These 39 Books by Women Writers Are Absolute Must Reads in 2022

Best known for her fantasy novels, Sabaa Tahir's "All My Rage" is a powerful contemporary tale. The story spans multiple generations and continents, from Pakistan to California. In the present day, best friends Salahudin and Noor go through life side-by-side until a fight pushes them apart. Sal becomes invested in saving his family's failing motel at any costs, while Noor tries to lie low and hide her college applications from her cruel uncle in hopes of escaping soon. In the past, we follow their parents' generation in Pakistan, with arranged marriages, unexpected tragedies, and tough choices that may or may not pan out as they'd hoped.

Yes, the cover and basic plot of "American Royalty" by Tracey Livesay will definitely evoke comparisons to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But it's so much more than just a basic pop culture riff. The "Duchess" is a superstar rapper, Danielle Nelson, who's looking for a way to get some positive press after a clash with another pop star goes viral. When the reserved, famously private Prince Jameson invites her to perform at a royal tribute concert, it seems like the perfect opportunity. Sparks fly between the unlikely couple, but can their romance survive the harsh glare of the worldwide spotlight?

Release date: June 28

Emotional and epic, Charmaine Wilkerson's "Black Cake" should definitely be on your TBR list. Estranged siblings Byron and Benny are forced back together after the death of their mother. She's left them a very mysterious inheritance: a traditional Caribbean black cake, directions for them to share the cake when the time is "right," and the tale of a woman forced to flee her home after being accused of a terrible crime. Before they can truly move on, the siblings must unravel the secrets their mother kept, learn how to be in each other's lives again, and uncover the truth about who they really are and where they come from.

In almost every love story, there's a romantic false lead who inevitably turns out to be totally wrong for the protagonist. If you've ever wondered about what those characters must feel like, pick up "Book Lovers," the latest from Emily Henry. Nora, a cutthroat literary agent, is repeatedly dumped by her exes after they find their happily ever after with women who are nothing like her. When she agrees to go on a small-town holiday with her little sister, she's horrified to discover Charlie, a grumpy editor she has clashed with in the past, lives there. As Nora and Charlie keep bumping into each other, they start to realise that they might have some chemistry, and real life is just as romantic as a book.

Release date: May 3

Daphne Palasi Andreades's debut novel "Brown Girls" is the emotional, complex story of young women supporting each other as they come of age and figure out who they are and who they want to be. Nadira, Gabby, Naz, Trish, and Angelique are children of immigrants who constantly feel like they're being pulled between two worlds. As they grow up together in Queens, they each take different paths to discover where they belong. At times, it stretches their friendships to the breaking point, with all four doing their best to handle the joys and heartbreaks of growing up and, sometimes, growing apart.

Ready for a take on "Beauty and the Beast" that actually feels fresh and modern? You can't miss romance queen Jasmine Guillory's "By the Book," a reimagining of the famous story. Isabelle is an overworked and overlooked assistant at a publishing company, watching her dreams of a literary career slipping further away each day. When she impulsively volunteers to head out to L.A. to try to coax an overdue memoir manuscript out of a cynical celebrity, she gets much more than she bargained for. As it turns out, Beau is no classic beast. He's got his own reasons for withdrawing from the world and trusting no one, but he and Izzy just might be what each other needed most.

Release date: May 3

The real-life disappearance of Agatha Christie is the inspiration for Nina de Gramont's "The Christie Affair." In 1926, Christie vanished mysteriously for 11 days before reappearing without any memory of what happened. Gramont's take on the infamous incident focuses on Nan O'Dea, a friend of the Christie who eventually becomes the mistress of Agatha's husband, Archie. Weaving together known historical fact with fiction, romance, and thrills, the book turns one of history's most baffling mysteries into the kind of breathtaking, twisty murder mystery that even Christie herself would approve of. Fans of thrillers truly won't want to miss out on this one!

Funny and endlessly charming, "Count Your Lucky Stars" by Alexandria Bellefleur will have you believing in fate and second chances. Ten years after her first love left her reeling, cool and casual Margot runs into Olivia, the woman who broke her heart. A series of rom-com hijinks leaves Olivia without a place to stay, and Margot impulsively offers up her extra room — temporarily, of course. Living in close quarters brings up a whole lot of old feelings. As they struggle to keep their feelings in check, Margot and Olivia start to consider the possibility that fate might have something in mind for them after all.

