Top Female Authors to Read in 2019

As 2018 draws to a close, lots of people are looking forward to the year ahead and making their New Year’s Resolutions. Whilst I find I never stick to mine after January ends, I do like to write out a ‘to read’ list for the coming twelve months. This I have absolutely no problem sticking to throughout the year! Here are a few of the most exciting female authors going on my list for 2019.

Michelle Obama

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Lawyer, author and former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama is right at the top of my reading list for next year. Her latest book, Becoming, is autobiographical in nature and covers everything from her upbringing in Chicago to her stint in the White House, to her own experience of motherhood. The book was only published in November but has already smashed records (including selling the most copies in the US of any book released in 2018), receiving high praise across the board from critics and readers alike. If you’ve ever listened to this inspirational woman speak, you’ll certainly want to read her words about finding your voice, getting involved in what matters to you and living a full life.

Rupi Kaur

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Canadian poet and artist, Rupi Kaur, took the world by storm back in 2014 with her first collection of poems, Milk and Honey, and then followed up this success in 2017 with her second anthology, The Sun and Her Flowers. Writing with a raw, honest voice and drawing on her own heartache, compassion and life experiences for subject matter, she is a truly unique writer for the modern world. The exploration of her Punjabi heritage coupled with the portrayal of femininity and womanhood found in her work means that she’s firmly on my ‘to read’ list. I can’t wait to get started! Kaur’s work seems like the perfect book to dip in and out of, ideal for the post-holidays haze or reading on your daily commute.

Maria Konnikova

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Dr Maria Konnikova seems able to excel at anything that she puts her mind to, whether that’s writing, psychology or, indeed, poker. In her latest writing project, she has tapped into something of an underground movement featuring poker and female authors in particular. Whereas Konnikova approaches the world of pro poker playing from a psychological research perspective, other authors are using their experiences in that arena to inform character and plot development in novels. One thing all of these women have in common is that they’re taking the traditional narrative of the high-flying male poker player and rewriting it from the female angle; this has certainly got me interested. I’ll be watching out for Konnikova’s upcoming masterpiece,The Biggest Bluff, hitting bookshelves sometime soon.

Margaret Atwood

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A shock announcement just a few weeks ago revealed that well-loved Canadian author Margaret Atwood will be writing a sequel to her seminal novel, The Handmaid’s Tale. Reimagined in 2017 as a super successful TV series, the story of the women of Gilead has gripped audiences worldwide in whichever format they find it. However, to know that we’ll now be getting a follow-up to the narrative from Atwood later on in 2019 has got the whole fanbase buzzing in excitement. Atwood has always been a forward-thinking and boundary-pushing author, so it will be interesting to see what she comes up with for Offred and the other characters.

This is just a small snapshot of the talent currently available from modern female authors, ranging from the short but impactful poetry of Rupi Kaur, to the in-depth analysis of Maria Konnikova’s books. Whether you prefer to read the cerebral sci-fi/fantasy fiction of Margaret Atwood or are more inclined to sit down with Michelle Obama’s equally fascinating autobiography, I hope that you’ve found something here to kickstart your reading year and inspire you for 2019. Who knows, you may even be encouraged enough to pick up the pen and start writing yourself.