Okay, so is it technically Fall yet? According to the autumnal equinox, no, but according to Starbucks, yes — and we all know which one really matters here.

Also, we’re lucky to live during a time where we have an almost overwhelming number of works by some amazing female writers constantly piling up on our shelves, so it’s never too early to get started! (And let’s be real, nobody finished all the books on their summer reading list anyway because, you know, summer.)

The Problem with Everything: My Journey Through the New Culture Wars by Meghan Daum

We’re all wondering what our current era will look like in history books, and this collection of essays about feminism, the Trump administration, and the consequent Resistance movement is a pretty damn good start.

Cheryl Strayed also described Meghan as “one of the most emotionally exacting, mercilessly candid, deeply funny, and intellectually rigorous writers of our time” and idk I feel like we should just listen to Cheryl.

Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith

Patti Smith’s third memoir (If you haven’t read Just Kids and M Train, go go go) takes us through her perspective of 2016, a transformative year both for her personally and of course, for the country. 

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

Chances are, someone has already recommended this book to you because people won’t stop talking about it— it pretty much just came out, and Showtime is already developing a TV series. This nonfiction book (which will confuse you, because it’s prose-y and reads like fiction) was written over eight years, and follows the sexual desires of—you guessed it!—three women across the country.

Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino

If you’re not already following everything Jia writes for The New Yorker, you’re missing out. From celebrity stan culture to Outdoor Voices, she has a knack for analyzing the weirdest parts of contemporary culture. This collection of essays, her first, covers everything from club drugs and megachurches to reality TV and ~the wedding industrial complex~.

Also, I haven’t read it yet bc my local bookstore keeps running out of stock, and while I’m salty about it (and very close to snatching it out of the hands of the next person I see reading it on the subway), it’s also a testament to the hype surrounding this book. 

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

We’re hardly ever lucky enough to get sequels to classic literature like The Handmaid’s Tale, but after the aforementioned novel’s more recent mainstream success, Margaret Atwood has expanded Gilead’s universe. 

What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal by E. Jean Carroll

If anyone is qualified to ruminate on the titular question, E. Jean Carroll, America’s longest running advice columnist, is the woman for the job. In case you missed it, here is a notable excerpt from this book.

The Seven Necessary Sins for Women and Girls by Mona Eltahawy

Activist Mona Eltahawy is best known for her incisive writing about sexism, racism, and Islamophobia. Her newest book serves as a handbook for anyone who is down to dismantle the patriarchy.

Indelible in the Hippocampus: Writings From the Me Too Movement edited by Shelly Oria

If the titular phrase is ringing a bell, you’re probably remembering Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony to Congress as she described the memory of the men who assaulted her in her youth: "Indelible in the hippocampus is the laughter."

It’s a feeling many women shared, and have been encouraged to share more publicly, especially in the past two years of the #MeToo movement. This collection of fiction, essays, and poetry does just that.

Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong

Ali Wong’s first book is written as letters to her two daughters (both of whom accompanied their mother during her two Netflix specials in utero, if you remember). Idk about you, but even as a grown a$$ person, I could still probably use *any* advice Ali is gracious enough to share.

The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West

It’s not out until next month, but best-selling author Lindy West’s newest book will undoubtedly be a must-read, especially if you’ve ever rolled your eyes at an accusation of feminism going *too far*.

What books did I miss? Please enable my book addiction further in the comments:

Toni Brannagan is a writer and was the former Copy and Content Manager at Thinx.

by Toni Brannagan