If "10 Things I Hate About You" is one of your favourite rom-coms, then you absolutely must read Nisha Sharma's "Dating Dr. Dil." Loosely based on "The Taming of the Shrew," it's the best kind of enemies-to-lovers romance. Kareena makes a deal with her family: if she can find her soulmate before her father plans to sell their childhood home, she can have the house. When her path crosses with Prem, a cardiologist and TV show host with some strong opinions about love, it's fight at first sight. After their argument goes viral and puts both their dreams at risk, Kareena and Prem agree to a fake-dating scheme, even though they still can't stand each other.

Ashley Herring Blake's debut romantic comedy "Delilah Green Doesn't Care" is funny, smart, and fabulously romantic. After escaping her small, judgmental town, Delilah gets roped into returning to photograph her estranged stepsister's wedding. She expects to just get in and get out as fast as possible, but instead, winds up connecting with bridesmaid Claire, a single mom and bookseller. As the two are stuck together over the course of wedding planning (and some other scheming), they both find themselves reevaluating what they want out of life, and what the future might look like if they're brave enough to pursue it.

Small-town secrets and family drama collide in "The Family Chao," Lan Samantha Chang's new literary thriller. In the small town of Haven, Wisconsin, the Chao family runs a successful and popular restaurant, despite the constant rumours about the state of their marriage and the secrets they might be hiding. When all three Chao sons return home to Haven, and their father turns up suspiciously dead, the rumours spiral out of control. Did one of the sons kill Leo? And if so, why would they have done it? The whispers around town surround the family as the truth about their past and the murder are finally revealed.

Sometimes, you just need a warm, summery read, and that's exactly what Mary Kay Andrews delivers with her latest, "The Homewreckers." The premise is straight out of a classic Hallmark movie. Hattie, a home renovator, finds herself a widow at just 25 years old. She throws herself into her work, but the money just isn't there. When a reality home renovation TV show comes calling, Hattie jumps at one last chance to prove herself. As production begins, she finds herself in way over her head. Not only is her co-star deeply frustrating (and incredibly attractive), but the house they're renovating might hold the key to an unsolved crime.

Release date: May 3

Looking for the perfect blend of historical fiction and gripping thriller? Grab a copy of "I Must Betray You" by Ruta Sepetys. In 1989 communist Romania, 17-year-old Cristian is blackmailed into leaving his dreams behind and becoming an informant for the brutal secret police who helps an authoritarian ruler maintain power through fear and repression. Hoping to still make the world better, Cristian decides to risk everything and become a double agent. Despite the life-threatening risks, Cristian tries to use his situation as a way to represent the voices of the Romanian people, and fight for a better future.

Akshaya Raman's "The Ivory Key" is the first book in a planned fantasy duology about a quartet of siblings with secrets in a royal family. Vira, Ronak, Kaleb, and Riya may be blood family, but they've all gone in different directions rather than sticking together. Now, their kingdom has a problem that none of them can ignore: it's running out of magic, threatening its very existence. With a potential war on the horizon, the four siblings must work together to find the Ivory Key, the source of all magic. However, each sibling has their own secret motivations for seeking the Key, causing them to mistrust each other during this all-important quest.

For everyone obsessed with "The Gilded Age" and "Bridgerton," Harper St. George's latest Gilded Age romance "The Lady Tempts an Heir" is a must-read. Maxwell Crenshaw is the reluctant heir to his father's steel business. With two sisters married into the British aristocracy, Max is now the target of his parents' insistence on matrimony right now. Complicating matters is his tentative connection with Lady Helena March, a young widow more interested in supporting important causes than sipping tea and gossiping. The unlikely duo decide to fake an engagement in order to achieve both their goals, but as we all know, fake arrangements often lead to real romance.

