I love "women's literature" but I find that a lot of the characters in popular chick lit are not realistic and/or annoying (looking at you Emily Henry). I love authors like Jojo Moyes, Elin Hilderbrand, Liane Moriarty and Jennifer Wiener (sometimes lol). I think all of these authors write compelling narratives with well-rounded "real" female characters. I'm not above characters being awful/unlikeable, I just want them to feel realistic. Bonus points if the book takes place in the U.K./Ireland. If anyone has any recs, I'd appreciate it!
by Accomplished_Bird448
9 Comments
Have you tried Sophie Kinsella, Jenny Colgan, or Clare Dowling?
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue. Set in Ireland so I will take your bonus points 😇
Marian Keyes writes great books, funny but realistic characters, set in Ireland, and there’s a bunch of them!Â
Not set in UK or Ireland but Sally Hepworth is an Australian writer that I think is very similar to Liane Moriarty but with a bit more bite. She has a decent catalog of titles so you’ll probably find something you like! I personally loved Darling Girls and really enjoyed The Soulmate, too.
Jenny Colgan and Jenny Bayliss are my favorites. I like Freya Sampson too. You might like Linda Holmes. Her books are set in Maine.
Nina Stibbe wrote a novel called One Day I Shall Astonish the World a few years ago. I loved it, because I enjoy stories about ordinary people trying to make the best of whatever life situation they’ve stumbled into. Nina Stibbe is a fairly well-known British author and BBC-verse personality, I think?
Sally Rooney’s novels! I guess Beautiful World, Where Are You and Conversations with Friends are the most chick lit-y, Normal People is a slightly less fun and light read but an interesting character study, and Intermezzo is the ‘deepest’/heaviest thematically of the lot (and told from the POV of two male characters, so not exactly chick lit despite having well written female characters as well, but it’s personally my favourite)
I enjoy Ellery Lloyd – UK based too.
I love Adriana Trigiani for “chick lit” with some gravity. **Kiss Carlo** and **The Good Left Undone** particularly.
**The Cactus** by Sarah Haywood (UK setting!)
**Whisper Network** by Chandler Baker
**Clock Dance** and **French Braid** by Anne Tyler
**Pineapple Street** by Jenny Jackson
**The Magician’s Assistant** by Ann Patchett
**Big Lies in a Small Town** by Diane Chamberlain
**How to Age Disgracefully** by Clare Pooley (UK!)
My taste definitely skews more to the Elin Hildebrand side of things, but hopefully there’s something here to pique your interest! Happy reading!