not remotely abstract – a lot of the lessons start at a grassroots level. It's easy to read and a galvanizing reminder that leadership can, and should, evolve… if egos are successfully put to one side!”