Deliciously quirky doesn't even begin to describe the bonkers joy of "The League of Gentlewomen Witches" by India Holton. In an off-kilter Victorian society rife with pirates, flying houses, witches, and other magical miscellany, Charlotte is a young witch entrusted with ensuring a powerful amulet doesn't fall into the wrong hands. On her quest, she crosses paths with the roguish pirate Alex, and they reluctantly agree to work together to keep the amulet safe from wicked forces that are afoot. As their gleefully wild adventure continues, they realise that there's a spark between them than just the clash of swords.

Release date: March 15

In Nita Prose's "The Maid," 25-year-old Molly navigates life with the help of her beloved grandmother. After her grandmother dies, however, Molly feels somewhat adrift. She channels her energy into ensuring that every detail is perfect and tidy at her job as a maid in a glamorous hotel. One day, her life spirals out of control when she walks into a guest room to find a dead body. She's immediately accused of the crime, with police mistaking her demeanour as suspicious. Molly's friends band together to solve the crime and find the real murderer before her life is ruined for a crime she didn't commit.

Xochitl Gonzalez's "Olga Dies Dreaming" is a romantic comedy, a family drama, and a story of resilience, all in one. Siblings Olga and Pedro have become successful New Yorkers, with the former succeeding as a glamorous wedding planner to the rich and famous, and the latter, a congressman on the rise. Beneath the surface, though, both siblings have their own struggles and secrets, many of which are rooted in their mother abandoning them years ago to join a political movement. When their mother reappears, Olga and Pedro are forced to confront the things they thought they had buried long ago — all while one of the most devastating hurricanes in history slams into Puerto Rico.

"One Italian Summer" by Rebecca Serle is an emotional and powerful testament to the bond between a mother and a daughter. All her life, Katy's best friend has been her mom, Carol. When Carol dies unexpectedly, Katy is left reeling, especially with their planned trip to Positano still looming on the horizon. When Katy decides to take the trip alone, she suddenly runs into her mother who's young, healthy and unaware. Confused about how any of this is possible, Katy takes the chance to get to know her mother as a young woman, learning more about her mother's history, hopes, and fears over the course of one tenuous and magical summer.

If it's a twisty mystery you're after, you can't go wrong with "The Paris Apartment" by Lucy Foley. When Jess's personal and professional life falls apart, her half-brother reluctantly agrees to let her escape for a bit and stay with him in Paris. Upon her arrival, however, Jess is surprised to discover that her brother is nowhere to be found — and the neighbours in his building all seem to be hiding something. The more she tries to uncover what really happened to her brother, the more danger Jess herself is in. It's the kind of thriller you won't want to put down until you know what happened!

Anyone who loves the history of literature must read Kerri Maher's "The Paris Bookseller." In 1919, a young American named Sylvia Beach decides to open an English-language bookstore, Shakespeare & Company, in Paris. Over the next several years, her store slowly becomes a gathering hub for the great literary and artistic minds of the 20s. More than any other writer, Sylvia forms a tight friendship and working relationship with James Joyce, who enlists her help to publish his controversial novel "Ulysses." The fallout from that decision follows Sylvia for years, even as economic difficulties and a looming war threaten the existence of her store and of Paris itself.

Melissa Fu traces three generations of a family, bound together by their epic and complicated past, in "Peach Blossom Spring." In China in 1938, young Meilin is forced to flee, along with her four-year-old son Renshu, as the Japanese army closes in. They take with them only what they can carry, including an illustrated scroll full of ancient fables. A generation later, Renshu has settled in America and taken the name Henry Dao, all while trying to navigate his family's immigrant history. When his own daughter begins asking questions about their past, he struggles between keeping the past in the past and giving his daughter the answers she needs to understand herself.

Release date: March 15

Take "Romeo and Juliet," swap a Day of the Dead festival for a grand dance, and add one very important taco recipe, and you've got Alana Quintana Albertson's heartwarming (and mouthwatering) romance "Ramón and Julieta." Ramón and Julieta meet and share an electric evening at a Day of the Dead festival. In the light of day, they discover the truth: Ramón is the scion of the family buying up the whole neighbourhood, and Julieta runs the family taqueria that's on the chopping block. Even worse, Julieta's mother claims that her signature taco recipe was stolen by Ramón's father decades ago. It's Shakespeare by way of gentrification for a story that's as exhilarating as it is heartwarming.

Rachel Hawkins is back with her latest thriller, "Reckless Girls." The Agatha Christie classic "And Then There Were None" gets an update for the 2020s in this gripping mystery. A group of entitled 20-somethings head off on a luxurious trip to a remote tropical island with a downright eerie history. Soon, one vacationer disappears, and another turns up dead under suspicious circumstances. Now, the remaining members of the group must work together and reveal their secrets if they want to solve the case before each one of them gets picked off too.

"A River Enchanted" by Rebecca Ross is a gorgeous and thoughtful addition to the fantasy genre. 10 years ago, young Jack Tamerlaine left the island of Cadence to study music on the mainland. When girls start disappearing from the island under strange circumstances and with alarming frequency, Jack returns home to try to help. The residents hope that Jack's songs might convince the fickle spirits to return the girls safely home, but Jack is reluctant to work with Adaira, an heiress and his childhood rival. As the pair try to set aside their differences to bring the girls home, they uncover a much deeper secret about the spirits and about the island itself.

Mimi Matthews launches a new historical romance series with "The Siren of Sussex," and it's the kind of book that will have you ready for a sequel. Hoping to capture the attention of London high society in a unique way, equestrienne and unashamed "bluestocking" Evelyn needs the help of a high-fashion tailor to make riding outfits that will get her noticed. Enter Ahmad, a brilliant tailor and designer who finds himself hemmed in by the prejudices against his economic class and his Indian heritage. Evelyn and Ahmad are the perfect collaborators to launch both of them into the spotlight, but the connection that forms between them has them both questioning their well-laid plans.

Tahereh Mafi draws on Persian mythology and classic fantasy tropes in "This Woven Kingdom," the first book in a planned new trilogy. To the rest of the world, Alizeh seems like nothing more than a servant, albeit one who sometimes knows more than she should. Only she knows the truth: she's a powerful Jinn and the heir to the ancient and magical Jinn kingdom. Alizeh crosses paths with Kamran, a crown prince investigating prophecies foretelling the death of the king. The impossible connection between them poses a threat not just to their personal destinies, but to the fate of the entire kingdom.

In Emily Thiede's debut fantasy "This Vicious Grace," a gift from the gods turns into a curse. Alessia's magic is supposed to magnify her partner's abilities, but instead, she has three weddings, followed by three funerals — every suitor she touches dies. As demons bear down on her home island, the locals are convinced that their only hope is to kill Alessia. In search of protection as she tries to find a magical partner before it's too late, Alessia hires Dante, a bodyguard with a dark past. He may turn out to be the key to her future — or he might be her doom.

In "A Thousand Steps Into Night," Traci Chee tells the story of a seemingly ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny. Miuko believes she's meant for a quiet life as an innkeeper's daughter, despite living in a fantastical world where humans, gods, and demons co-exist. When she is cursed and begins turning into a demon with a deadly touch, Miuko leaves her old life behind and heads out on a quest to reverse her curse. With magical allies and enemies both aiding and hindering her along the way, Miuko begins to realise that not everything about her transformation is so terrible. It's up to her to decide whether she wants to return to her old life or risk everything for something new.

Lyrical and epic, "To Paradise" by Hanya Yanagihara tells a story spanning three centuries, all while interconnecting three imaginative versions of history. First, in an alternate-history version of 1893 New York, people are supposedly free to live and love however they please, but social pressures remain. Next up is 1993 New York ravaged by the AIDS epidemic, where a young Hawaiian man lives with his much older partner and hides a number of secrets. Finally, the story jumps into the future to 2093, where the world has collapsed into totalitarian rule, and a scientist's granddaughter tries to investigate her husband's disappearance and figure out what comes next.

We could all use a witty, joyous rom-com sometimes, and that's exactly what Martha Waters delivers with "To Marry and To Meddle." Lady Emily is is forced to entertain the attentions of an appalling man due to her father's secret debts. Enter Lord Julian, a rebellious second son who runs a theatre and delights in subverting expectations. The pair agree to a marriage of convenience, then promptly find themselves developing real feelings. It's all set in a world full of delicious banter and fun spins on classic romance tropes, that are sure to make you smile every time.

Release date: April 5

In the late-1940s North Carolina depicted by Adele Myers in "The Tobacco Wives," Big Tobacco rules all. Maddie is dropped off abruptly in the small town of Bright Leaf by her flighty mother, leaving her in the care of her seamstress aunt. At first, Maddie is intrigued by the town and the opportunity to build her own sewing skills by assisting her aunt on orders for the town's wealthy "tobacco wives." Soon, however, Maddie uncovers a strange pattern of health problems among the women, leading her to make a horrifying discovery about the company that the whole town depends upon. Maddie has to figure out who to trust and who will believe her, all while knowing that one wrong move could spell disaster for her and everyone she loves.

Iconic author Isabel Allende returns with "Violeta," a sweeping story tracing the life of one woman through all her unexpected ups and downs. Violeta is born amidst the Spanish flu outbreak in 1920, and that chaotic entry sets the tone for the rest of her life. Only a few years later, the Great Depression sends her well-to-do family into a retreat to a remote area where Violeta comes of age and experiences her first love. Over the next several decades, her personal story entwines with the major events of history, from political upheavals to a full-circle experience of yet another deadly pandemic.

Rachel Lynn Solomon brings us another warm and thoughtful romance with "Weather Girl." Seattle meteorologist Ari has a sunny personality that makes even rainy forecasts seem brighter, but her cheery demeanour is actually a way of concealing her battle with depression. Disappointed by a lack of mentorship and career advancement, Ari teams up with Russell, the station's sports reporter, to try to get their feuding, formerly-married bosses to reconcile and stop bringing their personal fights to the office. As you might guess, Ari and Russell's time spent together winds up bringing them closer too, and they both have to decide if it's worth taking the risk after both having been hurt in the past.

On the surface, "Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?" by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn might sound like your classic rom-com. Yinka is professionally successful in her thirties, but her Nigerian mother and aunties are more concerned about her lack of a romantic partner. To get some temporary peace, Yinka makes it her mission to find a date in time for her cousin's wedding. Along with the expected romantic false leads and hijinks, Yinka spends a lot of time figuring out what she really wants, rebuilding the relationships with important people in her life, and finally being brave enough to put herself first for once.

Who doesn't love a good secret society book? Juno Temple spins a magical world in "Her Majesty's Royal Coven," in which a quartet of friends join a centuries-old order of women who use their witchy powers to influence history and help out in the hardest of times. Decades pass, a magical civil war comes and goes, and only one of the women remains deeply involved in the secret society. When a powerful warlock's abilities threaten the coven's very existence, all four friends must choose sides and decide whether their loyalties with each other, their vows, or with what they personally believe is right.

Release date: May 31

Kate Quinn continues to tell the stories of remarkable women in history with "The Diamond Eye." Based on a true story, the novel follows Mila Pavlichenko, a quiet librarian and young mother in 1937 Kyiv. When the Nazis invade her country, she, like so many others, is torn from her normal life and sent to join the fight. Mila becomes one of the world's deadliest snipers, and when word of her kill count becomes public knowledge, she's pulled from battle and paraded around on a "goodwill" tour. Leaning on the few friends she can find, Mila tries to navigate this new reality, but the return of a dark part of her past threatens to tear it all down.

Release date: March 29

Emily St. John Mandel weaves another genre-bending, thought-provoking tale with "Sea of Tranquility." In this slightly fantastical novel, three people from three different times and places find their stories irrevocably entwined. A young man in early-twentieth-century Vancouver, an author born on a moon colony, and a detective with a troubled past all are connected by one strange experience: the sound of a violin, playing in an unexpected place. Bound together by this anomaly, the characters strive to understand what is happening to them. When the detective discovers that time travel is involved, their stories take an even more unexpected turn.

Imani Perry explores the dark and difficult history of the American South in "South to America." A native of Alabama, Perry digs into her own past and experiences to explain the mythology of the South. Throughout the book, Perry highlights stories from a variety of communities ranging from immigrants and artists, to slaves and her own ancestors. Through these stories, Perry covers both the dark and devastating parts of Southern history and its legacy, the book explores every corner of Southern culture to paint a picture of a complex — but utterly fundamental — part of America. History buffs are sure to enjoy this engageing read.